Rain protection

[Jeff81]

I'll be hiking Mt. Whitney with my camera and my pack isn't waterproof. Is there some type of water proof tarp/cover that I could use to cover my bag while hiking? I may resort to using a big black trash bag if I can't find anything. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Lowner]

Jeff81,

The LowePro AW system is very simple, just a very light pull down cover that stows out of the way under a velcro'ed flap when not required. Shaped to fit, it holds itself in place on my Vertex 200.

The beauty of a shaped water resistant fabric with suitably glued seams is it would be more robust than your plastic bag. Granted it's more work, but certainly do-able.

[earthairfire]

Even with a water resistant bag / solution chuck a bunch of silica packets in your bag - these saved my cameras life when I got stuck in a downpour in a rainforest with a supposedly waterproof bag! Now I keep them whenever I find them in shoe boxes, new purchases, and store them to chuck in my camera bag when needed...

Tim

[Jon]

Check any camping/hiking store, like REI for instance, for backpack covers (http://www.rei.com/search?cat=4500001_Backpacks%2C+Child+Carriers+and +Duffels&cat=4500602&hist=cat%2C4500001_Backpacks%2C+Child+Carriers+and +Duffels%3ABackpacks%2C+Child+Carriers+and+Duffels %5Ecat%2C4500602%3APack+Rain+Covers) if your backpack doesn't have one.

[Tvw]

Even with a water resistant bag / solution chuck a bunch of silica packets in your bag - these saved my cameras life when I got stuck in a downpour in a rainforest with a supposedly waterproof bag! Now I keep them whenever I find them in shoe boxes, new purchases, and store them to chuck in my camera bag when needed...

Tim

I do exactly the same thing! Those silica bags certainly help in humid climates.

[Morlow]

Even with a water resistant bag / solution chuck a bunch of silica packets in your bag - these saved my cameras life when I got stuck in a downpour in a rainforest with a supposedly waterproof bag! Now I keep them whenever I find them in shoe boxes, new purchases, and store them to chuck in my camera bag when needed...

Tim

What do those do? Just soak up humidity?

[zoom_zoom]

How would one be able to tell when a silica bag has worn out (eg. no longer absorbing moisture)? I've had some lying around for a while now and I can't tell if they need to be replaced.

[wantone]

Yeah they do. Works best if you have your equipment in a sealed bag or container.

[tvphotog]

Try this Tamrac waterproof cover. It sits in its own pouch which will snap to your pack. Comes in medium and large.

Photos courtesy B&H Photo

[SYS]

How would one be able to tell when a silica bag has worn out (eg. no longer absorbing moisture)? I've had some lying around for a while now and I can't tell if they need to be replaced.

This thing tells you by change of color...

http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-PEL-1500D-Peli-Desiccant-Silica/dp/B0018O035O/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1IX49YK7CWOL8&colid=3H5LRX20WOEUJ

[SYS]

Unless it's a backpack or of similar big size bag, a single layer or two layers of cheap shower cap hair cover would do a superb job...