Waste Sacks and TC Bags (for the thrifty)

Contractor bags are thicker than the lawn bags thats what I have used in the past. You can get them at the big box. I do not have experince with the glad bags as pack liners but I do use them for the intended purpose and they work great.

Government issue trash bags work very well. I keep one in my pack at all times. I use it for water control in the tent entry or vestibule, melting snow for water, etc. They are similar to regular hefty bags, garbage can size and black, but much stouter material. I use a standard kitchen drawstring bag as a pack liner adn to wrap my down bag in.

Compactor bags are not too cheap and not too light. Probably double the weight of one of those. But nice and strong and same shape as my pack, which is nice because the whole compactor bag can be lifted, lightly loaded, and wiggled into or out of my pack's wide drawstring top opening. This is useful to access my Ridge-rest-as-pack-stiffener separately from my gear.

Placing the empty pack under my feet, some gear can still be left outside a cramped shelter in the bag, or used inside something else for pillow.

Also, it can carry a couple gallons of water by itself, when unholed. The seams are quite strong.

Another benefit – of any pack liner really – is that you can keep wet or gnarly items inside your pack that ordinarily you would tie on the outside or use a mesh pocket. Thinking of a stove's white gas supply line that hasn't had long to dry out.

I prefer sturdy pack liners over pack covers: although your pack can still gain water (or ice!) weight, they provide complete, separable containment and the pack saves them from abrasion damage. Could be better to use stuff sacks; never tried them.

Edit: It may be possible that small holes could be repaired with duct or electrical tape.