[pct-l] Pack Covers - Quick Help!

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

I'm not thru-hiking, I'm doing the Rae Lakes Loop beginning of
September. I can afford to carry a single use pack cover (heck- I'm
carrying an oilcan the first day!).
I think I may have posted this before, but I really do enjoy backpacking
in the rain and snow. One of the reasons is that I have really good rain
gear and I can stay dry, warm and comfortable in even the heaviest
rainfalls.
The only thing that I'm not as confident in, is my pack. Though it was
advertised as "water resistant", I still have things that get wet
inside. I've done the inside wrap thing with my tent fly, but at camp, I
still have a wet pack shell. And I can't wrap everything, cuz I've got a
couple compartments around the pack that I use.
If I can have the same confidence in keeping my pack dry as I do with
the rest of me, I'll simply enjoy my hike more!
I'll be a week out on the Loop Trail and I expect the afternoon showers,
so I want to get a silnylon cover.

I inquired about these a long time ago and even got a contact for a
custom made cover (my Aconcagua pack is sort of a unique shape). But I
balked and now I lost the contact. In any case, I need it by the end of
this month. I doubt someone can custom sew one for me and have it
delivered in time...

But if I can find one now, I'll buy one!


Michael Saenz, Associate Partner
McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
MVE       MVE    Institutional       MVP    International
w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Bankhead [mailto:wandering_bob@comcast.net] 
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 10:47 AM
To: Mike Saenz
Cc: PCT List
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Pack Covers - Quick Help!

Mike:

IMO. pack covers are vastly over-rated and even if custom-made to fit
your pack, tend to be more trouble than they are worth. They are also
essentially a single-use item.

Let me suggest that you get a series of tall kitchen trashcan liners or
the heavier compacter liners and use them to protect your vulnerable
clothing and sleeping bag. They are ultra-light weight and you can
easily replace them if they puncture. Stick two in each resupply box or
in your bounce box. 
I even carry a spare with me, they're so light (but strong). I think
Heafty makes a trash bag liner that has a rip-stop type reinforcing grid
in it for extra strength.

Some folks recommend lining the entire pack with a leaf bag, but I've
always found that to be a hassel. I always seem to tear it during
loading/unloading. Maybe I'm just a careless klutz.

I do have a series of drybags used for canoeing and kayaking. If I
anticipate big stream crossings where I might accidentally swim or which
could be deeper than the clearance between the ground and my pack or
lots of nasty weather, I'll pack my down sleeping bag in one of them -
it adds about
4 ounces but no water gets in once they're rolled down and secured.
Going up one size lets me add my dry clothes to it too.

Wandering Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Saenz" <msaenz@mve-architects.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 10:13 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Pack Covers - Quick Help!


Does anyone have a contact for a silnylon pack cover?
I need to buy one and have it delivered within 3 weeks...

Also- I need it for my not-so-ultra-light 5,500 cu.in. internal frame
REI Aconcagua backpack.

Any manufacturers out there who can fit the bill?
Any pack cover owners that are happy with thiers that can give a
recommendation?

Thanks in advance-

Michael Saenz, Associate Partner
McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
MVE       MVE    Institutional       MVP    International
w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m
<http://www.mve-architects.com>

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