How to waterproof a back pack? Spray stuff on it, plastic inner liner, or new pack?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How to waterproof a back pack? Spray stuff on it, plastic inner liner, or new pack?

Posted: 10/26/2010 3:38:42 PM EDT

I went hiking in the rain with my Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon pack and didn't realize it wasn't "weather-resistant". Spare socks inside got damp along with everything else. Found out my camera case isn't waterproof either.

I like the pack and I have some of those Molle II USGI packs I use for spare earthquake kits. But none of this is waterproof.

What's a good way to deal with this? Is there a waterproof spray that works? Should I buy some sort of liner bag for every pocket in these packs? Or should I "ef it" and just tape a plastic trash bag over it?

Posted: 10/26/2010 3:42:08 PM EDT

[#1]

Spray it and use zip lock bags.

Posted: 10/26/2010 3:52:07 PM EDT

[#2]

Could always get a cover

Posted: 10/26/2010 3:57:44 PM EDT

[#3]

Trash bag over the outside (or cover, but I'm a cheap bastard), and critical things inside are in ziplocs.

I've hiked hundreds of miles in the rain and this is how I've always done it.

Posted: 10/26/2010 4:03:31 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Could always get a cover

^^^^^THIS!!!! Well worth the price of admission.

stasiman

Posted: 10/26/2010 4:24:28 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Could always get a cover

Both. Everything should be in trash bags or ziplocs. Witch also adds buoyancy for those dangerous river crossings (Or, if you have to bail out on an AMTRAC, something I'll never have to do again, but STILL waterproof everything because of).

The outer cover will keep the back dry, and picking up weight.

Posted: 10/26/2010 4:28:43 PM EDT

[#6]

in the army we have rubber sacks that everything goes in and it gets tied off on the opening. then that gets placed into the rucksack. unfortunately the bags (known as wet weather bags) universally smell like a sack full of assholes. it also sucks because you only have one bag. so now most people use a combination of 2.5gallon ziplocs and 100MPH tape. the ziploc cheapo container things rock too.

Posted: 10/26/2010 4:42:46 PM EDT

[#7]

I think a cover and zip locs is the best idea, but zippers are notorious for leaks and this stuff is good for sealing those.

http://www.mcnett.com/Seam-Sure-Water-Based-Seam-Sealer-P138.aspx

Posted: 10/26/2010 4:53:10 PM EDT

[#8]

I learned years ago in the Boy Scouts to put small items in ziplocks and stuff everything else in a garbage bag. cheap. light and they can serve multiple functions in a pinch.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:35:51 PM EDT

[#9]

My buddies and myself always seemed to pick the rain storm hiking/camping weekends to go. Got tired of wet gear. Took my largest dry bag from kayaking and stuffed it into my internal frame pack. Pack as normal except my water bottles were outside the dry bag. Ultimate dry gear solution however you do add the extra few pounds. Price for dry vs. wet gear.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:38:37 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
put small items in ziplocks and stuff everything else in a garbage bag. cheap. light and they can serve multiple functions in a pinch.

Yep. Multiple garbage bags even better.

Would suggest also spraying down the pack with something to make it water repellent... if nothing else to keep it from soaking up as much water and adding weight. Some kind of waterproof cover is helpful at that also.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:41:14 PM EDT

[#11]

I put a trash bag on the inside of mine.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:42:48 PM EDT

[#12]

cover and ziplocs.....has worked for years for me

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:06:33 PM EDT

[#13]

I have to agree, Ziplock what you can, and they make big Ziplock bags these days. Also, if you want, there are vacuum bags (expensive Ziplocks) you can buy to draw down the volume, but you can do this with conventional Ziplock type bags.
I carry an Erberlestock that has a pretty good main compartment with a few side storage areas, but they are only water resistant, meaning they get wet. I bought a couple MOLLE pouches for attachments and store that gear in Ziplock bags. As for the main compartment, my spare socks/underwear are in a vacuum seal bag, and all other main outerwear are in a big Ziplock bags that I just compress down and seal. For what I do, this works and it costs me little.
The other obvious alternative...cover the pack. Best case, all the above. You're good to go.

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:24:17 PM EDT

[#14]

A lot of backpackers are using trash compactor bags as a pack liner. They have a 75 liter capacity, and are 2 mils thick as opposed to .9 for most trash bags. There are 3 and 4 mil contractor trash bags in 33 and 42 gallon sizes also.

Posted: 10/27/2010 2:18:05 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

cover and ziplocs.....has worked for years for me

second,thrid and +100 on this and trash bags.

if you want to keep the damp or "sprinkles" off your bag, you can spray it. but the heavier cordoras will soak through even if dwr backed after time.

Posted: 10/27/2010 2:53:48 AM EDT

[#16]

How much are you looking to spend? I used a Sea to Summit bag when I was doing a boat package when I was in the Marines. Has the boat flip over my day pack was trapped under the boat and everything came out dry.

Link

Posted: 10/27/2010 5:58:44 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
I put a trash bag on the inside of mine.

+1 and zip lock bags of spare socks and undergarments.

The garbage bag is protected inside your bag from tree branches and rocks and such. I also got a few USGI water proof bags but they do smell like ass. They're heavy for what they do but what usgi field gear isn't.

Posted: 10/27/2010 6:01:40 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I learned years ago in the Boy Scouts to put small items in ziplocks and stuff everything else in a garbage bag. cheap. light and they can serve multiple functions in a pinch.

This and a pack cover for when it rains.

Posted: 10/27/2010 6:27:01 AM EDT

[#19]

I have a pack cover. It might keep the pack dry but on the last hike after several hours in the rain it just became a funnel to direct the water down my back. I'm thinking of getting a Sea to Summit poncho to cover us both completely. Inside it's either ziplock bags or dry bags. Since my pack cover doubles as a gear bag under the hammock I like to have a large trash bag to put the pack in to keep it clean and dry.

Posted: 10/27/2010 6:43:08 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
I have a pack cover. It might keep the pack dry but on the last hike after several hours in the rain it just became a funnel to direct the water down my back. I'm thinking of getting a Sea to Summit poncho to cover us both completely. Inside it's either ziplock bags or dry bags. Since my pack cover doubles as a gear bag under the hammock I like to have a large trash bag to put the pack in to keep it clean and dry.

I use a large poncho for those conditions. Normally for light rain I put my waterproof outer jacket shell over the pack with the hood over my head. Then if the rain picks up I put the shell on as a jacket, put a trash bag over the pack, then put the poncho on over me and the pack.

Posted: 10/27/2010 7:27:23 AM EDT

[#21]

+1 on Ziplocs, trash bags.
There are also sil-nylon bags and other water resistant ditty bags available. Check out Campmor.com

Posted: 10/27/2010 7:44:15 AM EDT

[#22]

Yep, as already stated, zip bags or dry bags for the critical items inside. Waterproof cover over the outside, while adding weight of its own, can really cut down on how much water weight you soak up without it.

Posted: 10/27/2010 8:12:22 AM EDT

[#23]

I have two of these in my pack. Fit's everything I need to keep dry.

http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/product/gi-issue-military-waterproof-bag-4920.cfm

Posted: 10/27/2010 8:32:54 AM EDT

[#24]

Most my gear is already in water resistant stuff sacks, but if I think that it is going to be raining I will line the inside of my bag with one or two heavy duty garbage bags and keep an extra one at the top of the bag to put over the bag if it starts raining.

Cheap but effective.

Posted: 10/27/2010 9:00:24 AM EDT

[#25]

I have hiked many miles and been out for days in steady downpours.

Use a pack rain cover and put everything you want to stay dry in a zip lock bag.

Posted: 10/27/2010 9:02:46 AM EDT

[#26]

Willy Pete bag.

Posted: 10/27/2010 10:36:16 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
.. use zip lock bags.

This ^^ IMHO there is no way to make a pack absolutely waterproof - so why bother to try? Water will find a way to get in there.

Best bet is to pack your gear in waterproof bags. Little things (like socks) go in ziplocks. Big stuf (like a change of clothes) goes in a waterproof bag (like the old USGI nylon laundry bags with the rubber lining).

Posted: 10/27/2010 12:44:15 PM EDT

[#28]

Zips! They keep sand out of your drawers too!

Posted: 10/27/2010 1:23:30 PM EDT

[#29]

Use waterproof sacks for the contents. No pack will be completely waterproof other than stuff thats marketed as such for whitewater rafting, for example.

Posted: 10/27/2010 2:27:45 PM EDT

[#30]

comment later.

Posted: 10/27/2010 2:47:15 PM EDT

[#31]

I've used these space bags, you just have to remember not to make you back to heavy. I hadn't thought of the dry bag before. I may have to explore this option more myself. I don't like the GI waterproof bag. They always start to crack and let water in after a little while and as noted the smell like ass.

Posted: 10/27/2010 2:51:18 PM EDT

[#32]

Items that need to stay dry in a heavy duty Ziploc at a minimum (don't go cheap, you can reuse them plenty of times), or in a trash bag. You'll need to double bag them if they're not thick bags.

Personally, I like to put small items in gallon Ziplocs, my clothes in a garbage bag, and leave everything else (stove, cookwear, other stuff that can get wet) just in the pack itself and not worry about it. If I know I'm going to be on or in the water I'll use an actual drybag for things like clothes or my sleeping bag. There are some really nice lightweight drybags available these days, and they're not particularly expensive.

I don't like pack covers, but a nice light one made of sil-nylon (easy to make yourself) can save you a LOT of work by keeping your pack from getting soaked with water. You have to carry that water around with you, then. Wet packs are heavy.

Posted: 10/27/2010 3:03:50 PM EDT

[#33]

I use the space bags too. One for clean clothes and another for dirty clothes, that way the total volume doesn't change as I use up clothes, plus I don't want the dirty clothes to get wet and gain weight. I also stuff my sleeping bag in a space bag and then stuff it into its compression sack. This adds another layer of waterproofness, plus it makes the bag smaller to carry.

Everything I carry that HAS to stay dry goes in a space bag, a ziplock, or a foodsaver bag. Then I throw a lightweight poncho over the backpack if it's raining.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How to waterproof a back pack? Spray stuff on it, plastic inner liner, or new pack?

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