Ferrino Dry-Hike 32
£125 ■ Capacity 32 litres ■ Back size one size (men’s) ■ Weight 1512g IT'S GOOD Most rucksacks leak through the seams, but this one has the seams of the main compartment sealed to lock out water and uses OutDry technology, which bonds a waterproof layer to the main fabric. You also get a roll-top closure to the main compartment under the more conventional buckle lid. I like the drawcord to the main compartment so you don’t need to roll the top when using the fixed normal lid. The lid has good pockets and the body has compression straps with quick-release buckles and there are mesh wand pockets. The back system uses a trampoline mesh design to allow plenty of airflow across the back and the hipbelt is supportive. HOWEVER There is no women’s option, no back length options, it’s a little heavy and you don’t get a front stretch stash pocket or a lower compartment for wet waterproofs. In a normal rucksack you would have a loose waterproof rucksack liner inside the main compartment so you could put wet items into the main compartment but outside the waterproof liner. In this pack you cannot do that, unless you add another waterproof liner which defeats the object of having a waterproof rucksack in the first place. The price is high, too. So with the cost and weight drawbacks you are going to have to really value that waterproof construction. VERDICT The waterproof main compartment sets this apart, but its value is questionable when weight, price and fit options are also considered.