Does a tent/ tarp/ rainwear actually get dry in a mesh pocket ?

It probably has a little to do with where you live.  In the southeast, it wouldn’t dry in a weeks time – and that’s assuming it won’t rain again!   In a more arid place you might have better luck.

That being said, I prefer a more durable pocket material, especially for off trail use.

In my experience, the mesh pocket doesn’t allow anything in it to try – it’s simply to keep it  other things in your pack from getting wet.  That part of the pack also dries quickly when you’ve removed the offending wet items.

My ArcZip pack has a solid outer pocket (with drain holes) but it takes a long time to completely dry if I’ve put anything wet in there.  The mesh is much nicer for that.

Spike holes? What are we talking about here?  What sort of spikes are floating around in the front mesh pocket of your pack?

Agree with the points Kevin made.

Spike holes?

Out west at least, those loose mesh pockets can suffer rips mostly from vegetation (you’d think cactus, but mostly yucca, octillo, palo verde, etc..)  but also abrasion again rocks.   ULA replaced their loose mesh with a heavier stretch nylon on my last pack from them.  Had Zimmerbuilt do something else on my packs from Chris, which are now winter packs but the plants I listed are perennial.  Definitely something I’ll look at for my next pack purchase.

Another thought from international long distance hikers is sew patches over any mesh rip.

In my experience, the mesh pocket doesn’t allow anything in it to try – it’s simply to keep it other things in your pack from getting wet. That part of the pack also dries quickly when you’ve removed the offending wet items.

^This.

+3 on what everyone is saying.  Really, a wet tent or poncho is not that big of a deal.  A quick shake and wipe down of the interior is all you need.  My pack is just one 30L compartment, so this is how I pack:  the tent can be sopping wet or dry, it gets stuffed at the bottom of the pack first.  Then goes in my trash compactor bag with everything I want to stay dry.  Next, the poncho is shoved along side the trash compactor bag for easy access.  Honestly, repairing and nursing a hole or tear can be more work than dealing with wet fabric.  Keep your shelter protected inside your pack.

No issues with snags on PNW trails. If you put a tarp or tent in an outside pocket it will need some repacking as the day progresses or even tossing it over some brush while on rest stops  if the sun comes out.

Waterproof fabric will create pockets that don’t get airflow. That and camping near the dew level doesn’t let anything dry quickly.

I had to throw a wet tent back in my bag on my last trip. I don’t have any issue with stuffing down inside since my dry stuff is in a dry sack, but I’d question whether that was good practice on a multi day where nothing was given much time to dry out. I wouldn’t want the inside of my bag getting all mildew/funkalicious, is that a problem that is a real thing?

@ Michael B

Never noticed an issue with smells, but after I set up camp, my pack is just an empty shell with plenty of air time before it gets repacked again.  I occasionally hang a pair of damp socks to dry off the back of my pack while on the trail, but I wouldn’t risk my tent.  Here in the Midwest, we have briars and honey locusts on trails that will make shreds of many UL fabrics in short order.

Thanks everyone.

I am designing a new MYOG pack – I think a separate pocket with a durable covering but some holes for water egress/ airflowdoes appear to be the best option – to protect the wet gear and still separate it from the main pack items.

I’ll also make it a large side pocket to keep the weight close to the back.

Cheers

The packs with mesh I have owned quickly had holes poked in them from bushwacking. Drainage holes are a good idea, especially when bushwhacking in snow covered trees.

While on one rainy trip I put my tent in the back pocket. It had open-weave non-stretch mesh. I put a trash bag on my pack as a rain cover and I tucked it in so that it would not have any lose areas, which means, no water was going to drip dry out of my tent. When I got to my destination, I unwrapped the pack cover and a large quantity of muddy water came out, presumably this was water from my tent.

I fold mine into a large drawstring DCF stuff sack and put into my packs main compartment. Wet and all. Everything else stays dry. It’s a good likelihood will be raining again when I set it up down the trail. Why complicate things

I always store my ground cloth in the outside mesh pocket as its usually dirty, so no different when its wet. I will store my tarp there if its wet, just to keep the wetness out of the inside of my pack where it would get other stuff wet.  It won’t dry out in a day while in that pocket. Drying is for a break in the sun where I can spread it out (assuming I ever have some sun during the day).  There are some days when you have to stop multiple times to dry stuff, at any small break in the clouds, or you’ll never get it dry. If it’s raining all day, then I have a rain cover over my pack, so it’s definitely not getting any drier, though hopefully not any wetter.

If its not raining, my wet rain jacket/pants get placed across the top of my pack and strapped tight (pack has a strap that goes over the top) until they are dry; and they usually will dry out placed there if if there is some sun during the day, though I may have to occasionally move them around a bit so nothing remains fully covered by another part until everything is dry.

In my experience, most tents rarely dry out in the field – but I’m usually in pretty wet or humid settings. So shelters never go inside my pack to make other stuff wet.

I’ve had mesh outside pockets for years with no problems, but generally avoid bushwhacking. Now my tent rides in the side pocket of a HMG Windrider. So do umbrellas.

Ponchos and other wet items go in the back pocket, or if small enough (e.g. socks, bandanas, pack towels), hanging from an upper strap.

Stuff at least drip-dries some while I’m hiking, even in the rain, so pockets that allow drainage seem like a good idea. I try to arrange things so dripping works.

— Rex

I like to hike with a clean minimalistic approach. Very few things hang out on the outside of my pack. Anything of major bulk that doesn’t have an intention to be on the outside of the pack goes inside. The DCF stuff sack is waterproof and as the tent is only ever damp as I’ll shake or wipe it down. Everything else inside the pack will stay dry.

On a particular sunny day but had rained the whole night prior. Tent wet inside the bag. Wipe down rag hanging on its carabiner outside

Yeah, the mere act of folding a wet tent/rain gear, then inserting it into a pocket means it will take a LONG time to dry…as in days. But, you have to travel from point A to point B.
Just a quick wipedown, in the pouch and then hike works for me. Provided it has quit raining, an evening setup with all vents open usually dries stuff out pretty well. If not, then I can use my bandana, now dry, to wipe it out again.

Many different solutions here.

The following principles seem to be common

1- shake and /or wipe very wet gear to remove excess water

2- store it separate to the main dry gear ( in a waterproof stuff sack in the main pocket or a separate pocket with drainage)

3- open it out or pitch it to dry it fully

4- it won’t fully dry in a pocket but may lose some water

Hike your own hike and what works for your weather and gear selection