Patagonia Guidewater Waterproof Backpack Reviewed in 2025

A Pack Made For Fishing, Useful Elsewhere

When we look at the Patagonia Guidewater 29L backpack for the first time, it is evident that it is a candidate for all sorts of challenging conditions. It’s a bag that invites the desire to go rafting, kayaking and fly-fishing. But, as a waterproof backpack, it’s interesting as a dayhiking pack too.

We like the design and its minimalist approach, with no loose straps or components that would get in the way of sports and active outdoor fun. We find it lightweight, with smart organizing options, even if the stiff, waterproof zipper requires time and effort to open and close.

Our experience with the zippers on kayak drysuits informs us that some lubricant should have come with the bag–for those who don’t have drysuits.

Our time testing it further convinced us that the intentionality of its design along with the quality of its build put this bag at the front of the pack. It’s got a hefty price tag, but it’ll provide a longer service with more functionality than others too.

Patagonia Guidewater Storage

This is a minimalist 29L pack with a few highlighted features worth mentioning. Its fabric is matte, with the discrete Patagonia label in the front and several lash points for external storage and attaching gear, like fishing or sports equipment.

The rings in the front are rod tube holders but can be used for carrying other gear and have buckles for tightening around items as thin as a trekking pole.

This bag offers an internal organizer pocket that allows you to separate smaller items safely in the main compartment and has a design twist. It can be moved and attached to the external lash points and serve as external storage if easy access to essentials or tools is needed.

This pouch is compatible with the Patagonia Convertible Vest or Stealth Work Station, products designed for activities in the water, like fishing or for more technical outdoor ventures like hiking, that require easy access to different types of gear.

There is a removable and adjustable chest and a hip belt and a durable carry handle at the top. The shoulder straps are slightly curved for ergonomic comfort and there are D rings and additional attachment points for gear like tackle, sunglasses, or a compass.

There is also a laptop compartment that comes in handy if you are commuting or traveling with a laptop but it has no. The sleeve is made out of very stretchy material and holds a 14’’ device securely in place.

One feature we found interesting is that the shoulder straps have clip buckles at the bottom, which makes for easy and quick fastening of the pack on a paddle, surfboard or boat, preventing it from floating away.

Patagonia’s Production Promise

The bag is made out of durable and hydrophobic materials, 100% recycled nylon fabric and 100% recycled polyester back panel webbing and lining. It is made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory which means the people who made this product earned a premium for their labor.

It has a high IPX7 waterproof rating with a strong drysuit grade zipper and T-zipper pull that ensures it’s airtight, submersible and floatable. We know these zippers from testing dry suits. It’s the same reliability.

The harness system, carry handle and back padding are made with hydrophobic technology that does not absorb water, which helps the pack maintain its light character and helps it dry much faster.

It doesn’t provide much in terms of padding. With a heavy load it’ll be potentially less comfortable than a daypack or some other waterproof backpacks. That’s where we can identify this as more ideal for wade fishing and less ideal for hiking.

Finally, this pack features an integrated left- or right-handed scabbard into the back panel for easy access of equipment with either hand.

Patagonia’s Pack Value

The Guidewater is a well-constructed bag, made to last a long time. Fabrics and hardware are of high quality, supremely weatherproofed and the design is ergonomic and supportive of semi-heavy loads–we wouldn’t like it for walking with more than 25 pounds.

We also like Patagonia’s commitment of returning ‘1% of Sales to the Preservation and Restoration of the Natural Environment Program’.

Their approach promotes a more sustainable consumption and includes repairing items already bought. This ‘Product Repair Program’ makes repairs possible and easier than before, so you can request a repair on their website.

They also have an ‘Ironclad Guarantee’, which states that if you are not satisfied with a product or if it does not perform to your satisfaction, you have the possibility to return, repair, replace or get a refund for it.

This also does much to entice consumers away from more disposable products.

Alternative Waterproof Submersible Backpacks

We got to test a few top-brand and budget waterproof submersibles for this guide.

The Guidewater 29L passed the submersion and float test with flying colors, to be honest, but equally did the Fogland Waterproof Backpack, which is slightly more affordable and has a few more pockets.

The Yeti Panga 28L is very similar to the above and equally pricey, but if cost is an issue, there are more budget options that perform well.

Earth Pak has several different options in the waterproof gear category, with the Earth Pak Summit available at 35L, 55L and a whopping 85L capacity, but be prepared for a bit of fraying at the seams with that one. It is priced much lower and is a safe and abrasion-resistant rolltop alternative.

We’re also extremely fond of the lightweight Big River from Sea to Summit. It’s even lighter, partly because it has less back padding than the Guidewater. It’s more of a dry bag backpack, but a good one at that.

Do We Recommend It?

We like the Guidewater pack and see how it is a convenient piece of gear to have. We also find it useful for different types of outdoor activities other than wade fishing. It’s as expensive as the Panga, but as much a commitment or an investment in the continued use of doing something you like.

That investment is paid back in durability.

Its material is durable but stiff, which makes it appear indented when it is not full. This is a single-compartment bag and although the smaller internal pockets are convenient, having a few packing cubes for additional organizing might be a good idea.

The zippers need a bit of a pull to close and secure to the end, which is essential to keep it airtight. You need to hold onto the external lash points or the carry handle when zipping, to counter the pull and that needs a bit of practice.

Some other brands include the drysuit grade zipper lubricant in the purchase and at this price, we would hope that Patagonia would too, but you have to buy it separately and in the case of the Guidewater, we feel it is needed to make handling a bit easier.

Other than that, we absolutely recommend it if you are up for the cost. It will hold well against rough handling and difficult all-weather terrain, while its capacity and internal and external storage definitely add to its value.

This pack is on our kayak camping list and one of our editors will take it sailing this summer for its reliability. We’ll update the guide afterward.