Waterproofing the pack?

I use roll top dry bags.

Bunta,

Most here don't use pack covers. Any cover you can wear while hiking has to have an opening(s) at the back. And water will be channeled to that opening.

A poncho avoids this. Some don't like ponchos in windy conditions. I suspect many just don't like the way they look. Recently, I picked up some light silnylon–I might try making a Caffin-style 'mountain poncho' with it.

A liner works great in my experience, but is part of a larger *system*. That is, by eliminating unnecessary gear, you eliminate the need to keep a lot of different things dry (or a big volume of things). FAK/repair kit is tiny, and fits in a little ziploc. Food is in multiple ziplocs, which also function for 'cooking,' and bowls for eating (a version of FBC–freezer bag cooking). Raingear, shelter, and sleeping pad don't need any more protection than the pack. That leaves sleeping bag/quilt and a few critical items of clothing. I just stuff these in a trash compactor bag (large volume, durable, cheap, only 2.2 oz) and twist the top shut. But since I switched to an Exped pad, I've picked up the Snozzle pump bag. Same weight as a trash bag, enough volume for my critical stuff, and has a dry bag closure. Plus multi use.

Some claim a pack cover is good to keep the pack from absorbing a lot of water and increasing in weight. I've weighed my pack dry and soaked–the difference isn't that big a deal.

Others claim a waterproof pack is the best idea of all. The next pack I make, I'll try to do a better job making it leakproof.

A lot of things (tent, stove, pots, sleeping pad) can get wet and still work fine. For things that can't (dry clothes, down bag), I use a trash bag. If it is within stuff sack, the trash bag can be pretty thin (kitchen trash-can bag, for instance).

More so for day hikes, but sometimes on longer trips on which I'm not bringing a rain jacket or poncho, I'll bring a trash-compactor liner bag. They are much thicker and tear-resistant but still much lighter and more compact than any rain parka. I leave it intact as a dry bag, trash bag, lower-body bivy sack, etc, unless I need it as rain jacket. Then I cut or chew a head hole and two arm holes into it.

Don't tie a knot in a trash bag, just leave some of the top unfilled, burp out excess air and twist the neck of the bag repeated. That will keep out the water. If you do that inside of a stuff sack, the twisted neck can stand being submerged in water for a while.

For smaller volumes (like a down puffy on a day hike), I've used the affordable, very light-weight nylon dry bags from Walmart. a set of 3 for $8. The largest would take many quilts or compact sleeping bags. I've used the smallest size for phone, first-aid kit, and wallet – stuff I need to be dry but don't need routinely.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor-Recreation-Group-Set-of-3-Ultimate-Dry-Sacks/10928125

The measurements they give are laid-flat, max dimensions. The useable length and dimeters is less.

Water resistant pack (nothing is waterPROOF, especially with big openings in it.)
liner bag inside

I seem to be in a minority here, but I don't have much trouble keeping gear dry inside my pack. About the only thing that is critical is the down sleeping bag, and it goes into a cuben fiber stuff sack. I do not use any other liner inside the pack, although I sometimes spray a little waterproofing on the inside of a new pack. Then I do not use any pack cover over the outside.

I've been rained on for five consecutive days, and gear never seems to get wet.

–B.G.–

" … although I sometimes spray a little waterproofing on the inside of a new pack. Then I do not use any pack cover over the outside."

Bob,

What waterproofing spray do you use?

I last used some Scotchguard that came in a tall aerosol can. I don't know if that stuff is still sold.

The bad news is that it will eventually peel off the surface. The good news is that it is on the inside, so it doesn't really show.

–B.G.–

You could buy 80 tubes of seam sealant and go to town :)

ZPacks makes cuben fiber pack covers. I bring a pack cover (a cheap silnylon one I got from a local outfitter) and I keep my fluffy and warm stuff inside a trash compactor bag. I figure with the pack cover I won't have perfect dryness but it'll be better than getting my pack super wet. A wet pack is considerably heavier.

Outdoor Research's "Ultralight Dry Pack Liner(s)". When using a lid, the stuff in there is typically in a Ziploc freezer bag, anyway.

Belt and braces for us.
Poncho over the pack.
X-pac fabric (waterproof) for the pack body.
UL dry sacks inside for vital bits of gear (eg quilt, clothing)
MYOG UL dry sack: a common plastic bag lining a silnylon stuff sack.

Bottom line: never had any gear get wet. Very confident.

Cheers

There is no such thing as waterPROOF. There are only varying levels of water resistance.

I use a cuben hybrid pack,taped seams, expressly so I dont need a cover for another layer of protection.

And sleeping insul and clothing goes in a plastic liner bag.

I have a sylnylon pack cover, and for some items, I keep them in separate plastic bags. I take a sylnylon stuff sack for washing clothes, so I use that to store food in. It has a sealable top. The pack cover is very light and compact, but a trash bag would work as well. Most of the places I hike are fairly dry, so I don't get rained on a lot, and never for day after day.

I use a Hefty trash compactor bag here in the NW. I've never looked back.