A backpack comprising: a backpack body to be located adjacent to a back of a user of the backpack while the backpack is worn by the user, the backpack body being constructed of flexible fabric and including at least one hollow interior that forms a closable body compartment to receive articles therein; shoulder straps to be located over a shoulder of the user while the backpack is worn by the user, the shoulder straps being attached to the backpack body at an upper, as defined while the backpack is worn by the user, portion of the backpack and extending down and away from the upper portion; a haul strap handle to be grasped by a hand of the user to pick-up the backpack, the haul strap handle being located at the upper portion of the backpack and attached to the backpack body , the haul strap handle including a hollow interior and a closure so as form a selectively openable rain cover storage compartment , the rain cover storage compartment being separate from and outside of the body compartment of the backpack body to avoid possible contamination into the body compartment of the backpack body from the rain cover storage compartment ; and a rain cover configured and sized to cover at least the backpack body , the rain cover having at least a deployed condition in which the rain cover extends from the top portion downwardly to cover over the entire backpack body to protect the backpack body and the articles contained within the backpack body from precipitation while the backpack is worn by the user during precipitation, and the rain cover having at least a stowed condition within the rain cover storage compartment of the haul strap handle to provide padding to the haul strap handle when the hand of the user grasps the haul strap handle to pick-up the backpack. a backpack body to be located adjacent to a back of a user of the backpack while the backpack is worn by the user, the backpack body being constructed of flexible fabric and including at least one hollow interior that forms a closable body compartment to receive articles therein; shoulder straps to be located over a shoulder of the user while the backpack is worn by the user, the shoulder straps being attached to the backpack body at an upper, as defined while the backpack is worn by the user, portion of the backpack and extending down and away from the upper portion; a haul strap handle to be grasped by a hand of the user to pick-up the backpack, the haul strap handle being located at the upper portion of the backpack and attached to the backpack body , the haul strap handle including a hollow interior and a closure so as form a selectively openable rain cover storage compartment , the rain cover storage compartment being separate from and outside of the body compartment of the backpack body to avoid possible contamination into the body compartment of the backpack body from the rain cover storage compartment ; and a rain cover configured and sized to cover at least the backpack body , the rain cover having at least a deployed condition in which the rain cover extends from the top portion downwardly to cover over the entire backpack body to protect the backpack body and the articles contained within the backpack body from precipitation while the backpack is worn by the user during precipitation, and the rain cover having at least a stowed condition within the rain cover storage compartment of the haul strap handle to provide padding to the haul strap handle when the hand of the user grasps the haul strap handle to pick-up the backpack. <EOS>