Reviews > Packs > Pack Accessories > Sea to Summit Pack Covers > Owner Review by Andrew Priest

Review Location(s):

The hiking environment of the south-west of Western Australia allows for hiking and backpacking from coastal plains to forest. Elevation ranges from 0 to 585 metres (0 to 1,920 feet). Within this region, I hike in varying conditions from forestry roads, to sandy tracks to single-purpose walking trails, to rock hopping, to beach walking to completely off-track walking through open and dense country.

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Weather Conditions:

During the summer period, daytime temperatures average 30 C (86 F), whereas from March through to December the daytime average temperatures range from 15 C to 26 C (59 F to 79 F). During the autumn (Fall), winter, and spring periods the normal weather pattern is fairly wet with frequent heavy rainstorms evident. It does not normally snow in Western Australia.

According to The Times Atlas of the World (Concise Edition - Revised 1997) our weather is described as being "Mediterranean - rainy climates with mild winters, coolest month above 0° C (32° F), but below 18°C (64.4° F); warmest month above 10°C (50° F)." The atlas depicts the coastal area north of Los Angeles as having the same climate.

Review Comments:

Sea to Summit pack covers are described as "contoured waterproof pack covers [designed] to fit snugly around your pack for extra wet weather protection" according to the manufacturer.  They come in three sizes - small for daypacks up to 40 L (2 450 cu in); medium for packs in the 50 to 70 L (3 000 to 4 300 cu in) range; and large for packs in the 70 L to 90 L (4 300 to 5 500 cu in) size range. 

The primary features of the covers are that they are seam sealed; have a reinforced base and have a drawcord pack attachment. They are made of nylon.

As stated by Sea to Summit, the cover is contoured and has a reinforced base. I must admit, until I read this claim on the website and then closely inspected my cover, I did not realise that this feature existed. In fact both "ends" of the cover appear to be reinforced and therefore either end can be used as a base.  The reinforcing is not that obvious. It seems that Sea to Summit have used a thicker material on either end of the cover. If not for the reinforcing having a slightly different texture and colour, I would not have detected it.  The cover is secured to the pack by a 4 mm (0.16 ") drawcord and cordlock at what I would consider the top of the cover.  At this end the cover there is also a short piece of webbing and a tri glide (ladder loc buckle). The function of the webbing and glide continues to ellude me.

I have a love - hate relationship with my pack cover, which means that sometimes I take it and use it and other times I leave it behind. Since purchasing the cover in 2001 I have settled my use now to those bushwalks  where I expect  sustained exposure to rain and therefore the cover comes into its own in keeping my Macpac Cascade canvas pack (85 L or 5 200 cu in) dry and therefore lighter than it would be, if it was allowed to soak up rain. The pack cover fits the Cascade snugly.   I have also used it on one river crossing, where it was applied to the side of the pack that is floated in the water. I intend to continue using it on river crossings, unless I come up with a better idea.

In my experience, the cover has worked effectively protecting my pack and its contents from the elements.  It has sustained numerous off-track bushwalks through at times quite aggressive bush.  I have found that the drawcord and cordlock arrangement secures the cover effectively. It has not pulled off or caught on bush as I am walking.  That said, I still, even when using the cover,  pack my sleeping bag and spare clothes into a dry bag. Just over-cautious I suppose.

On the river crossing the cover was effective at reducing the amount of water soaked up by the pack and the amount that got into the pack. It didn't keep it waterproof but I didn't expect it to. What I was hoping for to avoid the pack getting heavy from soaking up water and it worked. So I was happy with the performance of the cover.

Will I continue to use the cover? Yes, on those trips where sustained rainfall is anticipated.  On other trips I am inclined to continue with internal pack protection, e.g., Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry bags. Why? I guess I am more comfortable with the internal protection approach, even though I have no experience to date to suggest the Sea to Summit pack cover is not effective.

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Reviews > Packs > Pack Accessories > Sea to Summit Pack Covers > Owner Review by Andrew Priest