Pack covers

[notion900]

Just a personal opinion - those elasticated pack rain covers are completely useless. In fact, they can collect rain in the bottom and bulge out and make a strange sloshing noise. I highly recommend using waterproof pack liners: Sea To Summit Ultrasil dry sacks are super thin, absolutely waterproof and if you use more than one, can help you stay organised, keep clean clothes separate from dirty etc. Just don't spike them with your Spork.

 

[Phillypilgrim]

I mostly used my pack cover in the big cities, Madrid etc. It is an added layer of security for "backpack pocketers", and worth it for me. My Ferrino rain coat worked for actual rain.

 

[Mark Lee]

Before I left for the Camino I sprayed down my pack and pack rain-cover with Scotchgard. I also carried two, heavy-duty thick trash bags with me (I think they were 30 gallon size). If it looked like it might have rained, I put everything in my pack inside of the trash bags inside the pack and cinched them up. That in conjunction with the rain cover kept my stuff dry, but in no way would I recommend depending solely on the pack rain-cover. As far as water pooling up in the bottom of the rain cover, you might take a hole punch and put two drain holes down there.

 

[notion900]

Some of them do have eyelets there. Which makes me laugh as the manufacturers must know how pointless they are.

 

[november_moon]

I was quite happy with my pack cover - worked great in most conditions. Mine fit my pack fairly snugly, so no issues with bulging or collecting water. The only issue I had was in heavier rain, the water getting between my pack and my back, so I used a light poncho as extra protection.

 

[Mike Savage]

My Sea to Summit pack cover worked great for me in light rain at first then two weeks of pretty steady rain in Galicia.

 

[Mike Savage]

I should add that I also had my gear inside my pack in individual waterproof containers but they never felt damp at all.

 

[AlwynWellington]

Just a personal opinion - those elasticated pack rain covers are completely useless.

I'm agree.

I purchased one when training and found it weighed over 100 grams. And with my parka weighing over 300 grams ...

I need to keep my all up weight to well under 7 kg. (No correspondence will be entered into on this point.)

Then I read a post by @SYates inviting readers to find gear that had at least two uses, wherever possible.

As I needed a tent for some trips I also needed a groundsheet.

My three needs of rain cover for and for my pack and a groundsheet could be provided in the form of a poncho designed to do those jobs. All up it weighs less than 200 grams. I wear shorts and it covers them nicely. The bell like shape tends to shed water away from the feet. It is not clammy, having built-in ventilation.

I have also used an Altus great coat. It is extendible at the shoulders to cover a pack. It weighs around 300 grams. I found a tendency to be clammy in the sleeves as perspiration on the arms when walking cooled on reaching the inside surface. It is easily stuffed into the supplied carry bag and is useful when going to the local shops wearing urban clothes.

 

[Telelama]

We've never had a problem with the rain covers that came with our Osprey bags. Yes, we scotchguarded them, but nothing else. We had five straight days of strong drizzle to complete downpour through Galicia a few years back and got hit by a quick, but intense storm in Esponsende in May. Performed as expected. The new ones I've seen allows the cover to snug down along the sides too. Looks like a nice improvement on a high performing rain cover.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

I was actually quite happy with my Osprey cover. After numerous days of solid rain only my shoulder straps were wet and no collection of water below. However my wife's pack and cover did collect a fair amount. In our case I believe this could be due to the harness systems, however. I use an Osprey AG 50L which keeps the main bag away from my body (and presumably allows the water to run down the back of my rain jacket freely) whereas my wife uses a Deuter Air Contact 50+10L which sits directly against her back so water seems to have had a chance to catch the edges of her cover and allow some in to pool up. Maybe certain packs set up better for rain covers than others??

 

[AlwynWellington]

Maybe certain packs set up better for rain covers than others??

Seriously do consider all in one wet weather cover for both you and your pack. One less thing to carry and less weight., unless you already have ultra light rain gear.

Kia kaha (be brave / be strong)

 

[^^ountain ^^an]

just completed an Appalachian Trail Maine to Georgia winter thru-hike using black trash bag(s) as liner for an ULA OHM 2.0. My pack cover blew away never to be seen again during HIGH winds and HEAVY rain summiting Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire. The contents remained unharmed and the pack dries just fine. I hike in clothes that get wet and dry just fine. I plan to use a trash compactor bag for my upcoming walk(s).

Happy Trails
myATguide dot com

 

[t2andreo]

This thread aptly supports the notion that "the rain in Spain falls, mainly on Galicia..." (from the late Tim Wren, RIP).

 

[movinmaggie]

Mine worked out vey well, both as a rain cover and as a wrap for my pack as a carry-on....

 

[Jo Jo]

Osprey pack cover (came with pack) was completely useless. I've used other pack covers that worked better, but now I just use a compactor bag INSIDE the pack as a pack liner. Less than an ounce compared to 3oz. Durable (much more than a trash bag). But noisy (pack night before or outside dorm to avoid waking sleeping pilgrims).

Buen Camino,
Jo Jo

 

[notion900]

I use a survival bag as a pack liner (dual use brownie point there) when trekking, but it is like a thick giant plastic bag and is so rustly that on Caminos I use my dry bags instead as they are totally quiet.

 

[williamlittig]

All items inside my pack are in different colored, waterproof, roll-top stuff sacks. Dirty laundry and socks have there own. Everything has stayed nice and dry and organized. I want a high visibility rain cover with a reflective large shell, so I can get a little more notice early early in the morning and in the rain. My beautiful pack is gray so I an invisible "NOT GOOD". I know it rains in Spain I want to be seen when it does....... Ultreya.............. Willy/Utah/USA

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

My tack is the same as others, never using a pack cover for rain protection. And for rain, a proper hiking poncho will cover you and your pack. And in the rain, it is opssible to gtake the pack off for access and put it back on with nothing getting wet. It also doubles as a ground sheet for my tent.

If I can offer any advice of value, look at each item packed and assign as many uses as you can from each. If some can replace others, pull the extras out so they are not carried for 800 km. Your shoulders and feet will thank you.