The North Face Pack Rain Cover Keeps Gear Dry

Who is This For

Hikers, campers, and urban adventurers who are active in the rain. 

Field Testing

Scenario 1

Rainy hikes, bike rides, and urban park walks | 40°F – 65°F | Gothenburg, Sweden

I have been using The North Face Pack Rain Cover with The North Face Borealis Commuter Laptop Backpack for a couple of weeks, and it has done a great job of keeping the contents of my pack dry.

I’m used to Seattle’s drizzly, misty rain, so I’ve never needed a rain cover before for daily, urban use. Here in Sweden I don’t have a car; I mostly get around by walking and biking, which means I spent a lot more time in the rain. The pack is water-resistant, but doesn’t have waterproof zippers, so I need additional protection for the heavy and intense rain here in Sweden that reminds me of rain in the Midwest.

The first time I used The North Face Pack Rain Cover I was walking in a massive urban park with a friend, and it started pouring rain. We sought shelter for a few minutes under a roof at the penguin exhibit, hoping the rain might let up. It didn’t. We were already soaked when I remembered that I had packed the rain cover in my pack, so I quickly put it on, then used a carabiner to lash the cover’s excess cord to my pack, worried that a huge gust of wind could blow it off the pack. (That’s never happened to me, but I like to be prepared.)

It took us about 40 minutes to walk home, and the downpour was pretty intense. I have not been caught out like that in a rain storm in a long time. Other than feeling very cold and unhappy because I was a wearing a thin t-shirt, I felt fairly confident the gear in my pack would be dry when I got back home.

By the time I was safely home and able to remove The North Face Pack Rain Cover I was happy to see that even though the outside of the pack was wet from the initial exposure before I added the cover, the contents of my pack were perfectly dry, thanks in part to The North Face Borealis Commuter Laptop Backpack’s water-resistant material. The North Face Pack Rain Cover is coated with a water-resistant finish, so water just rolls off the surface.

Since that day I have been in a few additional cloudbursts and been saved by The North Face Pack Rain Cover. It’s very simple to attach around the body of the pack, then cinch the toggle to tighten the edges around the back. Some moisture reaches the edges and back of the pack, and the straps get wet since they aren’t covered, but so far the cover has done what I need it to do: keep everything inside the pack dry. The cover has a drain hole in the bottom for any water that gets underneath it.

I thought The North Face Pack Rain Cover was waterproof, but it is described as “water resistant” on the North Face website. For my outings of up to an hour, the cover has performed well. I have also tested the cover on The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack; it fit well and performed as expected. Nice to know I can use the cover with both of my favorite larger packs.

Fit

The North Face Pack Rain Cover is available in several sizes. I tested a size S with a 28L North Face Borealis Pack and with a 26L Cotopaxi Allpa Daypack. The cover fit both packs well.

I appreciate that the cover comes in its own pouch, which includes a small hook that makes it easy for me to hang it on a gear hook for storage or attach it to the outside of a pack with a carabiner.

Too small

Slightly small

Fits well

Slightly big

Too big

Materials & Construction

Material/Fabric: The pack cover is made out of a thin but strong nylon with non-PFC DWR coating. The NF website describes the cover as “water resistant,” but during a few weeks of testing in raining weather it performed as waterproof. For my needs, it worked very well, packed flat, and was simple to use. 

However, I would highly recommend using some type of dry sleeve for a computer or other electronics carried in a pack for two reasons. The cover doesn’t fully encase the pack, so it isn’t 100% guaranteed to block every drop of water. Rain can come on suddenly and drench you before you get your protective cover on.

Sustainability Creds: Water-resistant coating does not contain PFC.

Bottom Line

The North Face Pack Rain Cover is essential for rain season. It gives me peace of mind to know I can protect whatever’s in my pack if I get caught in the rain, and it allows me to forge ahead with my outdoor plans, rain or shine.

Specifications

• Color: TNF Black
• Sizes: XS-XL ( XS – 31” x 24” (78 cm x 61 cm) / S – 34” x 28” (87 cm x 72 cm) / M – 39” x 29” (100 cm x 75 cm) / L – 47” x 40” (120 cm x 101 cm) / XL – 52” x 36” (133 cm x 92 cm)
• Volume: XS – 0–20 liters / S – 20–30 liters / M – 35–45 liters / L – 50–70 liters / XL – 75–85 liters
• Weight: 2-4 ounces
• Price: $15-25

Buy Now

Main image from the North Face site.

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