Pack covers

The one with the hip belt "channels"…ID Sil Pack Cover. The shock cord comes out through two grommets on each lower side so you can put your hip belt through. Then the wind can't blow your cover away (unless it takes the pack with it).

It also has a toggle cord lock so you can cinch down the shock cord. I think my GoLite just has elastic.

Charles,

Just wondering if you have considered a poncho that will cover you and your pack.

I personally use that system. It replaces both your rain gear and the pack cover. Also, I have found many people complain about their pack covers not getting the job done.

But certainly ponchos aren't perfect either. If you hike in exposed, windy areas, you can pretend you are a human kite!

But I just ordered a Marmot Precip jacket for my rain gear top (freaking $34–couldn't pass it up). I wondered how breathable a poncho is. With the Precip, I get breathable fabric, mesh pockets, and pitzips.

I know without a poncho, the straps will get wet, but I'm OK with that.

Charles – I like packcovers as well for exactly the same reason; dead weight until it rains but well worth it to keep water weight gain to a minimum when it does. Depending on where you hike and the forecast,you might consider using a packliner as well. Covers are helpful but not perfect. Liners are especially useful to protect sleeping bag / warm cloths. An alternate is stuff bag liners – turkey oven bags are useful and tough.

Geography obviously matters – New England rain can go on and on and on and on and…

> Then the wind can't blow your cover away (unless it takes the pack with it).
I remember standing on Mt Carruthers near Mt Kosciusko, watching my bright orange pack cover sail away over the valley in a gale. I never found it; I wonder what happened to it?

Charles,

Try taking a garbage bag big enough to fit your pack. Put two slits in it near the bottom, but just up a bit. Turn it upside down and pull it down over your pack. Undo your shoulder straps, and feed them thru the straps. Buckle them up again,

When not n use, you can scrunch the cover up around the top of the shoulder straps. When needed, just pull over the top of the bag and down.

The only place for water to enter is thru the slits, rather than the whle half of the bag against your back

.

Bulk coated 420d pack cloth is only $6.00usd for 58" by 36", tyvek in that size is free from a local building site.
Cut it cover the pack, reinforce the corners, and add some light weight elastic cord from corner to corner.
Oh by the way Roger a faded orange pack cover sailed by me while I was on the top of Mt.Stuart last weekend … .

> Any other cover suggestions for a cover for a 4650 cu in pack?
Sure. On our 3 month walk in France in pretty wet weather we used poncho/parkas I had made out of silnylon, weighing 190 g (6.7 oz). They worked very well. They have a couple of virtues:
They cover you and the pack, like a poncho (no leaks down the spine)
You can use your arms freely if you want (or leave them tucked inside if you don't
You can push the poncho off your body if you are gettting too hot, but it stays ready for use

You can see them in my Gear List article at http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/caffins_4_month_gear_list.html

You can buy these I think off the shelf at http://www.thepacka.com . I have no connection of any sort with that company.

Cheers

I've always wanted to ask, and now seems like the perfect time.

We have dozens of MS Ghost owners here. What is the best pack cover you've used on a Ghost?

I have a shoebox full of covers that I've used and have never been really happy with. What worked for you?