Best rain covers for a backpack
The strongest evidence here comes from backpack reviews that mention an integrated or included rain cover. Those are the closest tested matches available for a rain-cover-focused buying guide.
4 products ranked Updated
Our rankings are built from published testing by named outlets, not from our own lab. We earn a commission when you buy through our links, and it never changes the order.
The short answer
- 1 Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 Top pick $320
- 2 Osprey Aether 65 Best for heavy loads $370
- 3 Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III Best for camera carry
- 4 REI Traverse 60 Budget pick
Prices checked 3 November 2026. They move constantly — the retailer's own page is the authority.
Osprey Atmos AG LT 65
OutdoorGearLab names this its best overall backpacking backpack and says it includes an integrated rain cover. It also points to comfort, features, and a strong back panel, frame, and hip belt.
Pros
- Integrated rain cover
- Very comfortable
- Tons of features
Cons
- Drawback not given in the provided details
Where these findings come from
- OutdoorGearLab: Best Overall Backpacking Backpack; OutdoorGearLab purchased and tested the pack; it notes an integrated rain cover; strengths include comfort, many features, and a strong back panel, frame, and hip belt.
- OutdoorGearLab: drawback is not stated in the provided details, so this pick is included only for its tested rain-cover note and overall recommendation.
Osprey Aether 65
OutdoorGearLab singles this out for carrying heavy loads and says the rain cover is stored in the top lid. That is a practical detail if you want the cover close at hand.
Pros
- Rain cover stored in the top lid
- Comfortable for heavy loads
Cons
- Drawback not given in the provided details
Where these findings come from
- OutdoorGearLab: Most Comfortable Carrying Heavy Loads; OutdoorGearLab purchased and tested the pack; it says the rain cover is stored in the top lid.
- OutdoorGearLab: drawback is not stated in the provided details, so the rain-cover note is the main usable fact here.
Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III
TechRadar's field review says the pack has an integrated rain cover and that it was used in real-world conditions with weather exposure. The tradeoff is limited room for extra lenses and an insert that could be more accessible.
Pros
- Integrated rain cover
- Real-world weather exposure checked
Cons
- Limited room for extra lenses
- Insert could be more accessible
Where these findings come from
REI Traverse 60
OutdoorGearLab mentions this pack in its rain-covers section as one of the tested models that includes a rain cover. That is useful, but there is less product detail here than with the other picks.
Pros
- Includes a rain cover
- Was among the tested packs
Cons
- No award given in the provided details
- Not enough product detail here
Where these findings come from
- OutdoorGearLab: OutdoorGearLab's rain-covers section says this tested pack includes a rain cover.
- OutdoorGearLab: no award or fuller product detail is available in the provided material, so it is a weaker recommendation than the ranked picks above.
What actually matters
For this topic, the main question is not whether a backpack can survive a light shower. It is whether the cover is actually part of the bag, easy to reach, and mentioned by an outlet that tested the pack in real use.
Look for three things in particular:
- An integrated or stored rain cover. OutdoorGearLab notes when the cover is integrated or stored in the top lid. That is better than a vague mention that a bag is "weather resistant."
- A separate water-resistant fabric treatment is not the same thing. Good Housekeeping notes a water-resistant coating on the Cotopaxi pack, but it also mentions a rain cover. Those are different features.
- How the outlet tested the bag. If the review only mentions a cover in passing, there is less to go on. TechRadar's review is stronger here because it says it used the pack in weather and checked the cover.
The other thing to watch is tradeoff. A rain cover often shows up on packs with a different mission: backpacking, travel, or camera carry. That means comfort, organization, and access still matter. A cover is useful, but it does not make up for a bad fit or poor layout.
Where this comes from
- OutdoorGearLab purchased and tested backpacking packs, then said some were field-tested across multiple regions. Its page includes a dedicated rain-covers section and names packs with integrated or stored rain covers.
- TechRadar published a hands-on field review of the Lowepro pack, describing real-world use, weather exposure, and checking the rain cover.
What we are leaving out
Rain cover notes alone do not make a pack the right choice. Fit, access, and load carry still matter.
FAQ
Is an integrated rain cover better than a loose one? Yes, if you want it on hand fast. OutdoorGearLab specifically notes integrated covers and one stored in the top lid.
Is water-resistant fabric enough? Not according to Good Housekeeping's framing. It notes a water-resistant coating on the Cotopaxi pack, but also calls out that the pack has a rain cover.
Which pick had the clearest real-world weather testing? TechRadar's Lowepro review. It says the pack was used in real-world conditions with weather exposure and that the rain cover was checked.
Where this comes from
We did not test these. These people did.
Every score on this page rests on the testing below. The ranking is ours; the measurements are not. How we research.
- OutdoorGearLab — OutdoorGearLab purchased and tested backpacking packs; the page says some were field-tested across multiple regions and includes a rain covers section. Updated May 13, 2026.
- TechRadar — TechRadar's hands-on field review describes real-world use, weather exposure, and checking the rain cover. Published October 5, 2022.
Questions people ask
Is an integrated rain cover better than a loose one?
Is water-resistant fabric enough?
Which pick had the clearest real-world weather testing?
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