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
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
I don't think cuben fiber is the way to go for longevity, at least not for something used like a stuff sack.
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.
"Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence." John Muir on expedition planning
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.
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.
Whether you think you can, or think you can't--you're right--Henry Ford; The Journey Is The Destination
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!)
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.
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
Todd
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.
Thanks everyone for the reply's and ideas. I will just
get a box of trash compactor bags and go that route.
HYOH
Levibarry
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
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.
"Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011
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.
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.