I have over 30 years backpacking experience, starting with Scouting as a youth. I am currently the High Adventure Leader for a Scout Troop. I try to get out once or twice a month, plus at least one week-long trek each year. My trips are of two types. First, I am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in sections, and generally use a lightweight approach on these typically solo trips. Other trips involving family involve more traditional backpacking equipment. Terrain varies from sea level to 14,000 feet (4,300 m), desert to mountain, and trail to cross country, occasionally including snow travel.

This is the first of three reports of the Integral Designs Silcoat Pack Cover and is based solely on inspection at home. Future reports will describe my experiences with the pack cover over two and then six months.

Product Description:

The Silcoat Pack Cover is made by Integral Designs (http://www.integraldesigns.com).

The pack cover arrived May 20, 2005, stuffed in a small silnylon stuff sack, along with a single-sided card describing the product and a catalog. The MSRP is US $35 for the large size tested, which should fit packs up to 5,500 cubic inches (90 L). A small size cover is also available to fit packs up to 3,000 cubic inches (50 L) with a cost of $30.

The cover is made of 1.1-ounce 30 denier silicon-impregnated ripstop nylon. The sample I received is a forest green (called "jade") and is also available in grey or yellow. All seams are double stitched.

A single shockcord drawstring wraps completely around the opening of the pack cover. The drawstring is completely enclosed in a wide tunnel except at the lower end of each side. At these points the cord exits through two grommets 5 inches (13 cm) apart. This allows the hip belt of the pack to easily pass under the drawstring while keeping the cover secure over the pack. Just below this, a loop of the drawstring exits through a third grommet on each side and is adjustable by means of a toggle cord lock.

Detail of integrated pocket for use as stuff sack Pack cover stuffed into integrated pocket

In one lower corner of the cover, a 5 inch by 6 inch (13 cm by 15 cm) piece of fabric forms a pocket for storing the cover when not in use. Also included is a small - 4 inch long, 3 inch diameter (10 cm by 8 cm) - stuff sack.

The manufacturer says the large size cover measures 39 inches (97 cm) long, 15 inches (38 cm) wide, and 13 inches (32 cm) deep. I verified these measurements with the cover laying flat with the edges of the opening touching each other.

The stated weight of the cover is 3.3 ounces (95g). I measured the cover at 3.4 ounces (97 g) with the stuff sack and 3.1 ounces (90 g) without.

Pack cover over a GVP G4 ultralight pack
Pack cover over a Kelty Moraine internal frame pack Detail of hip belt under drawstring

Initial Impression:

The pack cover is much larger than I had expected. My pack, an ultralight model, still has a capacity of 4,100 cubic inces (67 L). The cover fits a bit large, but the drawstring does hold it securely in place. I am not sure that the smaller cover would adequately fit this pack, but the large size cover does have a bit of surplus fabric. I also tried the cover on a more traditional internal frame pack that, while it has less internal volume, is physically larger in overall size. The cover still was more than large enough to cover it properly.

The pack cover, while very light, is very well constructed, with double stitched and flat-felled seams without loose fabric ends.

I find the inclusion of both an integrated pocket that can be used to store the pack cover and a separate stuff sack superfluous. I will most likely use the stuff sack as a nice bonus inside my pack and store the pack cover in its integrated pocket, where it fits quite well.

The light weight of this pack cover is very welcome. By comparison, the heavy duty plastic bags I use inside my pack to keep my sleeping bag and clothes dry weigh 2.4 ounces (68 g) each, and I usually carry two. Still, with the waterproof bags inside my pack, the pack fabric itself still gets wet. By using the Silcoat Pack Cover I expect to both save weight and have a drier pack.

Next: Initial testing will be on a week-long backpack in the mountains of Southern California. Elevations will range from 700 to at near 10,000 feet (200 to 3,000 meters). The weather could be anything from a warm and dry 85 degrees F (30 C) to a pleasant 30 F (-1 C). I expect wind and anticipate rain.

I will test the pack cover for the following:

Ease of fitting securely on my pack.
Ease of access to cargo in my pack.
Ability to keep partially on for easy access during on-and-off showers.
Waterproofness.
Durability, resistance to snages and abrasions, and seam integrity.

Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear
Read more gear reviews by Bill Jeffrey

Initial Report

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