TEHCC Rental Equipment:
HR-1 thru 3 – Kelty Pack Raincovers

A basic understanding about low weight backpacking is that a tent is only for sleeping and protection from the elements. The backpack itself is stashed in a vestibule or outside under a tarp. A larger and heavier tent is therefore not required to have inside space for all of the gear.

Another alternative is to protect the pack with a raincover. The club now purchased three Kelty backpack raincovers for use – designated as HR-1 thru HR-3. The raincover is also used to protect the backpack in case the hike is in inclement weather. A large garbage bag in many cases will satisfy this basic need, but these raincovers can provide a better, tighter fit around the pack itself.

They fit well on club’s HB-18 (3210 cu. in.) and HB-19 (4300 cu. in.) packs with strapped gear and still had room for adjustment. The raincover did fit over TEHCC’s largest pack HB-21 (5740 cu. in.), but there was no play in the cinch cord.

The club has set the rental price at $1 for each trip whether short or long. While the intent is to use with the club packs, these can also be rented to use with personal gear to give you a chance to evaluate whether you would want to invest in your own for regular outings.