THRU-HIKE Pack Cover Question

**2009ThruHiker** · 10-03-2007, 21:58

Trimming weight right now and I'm wondering....can I get by with a heavy duty trashbag as a pack cover or do i need an actual pack cover? A pack cover is all I've ever used, with a trash bag liner. Just curious if anyone has used a trashbag outer?

**frieden** · 10-03-2007, 22:04

Most use a trash bag as a liner, and do not use a pack cover. Some make their poncho do double duty, which doesn't seem very effective. I've always used a trash bag liner, and a regular pack cover on the outside. It's a personal decision, and you have to find what works for you - especially when every fraction of an ounce counts!

**rickb** · 10-03-2007, 22:07

A trash bag cover works just fine, IMO.

**Lone Wolf** · 10-03-2007, 22:08

Originally Posted by frieden

Most use a trash bag as a liner, and do not use a pack cover.

and you know this how? you've thru-hiked a lot? i've never used a liner. always use a pack cover. most long distance hikers do.

**frieden** · 10-03-2007, 22:10

Originally Posted by L. Wolf

and you know this how? you've thru-hiked a lot? i've never used a liner. always use a pack cover. most long distance hikers do.

By reading posts on WB.

Gosh, L. Wolf, I know you get offended by the slightest things, but this has to be a new record!

Congrats!

**Lone Wolf** · 10-03-2007, 22:12

Originally Posted by frieden

By reading posts on WB.

Gosh, L. Wolf, I know you get offended by the slightest things, but this has to be a new record!

Congrats!

offended? whatcha mean? at least you admit you really don't know much. keep readin' honey.

**Appalachian Tater** · 10-03-2007, 22:19

My Granite Gear Cloud-something pack cover was next to useless; water even collected in the bottom of it and I had to punch a hole there to let it out. Water gets between your back and the pack even with a cover. A heavy duty contractor bag from a hardware store as a liner will keep your stuff dry. Because a wet pack is heavy, I also used a garbage bag as a cover and used the GG cover to hold it on. You could get a lot of heavy duty bags for the price of a pack cover.

Everything except for my sleeping pad is in waterproof bags inside my pack. Nothing has ever gotten wet between these bags and the liner.

However, there were some people who felt their pack cover kept their packs dry, and a couple of people swore by their "Packas".

**rickb** · 10-03-2007, 22:19

Thru hiking is about the only thing you can do and become recognized as expert in less than 6 months.

Wish it were that way with more important stuff.

**Spirit Walker** · 10-03-2007, 22:29

Originally Posted by 2009ThruHiker

Trimming weight right now and I'm wondering....can I get by with a heavy duty trashbag as a pack cover or do i need an actual pack cover? A pack cover is all I've ever used, with a trash bag liner. Just curious if anyone has used a trashbag outer?

I tried a trashbag as a packcover- it didn't work for me. It got trashed too quickly. Tried no pack cover and everything inside my pack got soaked. Now i use a silnylon pack cover and a trashbag inside the pack. That works most of the time.

**aaronthebugbuffet** · 10-03-2007, 22:31

Originally Posted by L. Wolf

offended? whatcha mean? at least you admit you really don't know much. keep readin' honey.

wow what a dick

**rickb** · 10-03-2007, 22:32

Just pithy.

**Lone Wolf** · 10-03-2007, 22:32

Originally Posted by aaronthebugbuffet

wow what a dick

yeah. really

**Lone Wolf** · 10-03-2007, 22:35

Originally Posted by rickb

Just pithy.

i got a militant PM from friden telling me to calm down my comments about mike vick being sponsered by hush puppies. said i would be deleted?

**rickb** · 10-03-2007, 22:37

I sometimes write with a lisp.

**rafe** · 10-03-2007, 22:45

I tried the trash-bag liner route. Didn't work for me. It was a pain in the a$$. Silnylon pack cover now, works fine.

**Lone Wolf** · 10-03-2007, 22:46

Originally Posted by L. Wolf

i got a militant PM from friden telling me to calm down my comments about mike vick being sponsered by hush puppies. said i would be deleted?

where is that comment anyway?

**Lone Wolf** · 10-03-2007, 22:47

Originally Posted by _terrapin_

I tried the trash-bag liner route. Didn't work for me. It was a pain in the a$$. Silnylon pack cover now, works fine.

might work for a weekend hike. that's all

**Appalachian Tater** · 10-03-2007, 22:52

Originally Posted by _terrapin_

I tried the trash-bag liner route. Didn't work for me. It was a pain in the a$$. Silnylon pack cover now, works fine.

What brand?

**rafe** · 10-03-2007, 23:04

Originally Posted by Appalachian Tater

What brand?

By sheer coincidence, Granite Gear. Got it at Harpers Ferry. Unfortunately, it's blaze orange. Yecch.

**saimyoji** · 10-03-2007, 23:32

I use a Sea to Summit Cordura nylon cover that is light, durable, and packs into a little attached pouch. I use it only to keep the outer material of my pack from absorbing water, weighing it down. I use water-tight sacks (garbage bags, etc.) to compartmentalize my pack contents. The main reason for using the pack cover is to keep the material from getting heavy with water. I only put it on if I think it might rain.

Sure, some rain soaks down your back, but you do sweat don't you?

If its raining so hard you're gonna soak through everying, you shoulda had enough sense to pitch your shelter and get out of it.

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