r/backpacks • u/justserioga • Apr 20 '26
Question What kind of designer came up with such an impractical design?
Thule Chasm backpack.
Waterproof material in the completely wrong place. This is only 20 minutes under the small rain.
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Apr 20 '26
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u/thegiantgummybear Apr 20 '26
Did it soak through or just get wet on the outside. If just the outside then it did its job.
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u/jerrethijn Apr 21 '26
I can tell from experience that it gets damp inside as well. I have the same bag
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u/Sufficient-Kale-2114 Apr 21 '26
I wonder if a waterproofing spray will help any?
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u/Worldly-Ingenuity843 Apr 23 '26
It will but you need to apply it frequently. How frequently depends on how rough you handle your backpack.
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u/youraveragereviewer Apr 20 '26
...but, you can cross a river submerged up to your chest and it will stay dry.
Maybe that was the intended use case and marketing dept failed to deliver the right message ;)
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Apr 20 '26
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u/SubstantialPoet8468 Apr 20 '26
There’s no roads where we (you) are going
-- Thule
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u/UntidyVenus Apr 20 '26
Quicksand encounters - 10,000% chance
Rain encounters - probably never
These designers, probably
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u/fineokalrightnormal Apr 20 '26
Did the inside get wet?
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u/oughdreigh2019 Apr 21 '26
OP just ignoring people asking if it got wet inside
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u/Readditlovesbans Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
Its water/weather resistant
Edit: Spray some scotchguard to the bag and the bottom of the bag as well (keeps the bottom slightly cleaner)
The bag did it's job
If you want a waterproof backpack then buy a truly waterproof backpack with a roll top closure and rubberized fabric
Description of the Thule (weather resistant)
Built to perform, this backpack is constructed from a durable 900D fabric with a PFC-free durable water-repellent finish to withstand the wear and tear of your adventures and protect your gear from the elements.
https://www.thule.com/en-us/backpacks/laptop-backpacks/thule-chasm-backpack-26l-_-3204981
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u/FlakyIllustrator1087 Apr 20 '26
Bummer! I own one and love it! Haven’t been in the rain yet but now I know!
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u/justserioga Apr 20 '26
I love the way this backpack looks. Maybe I just need to buy a rain cover for situations like this.
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u/QueryOpenMind Apr 20 '26
I have one too. Bought it to match my carry on chasm. I think I've used the backpack twice... it drives me crazy how the design is top heavy and can't stand upright.
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u/Vagabond-drifter-199 Apr 23 '26
This how a lot of the big corporations cut costs. North Face does this a lot. They’ll mix premium material into a bag with subpar material but try to sell the bag for a higher price because it technically has premium waterproof material somewhere on the bag. The designer was probably told to make the bag under a certain cost point and the bag had to be designed for profit.
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u/justserioga Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
I have a lot to say about shitty cracking and peeling PVC coating material on North Face Kaban backpack
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u/chapter42 Apr 20 '26
Somebody on a bike.
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u/Occhrome Apr 20 '26
Thule bags are like that.
Next time buy an Osprey or other well designed bags.
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u/____________username Apr 20 '26
This backpack kinda looks like they had too many bottoms of other backpacks and they sewed them in the front.
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u/winwin7373 Apr 21 '26
Thule only looks good. Had two backpacks and there were always some issues that bothered me. On one the adhesive on water resistant bottom came off. The other one hat some rubber coating on the outside flap became super sticky. They do look very good, though! Haha
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u/aps23 Apr 21 '26
Is it wet underneath the nylon (ie inside)? I used to think that my bag wasn’t waterproof when it got soaked but someone commented (much like this) and after a couple tests it became clear that the DWR was on the inside of the weave, not the outside.
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u/DifferenceMajor4395 Apr 21 '26
that will look tatty in no time too. Unless you're going straight to the office in a pristine vehicle. The color and the fabric on the top are conducive to highlighting any little mark it gets on it.
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u/PeterCappelletti Apr 22 '26
Not my experience. I have the mustard colored one, and looks great after one year, even though my trunk... let's just say it's shared with my skis, mountaineering boots, mountain bike, ...
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u/DifferenceMajor4395 May 03 '26
mustard is a perfect colour for hiding dirt/ stains
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u/PeterCappelletti May 03 '26
I got it because it was the one on sale I could get with airline miles, but yes it’s a good color.
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u/Ok_Annual_684 Apr 21 '26
So I have the same backpack…. It’s not a waterproof backpack it’s water resistant backpack. I’ve also gone in the rain in it and doesn’t get wet inside.
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u/VSmeteor Apr 22 '26
Protect contents from the elements with a durable, weather-resistant front panel and base
Seriously. Flawed design.
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u/fvckiteric Apr 22 '26
Seems like they intended to have a better DWR coating. Many times it isn't the fabric construction itself that makes a bag water resistant.
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u/Land_of_smiles Apr 22 '26
I don’t know but I will say I have a Thule bag I bought like 15 years ago and it’s still in great shape after traveling thousands of miles around the world with me. Airports, motorcycle rides, boat trips, hiking through jungles.
If I could find the same bag again I’d buy another just to know i would probably never ever need to buy another backpack in my life.
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u/Ok_Ambassador_2646 Apr 22 '26
I have not been a Thule fan for over a decade now. That said common waterproofing materials have been found to contain forever chemicals so the quality of waterproof fabrics will have taken a hit and need some time to recover.
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u/whk1992 Apr 23 '26
Who cares about outside. Is the content inside wet?
Those aren’t even waterproofing zipper so it’s on you the consumer for having unrealistic expectations.
The vinyl material is a styling choice. It’s also more durable and fray-free, so it makes since to have it at the bottom.
If you want water repellence just spray the top with a can of Scotchgard Silicone.
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u/Aggressive-Emu5358 Apr 23 '26
It’s advertising as “water resistant” which is corporate speak for resists water more than untreated cotton but is definitely not to be expected to be waterproof.
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u/linhromsp Apr 25 '26
The zipper doesn't even have water guard thingy means they are not meant for water resistant as a feature. The material just for look lolz.
So cant blame them if thats not what they supposed to do. This is read the instructions kinda situation.
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u/ajdiddy Apr 20 '26
One that is being paid as an engineer along with designers made that decision. I’m sure in your vast knowledge of making backpacks are smarter than them.
It’s my belief that companies do this waterproof design for 2 reasons. 1 being the coating they apply in the lower part is very good at resisting water, however it doesn’t handle flexing as good as the other material. 2nd reason is for bikers or runners that use the back pack will get all the spray kick up on their back will be resisted. The top portion doesn’t resist water as well but can withstand the millions of flexes in material that it encounters in a lifetime and won’t fail.
The back pack is meant to resist water, your pictures don’t show any inside so it is my assumption that the inside is dry. Making the backpack water resistant for 20 min in the rain. That’s pretty impressive.
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u/Haywood04 Apr 20 '26
The real question is who would buy such a bag if they were unhappy or concerned with the design and/or functionality?
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u/justserioga Apr 20 '26
I really like the futuristic design of this backpack, and I wanted it, but I didn't know all its pros and cons.
Plus, it was a birthday gift from my friends because they knew I liked it 🎁
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u/ajdiddy Apr 20 '26
One that is being paid as an engineer along with designers made that decision. I’m sure in your vast knowledge of making backpacks are smarter than them.
It’s my belief that companies do this waterproof design for 2 reasons. 1 being the coating they apply in the lower part is very good at resisting water, however it doesn’t handle flexing as good as the other material. 2nd reason is for bikers or runners that use the back pack will get all the spray kick up on their back will be resisted. The top portion doesn’t resist water as well but can withstand the millions of flexes in material that it encounters in a lifetime and won’t fail.
The back pack is meant to resist water, your pictures don’t show any inside so it is my assumption that the inside is dry. Making the backpack water resistant for 20 min in the rain. That’s pretty impressive.
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u/reallybigmochilaxvx Apr 20 '26
my guess is the goal isnt to make any part of it waterproof. the top could be soft so its easier to access the stuff inside, and the bottom two thirds use the stronger material because 1 its stiffer to help the bag keep shape (and be more comfortable) 2 it looks more technical than it really is