Hi,
I’ve been considering not using a pack cover on my upcoming SOBO thruhiking, instead simply having everything in waterproof stuff sacks within my pack (I usually have all my gear in them anyway). Can anyone point out the flaws in this logic before I head out and end up making a big mistake. 
Does anyone else do this?
Thanks…WetDog
WetDog
I didn’t have a pack cover for I didn’t want to carry the extra weight. I used a combination of waterproof stuff sacks and plastic bags to keep my gear dry.
However, After hiking in the rain a few times I found a great approach that worked really well for me… When it was raining, I would put my rain jacket on my head with the back of it draped over my pack, wearing it sort of like a cape (I would flip the rain jacket over my head so it would hang over and behind my pack). The benefit of this is that I was kept fairly dry, and because the jacket wasn’t fitted to me tightly I didn’t sweat as one does normally when wearing a rain jacket whilst hiking. The additional benefit is that my pack stayed fairly dry too.
Downunda
I would imagine your pack would soak up tons of rain, thus making your pack heavy. Depending on what materials your pack is made from this may or may not be so much of an issue. Personally, I would find the lightest thing to use as a pack cover… usually silnylon is best. Ive heard of thru-hikers using a trash compactor bag to line the large internal compartment of the pack. That seems like it would work, plus its light and cheap.
scott
Since I switched to a light weight GVP pack, per the maufacturers instructions I do not use a rain cover and put everything either in Silnylon bags or trash bags and it seems to work well. The pack material dries quickly and does not soak up much water. It does involve pulling all the bags out after hiking in heavy rain so that they can dry. I like the rain coat idea. I think I’ll try that next time out.
Big B
I’ve gone both ways. Right now I use a pack cover. Packing everything in water proof bags takes time and all those bags probably add up to the weight of a pack cover. Plus at least one of the bags always gets a tear or something and everything gets wet anyway. I’ve also used the rain coat over the pack a couple times - didn’t work for me. It tends to be windy when it’s raining and it’s hard to keep the coat over the pack. A well designed poncho would probably work and can be used for several other purposes as well.
BearBag Hanger
Thanks for all of the responses. I may give it a try, and keep the pack cover in my bounce box in case I need it. To keep the pack from soaking up too much water, I think I’ll give it a good spray of silicon waterproof coating. Since it doesn’t really need to breathe like a rain jacket, I doubt a good layer of silicon spray will do any harm.
-WetDog
WetDog
I saw a guy last year who had all his stuff in stuff sacks and had them all arranged to a frame. His pack had no skin,just the frame. I had a cover and was glad I did. I belive if you weigh the cover vs. the stuff sacks there wont be that much of a difference.
“White Blaze/pack on back”
Virginian
Wetdog:
by seeing your trail name…i guess theres a reason U ask this question…hehehehehe
most of the modern packs today come waterproof to a degree (according to the material)…check on the label when buying your new pack…also, you can always get some “waterproofing” spray (as most of us do with tents)& douse the backpack with it.
I’ve never used a cover, they seem too cumbersome…& the pack is always too wet, when U finally get the cover out to drape over the goodies.
jaybird
www.trailjournals.com/jaybirdandjigsaw
“Jaybird”
Through another site, I read about a jacket/rain cover combo called The Packa. I looked it up on the web site thepacka.com. Sounds like an interesting item. Has anyone here tried The Packa? :cheers
Band Saw
i have a pack cover but when its on the pack, my foam roll which gest strapped to the bottom or the top of my pack, well the pack cover covers all the trappy bits so you have to mung it to the top…
just by some TX10 or something and spray-liberally on top+sides…
Bloody Cactus
Flame and I used a compactor bag in our pack. Put everything in it and used a Pack cover. We never had anything get wet on our thur hike. I’m glad we used the packcover because we had freezing rain twice and it was easy to shake off of our covers. Some of the hikers that did not have the covers had trouble with the significantly added weight the ice caused on… and in… their packs.
Papa Smurf
My pack cover works for me,especially breaking camp.I have a SD Clip Flashlite,with enough room to sleep,and keep my pack inside.When it’s raining,I pack everything into my backpack,and cover my pack with the pack cover.Take the pack outside,break my tent down,and retrieve my food bag.I then place my wet tent and food bag inside seperate plastic bags,and place them inside my pack.
So far,my stuff has stayed pretty dry…VaCreeper
Bill Harris
I started without a cover but after a few days of rain my pack weighed a few extra pounds and took days to dry. I now use a light weight cover which I also use a ground cloth and over for my pack at night. It’s great to sit on when it’s been raining. The big problem with pack covers is going over a z-rest on the outside of your pack. If you carry an ultra-light pack you can proable get away without a pack cover.
I also experience freezing conditions when my cover protect my pack from freezing rain and snow. A frozen packs sucks!
Darth Pacman
Not to start this thread again, but a gallon of water weighs 8.345 pounds, so one fluid oz weighs 0.95 oz., shall we call at almost one oz? A good lightweight pack cover weighs 4 ozs or less. Try pouring four ounces of water on your dry pack and see if it sucks it up. I’ll bet it holds that and a whole lot more. For those with multiple bags, just weigh them out and see which is more, the cover, or all the bags plus the water soaked into the pack. Personally, I use the pack cover and always pack my sleeping bag inside a plastic bag, then into the stuff sack for maximum safety. Also, as mentioned, a pack cover is essential when tent space is limited, just cover and leave outside.
Alligator