A wet backpack is annoying. Wet spare clothes are worse. In the UK, where rain can last all afternoon, hikers need a reliable way to keep important gear dry. The two common options are a pack liner and a rain cover.

A rain cover fits over the outside of your rucksack. It keeps direct rain off the pack fabric and helps stop the bag from becoming heavy with water. It is quick to use and useful in steady rain.

The problem is wind. Rain covers can flap, slip or even blow away in strong gusts. They also do not protect the part of the pack against your back. Water can still run down shoulder straps or seep through seams.

A pack liner goes inside the rucksack. It protects the contents rather than the pack itself. This is usually more reliable for keeping spare clothes, sleeping gear or electronics dry.

For UK hiking, a liner is often the better foundation. A tough plastic liner, dry bag or waterproof rucksack liner keeps critical items protected even if the outside of the pack gets soaked.

The best system is often both. Use a liner for important gear and a rain cover to reduce how wet the pack gets. This is especially useful on long rainy days.

Dry bags can help with organisation. Keep spare layers in one, electronics in another and first aid items somewhere easy to reach. Do not overcomplicate it, though. Too many small bags can make packing slow.

If you only choose one, choose a pack liner. A wet pack is unpleasant, but wet spare layers can become a safety issue in cold wind.

For day hiking, a simple liner and one dry bag for essentials is enough. For backpacking, protect your sleeping bag first. Everything else is secondary.