Drysacks

As part of my kit preperation for the Dales Way later this year, I'm intending buying some drysacks. Whilst it's not essential that everything I carry is kept bone dry, and my pack does have a raincover, even when staying in a B&B overnight, I don't want to arrive to find that everything I'm carrying is wet through. Having never used them before however, the question is, what size(s) do I need?

My thinking is that I'd have a fairly small one to ensure electrical stuff (camera & phone), wallet & paperwork such as maps, contacts etc is kept dry, plus one or two to ensure that a full change of clothes (for both me & the wife) for evening wear is dry. Does this sound reasonable, or have i missed anything obvious that you wouldn't want to get wet?

I use a waterproof packliner, and a seperate waterproof drysack for my sleeping bag inside that.

If you're not careful, lots of drysacks can add up to a fair bit of un-needed extra weight.

I use exped bags and tried to look for the litreage of them, depending how big your rucksack is, depends what size you feel you'd want. I use a Deuter Guide 35+ litre sack..so went for an XL, in the winter its full and my gear is protected, in the summer I just roll it down and job done.

I agree with Mike, lots of different drysacks mite be nice and organised, but they do add weight. I personally just use two, the XL for my kit, and then a Small which is kept at the top at all times which has head torch, first aid kit, survival bivy, hat n gloves...the important stuff close at hand.

Jacko.

Yep, I would mirror what's already been said. Get one large one, as close to the capacity of your rucksack as possible to put all your kit in. With phones, keys, wallet etc, I usually just use a ziplock food bag - the original ultralight drybag

 Alpkit make some very good and cheap drybags. I like the red ones

Packcovers are not purely beneficial.  Particularly, if you want to get at the pack for any reason (e.g., your lunch is in it) you have to take them off and then the pack isn't waterproof any more.  Those handy external pockets are rendered non-handy and internal.  It also misses the point that if you put something wet inside (e.g. your dripping overtrousers when (hah!) the rain stops) then you have by-passed the waterproof protection and they'll shed their water over the stuff you want to keep dry.

An interior liner is simpler and keeps the contents dry, and you can also pack wet stuff inside the sack but outside the liner.  You can also get at pockets.  The main downside is that over time an uncovered pak will absorb more water in to its outer, which will weigh a bit more.

You don't need anything too fancy as an internal liner.  Some folk use binliners but they'll usually tear a bit too easily IME.  Something like a rubble sack is fine though, and costs pennies.  Or you can get a "proper" one, which will last longer.  These days most have roll seals with clips but you don't really need that unless you're swimming as well as walking.

Pete.

Peter Clinch wrote (see)

an uncovered pak will absorb more water in to its outer, which will weigh a bit more.

"a bit more".... thats very restrained of you, depending on the conditions obviously.

Got to say I agree more with your original suggestion of getting a few. That's what I do as it helps keep everything far more sorted. I agree that it's slightly less efficient in terms of space (but only minimally). Weight wise it's maybe 50-100g more to have 4 bags rather than 1 larger one, again, does that make a difference. I just don't find the larger bag works well for me.

I carry a 1l one for my first aid kit (but only use about 1/3 of it's volume, then just roll it tight). 1l for electricals as you suggested. A map needs a 4l dry bag (at least if you get alpkit ones it does) but not sure a dry bag is great for a map. I use a 13l one for clothes. Could easily use an 8l one but like the small increase in size to give flexibility and decrease need to stuff so much. You may want another bag to keep wet clothes in (as they can really make your bag smell if you keep them in there for any more than a few hours once they start to dry). You can just get ziplock bags from supermarkets for the smaller sizes (actually easier to use than roll top as you can squeeze air out easier) if you want  to save a few pounds.

I have a 35 litre drybag for sleeping bag and other overnight dry gear, a 2.5 litre for the outside pocket (electrics, gloves, buff etc), a 4 litre for food. Occasionally also a 4 litre for insulation layer if i know its going to rain.

I dont think it makes any difference which way you go in terms of weight, i find a big pack liner weighs the same as 2 or 3 smaller drybags anyway so i gained little benefit from buying a 35litre drybag. I do prefer the simplicity of this way though, and i think thats what its all about, how you prefer to organise things.

These are also useful for items too small for a separate drybag Aloksak

I have a few various sizes, one each for small FAK, toiletries, money/keys/cards and mobile phone.