Packing for the Monsoon

Between June and September the question stops being how much you can carry and starts being how fast it dries. We pack a dry bag inside the main compartment rather than trusting a rain cover alone — covers protect the shell, not the seams. Roll, do not fold: a rolled shirt survives a soaked pannier far better than a folded one. And leave the leather at home; canvas and recycled nylon forgive a week of damp that leather simply does not.