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 last of three reports of the Integral Designs Silcoat Pack Cover. The first report described the product in detail. This report builds on the second report. F

Product Description:

Integral Designs Silcoat Pack Cover
http://www.integraldesigns.com
Received May 20, 2005
Integrated 5 inch by 6 inch (13 cm by 15 cm) pocket for storage
Ships in a 4 inch long, 3 inch diameter (10 cm by 8 cm) - stuff sack
MSRP US $35 (small size also available for $30)
Large size tested should fit packs up to 5,500 cubic inches (90 L) (small size also available to fit packs up to 3,000 cubic inches (50 L))
1.1-ounce 30 denier silicon-impregnated ripstop nylon
Available in "jade" (forest green - tested), grey, or yellow
Shockcord drawstring with toggle cord lock wraps completely around the opening
Large size measures 39 inches (97 cm) long, 15 inches (38 cm) wide, and 13 inches (32 cm) deep (per manufacturer and tester)
Stated weight 3.3 ounces (95g), 3.4 ounces (97 g) with the stuff sack and 3.1 ounces (90 g) without
Integral Designs Silcoat Pack Cover over a light pack

Test Conditions

Testing included two extended-weekend backpacks along the Pacific Crest Trail between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. Elevations ranged from 7,000 to 10,500 feet (2,100 to 3,200 m) including river valleys, forest, and barren ridgetops. Separate camps were made each night at about 8,500 feet (2,600 m). Daytime temperatures ranged from 50 to 70 degrees F (10 to 20 C), with low temperatures each night around 35 degrees F (2 c). Conditions varied from calm valleys to strong ridge-top winds with heavy rain and small hail during the day and light snow overnight.

Field Test

Waterproofness. Finally, some awful weather to test this pack cover! (Yes, we gear testers are a strange bunch.) Two days of rain, mostly wind driven, along with some hail, provided a chance to learn that this pack cover really does work. No moisture penetrated the cover. While the water still beads up on the fabric, during the storm the water ran off in sheets. When the rain stopped, a quick shake knocked most of the water off, and the silnylon dried quickly. The pack cover's shockcord drawstring held the cover secure over my frameless pack, and I did not notice any rustling, although probably because of the noise from the storm itself.

Fit. My primary pack, while an ultralight model, still has a capacity of 4,100 cubic inches (67 L), so I ordered the large size pack cover. The cover fits a bit large, and therefore looks a bit wrinkled, 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 has a bit of surplus fabric when used on my pack. 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. Just for fun, I tried this light pack cover on an extra large late-1970's Kelty frame pack, and it fit perfectly.

The cover has two slots at the bottom to allow my pack's hip belt to pass through. This keeps the cover more secure around the bottom of the pack and also keeps it from getting lost or blown away when accessing the pack. It also allows the pack cover to wrap around the bottom of the pack, so my pack stayed clean when setting it down on wet and muddy ground.

Ease of access to cargo in my pack. I appreciated the shockcord drawstring that made it easy to reach a side pocket of the pack. It was easy to pull the cover off the top of the pack to access the pack's main compartment without removing the cover completely.

Storage. The cover stuffs easily into the integrated storage pocket when not in use. It is possible to use one of the cord locks to tighten the pocket closed when used to store the cover. While a separate stuff sack is provided, it is not needed, although I always can use another stuff sack, and this one is now my toiletries bag.

Durability. In spite of walking some brushy trails and climbing over and under many blown down trees, the fabric shows no damage. The flat-felled seams show no signs of stress, and the shock cord shows no wear. In camp I bounce my pack around a bit, although I do take care to avoid the largest branches that might snag my pack.

Just One Wish I would prefer to see an ice axe loop and strap on the cover, and plan on adding one now that the test is complete. (In my last report I explained how I carried my axe under the pack cover.)

Summary. This light weight pack cover worked well in wind, rain, and hail to keep my gear dry, at a weight just a bit more than a heavy duty plastic bag.

I thank BackpackGearTest and Integral Designs for the opportunity to test this pack cover.

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