Deuter Raincover Square Review

Overview

The Raincover Square is Deuter’s pack cover for 20–32L daypacks. It is a boxy, PU-coated polyamide sack with taped and welded seams, a cinchable hem and a neon finish that makes a hiker visible in fog. The trade-off is straightforward: at 70 g it is a sturdier, better-sealed cover than the throwaway kind, but it is not an ultralight one.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	70 g
Fit range	20–32 L
Dimensions	50 × 34 × 24 cm (L × W × D)
Fabric	70D polyamide (taffeta nylon), PU-coated
Seams	Taped and welded
Closure	Elasticated hem with cord cinch
Visibility	High-visibility neon with reflective detailing
PFAS	Free; DWR finish is PFAS-free
Certifications	bluesign, ClimatePartner, Grüner Knopf
Warranty	2 years
Price	About €24 / SEK 280

Performance

Weather protection. The cover relies on two things: a polyurethane coating on the fabric and sealed seams. Stitched seams are where cheap pack covers usually fail, because needle holes wick water into the pack in sustained rain. Deuter tapes and welds them here, which is the main reason to pay more than the price of a generic cover. Deuter’s own description of the 70D fabric is that it is finely woven, packs small and sheds rain well. The few owner ratings the Square has are uniformly positive, and Deuter’s other rain covers have a similar record. Buyers of the larger Rain Cover III, which uses the same family of PU-coated 70D polyamide, mostly report dry gear after hours of rain. One A.T. thru-hiker said the fabric stopped beading after a long stretch of use and let a little moisture through, though it stayed mostly waterproof. Another said it grew some mold after being stowed wet. Both are normal outcomes for any coated nylon, and a rinse and a dry-out between trips prevents them.

Fit. The 50 × 34 × 24 cm shape suits the squarish daypacks that most 20–32L packs are. A cord-cinched, elasticated hem pulls the cover down around the pack body. That differs from the single-cord closure on the bigger Rain Cover III, which some owners say they would trade for more elastic. On a pack near the top of the range, the cover covers the main body, lid and side pockets and leaves the back panel, shoulder straps and hipbelt exposed. A mid-sized pack in the range will leave a little slack at the hem. On a pack near the bottom of the range, expect some loose fabric that can flap in wind. The Square is not designed for tall, narrow packs, and anyone with a slim 20L race-style pack will find it baggy.

Visibility. The neon color and reflective detailing are more than cosmetic. On a gray, wet ridge or on a road shoulder at dusk, a bright cover is a real safety gain, and Deuter rates the cover highly for hiking, mountain biking and climbing. Packs in earth tones disappear into the landscape without it.

Weight and packability. At 70 g the Square is light but not exceptional. Silnylon and Dyneema-composite covers go lower, and some thru-hikers skip covers altogether in favor of a pack liner. The Square folds small enough to live in a side pocket or lid, and it takes seconds to deploy with gloves on.

Limits. Like every pack cover, the Square does not protect against submersion, a pack dropped in a creek, or rain driven up from below. It also does nothing for the back panel or straps, which will soak through in long downpours. Retailers who stock it advise packing critical gear, such as the sleeping bag and insulation, in separate dry bags inside the pack. That is sound advice for any pack cover.

Environmental credentials. The Square is made without PFAS, uses an alternative DWR finish, and carries bluesign, ClimatePartner and Grüner Knopf certifications. That is relevant for buyers who avoid fluorinated finishes, and it is a point in the cover’s favor over many generic covers whose finishes are undisclosed.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Taped and welded seams, which are the weak point of many budget covers
• 70 g, light enough to leave in a side pocket
• High-visibility color and reflective detailing for fog, dusk and roadside walking
• PFAS-free finish with bluesign, ClimatePartner and Grüner Knopf certifications
• 2-year warranty from Deuter

Cons

• Heavier than silnylon or Dyneema covers aimed at the ultralight crowd
• Square cut leaves slack on small or narrow packs at the low end of the 20–32L range
• Back panel, straps and hipbelt stay exposed, so interior dry bags are still necessary
• Coated nylon needs drying out after wet use to avoid mildew
• About €24, which is more than generic covers

Who Should Buy This

This cover suits a day hiker, weekend scrambler or commuter-cyclist with a 20–32L pack who wants a cover that seals properly and stays visible, and who does not mind a few extra grams for it. It also suits anyone with a Deuter daypack, since the proportions are designed for packs like theirs. Ultralight backpackers who count single grams, thru-hikers who already rely on a liner, and anyone with a tall, slim pack under 20L should look elsewhere. Anyone with a 40L+ pack needs one of Deuter’s larger covers.

Verdict

The Raincover Square is a competent, well-sealed daypack cover whose main virtues are taped seams, visibility and a clean environmental record. It is not the lightest cover available, and it does not replace dry bags for critical gear, but it does its narrow job without fuss. It is a sensible buy for 20–32L pack owners and a poor fit for gram-counters.