Portage Pack Liner vs. Dry Bags in Portage Pack

[NikonF5user]

I usually use two 35 liter dry bags in my Cooke Custom Sewing Pioneer pack - I prefer this to a large drybag backpack in that the 35L dry bags are much cheaper and last longer when protected by the portage pack. Additionally it allows for more organization, and a failure doesn't mean EVERYTHING gets wet.



This does have drawbacks however - the dry bags take up some space, and they weigh quite a bit. In an effort to reduce weight for an upcoming fly-in trip, I am debating using a more traditional plastic pack liner. Curious if anyone uses a pack liner, and if so, what experiences have you had with rain and/or an unexpected water exit from the canoe? Does a pack liner keep gear dry when submerged? I would think it's not as waterproof as a true dry bag, but I have not used a pack liner since I was a kid (back then I used a contractor trash bag in my Camp Trails hiking backpack!). I suppose properly secured, a pack liner could be as dry as are the dry bags (although obviously not as robust - but not sure that's even necessary when within the portage pack.

Would love to hear thoughts and experiences with pack liners!

 

[lowangle al]

I've been using pack liners in my canvas packs and never had a failure. I do line my stuff sacks containing my clothes and sleeping bag with lighter weight trash bags for added protection. With my large Duluth pack I use the liner when going tandem as it fits two peoples clothes nicely. When I go solo it makes more sense for me to use the dry bags. When I use the liner I only put clothes, sleeping bags and pads inside and plan not to ever have to open it while underway. Anything else that needs to be kept waterproof, like clothes I might need during the day, is kept in an additional dry bags in a different pack. If you only want to carry one bag you could use a combination of both.

I don't know what you do with your food and cook kit, but I never put food or hard goods in the liner.

 

[NikonF5user]

I've been using pack liners in my canvas packs and never had a failure. I do line my stuff sacks containing my clothes and sleeping bag with lighter weight trash bags for added protection. With my large Duluth pack I use the liner when going tandem as it fits two peoples clothes nicely. When I go solo it makes more sense for me to use the dry bags. When I use the liner I only put clothes, sleeping bags and pads inside and plan not to ever have to open it while underway. Anything else that needs to be kept waterproof, like clothes I might need during the day, is kept in an additional dry bags in a different pack. If you only want to carry one bag you could use a combination of both.

I don't know what you do with your food and cook kit, but I never put food or hard goods in the liner.

For this trip I will carry a 60L barrel in addition to the portage pack - I am hoping to be able to fit my cooking gear in the barrel. That which I am usure of is the fuel, but I suppose I can put the fuel bottles in a small drybag and carry it outside of the pack liner in the portage pack...

 

[Mason]

I've been using both on my trips. Re:CCS, I made a nylon liner that goes inside the regular Duluth plastic liner so the plastic doesn't get stressed. I haven't submerged a pack, but I've had them out in torrential rains and things stayed dry (as well as my big dry portage pack)
. I've had a couple of small leaks in my dry portage packs--one warranteed, the other due to baggage handlers (an old pack). Neither leak was problematic as I have most of my stuff in either nylon stuff sacks or lightweight nylon roll top dry bags. I air out my bags daily.

 

[Robin]

I use plastic bag sold by Duluth Pack inside a canvas Duluth Pack for clothes, sleeping bag, and anything else that I need to keep dry. I used to use two plastic bags per canvas Duluth Pack but have since gone to one plastic bag. I have patched the plastic bags inside and out with duct tape with good success when needed.
I do use two small Sealine bags inside a Duluth Pack canvas backpack for food. Each night I drop the Sealine bags along the shoreline in opposite directions of camp which has worked well for me.

 

[recped]

I usually use two 35 liter dry bags in my Cooke Custom Sewing Pioneer pack - I prefer this to a large drybag backpack in that the 35L dry bags are much cheaper and last longer when protected by the portage pack. Additionally it allows for more organization, and a failure doesn't mean EVERYTHING gets wet.

View attachment 153623

This does have drawbacks however - the dry bags take up some space, and they weigh quite a bit. In an effort to reduce weight for an upcoming fly-in trip, I am debating using a more traditional plastic pack liner. Curious if anyone uses a pack liner, and if so, what experiences have you had with rain and/or an unexpected water exit from the canoe? Does a pack liner keep gear dry when submerged? I would think it's not as waterproof as a true dry bag, but I have not used a pack liner since I was a kid (back then I used a contractor trash bag in my Camp Trails hiking backpack!). I suppose properly secured, a pack liner could be as dry as are the dry bags (although obviously not as robust - but not sure that's even necessary when within the portage pack.

Would love to hear thoughts and experiences with pack liners!

You should have a look at these Sil-Nylon dry bags. They occupy much less space and are very light weight.

Ultra-Sil Dry Bag

LIFETIME GUARANTEE. The Ultra-Sil Dry Bag won the sought-after Backpacker Editors' Choice award in 2006 and remains the ideal dry bag for backpacking and travel. Made with lightweight, waterproof bluesign® approved 30D Ultra-Sil fabric featuring Cordura® yarns, it's the perfect choice to...

seatosummit.com

An alternative would be the much more common and cheaper Sil-Nylon stuff sacks and seal the seams yourself. I wouldn't do that for a stand alone dry bag but for carrying inside a canoe pack it should be fine.