Ryan Jordan

Backpacking packs often ride on the coattails of their fabric specs. Whether it’s abrasion resistance, tear strength, or water resistance, the extent to which a finished product’s performance matches the specs of its fabrics depends on how the pack is designed and constructed. In this context, we use a simple shower test to assess the water resistance of backpacks, evaluating not only their fabrics but also their seams and closures.

Introduction In 1996, while hiking through a wildfire burn area north of Yellowstone’s northern boundary, a summer thunderstorm began swirling around us, its winds toppling trees in the distance as we hiked a remote, unmaintained route. As we hiked, a loud crack rang in our eardrums, and a large, burned lodgepole crashed less than 20 feet behind me – and less than 20 feet in front of my hiking partner. It was a jarring, terrifying experience. Searching for a safe camp, Yellowstone, 2002.

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