[Hauptmann]

A few months ago I ordered a set of the small ruck liners from Sportsman's Guide (not available now). When they arrived they were new, but good lord the smell! After sitting in an outside closet since then, it was time to wash the stink off them, which unfortunately removed the rubberized material.

While I now have some very clean, OD green nylon bags, is there any way I could waterproof these bags, or is there a better replacement out there that I haven't found?

 

[Mark Harlin Chaney]

This is easiest for me. I use a very heavy gauge plastic lawn bag 55 gal.. That way when I finish with it I just throw it away and install another. Since you already have the nylon bags you could use it as an outer layer to reinforce the trash bag. Just a thought. I like the easy clean up of the trash bag, not to mention after I've used it as a liner it can still be used as a trash bag.

 

[tedley2]

Are these the ALICE pack liners or something else? Might try Scotchguard, spraying it on the bags. I bought some German rubberized bags off SG that I'm using to store assorted things in now. These are smaller than the inside of an ALICE pack. They sold out. Some sort of rubberized nylon like the old GI ponchos.

 

[Hauptmann]

Are these the ALICE pack liners or something else?

Right, but for the smaller pouches on the front of the ruck, about 10" x 17". I'm going to try Scotch-Guard on a few to see how well that works, and Kiwi's Heavy Duty Camp Dry if I can find it around here.
I have one I bought used over 10 years ago, after all it's been through it's still in great condition compared to these new ones.

 

[Billofthenorth2]

Sounds like the rubber material decomposed, old ponchos did that all the time with the accompanying 'vomit' smell. Maybe you could get a refund? Chances are they knew these things were going when they sent them to you. I ditto the large trash bag as a pack liner.

 

[me26245]

aqua seal

You might try aqua seal "poly coat" you can find info at:

www.aquaseal.com

I coated a large alice ruck with this and it works great, stiffens the fabric a bit, but water rolls right off.

 

[Hauptmann]

Sounds like the rubber material decomposed, old ponchos did that all the time with the accompanying 'vomit' smell. Maybe you could get a refund?

Spot on description of the smell. I found the same bags (produced by East Wind Industries) on eBay last night with a warning in the description about not using soap or detergent on them. Tossed the invoice for them long ago, so a refund is out of the question now.

 

[Bavarian]

Try a spot test with Thompson's Water Seal. It works on a lot of things.

 

[Bigdog57]

When I got back into camping, and especially when doing motorcycle roadtrips, I quickly learned NO nylon bag is water/rain proof. I use ziplocs for all gear/clothing in my bags.
WalMart sells a set of very-heavy-duty ziplocs in a three bag set, that work very well. The smallest is a 15" by 15" size that works well in a main pack bag. All gear in my Medium Alice pack is bagged in plastic.

 

[montello]

Ditto on the ziplocks, plus you can see inside as they are clear.

 

[Mark Harlin Chaney]

Bigdog57,
I found out the same thing. I bike a lot and ziplocks are the way to go!

 

[49204]

Ziplock bags? Better stock up....

...before CARB regulates 'em out of existance. See jerry can thread... I can see the bumper snickers now. "You can have my jerry can when you pry it out of my cold, dead fingers." "I'll carry my ziploc bags concealed when you forbid open carry."

CARB does almost as good a job as the Three Stooges at making idiocy. Trouble is that they, and their supporting bureaucrats are taking themselves seriously.

"First they came for the Jerrycans, and I did not stand up, I don't drive offroad.
Then they came for the ziploc bags, and I did not stand up, I don't carry sandwiches to work.
Then, when they came for my condoms, I couldn't get it to stand up...."