brookep27•19d agoProlific Poster

Appreciation post: That $30 rain cover saved my whole Coast Trail trip

I was hiking the Point Reyes Coast Trail last month and a storm rolled in out of nowhere. My pack was packed with a dry change of clothes and my sleeping bag liner. I bought a basic rain cover for about 30 bucks at an REI before leaving, and it kept everything bone dry even in heavy wind. Did anyone else buy gear that seemed dumb at the time but ended up being a lifesaver on a specific route?

3 comments

3 Comments

beth_ward8019d ago

Do you ever notice how the things we think are totally unnecessary end up being the most important? It's like that in life too, not just hiking. We all buy that expensive rain cover or that extra water filter and joke about wasting money, then a storm hits and suddenly it's the best decision ever. Same with keeping a first aid kit in your car or having a backup phone charger. We're so used to things going smoothly that we forget the value of that little bit of extra effort. That $30 cover wasn't dumb at all, it was smart planning that most people overlook.

wendy_wilson19d ago

A thirty dollar rain cover isn't exactly the same as a life or death situation though. Most of the time the storm just makes you a little wet and uncomfortable, not stranded on a mountain. Feels like we hype up the "prepper" mindset a bit much sometimes.

rivera.jesse4d ago

Actually gonna push back on this a bit. Most people I know who hike regularly just use a heavy duty trash bag as a pack liner for like a dollar and it works just as good if not better than those fancy covers. The $30 cover is nice but it's not some genius purchase, it's just a convenience item that REI markets well. When the wind really whips up those covers can actually fill with air and throw off your balance or even rip off completely. A contractor bag inside your pack costs pennies and literally cannot fail in the same way. People act like spending money equals being prepared but half the time you're just paying for a brand name and a little bit of nylon. Your mileage may vary but I've seen plenty of folks with expensive gear end up soaked because they rely on it too much.