Being able to keep your stuff dry as you travel or enjoy whatever activities catch your interest can be a valuable commodity. We use backpacks for many reasons, some very important and some just casually. The variety of things we keep in our backpacks is wide and varied. Still, no matter what is in there the thought of it getting wet usually worries most of us.

For this reason backpack makers have found ways to keep water and moisture out of backpacks through new innovations in materials and backpack design/layout. I should make note firstly that most backpacks are not completely waterproof. There are so many seams, pockets, zippers, pouches, etc that making it completely waterproof would be very difficult. So instead of trying to make the whole thing waterproof, only certain key areas are. For example zippers are sealed up, and pouches are made with single piece sections to avoid seams. An easier way to protect a backpack is, instead of trying to seal up all the zippers, seams and pockets, is to include a single waterproof cover that can be draped over the whole pack thus protecting it. Many backpacks come with this option.

The beauty of backpacks is that they coincide with most fashion ideals. Designs, colors, layouts, styles, and even themes are all given a flavor of variety to accommodate your likes and interests. Maybe you have need of only a few pockets and storage areas. Perhaps red is more favorable than black. Do you fancy a shoulder slung pack, or a more traditional backpack? Feel like representing your favorite sports team while you run around? All these are possibilities. So shop around and see whats available.

Rain or shine, when school calls we better go if we want to get a passing grade. Walking between classes exposes us to the elements and if it's raining then we'd better hope we have some protection.

An umbrella is great, but it's hard to cover everywhere at once and when the wind blows we still get wet! So what to do?

The best course of action is a second line of defense. Rain clothes keep us dry, but what about our school supplies and papers? Regular backpacks won't keep them completely dry! The best thing to get is a waterproof backpack.

Books and paper do not respond well to water. The ink or pencil marks will run and the paper will deteriorate and fall apart. This needs to be protected.

Laptops and electronics are very common place it today's schools. These, just like paper, also do not respond well to water or moisture. I'd venture to say that more work is done today on computers than with regular paper so they need to be protected more so.

A waterproof backpack specifically for school is a life saver. They are designed with specific pouches for laptops, mp3 players, drink holders, and spaces for books and pencils. The important sections are sealed off to keep water out and other sections may have covers to keep water out.

Waterproof backpacks for hiking will tend to be a bit different than ones used for school or ordinary work. These are designed for outdoor use and thus are more rugged, maybe a bit bigger, and set up differently.

The need for a waterproof backpack for school is not so obvious, but for hiking it becomes apparent. When outdoors we are more likely to run into adverse weather conditions. A nasty rain can quickly ruin a day outdoors. If the plan called for an extensive camping trip, then being caught in a rain and having the stuff in the backpack get soaked would make the most stout heated outdoors man frustrated.

As I said above the design for hiking backpacks will be different based on their use. An ordinary backpack would work fine for a quick hike, but for extended several mile long hikes, day trips, or extended multi-day trips a more sturdy design is necessary. The design is different to accommodate more weight as it is often necessary to carry more stuff. They are also set up to make carrying it more comfortable over long periods of time.

So consider what you plan to do then choose a backpack accordingly. Consider the waterproof nature of the pack. How open or exposed are the pockets and storage areas? What does the manufacturer say about it? If it is not as protected as you'd like there is no real need to worry. You have options in waterproof covers that you can drape over the backpack, or even consider a waterproof back to put it in.