Waterproof daypacks for your everyday commute

Daily life rarely goes to plan. In the morning you cycle to the office, at lunchtime your laptop and papers come along, and in the evening there's maybe some shopping or a detour through town. The things you most want to protect on the way are often the most delicate ones: laptop, tablet, documents or other electronics.

A waterproof rucksack means you don't have to think about any of that. Pack your things and stop worrying whether the sky looks like sunshine or showers. Spray from the front wheel, a wet platform or a sudden downpour stay outside, while everything important stays dry and protected inside.

Both models, the Commuter Rolltop 25 WP and the Commuter Rolltop 30 WP, share the same well-thought-out design. At the top sits a waterproof roll-top closure: you roll the opening down and buckle it shut instead of relying on a zip. No water gets into the main compartment from above.

Then there are the waterproof welded seams. They are particularly strong and let no water through where the panels meet. Both packs are made from a tough 420 den nylon TPU (100% polyamide), which a PU and TPU coating makes waterproof and suitable for welding. The water-repellent finish is PFC/PFAS-free: according to Tatonka, no fluorocarbon compounds are used in the dirt- and water-repellent treatment.

Tatonka designs both models as bike and courier packs, which makes them the obvious choice for cycle commuters. Chest and hip straps keep the pack close to your body, and reflective details on the front and shoulder straps help you be seen in traffic. After all, not every commute waits for dry weather.

The same strengths work just as well on the bus, the train or at university. Laptop sleeve, roll-top, tough fabric and practical volumes of 25 or 30 litres suit any daily route through town. And because the 30 WP holds a little more, it also works for short trips where work, sport and free time end up in one pack.

Technically the two packs are very similar. The difference lies mainly in volume and front features. With 25 litres and 1.2 kg, the 25 WP is the more compact option for your daily route. Its flat front pocket has a waterproof zip, and laser-cut attachment points on the sides hold extra gear.

The 30 WP adds five litres of space and weighs only slightly more at 1.28 kg. It also has a multifunction panel on the front and a front pocket with laser-cut slots and a reversible reflective or neon panel.

If you're on the move a lot, you don't want to arrive at the office with a soaked back. Both models use the Vent Comfort back system, with a central ventilation channel, a breathable AirMesh cover and two foam pads at the sides. That helps air circulate along your back and makes the pack more comfortable when you're active.

On top of that come shaped, padded shoulder straps, load adjuster straps, a height-adjustable chest strap and a removable hip belt. They keep the pack close to your body, and Tatonka specifically says the 25 WP sits firmly on your back when cycling. In the darker months, the reflective details on the front and shoulder straps are a real plus.