The differences between Waterproof, Water Repellent & Water Resistant bags.

Don’t find out the hard way that your backpack won’t keep your belonging dry. There are big differences between waterproof, water repellent and water resistant. Find out what they are – and why you should care.

Ever invested in a jacket or a backpack thinking it would keep you and your things dry in a downpour only to find out – the hard way – that it doesn’t? When it comes to water, the fact is not all backpacks are created equal. There are significant differences between waterproof, water repellent and water resistant.

So, let’s break down what waterproof, water repellent and water resistant actually mean. And figure out which is right for you.
 

Water Resistance

This offers the lowest level of water protection. If a garment resists water, it is usually because the fabric itself is acting as the barrier between your items and a light rain shower. Tightly woven fabrics offer a degree of water resistance because it takes some time for water to seep through the material. With the addition of a coating or impregnation however, you can make the fabric water repellent. 

Water Repellent

Water repellency is a step up from water resistance, which means water cannot easily penetrate the material. Instead, water beads on the outside. The technical term for this is “hydrophobic”. 

You can also enhance the water repellency of a fabric with impregnation coatings. The G-1000 Eco material for example, is a densely woven blend of organic cotton and recycled polyester that offers some water resistance. If you coat the material with Greenland Wax however, it becomes water repellent. (Greenland Wax also prolongs your garment’s life span by making the fabric more durable, but that’s another story.)

Waterproof

But what if the skies opened up and released a torrent of rain? Hopefully you are wearing a waterproof backpack, because the added pressure of an intense shower would make water seep through the fabric to your belonging.

The amount of pressure you can apply to a fabric before water start sipping through varies, but you can easily find such information by checking a backpack water column. The High Coast Packs Collection for example, use 100% recycled nylon with a water column of 10,000 millimetres. That means you would only start getting wet if a single point of the backpack was hit with a 10-metre column of water. That is a lot of water.

But do note that the material is waterproof but the zipper & other construction of the backpack doesn't, hence, we don't call this a waterproof backpack but a backpack with waterproof material that provide you the necessary function for everyday & outdoor use. 

All that being said, what kind of backpack are suitable for you? Waterproof or water resistance?

First, you need to understand your need. Ask yourself what activities & where will you use this backpack most frequently.

If you need a comfortable backpack for daily commute, hitting to the gym & travelling occasionally, a G-1000 material backpack would best fit your needs, with the flexibility to apply wax to make it water repellent when you need, or just use it as itself, which is already water resistance that can withstand light rains.

 

Shop our Fjällräven Collection. 

March 03, 2022
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