Waterproof my pack?

You can improve the water repellency with a spray treatment like Gear Proof, but it will never be truly waterproof http://www.nikwax-usa.com/en-us/products/productdetail.php?productid=256. Pack covers fail too. Only a fully seam sealed roll-top pack will be waterproof. Most of those lack features and carry like a rubber coated brick.

The best trick is to use an unscented trash compactor bag for a pack liner. That will waterproof your clothing and sleep gear allow you to carry wet and dry items in the same pack.

Or use a poncho and keep it all dry :)

Revivex is for breathable clothes

You want to make your pack waterproof

Maybe Tent Sure tent sealant Polyurethane?

Maybe McNett seam grip diluted?

I hate the concept of having a plastic bag inside. Your pack should just be waterproof. Extra weight and hassle to have a inside bag or an outside cover.

But, I really haven't found a fabric that's truly waterproof. Silnylon is but it's not strong enough. Cuben is but expensive. Fabric with larger Denier thread tends to be less waterproof because there are bigger gaps between the bigger fibers.

the water proof spray works well at letting rain drops bead up and roll off your gear. It helps the water not to be absorbed. To waterproof a pack is very hard due to seams unless you have a bonded or taped cuben pack, and you can only count on that being highly water resistant.

Thanks for helpful comments.

In the past I used a spray to waterproof my raingear. While I was at it, I would spray my pack for good measure. It's not meant to be a waterproof pack, although the zipper construction suggests that the zippers themselves may be waterproof.

I guess the question is, Is it worth it to go buy a spray just in case it does help keep the pack from absorbing water?

I do use a scentless trash compactor bag as a liner; I like it. However, the liner does sometimes rip. On an 8-day trip, it almost always acquires a hole or two. So it would be nice if the pack itself could provide at least somewhat of a barrier, through a spray or whatever.

– Elizabeth

Spraying your pack with a DWR would definitely help it from absorbing water and help it bead off. But after 5 days on the trail, the spray coating would become contaminated with dust and dirt and what-nots and no longer provide repellency. It only stays repellent while clean.

But I think he old ghosts were made with one of Dimension Polyants fabrics which are waterproof. I'm not sure though. Too lazy to google it. If that's the case, you could seam seal it which would help deter the ingress of water. Heck, you could seam seal it no matter what and it would help some. But seam sealing a pack is tedious work.

Anyway, It wont hurt it to spray it with a DWR. I hear the stuff from Grangers is the best. It'll definitely help repel water, but it will eventually come off. Give it a shot.

One thing about the DWR, is it will prevent light mist from getting through. Or dew.

But rain drops hit the pack with a lot of force, and water is pushed through. DWR doesn't help much. You need waterproof material. Or the membrane of a waterproof breathable fabric, but that's when you want body water vapor to pass through which isn't applicable to a pack.

I sprayed my windshirt and ran it under my faucet on high and it repelled the water for the entire five minutes it was under there. So I think it would repel some rain for some time on a pack. Rain doesn't have that high of a velocity. But yes, it would definitely still soak through eventually in a down pour.

The old Ghost was a VX-21/VX-42 blend. Good pack.

Spray on DWR will work for a while, but packs get dirty and dirt kills DWR. It can't hurt, but it won't last too long.

Running a pack through a dryer probably can't hurt. I worry about agitation accelerating the deterioration of coatings, which in theory the D-Poly fabrics should not by subject to. Unless you get it really hot I think it will be fine.

Yes the golden brown grid portion of your pack is already waterproof so you only have to worry about the dark brown sections. I am not sure you could really waterproof it (apart from painting it with seam grip or something-adding lots of weight) but a spray on waterproofer might help add water resistance for a bit.

what fabric is the golden brown grid fabric? That's waterproof?

Dimension Polyant VX 42 I think. I had a Phantom back on the early 2000's.

The best trick is to use an unscented trash compactor bag for a pack liner.

What’s this about unscented trash compactor bags? Do some come pine scented or something? I just buy whatever is cheapest at the grocery store.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving
Hikin’ Jim’s Blog

Most of them I find nowadays are lemon sent

Some come hideously perfumed and of course the stinky stuff will permeate all your gear. Might even attract critters, which would really be a disaster. Read the label and caveat emptor!

I got a bunch at Lowes that were quite good. My daughter was moving and they wear great for stashing linens, clothing, throw pillows and other soft goods that take up a lot of space.

My Ghost pack is even older than the brown ones. It's sea-green and black with gold trim. Handsome.

The scentless compactor bags I'm currently using are Springfield brand, 20-gallon. The box does not say they are scentless, but they are.

– Elizabeth

Nylofume bags weigh half as much.