Bushwalking gear and paraphernalia. Electronic gadget topics (inc. GPS, PLB, chargers) belong in the 'Techno Babble' sub-forum.

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TIP: The online Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.
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Wet Gear Weight

Thu 13 Jun, 2013 11:52 pm

Might sound like a silly question but I'm curious...

I was once informed that cotton could "take on 3-4 times its weight in moisture" (with regards to say sweat and a cotton t-shirt).

As most of you would know in the field, the cotton fibes in canvas slowly absorb water, swelling and tightening as they do so giving the humble canvas rucksack its weather resistance. Could such a rule/percentage/measure extend to canvas when it's wet?

-A

Re: Wet Gear Weight

Fri 14 Jun, 2013 6:45 am

not as simple as that anymore. the canvas can be treated to reduce water absorption and it can also be a mix of synthetic and natural fibres.
i wouldnt expect its taking on 3 to four times its weight.
canvas is at an advantage around rock, less prone to damage. and its pretty good in scrub, you have to choos a nylon pack carefully to be strong enough for harsh scrub bashing...

Re: Wet Gear Weight

Fri 14 Jun, 2013 8:31 pm

Everything's relative and obvious.
Scrub = canvas or strong nylon/cordura type pack i.e. original Macpac Ravine
more open type tracks, lightweight nylon is all good i.e. Osprey packs

Re: Wet Gear Weight

Fri 14 Jun, 2013 10:57 pm

Canvas is too heavy when its dry, let alone wet.

Re: Wet Gear Weight

Sat 15 Jun, 2013 9:40 am

That's the reason I'm having a hard time leaving my pack cover at home.
Obviously extra weight carrying the cover, but potentially less weight than a wet pack?
Have been trying to decide this one for a while???

Re: Wet Gear Weight

Sat 15 Jun, 2013 3:12 pm

Get a cuben fibre pack cover? negligible weight

Re: Wet Gear Weight

Sun 16 Jun, 2013 6:39 pm

I'd hate to think what a down sleeping bag would weigh if you got it really wet.

Last year I got caught out in some wild weather 6 hours straight and my sleeping bag got soaked and weighed more than double its original weight. Lucky for me it was my last day out of a week long trip.

Moral of the story always keep your down sleeping bag really protected from the rain, cause sometimes bad weather can still get to things no matter how well you pack your sleeping bag.
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