<p>Pouring rain + walking + backpack = damaged books </p>
<p>This happened to my daughter.</p>
<p>Anybody have suggestions for a REALLY waterproof backpack?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Timbuk2 Messenger is my first choice.</p>
<p>Cheap poncho--throw it over self and backpack. Works when cycling too.</p>
<p>fyi - if you put paper towel between the pages you can spare the books some damage. (this is of course what to do after they've gotten wet.)</p>
<p>Cheap alternative: put books in plastic bag and bag in knapsack.</p>
<p>Rip open a big garbage bag and wear it over everything. I do things like this.</p>
<p>My son had a backpack that came with it's own raincoat thingie. I don't think he ever bothered to use it.</p>
<p>Umbrella, anyone?</p>
<p>I think it would look a little weird if you were carrying a dry bag, which is usually used for paddling trips, around campus...</p>
<p>The North Face makes a messenger bag made out of PVC, which would stay dry but be more stylish than a dry bag.</p>
<p>my Ds carry a couple of plastic bags in the bottom of their book bags, just in case</p>
<p>You could also try a purpose-made rain cover like backpackers use: <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/738948%5B/url%5D">http://www.rei.com/product/738948</a>. The link is to a smaller daypack/summit bag size cover.</p>
<p>Keep one of those small collapsible umbrellas in bottom or side pocket of backpack -- then child and backpack stay dry.</p>
<p>Also, I think Scotchguard still makes a waterproofing spray. I have a can - it has green or blue plaid on it (instead of red plaid).</p>
<p>BTW... That must have been some downpour! Usually rain sort of slides off backpacks without soaking contents. Was her zipper unzipped a bit?? If she's the type not to fully close her backpack (like my son is) then an umbrella will likely be her best choice.</p>
<p>I want to know what kind of backpack the OP had so I can stay away from that one! Everyone in this family has LLBean packs...never have had a problem with wet contents even in torrential rain.</p>
<p>Thanks, everybody for your help. Yeah, it was a sudden torrential downpour. That bag is long gone.</p>
<p>I got an EMS daypack a few years ago that has a built-in rainfly that zips into a small pocket when not in use... I thought it was useless when I bought it, but it's the best thing that ever happened to me (and my water-susceptible books and electronics). The regular backpack sans rainfly is fine for the majority of rainy days, but I do a lot of walking and the rainfly really comes in handy for that inevitable biblical-wrath-style downpour that happens in the middle of a half hour walk across campus (like this morning, except it was only a 15 minute walk :))</p>
<p>So basically, that's my recommendation: regular daypack-style backpack with a stowable rainfly, if you can find it. If not, garbage bags or a poncho that can go over both backpack and pack mule.</p>
<p>I was reading this thread earlier today, and then lo and behold. DS2 comes to me 20 minutes ago bemoaning the state of his soggy backpack and books. Anyone have a cure for smashed banana in the bottom of one's bag? ;)</p>
<p>The banana at the bottom of the bag would be smashed no matter what the weather and the rainproofing or lack thereof of backpacks. The only cure? Remember to put the banana on TOP! Or maybe in a different compartment.</p>
<p>For keeping things dry, this Targus book bag seems to have a rainfly:</p>
<p>Try one of the backpacks from Mountain Hardware or a Patagonia one. The Patagonia bags are pricey but they wear like iron and are warranteed forever</p>
<p>The banana was at the top of the book bag...it's just that he has 30 lbs. of stuff in said book bag and no locker, so the banana had no chance! ;)</p>