pack rain cover

[Arden]

Hi;
I have an Osprey Atmos AG 65 pack. I want to purchase the rain cover for the pack, but I'm thinking - what good will the rain cover do if I have stuff lashed to the back of the pack?
From the looks of it, the rain cover will fit only the pack - not any gear that is lashed to the back.

Any ideas?

Arden

[RangerZ]

Asked myself the same question for my Atmos 65. REI answer was get a 80 liter rain cover. Trash compactor bag inside back pack is still working.

[bigcranky]

Yeah, a good rain cover will be large enough to cover any gear in the pockets, etc. But if you are carrying a big tent, huge rolled up sleeping pad, etc., strapped to the outside, a rain cover won't help much (but then it's maybe even more necessary).

[George]

packa:

http://www.thepacka.com

also keeps the straps, back pad etc dry

[yecart]

I intend to use a second Trash Compactor liner as a cover. It's definitely large enough to cover my pack and it's several ounces lighter than an "official" cover.

[Another Kevin]

I intend to use a second Trash Compactor liner as a cover. It's definitely large enough to cover my pack and it's several ounces lighter than an "official" cover.

Where I hike, that bag would be trail confetti in a matter of hours.

[Casey & Gina]

Smaller lashed items will fit okay. The only larger thing that I strap to the outside are our closed-cell sleeping pads. As they are inherently waterproof, I use some accessory straps to tie these to the outside of the rain cover. I also use a pack liner and dry sacks inside my pack as additional layers of protection.

[Gambit McCrae]

I use a roll top dry bag inside my pack. I put my food in a separate roll top bag and stack on top of larger dry bag. My Pack is a ULA Circuit which is a roll top design that has had a waterproofing layer added to the outside. I then use a syl-nylon sea to summit pack cover for any pocket items. Only things I struggle with are: Front belt pockets are not waterproof zippers(quite frustrating), and that I dislike putting damp clothes in my pack, dislike hanging much of anything to outside of my pack either. I have gotten so that I stuff wet things in front mesh pocket, and have a small roll top 1liter bag for electronics

[plexusbritt]

Easy-use a poncho!


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[Arden]

Asked myself the same question for my Atmos 65. REI answer was get a 80 liter rain cover. Trash compactor bag inside back pack is still working.

I was thinking about the XL rain cover as well, but unsure of whether or not I would be able to pull it tight enough in front to keep it on the pack.
I'll have to see what configuration I end up with once everything's packed in and out. Another choice would be to forget the rain cover and go your way - trash compactor bag inside. Pack should dry out pretty well once it stops raining and I can hang it to dry.

[nsherry61]

+1 for a poncho. Pack cover (that actually works), rain gear, ground cloth, tarp shelter all in one. Think of the weight savings!

[Venchka]

+1 for a poncho. Pack cover (that actually works), rain gear, ground cloth, tarp shelter all in one. Think of the weight savings!

Water collecting. Shade as needed. The list goes on.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[BirdBrain]

packa:

http://www.thepacka.com

also keeps the straps, back pad etc dry

Beat me to it. The Packa is the answer... to this question and to the question of what to use as a rain coat.

[Elder]

www.etowahoutfitters.com
Built by a hiker, designed to fit over it all.
Available in grey, green, blue and bright orange.

[daddytwosticks]

Love my Packa so far. Used it twice for heavy rain showers. Works great.

[Arden]

Funny, last night while I was going to sleep, I had the same idea you guys have come up with - a poncho. I guess I need to get the XL or XXL to fit over myself + pack. I do have a few of the L or XL sizes around that I can try out for fit.

[BirdBrain]

Funny, last night while I was going to sleep, I had the same idea you guys have come up with - a poncho. I guess I need to get the XL or XXL to fit over myself + pack. I do have a few of the L or XL sizes around that I can try out for fit.

Be advised, a poncho and a Packa are entirely different animals.

I am certain it has been upload many times. However, check out this guy.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y6Belr3mrA

[Arden]

I like the description of the Packa. I would suppose that I would need an Large-X size to cover me and the 60L pack with gear lashed to the back. Better too large than too small in this case. In cold weather, I would be wearing this over my fleece and Gore-Tex shell.
Only thing that holds me back from ordering one today is the $150 price tag. A simple poncho with a pack cover attached - such as the Red Ledge Storm Backpacker poncho for $29 would probably do the job for me, since I don't need the poncho to keep me warm - just dry.

[BirdBrain]

I like the description of the Packa. I would suppose that I would need an Large-X size to cover me and the 60L pack with gear lashed to the back. Better too large than too small in this case. In cold weather, I would be wearing this over my fleece and Gore-Tex shell.
Only thing that holds me back from ordering one today is the $150 price tag. A simple poncho with a pack cover attached - such as the Red Ledge Storm Backpacker poncho for $29 would probably do the job for me, since I don't need the poncho to keep me warm - just dry.

You should get more input before you go the poncho route. I do not think you will be happy with it. I do not have first hand experience with one. I dismissed that idea because of what I read about them. One note on the Packa and I will stop trumpeting it. Size the Packa to you, not the pack. If the pack is too large, get the x version of the Packa. As an example, I have the Medium version for my Aether 60. If I needed a larger version, I would have ordered the MediumX. Regardless of my feelings about the Packa, you should think long and hard before trying the poncho method. Have you ever seen a really heavy women in a dress. Now think what that would look like in the wind and rain. Draping a tent over you and you pack is not optimum. It is better to have gear that fits you and your pack, not just cover things.

Okay. I have opined enough. I am not the one buying it or wearing it. Good luck in your decisions.

[Arden]

You should get more input before you go the poncho route. I do not think you will be happy with it. I do not have first hand experience with one. I dismissed that idea because of what I read about them. One note on the Packa and I will stop trumpeting it. Size the Packa to you, not the pack. If the pack is too large, get the x version of the Packa. As an example, I have the Medium version for my Aether 60. If I needed a larger version, I would have ordered the MediumX. Regardless of my feelings about the Packa, you should think long and hard before trying the poncho method. Have you ever seen a really heavy women in a dress. Now think what that would look like in the wind and rain. Draping a tent over you and you pack is not optimum. It is better to have gear that fits you and your pack, not just cover things.

Okay. I have opined enough. I am not the one buying it or wearing it. Good luck in your decisions.

You have a point. The Packa would do much better than a simple poncho. My problem is that I am most likely going to have gear lashed to the outside of my pack. Do you think that the X version would cover the extra girth of the pack?
I have no trouble with sizing for myself. I am a large. I am not a big man, but I have long arms, and would be wearing it over fleece and a Gore-Tex shell.
If I can just buy the Osprey rain cover one size larger than recommended for my Atmos 65, it might fit over the pack with external gear. I guess I really need to walk into my local store with my full pack and everything strapped to it, and try it myself.