Keeping gear dry
 

Well Im trying to figure out some last minute things for my tour (well the tours still in 2 months, but im a planner :twitchy:). Its going to be down the Pacific Coast. Unfortunantly, the only time I can fit it into my schedule this year is starting in mid-May, and going into June. I know its going to be a bit rainier that time of the year, but thats not going to stop me.
My biggest concern is keeping my gear dry on this tour. I have a down sleeping bag, and if it gets real wet its pretty much useless. I tour ultralight, so my only carrying system is a large dry bag on the rear rack and a large handlebar bag. The dry bag doesnt let stuff breath through it, so for example lets say my down bag and one of my shirts are wet. I cant really put them in the dry bag because they wont dry in there, and I cant strap them outside because its raining, what would I do in this scenario?
Thanks guys

More than the shirt, there's the wet tent/tarp thing, which will get your sleeping bag wet pronto. I keep my sleeping bag, tent, clean clothes, dirty clothes, and warmer clothes, all in separate extra small dry bags, which then all go into a large container, in my case waterproof panniers and a rack-top bag. You already have a rack. Pacific Outdoor panniers only add 2 lbs. The extra long-term comfort might be worth it to you. The wife and I tandem toured with 40 lbs., including pump, tools, rack, bags, etc., etc.

I camped with a guy who rode to California from Florida with a camp chair in his gear. He did 93 miles the day before I spoke with him. The chair was worth it to him.

I also use a large dry bag stuffer on my rear rack but use separate stuff sacks inside to keep clothes isolated from my down bag.

I do the same thing; large dry sac on rear rack with smaller dry sacs inside. I actually keep the wet tent inside a dry sac, then wrap my sleeping bag around that dry sac, synch the whole thing with wedding, then squeeze it into the larger dry sac.

Many dry sac lines have a "durable" version. I would recommend that for the outside sack. It resists friction better, and there always seems to be a little friction somewhere.

I too use small dry bags inside the large one, but my main worry is how will the gear every get dry. If the dry bag wont let it breath and dry out, but its raining outside, its like impossible to ever dry it out. I guess if I see a laundrymat along the way I could throw it in for a little.

Don't let your sleeping bag get wet. Problem Solved. ;)

E.g. make sure your shelter is reasonably waterproof, and put the sleeping bag inside a plastic bag.

It won't rain every single hour of every day. You should have plenty of time to air out the down bag if it gets a little damp.

Yep. When no drying weather, I stop and stuff the bag, the tent, and damp clothes in the dryer, delicate fabric setting. Even the dry bags.

There's a great journal over at CG where a fellow touring in Canada had continuous days of wet weather with no dryer access. Miserable, miserable. Trust that won't be your experience.

Agreed. I also use a down sleeping bag. I bought it 36 years ago and it's been used on several trips per year. It has never gotten wet except when being washed. If I ever did get it wet on a bike tour I think I'd just keep riding to the nearest laundromat. But keeping it in a waterproof bag inside waterproof panniers has worked so far.

The last OR State campground, in Brookings, has a laudrymat in the campground. I found that rather convenient after fighting a steady south wind (which thereabouts means rain) for a couple of days.

I have several down bags and several synthetic bags. When I anticipate it being wet on a trip, I bring a synthetic bag.

Bike camping, I decide on down vs synthetic based on where I am going and duration of trip. Canoe or kayak trips, always bring a synthetic bag not because I anticipate getting the bags wet with rain or dunking the gear in a lake, but because when I am camping on the shore there is usually a heavy dew and it is always humid in the tent at night near shore.

In the afternoon if the sun is shining and the air is dry, I often hang my bag from the food rope (line used to hang food from a tree) or spread over the tent in the sun to dry out any dampness that accumulates after several days of use. I generally do this a couple times a week when schedule and weather allow.

You might consider buying a synthetic bag if you might not be able to keep the down bag dry.

I just make stuff sacks for all of my crap and seam seal them.Works for tents,works for stuff sacks too.If I was planning on going underwater,I would get dry sacks,but I haven't found a need for one in 40 years.

Yep. Harris Beach.

Also KOA's have them. The one between Arcata and Eureka in CA came in handy for me when my sleeping bag got wet. Other than that, there are probably many laundromats in the many towns you'll be passing through.

Yup. Other than good drybags, keep an eye out for laundromats and take advantage of them. They can be sometimes found where you'd least expect them. This one save my day!