Is it worth carrying a pack cover?

[Mr Breeze]

I didn't carry one on my thru last year. Just put a trash compactor bag inside my pack. That kept all my gear dry. Also put my sleeping bag inside one. It kept that dry inside my sleeping bag compartment. So it is just a matter of choice. But they are for the most part useless

[MuddyWaters]

Yes, no , and maybe.

If you have a single compartment lightwt pack, its easy to totally waterproof with a liner. Whether thats garbage bag, compactor bag, nylofume, cuben drybag, or silnylon drybag. They all work.

If you have a pack with multiple compartments all over the place, its more difficult.

The bigger and heavier your pack, the more water its probably going to soak up too.

The straps and belt are uncovered and probably hold about as much as the rest of the pack anyway. Especially cheap packs that may use open-cell foam for padding. So benefit is somewhat limited. Water also will wick all over from the backpanel too.

Could a cover result in less weight carried when wet. Sure.
Does it matter for some small portion of the time, not really.

But the bottom line to me, is that a cover is one more doo-dad, a thing to keep up with, no matter how light it is.
Might come in handy, might not. But definitely not required for a single compartment pack.
I prefer simplicity, minimal # of items, same reason I dont bring my sawyer filter.
As much a philosophy, as anything.

[DavidNH]

LAS.. on the AT at least, there is no such thing as over doing it with waterproofing.

So yes use a pack cover.. it keeps the material of the pack from getting thoroughly soaked. But a pack cover alone will NOT help keep gear dry. Water gets under it eventually. It is absolutely essential to line inside of pack with 100% waterproof trash compactor bag. Your sleeping bag should go into a waterproof stuff sack and I would put all of that into a second water proof bag. In short.. you want MULTIPLE water proof layers to keep gear dry when hiking through extended rainy periods.

Again.. a pack cover alone is NOT adequate. Double triple and quadruple water proof protection for essential gear like sleeping bag and some clothes. A soggy sleeping bag could be disasterous. so Down or synthetic bag.. goes into water proof stuff sack and then into 2nd water proof bag.

DavidNH

[ChinMusic]

The straps and belt are uncovered and probably hold about as much as the rest of the pack anyway. Especially cheap packs that may use open-cell foam for padding. So benefit is somewhat limited. Water also will wick all over from the backpanel too.

This is where the Packa shines. It covers the whole dang thing as well as you. There is no gap between your rain jacket and pack either.

Now, I only have about 150 miles on my Packa but from what I've experienced it is a fine piece of gear.

[Kookork]

i use a rain cover on the outside...a waterproof liner on the inside and put my down bag in a garbage bag....the three layerd system weigh 9 0z.....used this system on my 2011 sobo and was glad i did as it rained over 50 days...ran into a lot of folks with wet gear...some folks said it was overkill..two questions...do you like sleeping in a wet down bag that won't keep you warm? and how much do you recon a wet down bag weighs?

It is interesting to read have a conservative approach from a member named "The Gambler"

[Kookork]

So you may be thinking this is the stupidest question, but is it really worth carrying a pack cover? Someone told me that you're pack will still get wet in the back. This got me to thinking, is it really worth it? Ive used my pack cover before, but wondered if it is worth it on a long exhibition? I was recommended a hiking poncho that would cover me and my pack. Thoughts on that as well please. Minor notes: I have my down sleeping bag in a water-proof stuff sack.

there are many common questions on Whiteblaze but no stupid question. Certainly not yours.

[flemdawg1]

Has anyone actually hosed down a loaded pack and weighed it to compare the wet weight w/out cover to wet weight w/ pack cover.
Pack covers absorb water too. Is it really worth carrying a 3-4oz cover to avoid absorbing 3-4oz of water that'll be near completely evaporated the next day?

[Deadeye]

I carry one, and everything in my pack is in baggies, trash bags, or stuff sacks, too. Experiment! But I guarantee this - you will never hear anyone complain (I'm keeping this G-rated) at the end of the day:

"DAGNABBITT - my stuff is all dry again!"

[Charlie Redwood]

I see mentioned trash compactor bags (for home compactor systems) which average 18 gallons and around 3 feet by 3 feet. I think that is too small for my 5000 ci pack. I also see in some posts trash contractor bags mentioned (used for clean up of construction sites) and that are up to 55 gallons. Both are around 2 mil in thickness.
I just want to clarify are you backpackers using the compactor or contractor bags???

[flemdawg1]

I see mentioned trash compactor bags (for home compactor systems) which average 18 gallons and around 3 feet by 3 feet. I think that is too small for my 5000 ci pack. I also see in some posts trash contractor bags mentioned (used for clean up of construction sites) and that are up to 55 gallons. Both are around 2 mil in thickness.
I just want to clarify are you backpackers using the compactor or contractor bags???

comPactor bags, And the only things you need to worry about keeping dry is the stuff that needs to stay dry (clothing, sleeping bag). If your cook pot or food bag gets wet (assuming your food is in ziplocks or water proof containers), its no big deal.

[buldogge]

Both...

The compactor bags are a little nicer fit for my packs (35-45L)...but...the contractor bags work fine as well.

I stuff my sleeping bag to conform to the bottom volume of my pack, so either bag works fine...add my clothes and any insulation and then roll the top...done.

I see mentioned trash compactor bags (for home compactor systems) which average 18 gallons and around 3 feet by 3 feet. I think that is too small for my 5000 ci pack. I also see in some posts trash contractor bags mentioned (used for clean up of construction sites) and that are up to 55 gallons. Both are around 2 mil in thickness.
I just want to clarify are you backpackers using the compactor or contractor bags???

[bigcranky]

Almost. They have them in the trash bag section at most grocery stores. They are about 4 times as thick.

Right, compactor bags last waaaaaay longer than basic big trash bags.

The only thing to be careful about is making sure the top opening is rolled up sufficiently and that it stays that way. Ideally you'd do a twist and then roll, but most people put too much stuff inside the bag for that. A careful roll and jam method works if you can put something on top, like a food bag. If you end up getting water *inside* the compactor bag, it just stays in there and gets everything soaking wet. Say, for example, if you put your Platypus Hoser inside the top of your pack and the connector comes loose and all that water comes out inside your pack and manages to work its way inside the compactor bag. And your down bag gets really wet and it's going to be like 15-F that night. That might be a problem, not that I would know anything about it. But I do have a roll-top Cuben pack liner now and I don't use the &%^! bladder anymore either.

[10-K]

Thanks for your help guys! It sounds like it is at least worth while using one. I have a large dry bag that I could line the inside of my bag with. Worse comes to worse, I could always ditch the cover along the way.

It'll also keep your pack clean when you take it off and set it down while it's raining. Nothing like having a muddy pack.

[Alligator]

Has anyone actually hosed down a loaded pack and weighed it to compare the wet weight w/out cover to wet weight w/ pack cover.
Pack covers absorb water too. Is it really worth carrying a 3-4oz cover to avoid absorbing 3-4oz of water that'll be near completely evaporated the next day?

3-4 oz weight of water is about 3-4 fluid ounces, which is a small amount of water. A pack will not stay totally dry with a cover but it does prevent a lot of absorption.

I keep some stuff in bags inside but have never felt the need to line the inside compartment of the pack. One thing I like to recommend is that for covers that don't fit the pack so well, for instance, too many outside items opening gaps, that small holes be made on the bottom of the cover to allow drainage. Sometimes water will collect and sit in the bottom of the cover and soak the bottom of the pack.

[WingedMonkey]

One of the times a pack cover is most handy is when walking through wet bushes. I mean over your head or up to your shoulder growth leaning over the trail with the water they hold.

They force water into a pack more than just rain alone.

A pack cover helps add a layer of protection.

[QiWiz]

I have used a cuben pack cover from Zpacks on the AT. I could probably have done without it since I had a pack liner too, but it did protect the things i had in outside pack pockets. One unexpected use for it was as a "basket" to keep loose bit of gear in when in shelters. Helps me not lose stuff or leave it behind, find things easily after dark, and avoid having someone grab something of mine they thought was theirs.