Pack liner vs Stuff sacs?

[Ellobuddha]

Stuff sacks for diiferent bits of kit.

I also use a hospital hazmat waste bags for quilt, night thermals and camp socks. Lighter than a proper pack liner but stronger than a standard plastic or garbage bag.

[Gusto]

For the past few years I've been using a heavy duty dead dog bag that I purchased from a vet. The one bag has lasted an very long time. It has a few tiny holes and I've gaffa taped up some of the larger ones. It's not crucial for the bag to be absolutely water tight.

In addition to the pack liner I have used some stuff sacks aswell. I have a roll top eVent stuff sack that fits my sleeping bag well. So if I think I will be doing any River crossings then I'll be using that for sure. The likely hood of heavy rain making it all the way down to my sleeping bag is rather low as all the other items above it will have absorbed the water first.

I've never used a pack cover for several reasons. A) I haven't found one large enough to fit my pack. B) Something extra to carry and not loose. C) My gear stays dry without using one. I do note though that my canvas pack is lighter when dry though.

Having a water proof or resistant stuff sack is useful for packing a tent into. One for the tent fly and one for the tent inner. This will keep your other items drier.


The above however is all old news for me. I won't be using the dead dog bag much anymore as I've recently purchased an Aarn Natural Balance. So I now have integrated dry bag lining the pack. I will just my sleeping bag straight in to the bottom compartment of the pack without using a stuff sack.

There is an alternative that strikes me as being a bit wacky, but will suit some people well. It's The Packa http://www.thepacka.com/
Soon you may even be able to buy one for a bodypack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCSU2JQ3rDg . I'm not so sure how practical something like this is. But it does have nice pit zips though

[walkon]

There is an alternative that strikes me as being a bit wacky, but will suit some people well. It's The Packa http://www.thepacka.com/
Soon you may even be able to buy one for a bodypack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCSU2JQ3rDg . I'm not so sure how practical something like this is. But it does have nice pit zips though

Ive seen something similar to this year's ago, when goretex first came out a bloke bought some extra and did exactly this. He was pretty pleased with himself too. The failing of a pack cover is rain running off you and soaking the back of the harness area, that's where this guy had it all sorted.

[GPSGuided]

Very nice idea and a good system. However, it's another expense to make things fit together. How about a poncho instead like the Gatewood Cape or even S2S's Poncho?

[corvus]

Pack covers also prevent canvas packs from becoming even heavier.

X08 AQUA PROOF works for me and adds but a "tad" in weight to my WE canvas pack cheap to buy and easy to apply ,wont snag and pull off or tear in thick scrub,I also use a STS Pack Liner, having tried garbage bags and the heavy duty orange bags sold in BW shops (they don't breathe and are heavy) but to each their own eh! .
corvus

[simonm]

I have a Packa but have only used it once so far. It works for me though my version wouldn't stand up to too much bush bashing, but open tracks its great.

[walkerchris77]

My dog got a bone stuck in his throat yesterday. $200 dollars later hes good and I brought a dog body bag while I was there ($5) . Will give it a go and report back. woof

[Tintin]

I didn't want to start a new thread, but what are people's opinions on using a pack liner vs. pack cover? I have a Kathmandu Entrada 65L pack I bought last year for overseas travelling which I am currently using for hiking (I plan on upgrading in the future as it weights ~2.3kg). It isn't waterproof so my logic is to use a pack cover. However from what i have read, pack liners are the way to go? Do people just let their bags get wet and then dry out during the day?

[wayno]

liner, no contest, far more waterprood, covers are purely cosmetic, get damaged and blow off in high wind

[Moondog55]

Full size drybag liner or slightly oversized for sure, plus a separate drybag for the sleeping bag if paranoid

[north-north-west]

Full size drybag liner or slightly oversized for sure, plus a separate drybag for the sleeping bag if paranoid

+1

[Strider]

Liner.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[photohiker]

Do people just let their bags get wet and then dry out during the day?

I use a pack liner on a pack made from basically non water absorbent material.

Even if I was using a pack cover, I'd still use a liner. A pack cover might prevent much of the water from getting into the pack in light rain, but in heavy rain and wind I have yet to see a cover that works. Mostly, I see a pool of water sloshing about at the bottom of the cover so guess if the pack is dry or wet? Covers can be easily snagged and punctured, and don't handle high winds as wayno points out.

If your pack absorbs water, then measure it dry, soak it and measure it when it is waterlogged. A well made and treated pack shouldn't absorb much water. If it does, treat it or replace it.

[Gadgetgeek]

Depends on the pack, mine will get very heavy with rain in its foam components. I use a liner all the time, as well as dry-bags. (sleeping and safety gear is all double bagged at minimum) and a cover if I know its going to be raining. the cover is just to reduce some of the water uptake of the pack. I also have used the cover when walking in the open just to cut down the UV my pack has to handle. my method has changed a bit since the thread was started, and will likely change again.

[MickyB]

Even if I was using a pack cover, I'd still use a liner.

Agree

[Hermione]

Pack liner and another dry bag for my sleeping bag. I have a mania about keeping my sleeping bag dry. Of course the only time it's got damp is from condensation in the tent.

[photohiker]

Depends on the pack, mine will get very heavy with rain in its foam components.

Agree that open cell foam is a problem. I'd run away from any pack using that kind of foam. Not only does it absorb rain it also absorbs sweat. Inappropriate material for a pack IMO.

[GPSGuided]

...in heavy rain and wind I have yet to see a cover that works. Mostly, I see a pool of water sloshing about at the bottom of the cover...

Most current generation pack covers have at least one drain hole at the bottom, thereby avoiding this situation when it's tightly fitted.

To me, pack liner is necessary if heavy rain or water crossings are encountered to keep all the gears dry. Stuff sacs help with the organization while sack covers protect the outers bits and pieces, are additions to a pack liner.

[photohiker]

Most current generation pack covers have at least one drain hole at the bottom, thereby avoiding this situation when it's tightly fitted.

A drain hole to let the water that should not be getting in, out. LOL.

Do you have an anchor to throw out the window of your car when the brakes fail?

[paul_gee]

Both. A strong plastic garbage bag as a liner. And a few stuff sacks to separate gear by type / use / need for quarantine.

[Gadgetgeek]

Its not just open cell foam, but 3d mesh, all the strapping. And to be fair, a lot of the times my pack has gotten heavy its been after it was floated. But I figure a floating pack is a good simulation of heavy QLD rain!

[ofuros]

Used to use 3 but now use 4 dry sacks.....for a 45-50 litre pack.

1x Large Compresable vac-sac for my Hammock + straps. Compresses to 3rd of size.
1x Med dry sac for extra clothes + doubles as a pillow.
1x Med dry sac for stove, gas & food.
1x Small for epirb, 1st aid & misc stuff

[GPSGuided]

A drain hole to let the water that should not be getting in, out. LOL.
Do you have an anchor to throw out the window of your car when the brakes fail?

It's obviously made for those who collect water in their pack cover.

[jjoz58]

I used a cubin cover on my Osprey in 2 days of heavy rain and sleet from Mt Hotham to Ropers hut and had no problem with water pooling in the bottom. I also use a liner though to be on the safe side.

[bertie]

I'm with the garbage bag as liner school. Stuff which you really need to keep dry goes in stuff sacks or ziplocs depending on which is most suitable. Even more important stuff (eg. non-waterproof electronics, and non-waterproof matches if they are your primary fire method) gets both (ie. a ziploc inside a dry sack).

I don't trust pack covers. My Black Wolf daypack has an attached cover, but the water runs down your back in heavy rain. And when you take your pack off for lunch or to setup camp, do you expose the uncovered back to the rain or to the wet ground? You can carefully balance it against a rock/tree, but toppling is a risk.