AbstractHydrophilic composite materials were prepared by combining powdery poly(acrylamide) hydrogel with various technical rubbers (natural rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, EPDM rubber). The dependence of the quality of the dispersions of powdery hydrogel in rubbers on the method of dispersion was studied and properties (swelling capacity in water, mechanical characteristics) of the composites were measured. The natural rubber/hydrogel composites showed the best swellability (>80 vol.‐%). The mechanical properties of the composites are comparable to those of the unmodified rubbers, both in the dry and water‐swollen state.