Rain Cover

Most backpacks will protect your gear from a light shower, but heavy rains can leak through the fabric. If you leave your pack outside during the night, you can fit a large plastic trash bag over it to keep it dry. On rainy hikes, cut a slit in the bag so that you can cover the pack and still leave the straps free. Tuck the loose ends of the bag behind the straps or under the frame.

Cook pot too big to fit inside your pack? Try slipping it over one end of your sleeping bag before you strap the bag to the frame.