Quick verdict
A waterproof, windproof fabric cover tailored to standard 43 gallon compost bins, 27.2 by 35.8 inches, that keeps rain from waterlogging the heap, holds in the heat that speeds decomposition and hides a plastic bin that has faded. A compost bin with a lid does not need a cover for rain; what the cover adds is insulation in cold weather and a tidier look. Measure the bin against the dimensions, since bins vary.
Strengths
- Holds heat in the bin through cooler months
- Keeps rain off an open or cracked lid
- Hides a faded or ugly bin
- Tailored to standard 43 gallon bins
- Wipes clean and dries fast
Weaknesses
- Fits only bins near the listed dimensions
- A closed bin needs no rain protection; the gain is warmth and looks
- Must come off to add material unless it has an access flap
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Keeping the Heap Warm
A compost heap works fastest hot, and a plastic bin on a north wall in October goes cold and stops. A fabric jacket holds the heat in. Vacumist’s cover is waterproof and windproof fabric tailored to standard 43 gallon bins, 27.2 by 35.8 inches, that slips over the bin to insulate it, keep rain off and cover a bin that has faded.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how insulated bin covers affect composting generally. We have not used this cover ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Insulation
The microbes in a heap generate heat and lose it through the bin walls. A cover slows that loss, so the heap stays warm into autumn and starts earlier in spring, and a warm heap breaks down weeks faster than a cold one. In a mild climate the difference is a month of extra composting a year; in a cold one it is more.
Rain and Sun
A lidded bin keeps rain out already; the cover adds protection if the lid is cracked or loose and keeps rain from pooling on it. More useful is shade: sun fades and embrittles black plastic bins, and a cover extends their life.
Fit
Bins vary. Measure height and the widest width and compare with the listed dimensions; a cover that is short leaves the base exposed and one that is tight will not go on. Tumblers and tall narrow bins are different shapes.
Using It
Slip it over the bin and leave the base vents clear so the heap breathes. Lift it to add material; a cover with a top flap saves that. Wipe it clean when it collects leaves.
Who Should Buy It
- Owners of a plastic bin in a cold spot that stops in winter.
- Anyone with a faded bin on view from the house.
- Gardeners wanting faster compost without a hot bin.
Common Owner Complaints
Fit on bins of other sizes. Measure first.
Technique Tips
Fit the cover when the heap is freshly filled and warming, since the point is to keep heat the heap is making. Peg or weight the hem in wind. Check the heap’s moisture more often under a cover, which stops rain reaching the top; a dry heap stalls as surely as a cold one. Take the cover off on hot summer days to stop the bin overheating and drying.
Care
Hose the cover and dry it in the sun before storing it for summer if it comes off. Patch tears with fabric tape before they spread.
Alternatives to Consider
An insulated hot composter such as a Hotbin for real year-round heat. A sheet of bubble wrap and a bungee as the DIY jacket. Moving the bin into the sun.
Verdict
If the bin fits the dimensions, this cover keeps a heap warmer for longer and tidies the view for a modest price. Measure first and leave the vents clear.
Full specifications
Vacumist Waterproof Windproof Compost Bin Cover for Standard 43 Gallon Bins and Tumblers FAQs
Insulation. A heap that stays warm in autumn and spring keeps working when an uncovered one stops. The cover also shades a plastic bin from the sun that fades and cracks it, and hides it.
Measure the bin's height and width at the widest point and compare with the listed 27.2 by 35.8 inches. Many 43 gallon bins are close; tumblers and tall bins differ.
Air enters through the bin's vents under the cover. Do not seal the base; the cover sits over the top and sides.
Lift the cover off the lid, add, replace. A cover with a top flap makes that quicker.
