Finding the ideal waterproof backpack may seem like a “first-world” challenge to some, and I get that it might come across as a bit pretentious to tackle a series on protecting a host of largely recreation-based gear from the perils of water. Keep in mind, though, that specialty items have been ever-present in the fly fishing industry — smart gear manufacturers make everything from stripping gloves to special leaders and tippets made solely for anglers who swing soft-hackle flies. The reason? There’s a market for them.

Finding a good waterproof backpack that can meet the multi-functional needs of anglers on the water, on the trail, and on the road, I would argue, is as worthwhile as any deliberative gear search out there. We’ll toil over decisions to spend $1,000 on a fly rod that’s designed a built for a very niche purpose. Why wouldn’t we spend as much time debating the merits of the waterproof backpacks on the market that are designed to keep important gear dry on the water? And, I would argue, adding in some everyday functionality is an important consideration. With that, here’s the next installment in this series:

Over the years, as my fishing travel has slowly evolved from an hour-long ride into the Idaho sticks, or perhaps a two-hour sojourn to the wilds of southwest Montana, into a globe-trotting affair involving airplanes, ferry boats, and 4x4 trucks traversing gnarly backcountry roads on different continents, my packing process has necessarily changed. Where I once could get by with my old and trusty Simms rod vault stuffed under the table in the camper and maybe a fishing vest or even sling pack or hip pack, I now must consolidate all the necessary fishing gear into an efficient carrying system that offers both convenience and volume. These days, my carry-on luggage is also my waterproof fishing backpack, which is also my on-the-boat gear and camera holder, which is also my daypack for any backcountry fishing.

On the plane, it carries my laptop, a tablet, charging blocks, camera batteries, drone batteries, and just about everything else I’ll need to get to while I’m on the road. Once at my destination, all the above-mentioned items are dumped out (save for the batteries), and it gets loaded with everything from spare reels and spools, flies, tools, tippets, spare leaders, fly floatant, hemostats (or stainless pliers on the flats or the pike lake),a good, sheathed knife, cameras, and a drone.

Over the last five or six years, I’ve been through a few of these wonderfully designed and innovative packs that serve as my “daily driver” when I travel. Others might have more targeted uses for waterproof packs, the intent of which is in the name — waterproof. They keep stuff dry. But for me, they’re also shouldered through airports, stuffed into overhead compartments or under the seat in front of me on a plane. In a perfect design, they’ll have a convenient laptop pocket, deep storage to arrange weight as thoughtfully and ergonomically as possible and sport some internal and/or external storage for smaller items, ranging from fly boxes and tippet spools on the water, to earbuds, charging cords and maybe a tablet on the go. Alas, I want it all in one package, mostly because carrying two backpacks on a trip to Patagonia, the Amazon, or the Yukon is simply impractical.