Cedar Tree The Packa Review

Overview

The Packa is a rain jacket with a built-in pack cover. A large cavity bulges off the back and swallows the pack. When the sky opens, the wearer pulls the sleeves and body out from under the cover and puts the jacket on without unbuckling anything. Designer Edward Hinnant, who trades as Cedar Tree, has been making it for more than a decade. It suits on-trail hikers in cool-to-warm, wet climates who want ventilation more than a close, athletic fit. The trade is a loose, flappy garment that handles wind and off-trail travel poorly.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	425 g
Fabric	30d silicone/polyurethane-coated nylon
Waterproof rating	2,000 mm hydrostatic head
Pack capacity	Up to 65 L (Small, Medium, Large)
Sizes	XSmall, Small, Medium, Large, MediumX, LargeX
Ventilation	Full-length front zipper, large pit zips
Designer	Edward Hinnant (Cedar Tree)

Performance

Pack protection and wearing the pack underneath. The Packa’s central idea is that the pack straps and hip belt sit under the jacket. There are no exposed straps and no gap between a jacket and a separate pack cover. A conventional shell gets wet on the inside because it can’t breathe under shoulder straps. A Packa-wearer’s pack sits in a dry bubble instead, with air circulating around it. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail describe the real payoff as being able to deploy the jacket instantly. On days when it rains for 30 minutes, stops for 10, then starts again, nobody has to stop and unload.

Ventilation. This is where the Packa beats almost everything else in the rain-gear category. Andrew Skurka, who tested it over three seasons on the Pfiffner Traverse, in the High Sierra and while elk hunting in Colorado, found it protected him and his pack from precipitation while expelling heat and moisture through its generous venting. Owners say the front zipper lets air balloon the garment as they walk. Some hikers also push their arms through the pit-zip openings and let the sleeves hang, which keeps the hood and body cover on while the arms cool off. One owner described it as almost as breezy as a poncho but more buttoned up when needed. The fabric is a non-breathable silicone/polyurethane-coated nylon, so a fully closed Packa does hold perspiration. Skurka noted the condensation was visible through the translucent fabric, though a fleece mid-layer buffered it. Another tester reported that his arms stayed wet even with the pit zips open. In warm rain, the usual advice is to keep everything unzipped, and some hikers simply accept getting wet.

Weather protection. The 30d coated nylon is the same class of fabric used for tent flies and floors. Skurka considers its durability ample for the job, and he prefers a waterproof, non-breathable shell for its more reliable long-term performance than a waterproof-breathable membrane. The hood gets consistent praise. It is easy to adjust, stays put over a hat or bare head, and works as a hood-only layer in mist. In sustained downpours the exposure is below the hem. The Packa ends around the top of the pants or mid-thigh, so legs get wet. Hikers in shorts say that is tolerable, since bare legs dry fast.

Fit and handling. This is the Packa’s weak point. Skurka graded it A for innovation, C for execution and B overall. He struggled with fit and sizing and was irritated by unrefined trims. He called it unwieldy: the loose, draping fabric is a liability in high winds and off-trail, and impractical for scrambling or running. He also often felt lost in the volume of fabric when searching for the arms and hood. He found it excels on-trail in calm weather and cool to warm temperatures, which is a fair description of the Appalachian Trail. Owners say the pack-less experience feels different but is easy to get used to. The pack pouch looks silly on a hiker wearing the jacket alone.

The camp problem. One recurring complaint: if rain persists when it’s time to pitch a shelter, the hiker must choose between keeping the jacket on, which leaves the pack exposed, and taking it off to cover the pack, which leaves the hiker wet.

Weight. At 425 g, this version is heavier than the lightest sil-nylon builds. Owners of lighter 15d and 20d versions have reported weights around 8.5 to 9 oz, and one forum post gave 368 g for a Small. It also replaces both a rain jacket and a pack cover, which narrows the gap against a typical shell-plus-cover setup. The price is about $100, a fraction of a typical waterproof-breathable shell.

Choosing a Version

The Packa comes in XSmall, Small, Medium, Large, MediumX and LargeX. The 65-liter pack capacity is quoted for the Small, Medium and Large, so hikers carrying very large loads should ask Cedar Tree about the X sizes. Sizing is the area where owners and testers diverge most. One owner at 5’9” who would normally take a Medium chose a Large for the extra length, and noted it adds about 4 inches of circumference at the hem. Skurka, who struggled with fit, suggested contacting Cedar Tree for a quote on a custom version with longer sleeves. Because a single individual makes, ships and repairs the Packa, those conversations are normal practice. Hikers between sizes who want more coverage should lean up. Those who want less flap should lean down, as long as the pack cavity still fits their load.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Jacket and pack cover in one piece, deployable without removing the pack
• Pit zips and full front zip give class-leading ventilation
• Pack straps stay under the shell, so the straps stay drier
• Hood works well over a hat and in light drizzle
• Replaces two items, at around $100
• Repairs and custom changes handled directly by the maker

Cons

• Non-breathable fabric: sweat builds when fully closed
• Loose, draping cut flaps in wind and snags off-trail
• Fit and sizing are inconsistent, and some trims feel unrefined
• Hem ends at the top of the pants, leaving legs exposed
• Heavier than the lightest sil-nylon builds
• Awkward when setting up camp in persistent rain

Who Should Buy This

The Packa is for the eastern-style thru-hiker (AT, Long Trail, Pacific Northwest trails) who expects frequent, intermittent rain on well-graded trail and wears shorts. It also suits anyone sick of a clammy shell under pack straps. Hikers who scramble, travel off-trail, or camp in exposed windy terrain, or who want a trim, athletic shell, should buy a conventional jacket and a separate pack cover. Hikers in cold, sustained rain who need full body coverage should look at a jacket with rain pants.

Verdict

The Packa is a smart answer to a real problem. It keeps both hiker and pack dry without a stop to unpack, and it ventilates better than any membrane shell. It is clumsy in wind and the fit takes some negotiation, but on a wet, wooded trail it earns its 425 g.