best day pack that is also waterproof?

OR DryComp Summit Sack, maybe? I have not purchased one (yet), but it should definately fit the waterproof requirement.

http://www.orgear.com/home/style/Home_OR/storage/storage_stuffsacks/storage_stuff_compress/36600

Double bag the contents in plastic bags and all packs are waterproof.

You can “swim” a regular pack with waterproof liners.

Why the waterproof requirement?

I’ll second that– after seeing the Sea-to-Summit silnylon dry bags it’s easy. They make sizes from 1 liter on up to large pack liners. They should be good for rain or a quick dunk– don’t know about heavy duty immersion. I’ve switched over to them this season to save a few ounces. With some reasonable care they should work well.

The Exped Drypack Sack is superlight and good for small daypack loads. It has a mesh bag with a dry bag that is about 1500 CI.

Anyone seen/heard about these packs…
http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/prod-17.htm ?? Thanks, JL

Don’t know anything about the pack, but Ortlieb is well regarded in the bicycle touring community for making rugged waterproof panniers (using “truck tarp” material) that stay waterproof. Some people swear by them, others swear at them because of the usual limitations of waterproof packs: water can’t get in, but can’t get out either, so nothing dries.

38oz for a 1538ci pack– ouch. No give-away at $165.00 either. The Exped is a much better deal for the same volume and you can still use the dry bag in your other packs. I’ll bet the Ortlied is tough if you need that kind of durability.

Check out the SealLine Boundary 35 at http://www.seallinegear.com/packs.asp?Action=Boundary&Category=PacksDuffles

Boundary™ 35: $49.95*
Weight: 1 lb. 14 oz./850 g
Volume: 2270 cu. in./37 liters
Size: 10 x 14.5 x 20 in./25 x 37 x 51 cm

I have an Ortlieb Daypack that fits the bill. Tough it is! Pricey, too, but you get a lot of functionality and style. Since I use it in town as well, this was important to my choice. Features include: a drybag style closure 24L day pack that has completely sealed seams. The entire packbag can be detached from the suspension, which includes an HDPE sheet, a single stay, padded back, and a webbing hipbelt. I’ve been using this for a few years, and it really is waterproof, even in torrential subtropical downpours. Comfortable to carry and looks good for urban use (the outside mesh pocket can be detached, leaving a completely clean and simple exterior). Doubles as a practical document case in this wet climate (northern Taiwan).

Also I understand that arcteryx is also making waterproof bags, but at very very high prices- 300-400$ for fairly small and heavy bags?

http://www.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?prod=4582

This will be of limited help, but: I just bought an OR Drycomp Summit Sack (Prolite Gear, $10 cheaper than anywhere else I looked), which my 15-year-old carried on a father-daughter overnighter this past weekend.

It didn’t rain, so we didn’t test the pack’s waterproofness, but it certainly looks waterproof. Taped seams, roll top, etc. It’s smallish as an overnight pack (1885 cu. in.) but roomy for a day pack. It was very comfortable for my daughter with a load of about 15 pounds on the first day(we hauled water to a dry camp)and riduculously comfortable with nine or 10 pounds the second day. But the whole hike was only about six miles, so, again, not much of a test.

But I’m thrilled with it. Low price, high-quality materials and construction. I’ll use it as a day pack and, if I can get my kit down to size, as a weekend bag. And as a compression sack/day bay for vacation travel.