Light weight vs. Compactor pack liners

[levibarry]

Has anyone used one of the light weight (z-packs dry bag for instance) pack
liner. I have been thinking on getting something that should last longer on a
thru hike. Might help not having to change out the liner very much.

Levibarry

[leaftye]

I don't think cuben fiber is the way to go for longevity, at least not for something used like a stuff sack.

[garlic08]

I wouldn't consider it. Durability hasn't been an issue for me. I have not had to change out my compactor bag liner on any of several thru hikes. Once or twice I've had to make a duct tape patch, and that's worked fine.

[Coffee]

I have a zpacks cuben liner and have had no problems with it after using it about 30 days this year. I would have gone with a compactor bag but couldn't find any unscented bags anywhere.

[Turk6177]

I use a contractor's grade trash bag that I cut down to be just a little taller than my backpack. I load all my stuff and roll the top over, tucking it into the backpack. I have yet to have any water leak into my stuff. I should note, I also use a dry bag stuff sack for my down sleeping bag and sleeping clothes. I don't think much more is important to keep dry than those items. I use cuben fiber bags for my water filter, junk drawer (med kit, head lamp, toilet paper, medicine, etc) and as my food bag (only because I heard mice don't like to chew through it, although it may be a myth, who knows). If you really want to save weight, throw out the paracord which gets soaked with water and get some dyneema from Z-Packs for your bear line. I think that literally saved me three ounces dry.

[Namtrag]

Can someone let me in on why you would need a liner if you have a rain cover for your pack? Is it just in case of a flooding rain? We have a couple of guys we do weekend trips with who use garbage bags to line their packs, and it seems strange to me.

[Mobius]

Can someone let me in on why you would need a liner if you have a rain cover for your pack? Is it just in case of a flooding rain? We have a couple of guys we do weekend trips with who use garbage bags to line their packs, and it seems strange to me.

A pack cover only keeps a pack mostly-dry. I put my down bag (loose, not in a stuff sack) and dry camp clothes in the compactor bag. The rest of the stuff in my pack (tent, pad, food bag) gets stuffed in around it. I don't trust the pack cover alone to keep my down items dry. Defense in depth! It works well, especially in heavy continuous rain. My pack cover is blaze orange so I have it on during hunting season even when it's not raining. It also serves as a nice dry/non-snowy place to set my pack down while I get the tent set up. (And it hides all the miscellaneous junk I might I have in that mesh compartment!)

[Namtrag]

A pack cover only keeps a pack mostly-dry. I put my down bag (loose, not in a stuff sack) and dry camp clothes in the compactor bag. The rest of the stuff in my pack (tent, pad, food bag) gets stuffed in around it. I don't trust the pack cover alone to keep my down items dry. Defense in depth! It works well, especially in heavy continuous rain. My pack cover is blaze orange so I have it on during hunting season even when it's not raining. It also serves as a nice dry/non-snowy place to set my pack down while I get the tent set up. (And it hides all the miscellaneous junk I might I have in that mesh compartment!)

Thanks, sounds like something to start doing myself too! Especially if I know the weather will be foul on my trip.

[CarlZ993]

Can someone let me in on why you would need a liner if you have a rain cover for your pack? Is it just in case of a flooding rain? We have a couple of guys we do weekend trips with who use garbage bags to line their packs, and it seems strange to me.

A pack cover may help things stay 'less wet.' On a hike in cold & wet conditions, it is imperative that extra clothing & sleeping bags stay dry. I do the 'overkill' approach - pack cover (sylnylon), trash compactor pack liner, & waterproof sylnylon bags for my sleeping bag & clothing. It all stayed dry on my AT thru-hike this year.

[colorado_rob]

A pack cover may help things stay 'less wet.' On a hike in cold & wet conditions, it is imperative that extra clothing & sleeping bags stay dry. I do the 'overkill' approach - pack cover (sylnylon), trash compactor pack liner, & waterproof sylnylon bags for my sleeping bag & clothing. It all stayed dry on my AT thru-hike this year.

This is my exact M.O. and result. the pack cover is only the first line of defense. I found that one trash-compactor bag lasts about 6 weeks before the small tears get too annoying to repair. I put new ones in my mail-drops to "refresh".

[kunzman]

I use a sil nylon pack cover when raining and my clothes, tent, sleeping bag, and neo-air pad are put in a pump sack which lines my bag. It has three uses: it pumps, converts pad to seat, and is a liner.

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-...p-sack/product

[leaftye]

My poncho is my pack cover. My pack will still get wet, but less so. It's part of a layered system. Umbrella, poncho, pack, pack liner, plus one big stuff sack for clothes and quilt.

[snail2010]

A pack cover may help things stay 'less wet.' On a hike in cold & wet conditions, it is imperative that extra clothing & sleeping bags stay dry. I do the 'overkill' approach - pack cover (sylnylon), trash compactor pack liner, & waterproof sylnylon bags for my sleeping bag & clothing. It all stayed dry on my AT thru-hike this year.

The compactor bag as a liner is also great if the bottom of your pack inadvertently comes in contact with flowing water, such as a slip during a water crossing or a roll down a hill.

[levibarry]

Thanks everyone for the reply's and ideas. I will just
get a box of trash compactor bags and go that route.
HYOH

Levibarry

[OCDave]

I have used both compactor bags and the Z-Packs CF liner in my ULA Catalyst. I prefer the Z-packs CF liner. Velcro closure, roll-top and clips all work to keep a tidy package. It also seems to fit my pack better. I also have the Blast rool-top food bag. I like both these items to a degree that a purchased a second set for my oldest son/ hiking partner.

Then again- $40 vs $0.40. Dependng on your needs, there are many, many that those extra dollars might be better spent.

Good Luck

[Firefighter503]

I have used both compactor bags and the Z-Packs CF liner in my ULA Catalyst. I prefer the Z-packs CF liner. Velcro closure, roll-top and clips all work to keep a tidy package. It also seems to fit my pack better. I also have the Blast rool-top food bag. I like both these items to a degree that a purchased a second set for my oldest son/ hiking partner.

Then again- $40 vs $0.40. Dependng on your needs, there are many, many that those extra dollars might be better spent.

Good Luck

My exact thoughts.

[Don H]

I use three Sea to Summit UL dry bags instead of a pack liner and pack cover. 1 for my sleeping bag, 1 for clothes and 1 for food. Never had my stuff get wet.
Think about it, you're probably already putting these items in stuff sacks, why not use UL dry bags instead.

[Malto]

I wouldn't consider it. Durability hasn't been an issue for me. I have not had to change out my compactor bag liner on any of several thru hikes. Once or twice I've had to make a duct tape patch, and that's worked fine.

Agree with Garlic.

Would add that anyone who has taken an inadvertent swim during a stream crossing will quickly understand the value of a pack liner vs. cover. I have had two swims and in both cases all of my gear in the pack stayed dry.

[garlic08]

Yeah, I've had to intentionally float my pack in deep water before. I wouldn't want to submerge it for more than a few seconds, but the compactor bag has worked fine in deep water.

Since my pack is silnylon and dries quickly, I don't bother with a pack cover anymore. I have utmost confidence in the plastic liner by itself, as long as it's closed fairly well. I also check for leaks before possible immersion, and even before a wet day. I usually pack the silnylon tarp on top of the rolled up seam and tuck in the edges, just in case.

[Namtrag]

what keeps the compactor bag sealed so water doesn't go through the open end? Seems like even if you rolled it down or used a twist tie of some sort, it would still allow water in if it floated for a while in a creek.