Re: [at-l] No pack cover

[Tim Hewitt <thewitt@fairchildsemi.com>]

woodelf@juno.com (a woodelf) at ima wrote:
> Hi Kiddies,
> I've been following the pack cover thread. And thought I'd mention that a
> couple of garbage bags on the inside can save a lot of weight. Haven't
> use a cover in years, used to use garbage bag covers but they didn't last
> very long, so I put they inside. My down bag is in small garbage bag
> inside it's stuff sack and everything else is inside one or two bags
> inside the pack. I sometimes put the things unlikely to be needed during
> the day in one and the other stuff in another. Some times it all goes in
> one, you can double bag if you're worried about them ripping. It's almost
> as easy to get to as opening your pack and keeps everything dry, no
> matter how hard it rains. Spare bags weigh almost nothing.

I guess that makes me a "belt and suspeders" kind of guy. I use both
waterproof bags inside for anything that I care about getting wet, and a
pack cover to keep my pack from filling up with water.

The bags I use inside are OR stuffsacks meant for paddlers. The tops
have a roll closure that will keep all casual water out. The bags are
very tough and won't tear wile being tossed around packing and unpacking
day after day. The pack cover is a coated nylon cover with a combination
elastic and drawstring closure.

I do this because on one cold, late fall day, after hiking in the rain
for 10 hours, I set up my tent, dragged my pack inside, and promptly
dumped 3-4 cups of accumulated water inside my once dry tent while
unpacking my pack.

It turned out on this trip that the rain - mostly coming sideways -
drove itself right in through a flap-covered opening and my "waterproof"
pack bag didn't let it drain anywhere.  What a pain! None of my gear was
wet (belt and suspenders now remember), but the last thing I needed at
that time was a tent full of water!

As usual, YMMV.

-Paddler (98 days and counting)
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