The Most POINTLESS Piece Of Gear People STILL BUY
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- 00:00 Hey Y'all (Clip From A Walk In The Woods)
00:34 The Problems With Nylon Pack Covers
02:31 Dyneema Pack Cover
03:27 Low Budget Option If You Are SET on Covering Your Pack
04:40 Waterproof Your Pack Like This Instead
05:27 If You Want To Use A Pack Cover, It's OKAY!
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I have been in the mountains for 50+ years as a guide and bushcraft instructor. I have always used a pack cover. I spray the cover with a reliable water proofing product and also spray my pack and I have never had an issue with water getting through. I also use a pack liner. I have gone through many a pack, sleeping bags and boots. 2020 I did 53 tramps (hikes), 2021 I did 67, and 2022 63. I seldom do less then 40 trips a year. So far this year I have done 14. I do from one day trips and up to 5 day trips. so, from what I have just mentioned, you can see that I'm not a weekend warrior. I endorse the use of them and a few ounces to carry is not asking too much. When it rains over here in NZ, it really rains and most times it has a driving wind behind it. Cheers from the mountains of NZ 😀😀
Mountainman, Sounds good. What is a reliable water proofing product you'd recommend ? thanks
I guess in the mountains of NZ you definitely need good waterproof material!
You sure hiked a lot! 😊
Have a great weekend !
@@josephdragan7734 Would recommend something like a wax spray. they not only waterproof, but also actively repel water so it drips of. They only reason to use something else, is if you use cloth / shoes with a membrane that allows breathing (then you need to use something design to still allow the breathing part.)
Yeah bro 100%, always keep mine on me. Even if you ignore the waterproofing aspect as a piece of emergency kit they're very easy to see which is a good enough reason by itself.
@@josephdragan7734 we have a few good options at our outdoor sport stores but I had a can of silicone furniture spray from our workshop that I used on an old jacket (thinking it'd last one more mission out into he bush) and the thing lasted another season.
I'd suggest getting a specialised product but to be honest if it's hydrophobic it'll do the job, just make sure it doesn't degrade your kit if it isn't made for it.
My office chair came in a large, transparent polyethylene bag. I used it to line my pack and it was incredible how well it worked for a couple of years...until someone in my family used it as a garbage bag while borrowing the pack on a camping trip. Great, now I need to order a new chair. ;-)
I use a bag that a scatter rug came in for my pack liner! It's been great for a couple of years. The scatter rug tho...the new puppy enjoys chewing on it 😂
My cheap Chinese backpack came with a pack cover. More conveniently, it came in a plastic bag that makes a pretty nice pack liner 😂
@@umaiar sounds like the cats playing with the box instead of the toy 😅
Nothing wrong with a heavy duty garbage bag as a pack liner...
Buy the chair! Keep the bag, return it! 😅
I lived in South East Alaska for 20 years where it rained over 120 inches annually. But we still went hiking and camping. I really tested "water proof" gear to the max. We put the garbage bag inside the pack and then as you said everything went in a Ziploc bag or dry bag for bigger itemsa. Because it was probably raining at any time on any walk. So if you opened your pack to get something out water was gonna get in the pack. I know this is extreme wet weather and most hikers aren't dealing with this kind of precipitation. But I can tell you that the garbage bag and Zip loc bags did work even in this hostile environment.
hello! please witch tent do you use whit that kind of extremely wet weather ?
Yep. Kitchen trash bags are cheap and easy and light enough to take spares. I've carried my sleeping bag that night 3 years.
It worked very well in the Infantry in the 101st Abn Div.
Yes, and it works. Cheap, light weight, and the sleeping bag has it's own one.
Trash compactor bags - very tough, and often just the right size.
Here is another idea that has worked for me. I bought a Walmart $20 poncho and use it to cover me and my backpack. Kept me and my backpack dry in many rain storms!
Dixie tried and recommended a River Country Products tent, years ago. I bought it for my son and several of their Poncho/Tarps. They are $10 and if your order goes over $25, the shipping is free. I put together a kit from them of 2 ponchos, a set of stakes, and 2 sets of the cords for a total of $28. Good Luck, Rick
I have hiked with a poncho for about 4000 miles. Love it. Recently made my own cagoule/poncho hybrid out of DCF. 2.5 ounces.
@@LUCKY_LARRY Well done! I want to learn to use a sewing machine to make seats for my tractors. I started using a poncho in Boy Scouts in 1962. Later, we had excellent ponchos in the Army. I brought 2 home but they fell apart after only 40 years. I loved the versatility: poncho, tarp(we could snap 3 of them together), stretcher, and hammock. Have you ever tried a hot poncho? It can save a life in a cold situation. Good Luck, Rick
I just carry the a super cheap poncho from Walmart, like 1$. I have several home made dynema stuff sacks now , but I use the $10 3 pack dry sack from Walmart for years to keep my important stuff dry.
I did that on my first ever backpacking trip. I didn't have a pack cover or a pack liner, but I just put the poncho over me and my backpack and it worked great!
Dixie, my wife and I have used pack covers since we first got started in backpacking, in the early 1980's. NEVER had a problem with the contents of our packs getting wet, or even damp. We've done 1,250 miles of the PCT, and also done map and compass trips in Alaska where it either rained, or snowed on us, every single day. No problem with our pack covers, and well worth their weight to carry. For what it's worth...... Doc and Sweet Bride
I am not a thru hiker, I go on several backpacking trips a year. I use a pack liner and a pack cover. I treat my pack cover and I don't stay out long enough (5 days max) for it to stop beading water. The pack cover also serves as a sacrificial layer and keeps my pack somewhat protected from abrasions. When I am taking vacations days off work and planning a 5 day hike where I want everything to go right, the extra weight is worth it to me for whatever protection it adds. Once again a pack cover doesn't only have to be for rain protection. I understand your perspective but wanted to add mine. Thanks Dixie!
Good post. Treating the cover regularly is a key.
I rarely disagree with anything I see in Dixies Vlog. But… I have trekked very rainy regions on three continents, and started using a separate rain cover during my NoBo PCT. Starting out in the desert and ending up in the PNW of the states. You’re covering all regions and although I did switch off packs halfway as planned because of these climate changes, wondering what I should do about raingear seemed simple. I had a poncho that covered both my pack and myself, and I carried a REI DuckBack rain cover that weighed just a few ounces.
I like the idea of having a seamless cover over my pack, so that no water would pool in any ridges or pockets. The DuckBack is ripstop polyester, taped seams and coated with silicon. I never had a problem with any moisture getting through even when my boots, my hands and sometimes most of me got soaked.
Great topic Dixie and a big hello from TheCasualMtnHikers. My personal experience is that the pack covers are useful for keeping the bag cleaner when setting them down on the ground as needed. I agree that a liner or a poncho are also great options and I have used them all. I especially like to keep one of those big plastic leaf bags stashed in my bag as an emergency poncho, liner, or tarp, or to give to someone else who may have forgotten their rain gear which invariably happens.
Pack covers worked extremely well with external frame packs where the back of the "pack bag" was half an inch or an inch away from the back of your shell jacket - where most of the water would trickle down. With frameless or internal frame packs you don't get that separation and the back fabric of the pack will inevitably get much wetter.
That doesn't mean that pack covers are useless on internal frame packs. Somewhat less efficient than on an external frame pack - certainly, but it will still keep most of the pack fairly dry. The question is really if keeping the pack as dry as possible is important to you. Personally, I like to keep my pack in the tent or at least in a vestibule and a fairly dry pack is much easier to handle than a completely wet one. Also, I like to keep some items in pockets on the outside of the pack for easy access and a pack cover allow stuff in pockets to stay fairly dry.
Agree though that a pack cover will never guarantee that the equipment in the pack stay completely dry so it can't replace a pack liner or waterproof stuff sacks inside the pack. Any good quality pack cover will be made of coated fabric (or dyneema) that don't absorb a lot of water and also be designed so water don't collect at the bottom. I've used several pack covers and they've all had designs that allowed any water that got inside to drain out. There are of course other uses and advantages too like keeping the pack cleaner on wet days and its great protection against splashes and rain when canoeing.
I'm not trying to convert Dixie (obviously won't work) or anyone else that feel it's pointless, but for anyone who's in doubt it's important to consider how important it is for you to keep the outside pack of the pack and any pockets fairly dry.
Totally agree! All it took was one ill-fated trip on a stormy day in Southern Washington for me to never use one of these again. I just line the inside of my pack with a compacter bag and put my gear in as normal. Problem solved. The pack can get soaked and your stuff will be bone dry! There’s fancier, more fitted interior pack liners out there if you want. Much better solution in my mind.
I've been doing the same for years and it just seems like a much lower hassle option. I've never worried about the pack itself getting wet. I put my sleeping gear in a waterproof compression sack to provide a backup for the most critical thing to keep dry and this simple solution has been through a fair number of torrential downpours without issue. Plus it will protect your stuff in the case of an accidental dunking during a river crossing or similar!
Oh my gawsh, you don't even know how much I needed this in my life. Moved from out West to the Northeast, so my LASHes are going to be on the AT instead of the PCT, etc, and for the first time ever was considering that exact zpacks cover. But the price...and knowing my pack is made of waterproof materials and seam sealed....and being someone who uses the pack liner anyway, it seemed like too much, but everyone out here says to use one and it seems so many experienced thru hikers use them in their YT videos on their AT trips. All that to say (lol), this really helped validate a decision for me, and saved me a chunk of change, thanks gurrl 😅❤
So my best argument for a pack cover is not for hiking but for travel. Getting on a plane the cover keeps all the straps in making it easier to put through the scanners and walk through tight aisles. It also makes the pack look smaller so less likely to get grief for having an oversized bag for carry on.
I'm not a hiker but I own an inflatable kayak that comes in a large backpack. I now have a backpack cover for it because, before I even got it wet, a strap got hung up on some airport machinery and the belt wore clean through the backpack and took a thumbnail-sized chunk out of the kayak. Mercifully it didn't go all the way through, but I learned the lesson. I've since flown with it several times in the pack cover and had no issues.
?
😮
Not getting through carry on customs with trekking poles, tent stakes and knives anyway...
I started using dry bags inside of a contractor bag along with ziplocks and all of my gear stays dry, even in downpours. I started doing this after watching Dixie’s AT videos back in 2015 and then she inspired me to do it in 2016. Thanks, Dixie! I even saw your name in a few shelter logs, that feels like forever ago!
One thing to be honest I would never have figured out on my own was the damage the sun can do to a pack. Case in point, Years ago there were some outdoors people that were identical twins. As such they had identical gear, including pack covers. However one of them lost his cover early on and never replaced it. After a couple of years in the sun at elevation really brought home the point. One pack was faded and looked like it had been through hell and back. The other pack looked almost new. Pack covers are usually poor for anything but short burst of heavy rain, but they do add years to the packs life span when the sun is out. My pack is reasonably water tight to begin with, but when I am canyoneering, read swimming up a river with a pack, A lawn garbage bag as an inner liner is more than enough. If you are going with someone that is carrying the tent, the garbage back can be used as a poncho for the night if you get separated.
Lmfao those are some convenient twins
Depends how hard you use your gear, if you are through hiking it will fail in various catastrophic means long before UV damage is an issue.
@@kaboomsihal1164 The stories I could tell. One of the things they were working on was that one would throw a stick of dynamite over a ridge and the other would ski down the avalanche.
@@Shrouded_reaper Every day use is hard on gear to be sure. However, through hiking is only a fraction of everyone enjoying the outdoors. For some of us, all things being equal, since we pay a premium for gear, if it last 3-4 years longer before decomposing that is a big deal. I have a Dana designs pack from the 90's that has been through hell and back and through every kind of bushwhacking imaginable, but it is still in use. Heavy as hell but no other pack beats it for comfort and load carrying ability on or off the trail. The only signs of wear is the faded color.
Totally agree with your assessment! When I was in the Marines 25+ years ago we'd use the zip-lock bags and a trash bag as a pack liner. Not only does that keep your gear dry, when properly done, you can float the pack if you need to cross bodies of water.
What about your willie pete bag?
@@genekrupp3613 Yeah! That thing was so “waterproof!” Oh, and light! 😂🤣😂
I ditched my pack cover last year and regretted it so much. I have used a nylofume liner for several years now and I have never had water get in my pack to affect my gear. However, I don't have a fancy pack per se and my backpack soaked up so much water and was so heavy and muddy. I think maybe if you use a light weight pack that's waterproof material this is all probably true. However for more traditional weekend warrior type bags, I have to admit I will not be leaving my pack cover at home ever again 🤷♀️ Maybe that's just PNW problems though
Exactly. My 2 main Gregory packs are pretty padded and I noticed they soak in water and it takes them long to dry. I got a 60l Gregory rain cover on sale for about $15 and its claimed weight is 115g with a pouch, I cut off the pouch to make it lighter. Much better than carrying a wet backpack. Another thing is that it protects the pack against abrasions, sand/mud, and dirt. If I'm in some place where I need to use a public bus baggage compartment I will put on a rain cover as an extra protection, because I'd rather damage and throw away a $15 cover than the backpack.
I use one not for rain but deliberately purchased a bright orange pack cover so that when hearing gunfire, hunters can see me mo betta! They are scary shootin up in them mountains!💥🙄💥 Other then that, I just use an interior pack installed compactor bag. Thanks Dixie for the "Nylofume" pack liner suggestion....every ounce counts!!
I use a hiking umbrella fairly often when hiking. Would never use a pack cover but of course a liner and everything bagged as well. Will likely get an XPac 45L pack this winter, but this year I will be scotchguard spraying my 36L Kumo pack for Tour du Mont Blanc and a few other treks. Loved this channel for 5 year now!
Great point Dixie! I used to work at REI, and you cannot believe how difficult it is to talk customers out of pack covers! Compactor bags and zip lock/trash bags for critical to stay dry items have always worked for me. BTW, the “saggy diaper” effect is often made worse by the manufacturer putting a drain hole at the bottom of the cover. Guess where all that trapped water ends up draining into… yeah, you got it!
I live in the North West of England, UK, and it rains here all the time. best way I have found is to pack everything into small canoe style dry bags. These are expensive though, If you are tight like me the zip lock bags are better than pack liners. When you need to take a pair of gloves or something out of your kit you then have to introduce wetness inside your pack liner so having stuff broken up into lots of small bags is better. It also means if your small bag fails, only that one item is compromised and not the whole contents of the liner.
Maybe this is overkill but I think the answer is to use a pack cover in conjuction with liner bags on the inside. When a pack gets really worn down over time I find it holds more water and can get just saturated. Plus you can leave a pack outside overnight covered and it won't get hit with morning dew.
Exactly!!!
Ditto! And also you can protect the pack fron mud etc.
Not overkill. This is my go-to solution for rainy conditions, and has been for decades. Just make sure the DWR on your cover (and possibly your pack) is good, if not, re-treat it.
Great video as always!. My Fjall Raven rain cover is made of polyamide and works like a charm, it doesn't soak any rain. It's oversized and I can strap it around my backpack just fine. I wear a poncho over it with heavier rainfall. A bit over the top perhaps but when hiking in the autumn with winds blowing, this gives me total peace of mind. Love from The Netherlands!
Good points. I went on 2 international hikes last year and I was the only one without a pack cover. All day rains on each trek. My dyneema pack is all but water proof. With waist deep river crossings through nearly freezing water, taking chances on getting gear wet isn’t an option. I’ve had the nylofume liners tear. Trash compactor bags are durable and effective against rain but I’m not so sure about sealing against immersion.
My solution was a waterproof dyneema roll top pack liner. Pricey but cheap insurance against potential hypothermia
With pack covers thankfully I've never had one fail and my pack with contents stay dry with the exception being a shoulder straps. But I think one thing that helps me is I have an Exos and the curve keeps the pack off of my body. I have had a pack liner fail on me so I tend not to fully rely on them.
Yo Dixie! Great to see your videos again. I have been off social media for a long time and have therefore been missing your posts and content on the Facebook pages. I'd also like to add to your list above that, unless the cover is 100% snug with the pack itself, and constructed of multiple thick layers, it is more susceptible to wear and tear from sharp rocks & gorse bushes etcetera. You wouldn't get the same kind of issue with the pack itself as they're generally a bit thicker and sturdier if fully packed. Keep up the good work!
Timely video. After having notebook (yes, it was out of its plastic bag) and other stuff get wet (except sleeping bag in its compactor bag) in my DYNEEMA pack on last year's trip, I just tested it: stuffed it with newspapers and put it in the shower (yes, extreme test), and, yep, the newspapers were soaked. So, not wanting to give up after spending so much money (with about 10 weeks of use so far) I've sprayed silicone on pack, and I've pulled out my REI pack cover for consideration (tempered now by this video), and ... we are in testing phase still. Thanks, Dixie. You're the best!
I'm sitting here two days before my first backpacking trip of the year, and wow! this was super helpful. Thanks for the sage advice.
Have fun!
Amen on the pack liners! They are a concept that SEEMS like a good idea but fails in real conditions. I've used both the contractor bags to protect items inside my pack, and the extra long poncho that goes over my pack to great success -- except in strong wind-driving rain. In times like that, I've just set up my tent and hunkered down with a good book and a cup of coffee.
Couldn’t agree more. I quit using pack covers on my Sheltowee Trace hike. It actually held more water in than it did out. Great video, Dixie!
@@wyomarine6341 I use a pack liner. The cover is basically worthless to me. My pack is made from ultra 200 fabric. Everything that needs to be dry is plenty dry.
I use and love the “packa” by cedar tree. It’s a pack cover and rain jacket in one. Same theory as putting a poncho over your pack but much more user friendly! If it looks like we might get rain I pop it on as a pack cover then when the rain actually comes I can pull out the arms and head piece and cover myself like a rain jacket without taking my pack off! Perfect for areas with a lot of on again off again rain. I love it!
I’ve used a packa for years! Works great. I still use a trash bag on the inside of the pack and have never had any issues with getting my gear wet.
The best pack cover is my rain poncho....covers me and my pack no need to add useless gear 😊
Absolutely! Great advice. I use a pack liner and carry a rain poncho large enough to cover me and my pack. Not only do the contents of my bag remain dry but my pack isn't taking on water weight either. The only downside is if it's warm and humid I start basting in my own juices in short order. For every pro it seems there is always a con tucked in there someplace. ;-)
I saw you using a pack liner some time ago on one of your thru hike videos. Started using that instead of all the stuff sacks and have never looked back. My hiking friends still use stuff sacks are are a bit incredulous about my pack liner, but oh well, to each his own. I confess I have a pack cover; haven’t used it yet. However, after watching this video and with the success I’ve had with the pack liner, I’m tossing that ol’ pack cover! Thanks, Dixie!!!!
I like using pack covers mostly to keep my pack clean when I set it down. Thanks for mentioning the GGG and Gossamer Gear liners. Will check them out.
100% agree.
I have used a pack cover in the past (yes, I fell for the snake oil), but ditched it (literally) after if flew off in 50+ km/h winds. I gave it a go again, attaching tie-down points to prevent it from blowing off in high winds, but that made it harder to access the contents of my backpack (both inside and the outside pockets).
I switched to a large pack liner for many years, starting with garbage bags but they often ripped. I then changed to several small-medium dry-sack bags. They proved so successful on a multi-day bushwalk where I experienced 800 ml of rain in just 2 days and the contents in my dry-sack bags were completely dry!
BTW, I love the shot in your vid of the rainbow.
I have done poncho over pack for years. I usually attach the poncho more permanently to the outside of the pack in a way that I can quickly throw the front part over my body when it rains, and take it off when it stops, without taking off my pack. It is also cooler when hiking in warmer weather than a rain jacket.
Nice tip!
Thanks!,Gonna try that.
I love that you still have the hey y'all bookmark at the beginning of each vid. Love your content as well. Cheers!
I live in a rainforest and have never seen or heard of these pack covers and can say just by looking at them that they are useless. It's like Dixie says get a pack liner put inside but the best way is to individually pack your items in waterproof bags that are durable. at least then you could easily empty your pack and dry most of the water out of it at the end of a wet day.
Excellent information! I've never used a pack cover for backpacking or hiking and I'm a rain person, I like hiking in the rain. But...but...I've recently taken up landscape and nature photography, so protecting my camera gear is now essential. Hyperlight makes a liner that is about $45.00. I like your suggestion for the $2.40 version also, and I might end up getting both. I like the liner idea. Thanks so much!
never had a pack cover or liner a poncho has worked prettty nice for me! what is important is that it works for you cause being wet sucks and wet gear sucks even more
This makes the most sense to me. It's great to bag your stuff then put it in your pack, but an exposed pack gets saturated and you're taking on even more weight (in addition to the rain finding its way into your clothing). A poncho prevents all the scenarios from happening.
@@LP-jn4tw I love the poncho it also keeps me really warm too when its just cold and miserable in a downpour
I've got a 20+ year old butylene coated internal frame Gregory. A pack cover is a must now because the lining breaks down over time and stinks😂. Pack still works, so I can't justify replacing it. Cheap dry bags from Walmart don't really weigh much either and are a bit tougher than ziplocks.
Experience pays off over theory.
Starting in fall and through the hunting season I have an international orange pack cover. But it's function is primarily signaling. I always hang my pack from a tree in camp, usually one of the trees I'm hanging from. And it's covered with the orange then too.
But the important things to keep dry (hammock, quilts, clothing) are in a dry bag inside the pack during the day. Just keep water outside of that bag and you'll be fine.
In New Zealand, you can buy pack liners that can double as an emergency survival bag/shelter.
Awesome that you had a clip of Good Ol' Rocky Top in this video! Go Vols!!
My dad taught me this many years ago. Kind of wonder if he learned it in the army. But a quality light weight pack liner is cheap and effective. Always wondered about why the pack cover was a thing. Thanks for the video!
Hi from UK. The Osprey cover is built into my rucksack and is elasticated so fits snugly around the pack and DOES KEEP THE PACK DRY. It rains a lot in the UK, however I guess I only do hiking in the summer when the heavy rainstorms are quick. Honestly it works for me.
So I don’t understand the point you are making. You must be walking all day in the rain so having a liner must be better for you.
❤
Don't underestimate the advantage of the colours of the most covers. If you are a mostly black wearing hiker and you are in remote places it can give you an extra visibility in cases of emergency. As i am wearing very natural colours most of the time and my backpack is kinda grey i put it on just in case of an accident when i am in remote regions.
The thing is, a pack cover protects your ukulele that’s hanging off the back of your pack also Sill nylon doesn’t absorb moisture really. Sew a flap on your pack cover to protect your neck and head/ face.
Pack covers are great for sitting on!!
Another option that Decathlon (and, I am sure, some other brands) offer is laminated polyamide fabric. It is on the heavier side, but I need one piece to serve for hiking, as well as for hitchhiking (being tossed around truckbeds and such, so abrasion resistance is of importance) and it has to endure flight handling as check-in too (so far so good, but it's all luck, I know). Waterproofing is great, but then again, of course, in continuous rain situation shoulder straps and corners will compromise it. But it gives you time to find shelter or do something about it, such as whipping out the umbrella (for non-windy conditions). Lots of disclaimers, lots of nuances for particular uses, but just thought worth mentioning it's out there. Peace all!
I ditched these a while ago. My go-to is a Nylofume liner for stuff I absolutely need to stay dry. If I know it's going to be soaking wet, I might also put them in Dyneema dry bags for redundancy. Anything else that can get wet (like my tarp, etc.) can just go on the outside pocket of the pack.
I live in Oregon, hike in the rain all the time, and work at REI, I mostly agree with this video. To be clear, a new pack cover is treated to be water proof. As soon as it no longer beads water off, you need to treat it with DWR, like Nikwax TX Direct. A cover does not cover the pack 100%, as you note, and water will leak/drip through over time. You can also try to treat your pack with DWR, but it will only partly work. I fully agree the best solution is to place items you need to keep dry inside plastic bags, dry bags (like Sea to Summit ultrasil) or a pack liner, which is what I do, and most of the time I leave the pack cover at home, unless I'm certain I'm going to be hiking in total rain. One can easily overheat in a full poncho and feel like you are in a sauna, but it can keep you dry, as you noted.
My personal quibble about pack covers is not so much they don't work, or are dead weight, but they are all overpriced. Some packs do however come with them, so this is nice. But if I'm going on a trip where there is little chance of rain, I leave the cover at home.
Good info. Thanks for sharing. I opted for a USGI style poncho. It keeps me dry, keeps my pack dry and can serve as a tarp as well.
For heavy rain I have a German army poncho I bought in the 1980s. It is a bit heavy and really durable. I never used a rain cover for my packs. Seeing them not work for others was enough reason to not get one. Many of the covers I have seen funnel the rain between pack and back. That must be really uncomfortable.
I agree on this matter.
I remember carrying pack cover for my old 120 liter bag wich i took for an expedition. My worst enemy was the rain, and the cordura pack getting wet. Pack cover surely did not help. Part of the reason i decided to go for a Dyneema Pack.
But I recall beeing 10 year old backpacking with the outdoors classes, to have a contractor bag, did actually held my gear dry back in the days, even thogh my first backpack did get wet. So I am recomending the Scouts today to do the same, sicne they can afford, Dyneema packs, or nylofume stuff.
As I listened to you very thoughtful critique of pack rain covers it occurred to me that by carrying my umbrella I can avoid most of the problems you mention at the expense of additional weight.
I completely agree. Been hiking since around 1968 and have never used a pack cover.
I went to lining my packs with a garbage bag liner years ago and never looked back. It's easy, works and definitely cost effective. I have an Osprey pack that came with a rain cover. It's "highlighter lime green" in color so I use it for visibility during hunting season. Other than that, it stays in the storage pocket. That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.
Yep, I have one too, back in my gear closet. Only used it once, hiking thru Yellowstone, it was worthless hiking in a thunderstorms
I only have limited rain-hiking experience (which will change this summer) but I'm full on team pack-liner in the pack. We did this on a canoe trip where our bags got completely soaked but the contents remained dry.
Just one tip: If yu have gear you really need to keep dry, like a down sleeping bag, use more than one waterproof layer. A waterproof pack sack in addition to the outer layer, for example. There's a rule in the military: "Two is one and one is none." And it's a comment to the simple fact that some thing or another will always fail you so use one extra.
Had one got rid of it cause it really didn't work well and use dry stuff sacks for what I want to make sure stays dry. So far so good but am not real active at hiking more than day hikes since I am 75 and am now recovering from a broken hip the end of December. Hopefully next year will be better for hiking. Thanks for the info. Take Care and Be Safe God Bless All
All good points but I believe the pack cover has a valid use case such as a day hike of an overnight hike. I have an Osprey 32L that came with a cover and I've used it multiple times during a rainy day hike with no issues. On almost all occasions it was a heavy to steady rain for hours. No sense in throwing a pack cover away or skipping then entirely when it can be useful. However, I do use a dyneema pack liner in my Zpacks Arc Haul 😉
Very timely video. I was just about to buy a pack cover. Thanks for the perspective.
Good thinking and advice . Thank you . Cheers
I love a pack cover when hammock or small tent camping but not while actually hiking. Lay the pack on a couple sticks, straps down, and put the cover on. It can rain all it wants and your pack will stay pretty dry.
I feel like I’ve seen this video before, liked it and subscribed to your channel 🤔 I hope someone is not attempting to clone your channel since you produce not only great content but valuable content. As for the video I’m a huge fan of the poncho and it’s versatility but I’m also a cheap gear guy who is curious about all this new stuff that replaced a stick you found on the trail and a tarp 😁 besides the poncho my favorite gear is yard waste bags 😂 like I said cheap 👍
I use both liners and covers. Liner is for keeping important stuff dry and the cover is there to keep the backpack clean.
I agree that bagging stuff inside the pack makes sense, whether using a pack cover or not. I recently came across the Unigear website. I’m not familiar with any of their gear, but I was interested to see that their pack cover has a grommet in the bottom to allow water to drain out rather than accumulate (avoid that droopy diaper phenomenon Dixie mentioned). I suspected would not be difficult to install a grommet in the bottom of any pack cover.
Another reason to carry a couple of heavy duty trash bags is as a cover for the whole pack overnight or if taken off for a break, and as a ground sheet under the pack in your tent’s vestibule if the ground is wet.
In the Marine Corps, we were taught to line the inside of our packs with heavy duty contractors bags. And individual zip lock bags helped with not only water proofing, but organization as well. When packed correctly like described above, I've seen 60-70 lb packs actually float!
I use my rain cover for the dirt and mud on steep terrain. And also when putting it the big storage compartments in public transport. All the items i need to be dry are inside ziploc bags anyway so if there's just rain on a flat trail i simply let my pack get wet. Also dries quicker that way.
I still use a regular Osprey style pack cover for day & weekend trips. But for longer trips use a cheap poncho for me & the pack (sometimes just the pack when I feel like getting wet) and a gossamer liner inside. I'm ok with the extra grams for that extra level of protection. Sometimes I'll use an additional dry sack for the really important stuff inside. But then I'm a little paranoid about wet gear when with a group of kids and always try to have some dry basics for if/when their planning/method fails.
I did it in 2001 and learned quickly that pack covers don't really do anything. Lightweight means rips, tears and holes. It doesn't keep your pack dry. Your pack is the cover for your gear. It doesn't need its own cover. What's next, a cover for our covers? 😅 I'm done thru hiking, but you have a great time out there. Travel light, freeze at night, but saves your feet, knees and ankles.
OMG, so true! I've spent a lot of time wearing a backpack (and a wet backpack) and I completely agree. I used to use a heavy duty garbage bag as an interior pack liner. And hey, it never hurts to have a heavy duty trash bag handy.
when i was in the ARMY, it was common practice, especially with front line combat troops ( I was a paratrooper, so in front of the front lines) to take a second issue poncho, ( when I was in, these were sil-ny ) cut them to size, and take them to the post uniform shop, and have elastic sewn in to the entire perimeter. these worked perfectly, and weighed very little ( when your pack is 120 lbs, 3-4 oz is negligible ) we also packed our critical gear, including dry socks and drawers in dry bags.
A friend and I hiked part of the AT in 1976. We had rain ponchos that were made to cover us and the pack. They had a plastic coating that didn't allow water absorption. They even saved us one night when we didn't put up a tent. It came a downpour in the middle of the night, so we quickly pulled out the ponchos and covered ourselves.
This title isn't click bait, it is reality and absolutely accurate. 🤣I never really liked pack covers and I've always opted for a bag liner, even when I first started backpacking. It's also annoying to put on when it starts raining. I rather have everything in a bag liner so I don't have to worry about a surprise rain. I also like to stuff important gear like sleeping bag and my clothes in a dry bag just as an extra precaution.
You have such a darlin accent and are so beautiful.
You are so right about pack covers for hiking.
But,if you are camped already and you want dry straps and you actually hang up your pack just toss your poncho over it,or just go ahead 😮 wear it dry.
I use waterproof bags for everything inside the pack anyway because it's just easier and more organized to use dry bags like that with a few exceptions that I might need immediately that I keep to the outside and in easy reach.
I did lots of bicycle trips (with lots of rain storms) and dozens of multi-day backpacking trips. I never covered a pannier or backpack. They were all water resistant, but never water proof. I just put everything in the pack in a waterproof bag (a small plastic bag). Good for organizing the pack and only got my camera a damp twice. Both times on a bicycle trip when I got caught in the middle of nowhere with gales force winds driving the rain.
I usually carry backpack cover anyway for light showers when I don't want to wear poncho (mine is quite waterproof) And use it while camping to cover things left outside overnight or use it like ground sheet over wet grass inside tent (the outer part without floor)
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Hammock camper/hiker FL or Jungles: Only time I use a pack cover is at night. Use a plastic bag inside and the cover over the pack while it hangs in the trees while sleeping overnight. Plastic bag and poncho while in the rain during the day. The cover is in the pack with the hammock's tarp.
Yes I use large enough rain ponchos to cover myself and pack. And when I am not wearing the poncho I strap it around as a pack cover. Benefit to this is as my outer layers color changes depending on the season and terrain, the color of ponch changes with it. Only have to have one color of pack though and can keep it covered with the appropriate color poncho.
Definitely team pack liner! I have the dynemma 50l one from zpacks with a proper roll top. A little pricier than the film but I tend to carry things like crampons and climbing gear that would definitely shred that film in like 2 trips! I love it for backpacking bc at night I like to take it out and put my backpack in it to keep the morning dew, or critters out!
Although water will still find its way in, especially when you access the interior of the pack in the rain, I think the modern higher quality materials are generally water resistant, and you could always look for areas that retain water and hit them with Nikwax TX Spray-on or a similar biodegradable product. It would not eliminate the need for interior liners or Ziplocks but would help keep the pack from absorbing water. Miranda has an REI video in conjunction with Gore about how to tell when to re-waterproof the exterior and about how to do it.
Think you hit on a point that maybe justifies a small case for some folks to carry a pack cover. My wife and I have super large (for versatility), cheap nylon, though very comfortable and moderately light [when dry], back packs. We are budget campers, even to the point that use one (1) two-person tent for our trips. We did the FT in the Fall and got rained on 3/4 the time. Obviously, due to space we had to hang our packs in lieu of bringing them indoors. We did have a hammock tarp covering the tent opening and a portion of our packs. And from seeing it with sideways rain, areas where the pack cover "covered", the contents of the pack were much dryer than exposed parts. Of course the dampness spreads like wildfire and takes forever to dry. But given the circumstance, I'm not sure the weight of water on the cover exceeded the weight of the extra tent and likely the water that would have otherwise been in our packs. The question is embedded in this situation: From a weight perspective, is is better to have individual tents and bring your wet pack inside every night or to try to go with one tent and keep your wet packs outside? Comments welcome.
How timely your current video is. I just, a few days ago, purchased two nylofume pack liners for a couple of my packs. I found out years ago how important they are when I was canoeing with two other friends on Birch Creek in Alaska when a massive thunder storm turned a nice placid relaxing trip into a whitewater hellhole. Everyone eventually went into the drink as well as our packs before we could beach the boats. I didn't have any extra precautions in my pack at that time and everything was drenched. My two companions gear were in a similar state. It quickly turned into a survival situation. A good pack liner would have made the situation a laughable event.
I use Sea-to-Summit pack covers which have a coating and shed water really well. Essential in the UK and Scotland in particular. Thanks for uploading, Dixie. 🏴⛰👍🇺🇸
Same here in Norway. Plastic bags on non-essentials and important stuff in waterproof pack covers. Even keeps things dry if flipping a canoe. I've been ill for years, but almost ready to go out again. I ordered waterproof pack covers with one-way valve so it can be used to compress stuff as well.
What always got me about pack covers is the fact that the gap between one's back and the backpack is open to the elements, and so water makes its way through to the unprotected side of the backpack.
Personally, use a large polythene bag to line the inside of a backpack, and then put all the other kit in various other polythene bags. I do this because when one stops to make camp - or just a brew , the ground is probably going to be wet, so I can take out all the kit I need, knowing it won't get wet in the ground! This process allied with wearing a huge poncho maybe overkill, but my kit doesn't get wet lol
When you go salal surfing the PNW, a pack cover is great for protecting the pack against abrasions, snags, tears. Salal and other shrubs also like to grab things out of the exterior side pockets. A friend lost a sit pad exactly that way just today. It’s also good for keeping things clean when you have to put your bag down in mud or a muddy vestibule overnight. And like someone else said, good for keeping morning few off the bag and contents of the outer pockets. Maybe it’s not great for waterproofing in downpours, but everything has a breakthrough limit and there are a lot of benefits.
I just bought a kayaking/rafting dry bag pack for an upcoming rafting trip where I need to hike in to the river. It's a modified dry bag with typical roll down top. It has shoulder and waist straps and some extra pockets on the outside. The downside is that it has a really heavy empty weight. Since I'm going to only be hiking down into a canyon, that's no big deal. However I'd never want to use it for any long climbs or long hikes.
I must agree with you, if you pack properly use Ziploc bags use the trash bag as a liner you're good to go. I have never had gear get wet using that system. And all my camera gear has always gone in Ziploc bags other than the tripods which I Don't really worry if they get wet. You gave good advice Thank you
As someone who lives and hikes in the PNW and BC’s Lower Mainland, the most effective piece of waterproofing gear I’ve ever used is a contractor bag. Husky brand. Use a pack that is one large compartment and use the contractor bag as a roll-top liner. If you need the liner to be smaller, cut it to size, overlap your cut edges, and tape your seams inside and out with Tuck Tape.
I occasionally use a pack cover, but it's usually done in conjunction with liner bags. Belt and braces. On my last walk it was a constant drizzle and I found a great solution was to take a large umbrella. I stayed dry - and so did my gear!
I have a silnylon cover. That covers my shoulders and the pack. It’s from lightheart gear. I love it. No more water between my back and pack. It keeps most the rain off and if I wear a rain skirt with it it’s great for warm to hot rainy days.
The old US Mil stretch covers for Alice packs are still with cotton, but might provide cheap initial moisture covering. They look like tire covers when you first meet them. They can also be lined with a simple trash bag.
I don't share the same experience as Dixie, but I mostly use backpacks that come with their own back cover included, and it covers the backpack very tightly. I believe oversized covers are the real issue, since if they allow too much space between the cover and the backpack, then water will inevitably permeate, if only due to air humidity, and collect at the bottom. Think about this the same way as you approach thermal underwear - the tighter it is to the skin, the more effective it is.
I do share Dixie's advice on inner insulation, though, it is a very effective way to keep your backpack contents dry, especially on long trips. Also, $40 for a backpack cover alone sounds crazy, I just checked what is on offer where I live, and the most expensive cover is $28 (€26 to be precise), which is good for a 90-litre backpack (almost 24 US gallons). It uses a water-repelling material, which I would say is more effective than nylon. If a nylon cover costs $40 in the US, then I must say you are being ripped off.
Here is a link to what I have in mind, I have used it in poor weather conditions, and it works fairly well. Of course, if it rains heavily all day, I don't believe there is any rain cover that will provide you with full protection, but I would argue this is well worth the money:
www.deuter.com/int-en/shop/accessories/p226552-rain-transport-cover-rain-cover-iii
Edit: I forgot to add, this is final price, 20% VAT included.
My current pack happens to be bright orange (hey, it was on sale!), so for the times when I want to be a little more stealthy (or just to lessen my visual impact/conspicuousness) I pack along a camouflage pack cover made from silpoly, which doesn't seem to absorb much, if any, water.
I think this is the best (only?) use for a pack cover.
I'm not a fan of the bright yellow straps on my Vargo pack. I have a galaxy printed pack cover that makes me much happier.
Glad you mentioned ponchos. They help keep your pack dry and will allow some air in and some heat out so that you don't drown in either sweat or rain.
Thanks, Dixie. This is very sound advice. Keep up the great work!
Never really used one while hiking on the trail. They are great when you get to camp and want to cover your pack. Your pack stays dry in the early morning dew or if it rains over night. I have also just used a large trash bag and done the same thing. Yes I keep my pack outside the tent, as we generally didn't have room in the tent for the packs.
Ok so for pack cove I bought the Gregory Zulu 30 pack and it came with a rain cover. I have used it only a few situations light rain and in heavy. She makes some good point like if you need to get into your pack yes the rain will get in but it definitely does keep my pack dryer. Straps will get wet and yes your pack might get some dampness but no where near that bad.
Good points
- It will help to keep your pack dryer in a number of conditions
-If your worried about damaging your pack from trees, going threw thick brush or putting it down on rocks it will help extend the life span for those less durable packs.
-can have other uses sometimes you just forget that one item so you have an extra bag to make do with. Ex forgetting to take a bag to hang your food or a rain cover for a chair or a bag to grab water from the lake with.
Cons
- will not block 100% of the water it only covers part of your pack
- extra weight for people going on long trips or if your picky haha
- Can cost extra money
At the end of the day I am super happy mine came with my pack included and has worked for my needs. I always leave mine in my back pack weight doesn't bother me unless my packed weighed 100lbs lol. If I was worried about the rain I would also use a garbage bag for the inside. In the end if your super worried about rain I would buy a water proof back pack and use bags inside for extra care. She did a pretty good job on this subject did miss one or two points. What I would love to see for a video is reviews on the most durable hiking packs. I honestly do worry how long these packs will last and how hard it is or even if it is possible to repair them. I have seen a few videos on military packs but not a video showing both military and hiking packs as a comparison for a top 10 best choices. I'm fine with an extra pound or two if it means it will last me a life time. I mean in the military you have to carry a 100-150lb pack for some really log distances so even if my pack weighed 50lbs I still cant complain. Lol