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Pack liner vs. Pack cover


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  • #1230351
    Ed Barkowski
    Spectator

    @edbarkowski

    What is preferred (or more worth its weight) on a trail such as the AT, a pack LINER or COVER? Or BOTH?

    Please give specifics when possible.

    Note: My pack is the GG Nimbus Meridian.

    Thanks all!

    #1444508
    Michael Davis
    Member

    @mad777

    Locale: South Florida

    Ed,

    I hike in Florida or New England and sometimes the Blue Ridge in NC, all potentially wet environments. I have tried all combinations and have settled on wearing a poncho that will cover my pack. Also, all items inside the pack that need to stay dry are in waterproof stuff sacks.

    I found that pack covers are a gereral pain, they don't completely cover the pack, they come off easily, they are not very durable in a forested environment.

    I tried pack liners and found that they frustrate me when digging for my gear. It's amazing how they seem to fold over and hide the very item that I am looking for.

    In summer, I don't use the poncho and the pack just gets wet, but my summer pack is small and the absorbed water isn't all that heavy. Come to think of it, my whole clothed body is carrying absorbed water but that's what keeps me cool in summer.

    #1444510
    CW
    BPL Member

    @simplespirit

    Locale: .

    I've been using a Gossamer Gear liner and a Geanite Gear Cloud cover with my Nimbus Meridian for the last year in NE GA, Western NC, and Eastern TN. You probably don't need both but I don't want my down bag getting drenched when I have it with me and the liner is only around 1 ounce.

    #1444530
    Richard Matthews
    Member

    @food

    Locale: Colorado Rockies

    Michael,

    Your technique works fine in the Colorado Rockies also.

    #1444544
    Brad Groves
    BPL Member

    @4quietwoods

    Locale: Michigan

    I can pretty much plan on a drenching when I head out on a trip. The system that works best for me is to use a couple of dry sacks. If you're working on a 5-pound list, it's probably not the thing. But at 2-3 ounces each, I have absolutely guaranteed dry sleeping bag and clothing. I also like the dry sacks for easy access and packability.

    Bottom line, using one non-silnylon dry sack for my sleeping bag and one non-silnylon dry sack for my clothing, I have no need for raincover or pack liner. My important stuff will be dry no matter what. And the pack fabrics should only retain about 3% moisture (theoretically).

    #1444551
    Michael Davis
    Member

    @mad777

    Locale: South Florida

    Please allow me to amend my previous post. My items that need to be dry (sleeping bag & clothes) are in waterproof DRY BAGS, not stuff sacks, as Brad is doing.

    #1444552
    Brad Groves
    BPL Member

    @4quietwoods

    Locale: Michigan

    Michael-
    Sorry for the confusion on terminology. The sacks I use are, in fact, roll top closure and completely waterproof. I typically use the phrase "dry sack" instead of "dry bag" simply because so many people associate "dry bag" with the big ol' heavy, rubberized river bags. I use "sack" in hopes of relaying the use of lightweight nylon in the construction. We are talking about the same thing–go team!

    #1444556
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Michael, which dry bags do you use?

    #1444581
    Diplomatic Mike
    Member

    @mikefaedundee

    Locale: Under a bush in Scotland

    Here in wet Scotland, you need to use something. I've tried pack covers, but find them more trouble than they are worth.
    I always use a pack liner, and any down gear goes inside a seperate sil-nylon stuff sack inside the liner. I used to use a plastic rubble sack as a liner, but now i use a more durable and lighter (52g) Integral Designs sil-nylon pack liner.

    #1444670
    Nathan Moody
    BPL Member

    @atomick

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    In the Sierra Nevada, usually a poncho that covers the pack is enough, at least in the summer. I've just moved over to using the Gatewood Cape from Six Moon Designs. Since I use a tarptent for shelter, it's also insurance in case I need to cover my down bag from rain splashes (and can be set up as an extra shelter or vestibule if needed). For me it's a piece of mind vs weight thing.

    When rain is more likely, I often combine this with either a trash compactor bag as a liner; my food bag or bear canister sits on top of it to hold it closed. Inside that, I have my down and clothes in silnylon stuff sacks.

    I've also used a WXTex Pneumo-something (their lightest version, reviewed well on BPL, not the heavier ones a la Arctic1000) 15L for my sleeping bag, jacket (both down), and spare clothes…it's heavy compared to a stuff sack at 5 ounces, but the purge valve lets it compress very well without straps, and again, piece of mind weighs nothing. (I did have to patch the Pneumo bag after a very gentle rub against a stucco wall in Thailand – they're pretty fragile – but two small pieces of duct tape and silicone sealant did the trick. Inside a pack, no worries.)

    #1444685
    Michael Davis
    Member

    @mad777

    Locale: South Florida

    John,

    My Dry Bags are P.O.E. Pneumo-Lite for my down sleeping bags. I have 15L and 25L so, depending on the season the wife's and my bag go into separate 15L bags or both into a single 25L bag. The air-valve compression feature and dry security are worth the extra few ounces for the down bags.

    As for extra clothing, I actually found "Outdoor Products" brand silnylon dry bags at Walmart. They come in sets of 3 at 2, 4 and 8L sizes for $10! And 3.5 oz total weight! I'm sure they won't last as long as the POE's but for synthetic/wool clothing, they are good enough for me. I will recoat them with silicone someday.

    #1444746
    Worth Donaldson
    BPL Member

    @worth

    The paddling community lines their packs with plastic bags, typically trash compactor bags. They will usually last a season. Some of the paddling guru's claim that pin holes are due to abrasion create by the gear. Thus, they advocate double bagging. For those items that need extra protection, Sea to Summit makes some of the lighest dry bags I have found. Aloksaks are also good. The downside is that the pack becomes heavy once water logged.

    #1445000
    René Enguehard
    BPL Member

    @ahugenerd

    Locale: Newfoundland

    I use nothing really. My pack is *somewhat* water-resistant being a coated fabric with a rubberized inner membrane (ArcTeryx Bora 80). Of course, it's heavy as all hell, but the resistance to the elements is a bonus.

    If its looking like it will rain, however, I pack my down sleeping bag in a dry sack, which then does double-duty as a food bag. Could also be used as a water-hauler. Possibly a shower. Seriously, roll-top dry sacks are wonderful things.

    As a side note my girlfriend has a smaller pack by Lowe Alpine with has an integrated pack cover that stows into the bottom of the pack. Really nice and light and covers the entire pack. Can't really complain…

    #1445157
    Chad Miller
    Member

    @chadnsc

    Locale: Duluth, Minnesota

    You use your dry sack to store your sleeping bag and as a food bag? I would be very concerned about passing food smells to my sleeping bag, especially in bear country.

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