Amphibian Weather Defense Pack [Review]

On my last trip, I got to test out the Outdoor Products Amphibian Weather Defense Pack, a waterproof daypack purpose-built for outdoor adventures. The pack held up great even though it was tossed around the back of our trailer at times.

At first, I was concerned that there would not be much room but I was surprised at how much stuff I could actually fit in the main compartment. The big downfall was that this meant I spent a lot of time looking for an item that was buried at the bottom.

Overall the pack was very comfortable, even in high temperatures where I would have expected my back to sweat more. This is a great choice for rock climbers and canyoners who will be out in the elements and want to keep their gear dry.

What I was able to fit in the pack

Even though the pack only has a single storage compartment, I managed to pack quite a lot into it (enough for my 7 day trip to Yosemite).

Here is the full list of items that it fit:

• Small quick-dry towel
• Energy bars
• 6 x t-shirts
• Toiletries kit
• 5 x pairs of underwear
• 2 x pair socks
• Bandana
• Flip flops
• Lightweight rain jacket
• GoPro Hero 2 Camera
• Canon EOS 500D Camera
• Scrubba wash kit

Note: I wore the shoes, hat, and sunglasses.

Technical Specifications

Fabric:

420 Denier fabric with TPU coating

Capacity/Volume:

20 liters

Weight:

687g (24.25oz)

Dimensions:

58.5cm x 24cm x 19cm (23″ x 9.5″ x 7.5″)

Colors Available:

Blue, Red, Black

Waterproof:

Yes – welded seams and watertight, roll-top seal

Features

• Welded seams and a roll-up top seal to ensure no water enters the pack, even with submersion.
• The main compartment is large enough to store a change of clothes, snacks, and other essential items.
• A mesh pocket on the front could be used for any waterproof items that need to be easily accessed eg. house keys.
• The top carry handle is sturdy and feels well balanced when carrying the pack.
• The padded shoulder straps are comfortable and position the pack high on your back.
• The waterproofed material is durable enough to withstand bumps when climbing or canyoning.

What Could be Improved?

The pack is basically one big container, so don’t expect to be using the other pockets too much. It would be nice to have some form of organization in the main compartment. Perhaps some pull-out sections like with the laptop compartment on the Outdoor Products Power Pack Glide 2.0. I found it a little annoying trying to find items at the bottom of the pack.

Additional gear loops would be great so you could hang your water bottle or other items that didn’t need to be inside the pack. There is currently no way of carrying a water bottle other than inside the main compartment.

Final Say

If you need a basic durable waterproof pack this is an excellent choice. Just be sure to use packing cubes or similar to organize your gear. 

Grab yours on Amazon

AMPHIBIAN BACKPACK