how to keep your pack dry?

**Krissa** · 01-16-2011, 07:56

I have never hammock camped but I do backpack. I tried garbage bags and alway ended up ripping one. I hate pack covers so I purchased one of those HUGE ziplock bags and use it to line the inside of the backpack with it. I place my gear inside and zip it up. Then I just place it on the ground tarp.

The ziplock bags are pretty heavy duty, no rips in them yet from tent poles or stakes. They are even big enough to protect my hubby's larger pack - I can't remember how many liters it carries off my head.

**Redoleary** · 01-16-2011, 09:40

Molly Mac Gear makes a thing called a gear box which is a really cool mini hammock you hang next to your real hammock. Its worth a look, very neat piece of kit.
http://www.mollymacpack.com/box.html

**Roadrunnr72** · 01-16-2011, 09:53

I use the trash bag myself. Just put the bag over the pack and lean the pack against a tree.

**Wags** · 01-16-2011, 10:08

i typically sit my directly underneath my hammock on top of a garbage bag...

**hangnout** · 01-16-2011, 10:29

Packa on the trail and trash bag at camp works for me. This keeps the Packa for use as a rain jacket at camp

**^shane^** · 01-16-2011, 14:38

I hang my pack in a tree and use my Outdoor Research pack cover. Lots of rainy nights. Never a problem in the morning.

**Migrating Bird** · 01-16-2011, 15:09

[
Anybody tried the Packa? What's the verdict on that?
sky[/QUOTE]

I used a Packa last May, June and July in Me. It rained quite a bit with days of successive rain. A pack cover is a waste compared to a Packa. The Packa will keep your pack pretty dry. Having your (wet) tarp accessable on the outside of your pack helps when you get to camp. The Packa is very well made, the seams are taped and stores in it's own pocket. Rain and sweat will find it's way in and you can feel like it's "leaking". For example, I hate to hike with the hood up, so if it is a moderate rain, with the hood down rain will get down the back of your neck. I never had a problem with the contents of my pack getting wet and did not use a pack liner. The main advantages of the Packa are the pit zips for ventalation and the fact that you and the your pack (hip belt and shoulder straps) remain under the Packa and out of the weather. The two way zipper works good for ventalation as well. If you hike in the rain and it rains hard, chances are your going to get wet no matter what, but the Packa is the best piece of rain gear I have used so far (with a pack on). Cedar Tree is great to do buisness with and I would highly reccommend the Packa.

**Running Feather** · 01-16-2011, 15:10

I just hang my pack from the ridge-line at the foot end of the hammock. Three lbs or thirty lbs my ridge-line will still "b-twangggg" like a guitar string

No sag allowed

**noontime** · 01-16-2011, 15:40

I've been through a number of gully washers in my hammock and there are two pretty effective ways to keep your gear dry from what I've seen.

I have a larger tarp so I just S-biner the pack to either end of the hammock(typically the foot end) and it stays nice and dry. Also my pack is an Aarn that comes with dry sacks on the inside so I just roll em up and presto never have to worry about wet anything.

The other way I've seen be very effective is to lay down some sort of layer under the hammock, a poncho, trash bag what ever and put your gear right under you, it'll stay dry as well.

**gargoyle** · 01-16-2011, 16:08

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Clip it to the hammock suspension if your tarp is small.
The pack should be fairly light since your hammock, quilts and tarps aren't in it. Even if it is full ('cept the tarp and hammock) most suspensions will handle the weight.

If your tarp is a biggun', just throw the bag under the hammock on a ground cloth or in a dry bag/ plastic bag.