Are pack covers essential?

[Kainas]

Just bought two One Planet McMillans (yah, much more impressed then the el cheapos previously purchased.). However they do not come with built in Pack covers, so I ask the question....are pack covers essential when walking in the rain (we will be walking in the rain in NZ).

Kas

[norts]

I don't think they are essential, pack covers are a fairly new phenomenon. As long as your gear is in waterproof bags/pack liner you should be ok.

Having said that I carry a pack cover, a silnylon pack liner and then most gear that shouldn't get wet is in waterproof bags.

I am fussy and like to be able to pack/unpack with out worrying about my gear.

I like to use the pack cover as somewhere to put gear when the ground is wet and also to cover pack if I cant get it all the way inside my vestibule. As it has a couple of uses I feel it is worth carrying.

Roger

[Son of a Beach]

I've never used one, and don't feel like I'm missing anything. I do use a pack liner inside the pack though (a large tough plastic bag). If my tent gets very wet, I still put it inside the pack, but outside the liner.

[Taurë-rana]

I've never used a pack cover, always pack my stuff in waterproof bags., inc. in the top pocket.

[scockburn]

Well done, you won't regret. They are quite good without and I agree with the others that so long as you have your gear in dry bags it will be ok. SC

[sthughes]

I use one, plus dry bags - maybe a tad paranoid. Having said that - if I had a One Planet McMillan I wouln't use a cover as they are a lot more waterproof than my el-cheapo pack.

[Whos_asking99]

Ive used a pack cover before (in built in the bottom of the pack) so I can recommend them, you can never know when they will need to be used as far as i'm concerned. Only problem with it that I noticed is that the seam got caught on a few branches and tore the plastic from the seams in places.

[woka]

I bought one after a wet trip when my bag started leaking and always carry it with me these days. I sometimes wonder if it's worth it, but it always seems to go in, after all it doesn't weigh much or take up much room!

[james cav]

My favorite use for pack covers is at the airport. Most airlines wont let you strap things to the outside of your bag eg tents. However if you put a pack cover over it viola. no more tent hehehe. I once had to unpack my whole pack and make an on the spot decision about what I would send home with my wife. Very annoying. I also sue a bag liner just incase. Theres nothing worse than a wet sleeping bag in the snow.

[Penguin]

Pack covers are good on old packs & cheaper packs. Also for the light weight crowd, many waterproof pack materials still absorb a fair amount of water so the packover keeps the pack material dry and so lighter - 20gms maybe!!

I like packcovers for snow. Most waterproof (?) packs will leak in snow. The new Sinylon covers are very light and do not take up much space.

The useless nature of a packcover is in off track - they do rip very easily.

[Nuts]

Pac covers suc, often wondered how many lie at the bottom of the crirque valley or off the side into the lemonthyme on the Overland Track. Many offer little protection from water getting in from the harness side and collect water in the bottom. They suc...

[Kainas]

Thanks for all the input. I am going to keep my fingers crossed and forgo the pack cover. Hopefully all will go well.

[johnw]

Thanks for all the input. I am going to keep my fingers crossed and forgo the pack cover. Hopefully all will go well.

The main thing is to keep all your stuff inside dry bags, a pack liner or similar (or even one or two large orange "garden waste" garbage bags as a cheap lightweight option, but they do develop holes after a while).

[Kainas]

The main thing is to keep all your stuff inside dry bags, a pack liner or similar (or even one or two large orange "garden waste" garbage bags as a cheap lightweight option, but they do develop holes after a while).

I would love to go spend a couple of hundred on dry sacks, but for now I only have two small (enough for some of my clothes). For the rest I have wrapped most things up in those stronger plastic bags you get when you buy clothes or camping gear, and then placed them all inside orange garbage bags.

[Son of a Beach]

As mentioned elsewhere on these forums, if you know any vets, their deceased canine bags are apparently very good for pack liners, and very tough.

[frank_in_oz]

As mentioned elsewhere on these forums, if you know any vets, their deceased canine bags are apparently very good for pack liners, and very tough.

Just had 5 days of rain and snow on my One Planet Strezlecki - used a "dead dog bag" (Nik you are so PC) AND a lightweight pack cover. Not one drop in the pack , other than when I accidently left it open and got a good snow flurry land in it.....
Use the pack cover to keep the water off the pack AND straps - seems to keep the pack from feeling "sodden"

[Son of a Beach]

Nik you are so PC

As a Unix and Mac user, I take offence to that! Or maybe you mean Pre-Cambrian?

ah... never mind I figured it out now. Whatever I am, I'm definitely not quick!

[Whos_asking99]

Huh...good idea that, the so called "Dead dog bag"

Morbid...but good that it works.

[Nuts]

Some of these things are overKill... Sure it's essential to keep your gear dry but even with no protection other than a plastic bag for your clothes and one Inside your sleeping bag cover (The large 'scented' kitchen tidy bags are good) very little water will have a chance to penetrate before draining out. The short answer is No, pack covers are Not essential. Also unless they can be tied around the pack and not just at the top, they are a litter hazard. Perhaps of some use when your pack is stationary, then a large garbag is just better for that purpose. Some of the heavy duty garbags are probably a better option as an inner liner and tough enough to last weeks with a bit of care.

A curious trend (as mentioned)- No one used them much, why now? Packs leak more? People need more reassurance? More money to burn?

Ok, so- if you carn't go bush without one, some tips-
They need a drainhole in the bottom
They need more than 1 attachment point
They need to be bright colours so you can find them and not just let them fly.

I dont know how they keep the back or harness dry, like to see that one?

[wanderer]

I used a pack cover for most of our 23 day scrub bash and my Osprey Argon
looks a lot newer than the others who didn't use one. Also handy each night when
I left the pack outside the small Dart tent. The other packs ended up with
rips and tears where as mine didn't. Well worth the extra few grams that it weighed.
Jason...

[corvus]

The only place my old WE pack leaked through the back harness area which I fixed with seam seal , Pack Covers never used one but could see the need on lighter weight packs therefore adding weight .

[Nuts]

The WE packs would look new after an extended bash'. The new packs are not so bad, they may leak more (probably have more stitched on features), but drain just as quickly. I got a black pack cover with mine, it seems that the pack retains heat and I get a lot 'perspiryer' with it on. I suspect that this is part of the reason all packs aren't fully waterproof, drybag style?

[roysta]

I don't think they're necessary but what I did earlier this year before going on a New Zealand trip was buy a Sea to Summit Tote Converter.
It's a duffle bag that doubles as a pack cover and only weighs 400g.
I put my 70 litre Macpac inside it for the plane flights.
Later I left it inside a backcountry hut with spare gear inside it, zipped up and padlocked.
I know that's a risk, but I came back three days later after a side trip and off I went.
I have a silnylon one as well but I sure as hell wouldn't use it in the Oz bush except on a wide open track.

[lexharris]

Never used one and never felt the need. Whatever must stay dry in my pack (maps, sleeping bag, dry clothes, cameras, lenses etc) goes in waterproof liner, ziplock bag or dry sack. My Macpac Cascade keeps most of the rain out no matter what, and what very little damp may find its way in after prolonged rain is stopped by aforesaid liner/bag/sack. It works for me

[corvus]

I always use a pack liner graduated from orange garbage bag to HD orange plastic bag to STS proper pack liner /doubles as a 3/4 bivvy bag if needed