One of my favorite bear stories is from my dad: He was camping in the Boundary Waters alone for about a month. Unlike hiking the AT or PCT, you can go days and days without seeing another person up there. So he really was alone. One evening he was by his fire and suddenly smelt the "ranger box" very strongly, so he got up, walked along the little path to check it out, to find that the seat had been knocked over. He fixed it, then walked back to the campsite to find a young black bear, probably in his first year alone, rummaging around in my dad's things. My dad, who's a pretty big guy, raised his arms, made a noise and scared the little guy off. He thought that was it and settled back down. About ten minutes later, he smells the box again, checks it out, sees that it's been knocked over. Again, the bear was in camp when he came back. This continues for a while, and soon dad and the bear are going around in circles, my dad is heading behind trees to jump at the little guy. Basically, they spend about an hour just playing this game, but eventually, the bear goes off. Now he really thinks it's over, but while he's in his tent that night, he's woken up by noise outside. He takes is light and peers around to see what's up. The little bear had climbed the tree where his food hung, climbed along the limb and was hanging with the pack. Even better he had dug his claw into the bottle of maple syrup and was by now completely covered in sticky sugar, licking himself like the happiest creature on the planet. So yeah, bears can get packs down sometimes, but it might just be worth it.
Hello Darwin, after viewing your videos, I wanted to reach out to give you a little background on our OPSAK odor barrier bags. It is important not to contaminate the outside of the OPSAK bag. So many users don't think about that. I say well, "If you touch wet paint, and then touch an object, you see the paint. Unfortunately, odors are invisible, but you get the same transmission from odors. There is a life to our hermetic closures as we use two different films to make our bags. The body of the OPSAK bag uses an odor barrier film. It has a high heat tolerance, higher than our aLOKSAK as well, and is durable and has 5 layers. When we heat seal the pliable closure to the bag film, we are using a high heat to make the seal connection. Because they are different films, as the pliability of the closure is what makes out zippers airtight and waterproof, we need to make the zippers pliable to make a 100% connection across the entire seal. The Closure and Zipper Tracks are separate. Yes, because they are a softer different film, they will be the first to go. The bags must be replaced after extended use. Our bags are used by K-9 handlers. They have been used by NASA in the spaceships in the toilets. We work with the FBI Hazmat unit for transport and storage of deadly chemicals. I created that bag when I lived in the mountains in Park City, UT. I filled 8 bags with various foods and left them on a trail for over a month. Nothing was ever touched. They have been tested for emissions by MRI Global, an independent company that tests worldwide for government agencies, military, industrial, etc. You can pour boiling water in the OPSAK to rehydrate food, but the bags cannot be put into boiling water to heat the food. Sounds like you have our OPSAK bags. I would be happy to send you additional OPSAK to test, and some aLOKSAK. aLOKSAK are not odor barrier, but they are 100% hermetic seals and 100% water/air/dust and humidity proof. All electronics work while protected in our aLOKSAK. Linda. Owner and founder of LOKSAK. ALL ITEMS ARE MADE IN THE USA never using any harsh chemicals. The bags are FDA and NSF approved.
Since we are discussing overlooked odorous items, I keep a separate bag for trash, which goes in there too. Obviously cans, I can wash clean or deodorize pretty well, but other things like wrappers, peels, dirty napkins, parchment paper, plastic wrap, paper plates, etc. All of that goes on a zip lock that then goes in the food sack. Note, I don't use paper napkins, or plates but some people do use paper stuff and all of those do absorb smells, so they really should be either folded or ripped and into the bag. Some people do burn them, but there are many folks who use stoves and not fires, or places like California where that is not an option, so in those situations, into the bag it is.
We had two raccoons in an insane fight over a wrapper I forgot to hide away one night. I thought they were going to kill each other. No food in it, just an empty wrapper.
As you use up your food, you can start filling your bear canister with other items freeing up space in your pack. Can also use your bear canister as a washing machine . No worries about finding the right tree , in some cases there are no trees. Worth the weight to me.
I constructed a 4" pvc tube and was amazed how much food can be stuffed in them. the tube is easy to fit on a pack. a sealed end and a screwed end, length is up to you. either knot or eyelets work great for lifting.
3 days ago, back country with my 14 year old, taught him how to hang his first food hang, couple dry bags, rope, carabiner. But difficult to find an appropriate tree. Looking at an ursak with op bag. That is the hardest thing about a bear hang,.... finding a tree hat fits the criteria.
100% agree--depends on your area, and even then, no guarantees. Love my Ursack/OPsack combo! I have an ultralight DCF food bag/hang system similar to Darwin's but rarely use bc my Ursack is way easier and more convenient, even though heavier.
I've done fine with the Ursack and Opsak combination the last few years, and when regulations require it, the bear can. So far, no problems with any critters, big or small. I always struggled with the food bag hang, although they can be pretty effective if done properly (which I usually couldn't accomplish!). Thanks for the great review, Darwin!
I was going to comment but this is basically my exact comment. 👍🏻 (Hanging is a hassle) Never had a bear mess at my Ursack. Never had one tinker with my canister. Many nights almost exclusively in the Sierras.
Same here. I used a DCF bear bag hang on the TCT, the Cran50, and an AT section hike. Always stressed me out trying to find the right branch before dark. On the AT I managed to get my slick line and a Zpacks carabiner stuck in the tree; had to cut it loose and use the shortened slick line for the rest of the trip. On the Cran50 I managed to pull a limb completely off the tree while hoisting my bag. On my last AT section hike I tried the Ursack and found it SO much faster, easier, and less stressful. The extra 5-6 ounces vs. a bear bag hanging kit was worth it to me. I'll be using my Ursack from now on I think.
I last backpacked in 2003 and been meaning to get back into it. Back then I was big into ultralight. I was in scouts and while everyone’s pack was 40-60 pounds, mine was 28lbs. Heavy for today’s standards but astonishing back then. I haven’t kept up with the gear trends and so glad I found your channel to help navigate current offerings. Also, glad to hear ursack is still around. Remember getting one back in the early 2000s.
I’m in a four year love-hate relationship with the Bear Vault. Before that, used to hang bags that were intended to be filled with sand (to make sand bags for flood water control). It’s hard to hang a bag when you’re surrounded by granite and low brush or chaparral. Thanks for emphasizing that hikers have a responsibility to protect wildlife from human food. In some places a fed bear is a dead bear.
I prefer the Bill Clinton Method. I dump out all the contents and form a little “O” around my tent. The symmetry of the food circle confuses the animals and they tend to go away.
Thanks for the video. I was wondering if you would ever consider doing a video on your process for an in town food resupply, and how the food would then fit into either your food bag or bear can.
I picked up a Garcia bear cannister in Bishop, CA. 20 years ago. At 44 ounces, not a pleasure. Still have it. It is a bulky pain in the neck, but bombproof. I have switched out every piece of gear, except for that, my ice axe and mountaineering glasses.
Darwin, thank you so much for this video and stressing leave no trace principles! I've shared your video with my son's scout troop as another vital lesson for when they go out on their campouts and hikes.
Darwin it's my mission to have the TP or charmin flower issue out to as many people and share the info to all. Please consider a campaign to teach hikers that leaving tp on the side of trails, at trail heads and campsites is not the polite or LNT thing to do.
I had the rat bastard raccoons of Half Moon Bay. Another camper came over, and looked up and his eyes got big. On the branch right over my tent was momma and a row of babies. With their eyes lit up by our headlamps. Moved tent. got everything into a food locker. Lost a bag of chips to her, she had zero fear. I've had friends get a squirrel chewing into a tent in British Columbia for afternoon snacks.
In Australia we tend to keep it in the tent. We have possums, kangaroos and bush turkeys which are more likely to get your food. If you leave it out even on a bear line they can probably get to it or take it. Usually you cook 5 to 10 metres away and when cooking we usually use wood fires. So if there is any food scraps they are attracted to that.
I am in California I know in Sequoia/ Kings Canyon/ Yosemite ( part of the PCT/ John Muir trail) )they require bear cans. Problem with the hanging bags is zero trees above the tree line!
@@charchamp I was on the Mt Whitney trail at 12,500 k. a bear took off with my daypack with nothing other than a cheese and cracker packet. SO no rules as far as bears go!!
@@charchamp If the bear has been eating a few berries per day, it may consider walking out of the treeline and follow the scent of your backpack. Hunger changes the odds
Another storage option for places like the Grand Canyon is an Ursack Minor ("Critter Resistant"), as backcountry permits often require one to use a campsite that is occupied almost every night of the year. I also use an OPSACK inside it. In the canyon, ravens will shred a hung bag and rodents will gnaw there way into most bags. The Kaibab squirrel is a high-wire act. Also, rodents will also bite through your water cache as well, and you'll find it drained when you return on your loop hike. Thanks for the video!
I've been using a bear can what about 15 years. I take it on every trip because it makes how great seat. Before then I use the canvas bag and line. I use this for about 20 years. I thought about going back to the bag but I find the canister seat much more comfortable. I will be buying a lighter backpack and tent down the road two light in the pack. This was a great video for beginner Packers. Good job
I use an ursack tied about waist high to the trunk of a tree with the hope it won't get squashed. So far so good. I line it with 3 mylar bags sorted into breakfast, lunch/snacks, and dinner bags. I've had bad luck with opsaks not really being odor proof and the zips failing. The mylar bags really are odor-proof and the zips are much better.
So glad you brought up about protecting wildlife by protecting our food. Huge point that is forgotten or ignored by hikers. I still want a OE branded food bag lol. You have to do a run someday. Great video as usual. Be well Darwin.
4:20 on the JMT, you leave Muir Trail Ranch with your resupply, walk back to the main trail and stop at a huge tree at that junction. It is FESTOONED with ripped up food bags. It can happen. This was in August of 2010 I carry an old Garcia bear can, to keep me safe from black bears AND rangers.
I'm in Washington State; some areas have really food-aggressive black bears, but in most areas black bears are pretty meek and tend to avoid people. There are some transitory grizzlies in the North Cascades as well. I have previously hung my food in a nylon bag, and have never had an issue with that. I recently bought an Ursack for extra assurance, since its pretty light weight and I spend a lot of time in alpine terrain where I cant hang my food (although Ive had success in the past burying my food in snow, as high alpine in Washington often has snow available year round).
I gave up on hanging a bag when the damn squirrels still managed to get to it and chew through to my food. I ended up going with the rodent-proof ursack. It's bulkier and more rigid than I'd prefer but it does the job and slightly more versatile than a barrel. And I love not having to search for the perfect tree to hang my bag.
use a slightly longer cord and use two trees and hang in between - I do because the pine trees don't have the branches required for a regular hang - nice to never need to find the perfect tree - just find two about 25 feet apart....Wala!
Darwin, I did witness a Sow wander into a neighboring camp, bend the sapling that they had hung their food in a bag and sliced the thing open... all while her cubs were watching from a rock above the campsite. The sow and her cubs had a very nice breakfast. Great video. Best quote, “Don’t ruin it for the rest of us”. Please follow that advice, folks.
I have a Wild Ideas bear can. I have neck issues on my dominant side and didn’t want to throw a line. It has worked great for me so far. I did get a lot of questions on trail about “How I liked it?” which really translated to “How do you like carrying it?” but honestly I didn’t mind. For me the peace of mind weighed much less. Thanks for all your great content!
We hike a lot in the Beartooth Mountains here in the Montana. We have to expect grizzlies and it is not at all unusual for us to camp above treeline. We have become resigned to using bear canisters. We have the BV450 and the BV500 and use one or the other depending on how long we will be out. That stowing a bear canister is way simpler than hanging a bear bag is some consolation for having to pack the canister up the hill.
I developed two methods hiking the entire PCT last year and had no issues. First method I used in the desert section was hanging my food from my trekking pole handle which was also holding up my ZPacks Duplex tent. This worked well in non Black Bear country. The second was wrapping my food bag in my dirty cloths and putting it under my legs. This was used from NorCal to the Canadian border. I also never ate in my tent and had all of my food in ziplocks. Good food practices are as important as food storage. A bear can was used in the Sierra.
I use a DCF bear bag with PCT hang method. However I do own a BV350 for those areas near me that require it. Best thing about a bear bag is the farther you hike the smaller it gets. Taking up less room. ⛺️
I’ve always used a bear hang (since the late 80’s) and never had a problem. I switched to black cord in the early 90’s cuz bears in the Adirondacks learned to slash the rope. Now I use a PCT hang. Have never once had a problem, except for the couple times a chipmunk chewed through my bag, just stole a little trail mix. Canisters are required now in the Adirondack High Peaks region. I really don’t like them, but I’ll adjust. I don’t like strapping stuff outside my pack, and I’ve found it’s very hard to make a canister comfortable in a frameless pack.
I had to carry a ratsack when I hiked Havasu. Talk about heavy and cumbersome. It worked great though. I forgot to hang the bag and a ringtail cat got a hold of it and tried to chew through the mesh. The critter failed and my food was protected.
Nothing like waking up to see a mouse has decided to take a bite out of one of your meals. I have the Ursack Almighty which I have used with an OPsack for desert hikes where there is more critters to watch out for.
thanks for the review of the different systems. Yes the food bag looks like the best way to go as long as you're down in the forest when you camp. I've done most of my camping at or above timberline where the trees are either nonexistent or too short to hang a bag from. :-( Great suggestion about the OP bag! I will check those out. My method has been similar to yours in terms of putting the food outside the tent. What I have done is I take 3 large black plastic bags (leaf bags) and triple bag my food, thinking that 3 bags will cut way down on the smell. Then I take the bag of food and set it maybe 15 or 20 feet from the tent and put a large rock on the top. But the OP bag would be better because NO smell at all would great. I think that even 3 leaf bags does still let some smell get thru. Also thinking that putting the food closer to my tent, like you do, is better because it's the small critters getting into your food that is much more likely than bears, so you want to be able to hear them as they are eating thru your food bag!
I use a Ratsack with OPSak since I can't count on trees for hanging and hike in light blackberries country. It keeps the non-bears out when you put it on the ground and is lighter and cheaper than the Ursacks of similar volume.
Rodents can chew through steel mesh, so I'm not surprised they can get into some Ursack models. Every year I have to replace heavy gauge mesh on my attic vents because the squirrels think I'm renting out my attic as a loft apartment.
I didn't plan on it, but I'm binge watching your vids, brother. Great stuff and you explain things in a simple way for a noob like me. Stay safe out there.
Thoughts on food scents left on packs/bike bags. Also clothing worn while eating? I usually stop for dinner away from where I will camp and clean everything well. But never quite certain what scents I’m bringing into my campsite
I used a rat sack in the Grand Canyon and it worked really well. I sat there watching a mouse try to get into my food supply. Also good for those sneaky crows. I was backpacking last summer along the Eastern side of the Sierras. I was getting a permit in Bishop and the rangers were talking about the Marmots absolutely shredding the Ursacks. They are tough little critters. Anti-freeze doesn’t kill them. Google “marmots in Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park” for a fun read. They like the taste of the anti-freeze but, apparently, they have an enzyme that protects them.
I use an ursack, I love it. It's an old one. I have bite Mark's from small critters but they never broke the integrity of the bag. I generally tie it off to a tree about 6 feet off the ground. There were a few forests and wilderness areas that would not accept the use of them. Dont know if that is still the case though.
I also have an old Ursack, the old greenish colored one that isn't reinforced. Worked great for me at least with no critters getting my food. There are many places that don't accept the Ursack like the Sierra Nevada. Only cans are allowed in most parts.
I use a small Bear can almost always because I live in a county that borders Yosemite and also backpack often in the Mammoth and Tahoe regions. Even outside BC regulations, I’m 57 and not always great at a hang. I love going to Oregon and places where it is truly not necessary, but knowing it is a must around here I trust the can vs. the hang and it’s also nice to just plant your can after a long day and call it done. I had no idea you were supposed to set it upside down though. ;)
Had to use the bear Cache in Desolation Wilderness last year as it's the only one the bears hadn't figured out how to open. Got 5 days of food in it with careful packing. I left it a few yards from camp amongst rocks with no problem. Hiked right past a bear eating berries in the bushes at Echo Lake so I didn't complain about the canister.
Most of my backpacking is in the Sierras (Inyo NF, SEKI, Yosemite) in California, where a bear canister is required. I was debating between the BV450 and BV500, but went with the bigger option because it makes a better seat at camp and I can stuff other things in there if my food doesn't fill it up. It's definitely bulky, but I'm able to fit it horizontally in my bag
For the average wilderness dispersed camping i do here in the north cascades i usually just bring a stuff sack to store all my food in, then walk it a decent ways away from where I’m sleeping, and do my best to put it up in a tree. I definitely could be more thorough and have recently thought of getting a bag/line setup, but i haven’t had any issues so far!
I use the Ursak and have been pleased with it . I have the same opinion on the opsak . They break at the closure and not worth the expense . Thanks for this video . Very useful for people looking for a food system .
thanks for the video - here in Australia we don't have to worry about bears, luckily. Our biggest concerns are rodents and possums, sometimes dingoes. If you leave the food bag outside your tent it's just a smorgasbord for possums. We tend to stuff our food bag in our pack and either put it in the tent or the vestibule. Or I have been known to hang my food bag to try and keep it safe - we have learnt something from our US cousins!
I have used the Ursack many times and have had good luck. I don’t like messing with hanging food and find it is often difficult to find a good tree in the high country. I tie the Ursack to a tree or heavy log, not too near my tent and don’t worry about it.
I switched from a DCF hang to an Ursack after hiking a few days after winter storm Diego. I was standing in 2 feet of snow with no rock to find so I used a snowball in my rock bag and I was too frozen to do a good throw...I started attempting my throws while yelling ...I'm...buying...an...Ursack... and I did, and I haven't looked back.
I always thought the Opsak was meant to be used with another bag. I used one in my Zpacks food back on my first thruhike and didn't once have anything try to get into my food.
I really like my ursack and would recommend it! I used it on my hike of the AZT last year, and I never worried about my food. The bear canisters are just so heavy!
90% of the places near me require a bear can. And those that don't, border places that do, so I just carry one most of the time to be safe. I have a Hilltop Packs food bag that I'll use occasionally, I prefer that for sure.
Have you tried the Ursack Minor Critter bag or an equivalent? I camped at a campground in the Chiricahuas and had my food bag in the camp's bear box but rodents were able to get in and chewed through my bag. You never had any issues on the AZT so I'm thinking it's only because I was in a campground with a lot of traffic. I'm going to section hike AZT and worry I will not wake up to chase away a mouse chewing into my bag. The critter bag is pretty expensive. Thanks for the tip about not sleeping with your food. Never thought about a critter chewing through my tent. Yikes! Love your videos!
I use a kit I purchased from Zpacks, everything I need and it's light. True story in the early 80s I was hiking in Yosemite and I had a nightmare a bear was attacking me, when I woke up in the morning someone's food bag was ripped open no more than three feet from my tents door, crazy.
Hi Darwin! Living in the PNW I actually went ahead with the Ursack AllMitey. Yes , it weighs 13oz, but it keeps ALL animals out (including rodents) and I don't have to try to swing rocks over branches and hurt my crappy shoulder. Most importantly, I NEVER have to worry about hanging the bag wrong or not having a good place to hang. This 100% avoids putting the bears in harms way. If my food gets crushed.. whatever.. it goes in my mouth either way! =)
I've been looking at replacing my decade old Garcia 812. I tired of messing with hangs years ago, and decided to just go bear can or bearpole/box, even if it is bulkier. I've fround it so much easier to set down and just walk away with my pot on top for an alarm. Now that North Cascades allows Ursacks, I've thought switching to one. Olympic NP still won't allow it, but that's where my Garcia can still fill in as needed. How long have you used the AllMitey? Any issues?
@@Cherijo78 Hi Brianna! Yeah, trying to hang bags is annoying. I think I went backpacking twice trying to bear hang and it's just not for me. I borrowed a friend's canister for the Olympic National Park and it was pretty cool other than the weight. Having a seat was nice. Lol I've had mine since last summer. Went on 3 multi-day trips (so not many) in the Wenatchee area and it worked great! If you your it how they recommend it seals up nice and tight.
A good alternative to the OP sack is just regular odor barrier bags with no zip lock. Just twist the opening, fold it over, and tie it with some Paracord or something. Still 100% odor proof but with no chance of failure. They're usually a bit smaller so I bring a couple
I've been using the ursak with OP sack for the last few years. No issues. I did have a feral cat try to drag it away while I was filtering water on the Kalalau trail, but that was my fault.
Yes it is true! Rodents CAN chew through an Ursack; to my great dismay they did so in the Grand Canyon with mine. Ursack does sell a more expensive version that is supposedly bear and rodent proof. Disgruntled as I was I shelled out the dough and have been using the upgraded Ursack successfully. Why do I use this system? No need for trees; very useful hiking above treeline, on granite slabs (where there’s usually less mosquitos) and in the desert. Lighter and much easier to fit into a backpack.
I used an Ursack with an Opsack inside on the Colorado trail and it was "mauled" by a bear in the night. Although the beat didn't actually get to the food, it pierced the bag and destroyed all of the contents. I ended up buying the metal sleeve, but now it is almost as unwieldy as a canister.
I used to use a dry bag with an Op sack in it but found that they are too narrow and wasn't very user friendly. I went with a zpacs DCF because it's wider and works well but I'm thinking of getting an Ursack because I don't have to look for a tree that might not be close by to hang it from and just tie it around anything, not my tent. I don't like critters. I'll see.
I got the Ursack Allmitey which is bear resistant but also has Velcro inside the top to make it mini-bear (mouse) proof. Not a fan of bear bag hangs since it can be a lot more tricky than it appears and this is a much lighter option than a canister but the Allmitey is 13 oz so almost double the Major. I use an OPsack inside it. Works great for me, but I’ve also never had a bear try it yet. Never worry about finding a good tree limb or getting my food stuck in a tree as you just strap this around a trunk away from camp.
Great info. I have ursark. First I bought the rodent proof but it felt way too bulky so returned it for a regular ursark. Plus I use anti smelling bags inside of it.
I have four bear canisters. The BV450,BV500,Counter Assault Bear Keg,Frontiersman Bear Safe,and numerous bear hang bag systems.. The canisters are definitely heavy and bulky and hard to pack. The Bear Safe is an odd shape that sits vertically in your pack and you stuff gear around it. Has a lot of volume,but is still heavy. Depending where you hike will determine what you will take.
I am wrestling with using my Ursack and also carrying a rock bag/cord on my upcoming CT thru hike. My concern (as you pointed out) is the rodent factor, so hanging when possible strikes a good balance.
Living in Florida I have found the Ursack reliable. The rope was damaged once by something. We were in the Everglades. It was tied to a cypress tree. I discovered it in the morning down by the water. Maybe it was an alligator or Florida Panther that tore it from the tree. Bag remained intact. The food was punctured, bag held up.
Great Videos - I had a bear near the NOC on the AT roll my bear canister to some unknown location. I looked everywhere for it. I was at the shelter right before the NOC (heading North) some guy left his food in the shelter - bear came spent some time with us. The guy later hung up his food, bear came back, climbed the tree got the food and hung out on the trail. My canister was on the ground away from the shelter hidden and now gone! No where to be found! Smart Bears! (That shelter was later closed)
I use an Opsak just as a trash bag. Helps seal up the packages that are open and giving off scents. Seems to work well I mean like you said I've never had an issue! Also just in black bear country though.
I found putting my bear can into the foot box of my sleeping bag and then stuffing everything else around it is a decent way to pack it into my pack (Granite Gear Crown 2 60). I live in WA state and they are pretty much required everywhere here.
My big concern with the Ursack, particularly if one hangs it low enough to be reachable by a bear, is that it's totally crushable. You might find your food still there, but crushed to smithereens. You might have to eat a grand mixture of the crumbs of all the food/coffee/cocoa ... you had for the rest of your walk to the next resupply.
That happened to a hiker I was on trail with in 2018. I know Hikertrash will eat almost anything, and if I was super desperate I probably would, but it was beyond desirable, entirely crushed to oblivion! The bear didn’t get the food though!
How do you protect food from Kea birds in NZ? One pecked a hole in my tent to get into my food. They fly up trees. They open containers. They can get into buildings. There is no stopping them.
That's an interesting question, are you a member of the Te Araroa fb group? It might be a good idea to ask in there for anyone who has done the SI trail where the keas mainly are. I have been researching the Grub Bags, with wire mesh in the plastic, which is rodent resistant. I'm not sure about Keas! 😁 I'm a New Zealander, so I know what you mean!
I have had a bear take down a bear hangs before. I used to work for outward Bound and did hundreds of bear hangs every year. There were some places mostly in Western North Carolina where permanent (and lockable) bear hangs were put up because some of the bear out there leaned how to take bear hangs down.
Darwin thank you so much for doing this video; content and quality was pristine as always. After watching this I ordered the bear bag kit from Zpacks. I am thrilled to own my first legit piece of ultralight gear! Stay safe brother.
I'm a backpacking newbie, but a camper and long-time hiker. Where I live (California) and travel often (California, Oregon, and Arizona) there are a lot of critters, including bears. More often than not the most annoying critters are rodents, raccoons, and sometimes seagulls if on the coast. Even though I also hate the weight and bulkiness of the bear vault I decided (for now, anyway) that I will just put up with it to keep my food critter-free, protected from being smashed, to not have to hang anything, and to use as a seat with my Z-seat pad. I also put my toiletries and trash (bagged in a Ziploc) in the can. I try to focus on the many pros of having it and *try* to ignore the 2 annoying things about it.
Like you I've never had an issue with bears messing with my food. I have a DCF hang kit and bear can. I have been using the UrSack for the last year and a half it is now my preferred method. I do combo it with a zip style bags to help with odor. It's great for when you just cant seem to find a good tree to hang your food.
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I always have trouble throwing a line to hang my food (I look like the typical girly girl)... so I switched to the Ursack. I love it (especially for overnight trips). SO much lighter and squished down!! Though I do use the 450 bear canister when required in CA.
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One of my favorite bear stories is from my dad:
He was camping in the Boundary Waters alone for about a month. Unlike hiking the AT or PCT, you can go days and days without seeing another person up there. So he really was alone. One evening he was by his fire and suddenly smelt the "ranger box" very strongly, so he got up, walked along the little path to check it out, to find that the seat had been knocked over. He fixed it, then walked back to the campsite to find a young black bear, probably in his first year alone, rummaging around in my dad's things. My dad, who's a pretty big guy, raised his arms, made a noise and scared the little guy off.
He thought that was it and settled back down.
About ten minutes later, he smells the box again, checks it out, sees that it's been knocked over. Again, the bear was in camp when he came back. This continues for a while, and soon dad and the bear are going around in circles, my dad is heading behind trees to jump at the little guy. Basically, they spend about an hour just playing this game, but eventually, the bear goes off.
Now he really thinks it's over, but while he's in his tent that night, he's woken up by noise outside. He takes is light and peers around to see what's up.
The little bear had climbed the tree where his food hung, climbed along the limb and was hanging with the pack. Even better he had dug his claw into the bottle of maple syrup and was by now completely covered in sticky sugar, licking himself like the happiest creature on the planet.
So yeah, bears can get packs down sometimes, but it might just be worth it.
That's so cool to read this story of your Dad and the young bear. 🐻
The bear earned that Maple Syrup. Thanks for sharing a great story.
It's a cute story until you realize that the bear now associates humans with food, grows up a little, becomes aggressive, and is shot.
@@raywhite7179 they all come to associate humans with food but way to make the leap. he did everything right so what else you want
rad...but what's a ranger box?
Hello Darwin, after viewing your videos, I wanted to reach out to give you a little background on our OPSAK odor barrier bags. It is important not to contaminate the outside of the OPSAK bag. So many users don't think about that. I say well, "If you touch wet paint, and then touch an object, you see the paint. Unfortunately, odors are invisible, but you get the same transmission from odors. There is a life to our hermetic closures as we use two different films to make our bags. The body of the OPSAK bag uses an odor barrier film. It has a high heat tolerance, higher than our aLOKSAK as well, and is durable and has 5 layers. When we heat seal the pliable closure to the bag film, we are using a high heat to make the seal connection. Because they are different films, as the pliability of the closure is what makes out zippers airtight and waterproof, we need to make the zippers pliable to make a 100% connection across the entire seal. The Closure and Zipper Tracks are separate. Yes, because they are a softer different film, they will be the first to go. The bags must be replaced after extended use. Our bags are used by K-9 handlers. They have been used by NASA in the spaceships in the toilets. We work with the FBI Hazmat unit for transport and storage of deadly chemicals. I created that bag when I lived in the mountains in Park City, UT. I filled 8 bags with various foods and left them on a trail for over a month. Nothing was ever touched. They have been tested for emissions by MRI Global, an independent company that tests worldwide for government agencies, military, industrial, etc. You can pour boiling water in the OPSAK to rehydrate food, but the bags cannot be put into boiling water to heat the food. Sounds like you have our OPSAK bags. I would be happy to send you additional OPSAK to test, and some aLOKSAK. aLOKSAK are not odor barrier, but they are 100% hermetic seals and 100% water/air/dust and humidity proof. All electronics work while protected in our aLOKSAK. Linda. Owner and founder of LOKSAK. ALL ITEMS ARE MADE IN THE USA never using any harsh chemicals. The bags are FDA and NSF approved.
bro he quit youtube lol
For the newbies what Darwin failed to mention is that all things that smell, e.g. toothpaste, need to be included in your hang, canister, etc.
🤙🏽
I lost my antacids to rodents. Now everything goes in the bag
Interesting. I didn’t know that.
Since we are discussing overlooked odorous items, I keep a separate bag for trash, which goes in there too. Obviously cans, I can wash clean or deodorize pretty well, but other things like wrappers, peels, dirty napkins, parchment paper, plastic wrap, paper plates, etc. All of that goes on a zip lock that then goes in the food sack.
Note, I don't use paper napkins, or plates but some people do use paper stuff and all of those do absorb smells, so they really should be either folded or ripped and into the bag. Some people do burn them, but there are many folks who use stoves and not fires, or places like California where that is not an option, so in those situations, into the bag it is.
We had two raccoons in an insane fight over a wrapper I forgot to hide away one night. I thought they were going to kill each other. No food in it, just an empty wrapper.
As you use up your food, you can start filling your bear canister with other items freeing up space in your pack. Can also use your bear canister as a washing machine . No worries about finding the right tree , in some cases there are no trees. Worth the weight to me.
Just took a big heavy bear can on a trip in Montana. On day 5 of 6 I realized that I could sit on it. 😖
I constructed a 4" pvc tube and was amazed how much food can be stuffed in them. the tube is easy to fit on a pack. a sealed end and a screwed end, length is up to you. either knot or eyelets work great for lifting.
3 days ago, back country with my 14 year old, taught him how to hang his first food hang, couple dry bags, rope, carabiner. But difficult to find an appropriate tree. Looking at an ursak with op bag. That is the hardest thing about a bear hang,.... finding a tree hat fits the criteria.
bear bag hangs are so last century
100% agree--depends on your area, and even then, no guarantees. Love my Ursack/OPsack combo! I have an ultralight DCF food bag/hang system similar to Darwin's but rarely use bc my Ursack is way easier and more convenient, even though heavier.
I've done fine with the Ursack and Opsak combination the last few years, and when regulations require it, the bear can. So far, no problems with any critters, big or small. I always struggled with the food bag hang, although they can be pretty effective if done properly (which I usually couldn't accomplish!). Thanks for the great review, Darwin!
I was going to comment but this is basically my exact comment. 👍🏻 (Hanging is a hassle) Never had a bear mess at my Ursack. Never had one tinker with my canister. Many nights almost exclusively in the Sierras.
Same here. I used a DCF bear bag hang on the TCT, the Cran50, and an AT section hike. Always stressed me out trying to find the right branch before dark. On the AT I managed to get my slick line and a Zpacks carabiner stuck in the tree; had to cut it loose and use the shortened slick line for the rest of the trip. On the Cran50 I managed to pull a limb completely off the tree while hoisting my bag. On my last AT section hike I tried the Ursack and found it SO much faster, easier, and less stressful. The extra 5-6 ounces vs. a bear bag hanging kit was worth it to me. I'll be using my Ursack from now on I think.
I last backpacked in 2003 and been meaning to get back into it. Back then I was big into ultralight. I was in scouts and while everyone’s pack was 40-60 pounds, mine was 28lbs. Heavy for today’s standards but astonishing back then. I haven’t kept up with the gear trends and so glad I found your channel to help navigate current offerings. Also, glad to hear ursack is still around. Remember getting one back in the early 2000s.
I’m in a four year love-hate relationship with the Bear Vault. Before that, used to hang bags that were intended to be filled with sand (to make sand bags for flood water control). It’s hard to hang a bag when you’re surrounded by granite and low brush or chaparral. Thanks for emphasizing that hikers have a responsibility to protect wildlife from human food. In some places a fed bear is a dead bear.
water proof bag submerged in water is my go to... whenever water is accessible an clean. Cold water can also act as refrigerator
Tape the big Ziploc. Works great. We did it in the Marines during boat raids
I prefer the Bill Clinton Method. I dump out all the contents and form a little “O” around my tent. The symmetry of the food circle confuses the animals and they tend to go away.
Seriously??
Thanks for the video. I was wondering if you would ever consider doing a video on your process for an in town food resupply, and how the food would then fit into either your food bag or bear can.
I picked up a Garcia bear cannister in Bishop, CA. 20 years ago. At 44 ounces, not a pleasure. Still have it. It is a bulky pain in the neck, but bombproof. I have switched out every piece of gear, except for that, my ice axe and mountaineering glasses.
Darwin, thank you so much for this video and stressing leave no trace principles! I've shared your video with my son's scout troop as another vital lesson for when they go out on their campouts and hikes.
Darwin it's my mission to have the TP or charmin flower issue out to as many people and share the info to all. Please consider a campaign to teach hikers that leaving tp on the side of trails, at trail heads and campsites is not the polite or LNT thing to do.
Can't believe how much of this I've seen this year........
Left the foodbag in the vestibule, and a raccoon got it. Chased him, and got all my food back except the bag of pistachios. Little bastards.
Tbh that sounds too cute to be mad at this trash panda.
@@hannahs2058 yes xd
I had the rat bastard raccoons of Half Moon Bay. Another camper came over, and looked up and his eyes got big. On the branch right over my tent was momma and a row of babies. With their eyes lit up by our headlamps. Moved tent. got everything into a food locker. Lost a bag of chips to her, she had zero fear. I've had friends get a squirrel chewing into a tent in British Columbia for afternoon snacks.
In Australia we tend to keep it in the tent. We have possums, kangaroos and bush turkeys which are more likely to get your food. If you leave it out even on a bear line they can probably get to it or take it. Usually you cook 5 to 10 metres away and when cooking we usually use wood fires. So if there is any food scraps they are attracted to that.
I am in California I know in Sequoia/ Kings Canyon/ Yosemite ( part of the PCT/ John Muir trail) )they require bear cans. Problem with the hanging bags is zero trees above the tree line!
Rare to see bears above tree line.
@@charchamp I was on the Mt Whitney trail at 12,500 k. a bear took off with my daypack with nothing other than a cheese and cracker packet. SO no rules as far as bears go!!
Eric T lol
@@charchamp
If the bear has been eating a few berries per day, it may consider walking out of the treeline and follow the scent of your backpack. Hunger changes the odds
charles champlin In the Rockies, bears regularly travel above treeline in summer to feed on moths that live in scree fields.
Another storage option for places like the Grand Canyon is an Ursack Minor ("Critter Resistant"), as backcountry permits often require one to use a campsite that is occupied almost every night of the year. I also use an OPSACK inside it. In the canyon, ravens will shred a hung bag and rodents will gnaw there way into most bags. The Kaibab squirrel is a high-wire act. Also, rodents will also bite through your water cache as well, and you'll find it drained when you return on your loop hike. Thanks for the video!
I've been using a bear can what about 15 years. I take it on every trip because it makes how great seat. Before then I use the canvas bag and line. I use this for about 20 years. I thought about going back to the bag but I find the canister seat much more comfortable. I will be buying a lighter backpack and tent down the road two light in the pack. This was a great video for beginner Packers. Good job
I use an ursack tied about waist high to the trunk of a tree with the hope it won't get squashed. So far so good. I line it with 3 mylar bags sorted into breakfast, lunch/snacks, and dinner bags. I've had bad luck with opsaks not really being odor proof and the zips failing. The mylar bags really are odor-proof and the zips are much better.
Link to mylar bags ? 😁👣
So glad you brought up about protecting wildlife by protecting our food. Huge point that is forgotten or ignored by hikers. I still want a OE branded food bag lol. You have to do a run someday. Great video as usual. Be well Darwin.
NOTED! Maybe we will do that next? 🤔
4:20 on the JMT, you leave Muir Trail Ranch with your resupply, walk back to the main trail and stop at a huge tree at that junction. It is FESTOONED with ripped up food bags. It can happen. This was in August of 2010
I carry an old Garcia bear can, to keep me safe from black bears AND rangers.
I'm in Washington State; some areas have really food-aggressive black bears, but in most areas black bears are pretty meek and tend to avoid people. There are some transitory grizzlies in the North Cascades as well. I have previously hung my food in a nylon bag, and have never had an issue with that. I recently bought an Ursack for extra assurance, since its pretty light weight and I spend a lot of time in alpine terrain where I cant hang my food (although Ive had success in the past burying my food in snow, as high alpine in Washington often has snow available year round).
Was literally just looking at what food bag to buy. Nice.
NICE! Hopefully this helps then!
Me too!
Same here, no bears where I'm going, so a sil-nylon rollbag should be sufficient for me.
I’m waiting for my Hilltop Packs food bag with my logo. Expecting it any day now. Squeeeee ...
🦑
Same here. I actually thought Darwin would have already covered it but I just haven't found it.
I gave up on hanging a bag when the damn squirrels still managed to get to it and chew through to my food. I ended up going with the rodent-proof ursack. It's bulkier and more rigid than I'd prefer but it does the job and slightly more versatile than a barrel. And I love not having to search for the perfect tree to hang my bag.
use a slightly longer cord and use two trees and hang in between - I do because the pine trees don't have the branches required for a regular hang - nice to never need to find the perfect tree - just find two about 25 feet apart....Wala!
JC excellent idea/tip! In case you care it’s voilà not wala. It’s French
@@sierrarider How do you get the line 12 feet up the two trees?
@@brimstone33 Jump, duh.
Darwin, I did witness a Sow wander into a neighboring camp, bend the sapling that they had hung their food in a bag and sliced the thing open... all while her cubs were watching from a rock above the campsite. The sow and her cubs had a very nice breakfast.
Great video. Best quote, “Don’t ruin it for the rest of us”. Please follow that advice, folks.
I have a Wild Ideas bear can. I have neck issues on my dominant side and didn’t want to throw a line. It has worked great for me so far. I did get a lot of questions on trail about “How I liked it?” which really translated to “How do you like carrying it?” but honestly I didn’t mind. For me the peace of mind weighed much less. Thanks for all your great content!
I appreciate the inclusion of metric units 👍 makes it much easier to understand. Thank you
I have had great success with a Ursack and OP Sak combo.
I've used the DCF hang bags and Ursack. I prefer Ursack because I can hike longer and avoid having to hang a bag in the dark.
We hike a lot in the Beartooth Mountains here in the Montana. We have to expect grizzlies and it is not at all unusual for us to camp above treeline. We have become resigned to using bear canisters. We have the BV450 and the BV500 and use one or the other depending on how long we will be out. That stowing a bear canister is way simpler than hanging a bear bag is some consolation for having to pack the canister up the hill.
I developed two methods hiking the entire PCT last year and had no issues. First method I used in the desert section was hanging my food from my trekking pole handle which was also holding up my ZPacks Duplex tent. This worked well in non Black Bear country. The second was wrapping my food bag in my dirty cloths and putting it under my legs. This was used from NorCal to the Canadian border. I also never ate in my tent and had all of my food in ziplocks. Good food practices are as important as food storage. A bear can was used in the Sierra.
I use a DCF bear bag with PCT hang method. However I do own a BV350 for those areas near me that require it. Best thing about a bear bag is the farther you hike the smaller it gets. Taking up less room. ⛺️
Hi from the UK. So glad we don't need to worry about this as much. I just shove it in a drybag to stop any smells attracting critters
I’ve always used a bear hang (since the late 80’s) and never had a problem. I switched to black cord in the early 90’s cuz bears in the Adirondacks learned to slash the rope. Now I use a PCT hang. Have never once had a problem, except for the couple times a chipmunk chewed through my bag, just stole a little trail mix. Canisters are required now in the Adirondack High Peaks region. I really don’t like them, but I’ll adjust. I don’t like strapping stuff outside my pack, and I’ve found it’s very hard to make a canister comfortable in a frameless pack.
I had to carry a ratsack when I hiked Havasu. Talk about heavy and cumbersome. It worked great though. I forgot to hang the bag and a ringtail cat got a hold of it and tried to chew through the mesh. The critter failed and my food was protected.
Nothing like waking up to see a mouse has decided to take a bite out of one of your meals. I have the Ursack Almighty which I have used with an OPsack for desert hikes where there is more critters to watch out for.
thanks for the review of the different systems. Yes the food bag looks like the best way to go as long as you're down in the forest when you camp. I've done most of my camping at or above timberline where the trees are either nonexistent or too short to hang a bag from. :-(
Great suggestion about the OP bag! I will check those out. My method has been similar to yours in terms of putting the food outside the tent. What I have done is I take 3 large black plastic bags (leaf bags) and triple bag my food, thinking that 3 bags will cut way down on the smell. Then I take the bag of food and set it maybe 15 or 20 feet from the tent and put a large rock on the top. But the OP bag would be better because NO smell at all would great. I think that even 3 leaf bags does still let some smell get thru.
Also thinking that putting the food closer to my tent, like you do, is better because it's the small critters getting into your food that is much more likely than bears, so you want to be able to hear them as they are eating thru your food bag!
I use a Ratsack with OPSak since I can't count on trees for hanging and hike in light blackberries country. It keeps the non-bears out when you put it on the ground and is lighter and cheaper than the Ursacks of similar volume.
Rodents can chew through steel mesh, so I'm not surprised they can get into some Ursack models. Every year I have to replace heavy gauge mesh on my attic vents because the squirrels think I'm renting out my attic as a loft apartment.
I didn't plan on it, but I'm binge watching your vids, brother. Great stuff and you explain things in a simple way for a noob like me. Stay safe out there.
I like the light AF food bag then make a large and small and it has a flat bottom so it will stand up plus is made of dynema
Thoughts on food scents left on packs/bike bags. Also clothing worn while eating?
I usually stop for dinner away from where I will camp and clean everything well. But never quite certain what scents I’m bringing into my campsite
Ratsack/opsak in areas that don't require a bear canister. Ratsack has a heavy duty grommet for PCT hang, or store in vestibule.
I used a rat sack in the Grand Canyon and it worked really well. I sat there watching a mouse try to get into my food supply. Also good for those sneaky crows. I was backpacking last summer along the Eastern side of the Sierras. I was getting a permit in Bishop and the rangers were talking about the Marmots absolutely shredding the Ursacks. They are tough little critters. Anti-freeze doesn’t kill them. Google “marmots in Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park” for a fun read. They like the taste of the anti-freeze but, apparently, they have an enzyme that protects them.
This particular story was especially amusing. www.adventure-journal.com/2017/11/beware-car-eating-rodents/
I use an ursack, I love it. It's an old one. I have bite Mark's from small critters but they never broke the integrity of the bag. I generally tie it off to a tree about 6 feet off the ground. There were a few forests and wilderness areas that would not accept the use of them. Dont know if that is still the case though.
I also have an old Ursack, the old greenish colored one that isn't reinforced. Worked great for me at least with no critters getting my food. There are many places that don't accept the Ursack like the Sierra Nevada. Only cans are allowed in most parts.
I use a small Bear can almost always because I live in a county that borders Yosemite and also backpack often in the Mammoth and Tahoe regions. Even outside BC regulations, I’m 57 and not always great at a hang. I love going to Oregon and places where it is truly not necessary, but knowing it is a must around here I trust the can vs. the hang and it’s also nice to just plant your can after a long day and call it done. I had no idea you were supposed to set it upside down though. ;)
Had to use the bear Cache in Desolation Wilderness last year as it's the only one the bears hadn't figured out how to open. Got 5 days of food in it with careful packing. I left it a few yards from camp amongst rocks with no problem. Hiked right past a bear eating berries in the bushes at Echo Lake so I didn't complain about the canister.
Most of my backpacking is in the Sierras (Inyo NF, SEKI, Yosemite) in California, where a bear canister is required. I was debating between the BV450 and BV500, but went with the bigger option because it makes a better seat at camp and I can stuff other things in there if my food doesn't fill it up. It's definitely bulky, but I'm able to fit it horizontally in my bag
For the average wilderness dispersed camping i do here in the north cascades i usually just bring a stuff sack to store all my food in, then walk it a decent ways away from where I’m sleeping, and do my best to put it up in a tree. I definitely could be more thorough and have recently thought of getting a bag/line setup, but i haven’t had any issues so far!
I use the Ursak and have been pleased with it . I have the same opinion on the opsak . They break at the closure and not worth the expense . Thanks for this video . Very useful for people looking for a food system .
thanks for the video - here in Australia we don't have to worry about bears, luckily. Our biggest concerns are rodents and possums, sometimes dingoes. If you leave the food bag outside your tent it's just a smorgasbord for possums. We tend to stuff our food bag in our pack and either put it in the tent or the vestibule. Or I have been known to hang my food bag to try and keep it safe - we have learnt something from our US cousins!
I have used the Ursack many times and have had good luck. I don’t like messing with hanging food and find it is often difficult to find a good tree in the high country. I tie the Ursack to a tree or heavy log, not too near my tent and don’t worry about it.
I will add that if I were in grizzly country I would suffer the weight of a canister.
Whoa! I am SERIOUSLY psyched to get one of those Ursacks!
Ive used an UrSack combined with an OPsack for years in Colorado without a single issue.
I switched from a DCF hang to an Ursack after hiking a few days after winter storm Diego. I was standing in 2 feet of snow with no rock to find so I used a snowball in my rock bag and I was too frozen to do a good throw...I started attempting my throws while yelling ...I'm...buying...an...Ursack... and I did, and I haven't looked back.
It would be good to hang with a locking carininer on bear bag. . Some of the caribiners are a little cheap to keep bears out .
I always thought the Opsak was meant to be used with another bag. I used one in my Zpacks food back on my first thruhike and didn't once have anything try to get into my food.
This is what I did too.
I really like my ursack and would recommend it! I used it on my hike of the AZT last year, and I never worried about my food. The bear canisters are just so heavy!
keep up the great work darwin! really helpful for new backpackers in my scout troop.
Great to hear! Glad to be helping out scouts! 🤙
90% of the places near me require a bear can. And those that don't, border places that do, so I just carry one most of the time to be safe. I have a Hilltop Packs food bag that I'll use occasionally, I prefer that for sure.
Have you tried the Ursack Minor Critter bag or an equivalent? I camped at a campground in the Chiricahuas and had my food bag in the camp's bear box but rodents were able to get in and chewed through my bag. You never had any issues on the AZT so I'm thinking it's only because I was in a campground with a lot of traffic. I'm going to section hike AZT and worry I will not wake up to chase away a mouse chewing into my bag. The critter bag is pretty expensive. Thanks for the tip about not sleeping with your food. Never thought about a critter chewing through my tent. Yikes! Love your videos!
I use a kit I purchased from Zpacks, everything I need and it's light. True story in the early 80s I was hiking in Yosemite and I had a nightmare a bear was attacking me, when I woke up in the morning someone's food bag was ripped open no more than three feet from my tents door, crazy.
Scott Gibson I’m headed there tomorrow. Wondering if COVID made the bears more or less pesky. Am taking a bear horn, a first.
Hi Darwin! Living in the PNW I actually went ahead with the Ursack AllMitey. Yes , it weighs 13oz, but it keeps ALL animals out (including rodents) and I don't have to try to swing rocks over branches and hurt my crappy shoulder. Most importantly, I NEVER have to worry about hanging the bag wrong or not having a good place to hang. This 100% avoids putting the bears in harms way. If my food gets crushed.. whatever.. it goes in my mouth either way! =)
I've been looking at replacing my decade old Garcia 812. I tired of messing with hangs years ago, and decided to just go bear can or bearpole/box, even if it is bulkier. I've fround it so much easier to set down and just walk away with my pot on top for an alarm. Now that North Cascades allows Ursacks, I've thought switching to one. Olympic NP still won't allow it, but that's where my Garcia can still fill in as needed. How long have you used the AllMitey? Any issues?
@@Cherijo78 Hi Brianna! Yeah, trying to hang bags is annoying. I think I went backpacking twice trying to bear hang and it's just not for me. I borrowed a friend's canister for the Olympic National Park and it was pretty cool other than the weight. Having a seat was nice. Lol I've had mine since last summer. Went on 3 multi-day trips (so not many) in the Wenatchee area and it worked great! If you your it how they recommend it seals up nice and tight.
A good alternative to the OP sack is just regular odor barrier bags with no zip lock. Just twist the opening, fold it over, and tie it with some Paracord or something. Still 100% odor proof but with no chance of failure. They're usually a bit smaller so I bring a couple
I've been using the ursak with OP sack for the last few years. No issues. I did have a feral cat try to drag it away while I was filtering water on the Kalalau trail, but that was my fault.
Yes it is true! Rodents CAN chew through an Ursack; to my great dismay they did so in the Grand Canyon with mine. Ursack does sell a more expensive version that is supposedly bear and rodent proof. Disgruntled as I was I shelled out the dough and have been using the upgraded Ursack successfully. Why do I use this system? No need for trees; very useful hiking above treeline, on granite slabs (where there’s usually less mosquitos) and in the desert. Lighter and much easier to fit into a backpack.
I used an Ursack with an Opsack inside on the Colorado trail and it was "mauled" by a bear in the night. Although the beat didn't actually get to the food, it pierced the bag and destroyed all of the contents. I ended up buying the metal sleeve, but now it is almost as unwieldy as a canister.
I used to use a dry bag with an Op sack in it but found that they are too narrow and wasn't very user friendly. I went with a zpacs DCF because it's wider and works well but I'm thinking of getting an Ursack because I don't have to look for a tree that might not be close by to hang it from and just tie it around anything, not my tent. I don't like critters. I'll see.
I got the Ursack Allmitey which is bear resistant but also has Velcro inside the top to make it mini-bear (mouse) proof. Not a fan of bear bag hangs since it can be a lot more tricky than it appears and this is a much lighter option than a canister but the Allmitey is 13 oz so almost double the Major. I use an OPsack inside it. Works great for me, but I’ve also never had a bear try it yet. Never worry about finding a good tree limb or getting my food stuck in a tree as you just strap this around a trunk away from camp.
Great info. I have ursark. First I bought the rodent proof but it felt way too bulky so returned it for a regular ursark. Plus I use anti smelling bags inside of it.
Great point re. not keeping food in your tent. Some mice chewed through the top of mine this past summer to get to some weed I had in the gear loft. 😄
I have four bear canisters. The BV450,BV500,Counter Assault Bear Keg,Frontiersman Bear Safe,and numerous bear hang bag systems.. The canisters are definitely heavy and bulky and hard to pack. The Bear Safe is an odd shape that sits vertically in your pack and you stuff gear around it. Has a lot of volume,but is still heavy. Depending where you hike will determine what you will take.
i knew i could count on you to have a video giving some insight, thanks as always man
I am wrestling with using my Ursack and also carrying a rock bag/cord on my upcoming CT thru hike. My concern (as you pointed out) is the rodent factor, so hanging when possible strikes a good balance.
Living in Florida I have found the Ursack reliable. The rope was damaged once by something. We were in the Everglades. It was tied to a cypress tree. I discovered it in the morning down by the water. Maybe it was an alligator or Florida Panther that tore it from the tree. Bag remained intact. The food was punctured, bag held up.
Great Videos - I had a bear near the NOC on the AT roll my bear canister to some unknown location. I looked everywhere for it. I was at the shelter right before the NOC (heading North) some guy left his food in the shelter - bear came spent some time with us. The guy later hung up his food, bear came back, climbed the tree got the food and hung out on the trail. My canister was on the ground away from the shelter hidden and now gone! No where to be found! Smart Bears! (That shelter was later closed)
I love using my ursack with an opsack... NEVER had a problem...never even moved... so they don't smell it or see it.
I use an Opsak just as a trash bag. Helps seal up the packages that are open and giving off scents. Seems to work well I mean like you said I've never had an issue! Also just in black bear country though.
The Leave No Trace bass drop gets me every time
My wife and I used a bear can during our section hike of Section 1 of the Colorado Trail. I absolutely hated that thing.
I always use an ursack with an opsak in the Canadian Rockies. Highly recommended
I found putting my bear can into the foot box of my sleeping bag and then stuffing everything else around it is a decent way to pack it into my pack (Granite Gear Crown 2 60). I live in WA state and they are pretty much required everywhere here.
Good to see you safe and healthy Darwin.
Hope you're doing good as well! 🤙
My big concern with the Ursack, particularly if one hangs it low enough to be reachable by a bear, is that it's totally crushable. You might find your food still there, but crushed to smithereens. You might have to eat a grand mixture of the crumbs of all the food/coffee/cocoa ... you had for the rest of your walk to the next resupply.
You can opt for the aluminum liner, but that of course adds another 9 oz to the weight of your pack :/
That happened to a hiker I was on trail with in 2018. I know Hikertrash will eat almost anything, and if I was super desperate I probably would, but it was beyond desirable, entirely crushed to oblivion! The bear didn’t get the food though!
Video on resources to support hikers and organizations where money actually goes to the trails. Love your videos!!!
Rat Sack offers great protection from the little critters. Made in Flagstaff, AZ.
How do you protect food from Kea birds in NZ? One pecked a hole in my tent to get into my food. They fly up trees. They open containers. They can get into buildings. There is no stopping them.
That's an interesting question, are you a member of the Te Araroa fb group?
It might be a good idea to ask in there for anyone who has done the SI trail where the keas mainly are.
I have been researching the Grub Bags, with wire mesh in the plastic, which is rodent resistant.
I'm not sure about Keas! 😁
I'm a New Zealander, so I know what you mean!
Ha! Check the Zpacks sticker covered by black gaffers tape. What's the deal? Why the Zpacks cover up?
So glad you made this video since I wondered about the various food container options. Thanks!
I have had a bear take down a bear hangs before. I used to work for outward Bound and did hundreds of bear hangs every year. There were some places mostly in Western North Carolina where permanent (and lockable) bear hangs were put up because some of the bear out there leaned how to take bear hangs down.
Your video made my day 😇. Specially when I cannot go outdoors your videos generally give me the nice feelings I get after 40 km day hike
I use a opsak odor bag and a ursack bear bag ,, works for me ,, I do use extra smaller odor bags for trash
Darwin thank you so much for doing this video; content and quality was pristine as always. After watching this I ordered the bear bag kit from Zpacks. I am thrilled to own my first legit piece of ultralight gear! Stay safe brother.
I'm a backpacking newbie, but a camper and long-time hiker. Where I live (California) and travel often (California, Oregon, and Arizona) there are a lot of critters, including bears. More often than not the most annoying critters are rodents, raccoons, and sometimes seagulls if on the coast. Even though I also hate the weight and bulkiness of the bear vault I decided (for now, anyway) that I will just put up with it to keep my food critter-free, protected from being smashed, to not have to hang anything, and to use as a seat with my Z-seat pad. I also put my toiletries and trash (bagged in a Ziploc) in the can. I try to focus on the many pros of having it and *try* to ignore the 2 annoying things about it.
yep
Like you I've never had an issue with bears messing with my food. I have a DCF hang kit and bear can. I have been using the UrSack for the last year and a half it is now my preferred method. I do combo it with a zip style bags to help with odor. It's great for when you just cant seem to find a good tree to hang your food.
We’re glad that we found your channel! Your videos are awesome. You have a lot of creative ideas and we want to share them with our customers. We sell land close to camping areas. And we’re always on the lookout for channels like yours where we can send our customers to get awesome ideas for their next adventure.
I always have trouble throwing a line to hang my food (I look like the typical girly girl)... so I switched to the Ursack. I love it (especially for overnight trips). SO much lighter and squished down!! Though I do use the 450 bear canister when required in CA.