I appreciate the good info found here and the proprietary slip knot at the end which I find for most people is easier than teaching a clove hitch. More importantly I want to thank you for mentioning God at the end. Hearing his name in a positive light is a hard thing to come by nowadays. Thanks again.
Getting ready to hike half the Long Trail, after many years "off" trail raising five kids (one of whom has triple-crowned, one who has hiked the AT and biked down the west coast!). This beats the old system I'm used to coming and going! Thanks, RevHiker, and God's blessings to you, too!
Nice video - I do something similar. When tying your slip knot, if you reach up and pull the taut line through rather than the hanging end, you have a marlin spike hitch. It's quite easy to do one-handed and requires a 1/2 less twist since you're reaching up for the top half of the line rather than the hanging end. Not sure if that's any more or less secure than a slip knot, but when you pull the toggle out, the knot just disappears -- no need to even pull on the line to release the knot.
best bear bag video I’ve seen so far! simple, great instructions to not over complicate and just get the job done! I’ve never hung one (yet!) but I will add one little suggestion from another video I saw coz it made a lot of sense the idea was to use locking carabiners coz this person had gotten into a mess with some of the line popping into the carabiner from the wind blowing in the night and getting tangled causing the bag to get stuck thus unable to retrieve without climbing the tree
Great video! I have been using that same method with those same knots for years. I don't ever camp in bear country but it's also a nice method to keep raccoons or coyotes from getting into your food. I also tie my loose end to a tree in case there is a failure in the system during the night. Also need to make sure and use slippery cord similar to what you have because some types of cordage can hang up on the branch making it difficult to get the bag down again.
WOW DREW! I would never imagine such an easy and simplified way of hanging, Amazing job my man. And now I'm sitting practicing your method while I'm not even in a bear country! Thanks for your amazing and sweet tutorial, God bless. Much respect from Iran.
In winter (ok when I am lazy, summer two). I use an extra tent stake as my toggle stick. Keeps hands warm from the snow on sticks and looking for them. Great Vid. Always helps to review and see multiple methods, especially knots.
Btw, do you always hang your food bag? I understand that many thru hikers get lazy and stop hanging their bags. So now I’m conflicted on the necessity of it. Thanks
thanks! And as far as always hanging...where I hike most of the time, the law requires a bear canister... and they DO enforce it.($250 fine) When Im in an area where they arent required, I do usually hang a bag because Ive had my food raided, and it stinks.
Love the PCT method! I find the Amsteel/Zingit cord really hard on the hands when hoisting food for a few people or several days so I've started using a secondary stick as a handle to make pulling the bag up easier.
Nice video. Thanks. There was a shelter just north of the MA/VT line on the AT/LT that had no bear box nor a tree nearby so my friend and I opted to put our food bags in the loft and loosely string parachord around it with a pot of rocks hanging on the cord. Fortunately no bears or small mammals triggered it while we were sleeping.
Great method, but always be sure your slipknot is made so it tightens when pulling on the end going over the branch. Otherwise it might just unravel and drop the bag.
First knot is truckers hitch. If figure-8 instead of overhand, one can easily remove knot later. Two loops around instead of overhand's one. Super simple and easy to remember.
The problem with a slip knot is that it can work it's way loose (wind, weight of bag on stick, etc.). If the stick falls out, down comes the bag. Of course a clove hitch and larks head can slip too. A more secure option is to put a secure loop in the rope where you would put the stick, and put another carabiner there instead of a stick. As long as the second carabiner can't fit through the first, you are safe. Plus you can use the second biner to attach a lighter bag of stuff you forgot to put in the main food bag (like your toothpaste).
I have noticed on several of these types of videos that the demonstrator ties the slip knot backwards, the line that slips through the knot should be the upper line not the lower line then no matter how heavy the the bag, it can't slip down and the knot doesn't even need to be tight.
Great Video! What do you do with the remaining cord hanging down. Do you coil it as high up as possible, just let it hang and touch the ground? Hav you had any issues with bears or critters accessing the cord if its just hangin and touching the ground? Thanks again!
Good demo, but many carabiners that size won't handle the weight of a full bear bag. Most of those little guys are cheap and made to put your key ring on and not much else. Either use a bigger one, or make sure that your little one is high quality and rated for at least 30lbs. For me, first night on a week long stretch, my bear bag will usually weigh 20lbs or thereabouts (2lb/day of food, plus coffee and spices, etc. and any toiletries etc. that smell plus smelly trash). Add 50% for security. Even a 3 or 4 day trip will be too heavy for those knockoff carabiners.
I liked the video, hit subscribe, and was about to navigate away then I heard “as always, god bless you”. I unsubscribed and went about my way. Why do people have to run things by bringing religion into them?
Very nice demonstration of an easier way. God's blessings to you, too, and thanks for adding that!
I appreciate the good info found here and the proprietary slip knot at the end which I find for most people is easier than teaching a clove hitch. More importantly I want to thank you for mentioning God at the end. Hearing his name in a positive light is a hard thing to come by nowadays. Thanks again.
I totally agree! God is left out of too many things.
How simple. I have never felt I could do all the fancy knots that so many have shown but could do these.
Getting ready to hike half the Long Trail, after many years "off" trail raising five kids (one of whom has triple-crowned, one who has hiked the AT and biked down the west coast!). This beats the old system I'm used to coming and going! Thanks, RevHiker, and God's blessings to you, too!
Nice video - I do something similar. When tying your slip knot, if you reach up and pull the taut line through rather than the hanging end, you have a marlin spike hitch. It's quite easy to do one-handed and requires a 1/2 less twist since you're reaching up for the top half of the line rather than the hanging end. Not sure if that's any more or less secure than a slip knot, but when you pull the toggle out, the knot just disappears -- no need to even pull on the line to release the knot.
best bear bag video I’ve seen so far!
simple, great instructions to not over complicate and just get the job done!
I’ve never hung one (yet!) but I will add one little suggestion from another video I saw coz it made a lot of sense
the idea was to use locking carabiners
coz this person had gotten into a mess with some of the line popping into the carabiner from the wind blowing in the night and getting tangled causing the bag to get stuck thus unable to retrieve without climbing the tree
Great video! I have been using that same method with those same knots for years. I don't ever camp in bear country but it's also a nice method to keep raccoons or coyotes from getting into your food. I also tie my loose end to a tree in case there is a failure in the system during the night. Also need to make sure and use slippery cord similar to what you have because some types of cordage can hang up on the branch making it difficult to get the bag down again.
WOW DREW! I would never imagine such an easy and simplified way of hanging, Amazing job my man.
And now I'm sitting practicing your method while I'm not even in a bear country!
Thanks for your amazing and sweet tutorial, God bless.
Much respect from Iran.
Pouria Yazdankhah thank you! Have fun practicing haha! God bless!
How could I have never seen this method so much easier, thanks
SMK what's next thanks man! Glad it helps
I did it the way you did it when you were younger
In winter (ok when I am lazy, summer two). I use an extra tent stake as my toggle stick. Keeps hands warm from the snow on sticks and looking for them. Great Vid. Always helps to review and see multiple methods, especially knots.
You could also pack snow and put it in the bag. Great video
Very clever; more and more I think the toggle is one of the best ideas ever.
05generic ya, whoever figured that simple thing out, helped a lot of people haha
Thank you so much! For some reason, I really struggled with the clove hitch while on the trail. This is so much easier!
Btw, do you always hang your food bag? I understand that many thru hikers get lazy and stop hanging their bags. So now I’m conflicted on the necessity of it. Thanks
thanks! And as far as always hanging...where I hike most of the time, the law requires a bear canister... and they DO enforce it.($250 fine) When Im in an area where they arent required, I do usually hang a bag because Ive had my food raided, and it stinks.
RevHiker Thanks so much. I’m sure I wouldn’t sleep from nervousness if I ever tried to not hang my bag.
I love this ... Using the KISS principle ... Keep It Simple Stupid!!! I will definitely switch to this. Thanks for sharing.
mrdonelsonglhs glad you liked it... Thanks!
Love the PCT method! I find the Amsteel/Zingit cord really hard on the hands when hoisting food for a few people or several days so I've started using a secondary stick as a handle to make pulling the bag up easier.
Decent Diversions I'm not sure what cord this was, but it was fine on my hands. Some stuff feels like barbed wire though lol
Love this! Was just about to research how to tie a “Clive hitch” but slip knot I can do!
Thanks for your take on this. Its a method that would help make tree selection easier in some situations I'm sure.
I hope to be using that technique this summer on the Colorado Trail. Thanks!
IowaHiker good luck and have fun!
Nice video. Thanks. There was a shelter just north of the MA/VT line on the AT/LT that had no bear box nor a tree nearby so my friend and I opted to put our food bags in the loft and loosely string parachord around it with a pot of rocks hanging on the cord. Fortunately no bears or small mammals triggered it while we were sleeping.
Steve McGuinness sometimes it's hard to find a good tree. Glad your food survived haha
Hey, Drew...nice demo. I use the PCT method as well, but I use a lark's head knot on the stick.
Outdoor Dauber I have seen that done as well. PCT is the most effective in my opinion
RevHiker - Totally agree. WAY easier than trying to balance 2 bags...
Well-done sir. Nice and simple system.
EverydayTacticalVids thanks👍
Great explanation and you make it very easy. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
William Logan Thanks!
Wow, that is brilliant! Thank you for sharing!!!
I also use a larks foot for stick very easy to do
Great method, but always be sure your slipknot is made so it tightens when pulling on the end going over the branch. Otherwise it might just unravel and drop the bag.
This was so helpful! Thanks!
First knot is truckers hitch. If figure-8 instead of overhand, one can easily remove knot later. Two loops around instead of overhand's one. Super simple and easy to remember.
True but if it is a dedicated bear bag cordage there is really no reason to undo it.
Also no reason not to figure-8 it.
The problem with a slip knot is that it can work it's way loose (wind, weight of bag on stick, etc.). If the stick falls out, down comes the bag. Of course a clove hitch and larks head can slip too. A more secure option is to put a secure loop in the rope where you would put the stick, and put another carabiner there instead of a stick. As long as the second carabiner can't fit through the first, you are safe. Plus you can use the second biner to attach a lighter bag of stuff you forgot to put in the main food bag (like your toothpaste).
I have noticed on several of these types of videos that the demonstrator ties the slip knot backwards, the line that slips through the knot should be the upper line not the lower line then no matter how heavy the the bag, it can't slip down and the knot doesn't even need to be tight.
Great Video! What do you do with the remaining cord hanging down. Do you coil it as high up as possible, just let it hang and touch the ground? Hav you had any issues with bears or critters accessing the cord if its just hangin and touching the ground? Thanks again!
Works great on old Aspen, in the wilderness pines are very irregular, your backyard doesn't count.
Thanks, informative video. What was the name of the bear bag, do you have a link to the company?
great useful video
jaypowell0185 thank you
Thanks
Great tip and vid!!
The Foggy Fox thanks👍
Yes!
Makes it SOOOO much easier.
What's the name of that bag?
Is that second knot different from a marlin spike hitch?
WanderingFromKansas it's pretty similar.
Good demo, but many carabiners that size won't handle the weight of a full bear bag. Most of those little guys are cheap and made to put your key ring on and not much else. Either use a bigger one, or make sure that your little one is high quality and rated for at least 30lbs. For me, first night on a week long stretch, my bear bag will usually weigh 20lbs or thereabouts (2lb/day of food, plus coffee and spices, etc. and any toiletries etc. that smell plus smelly trash). Add 50% for security. Even a 3 or 4 day trip will be too heavy for those knockoff carabiners.
Do you comb your eye brows?
Clinton Gfroerer lol no
RevHiker ok was just curious, I'm actually jealous! Lol, nice video , thanks for sharing and God bless!
WHAT ABOUT BEARS THAT JUMP FROM TREES?
mike plitnick It’s a bear. Not a flea lol
Do you just leave the rest of the rope hanging? Possible a bear can get tangled on remaining rope and food gone....
I liked the video, hit subscribe, and was about to navigate away then I heard “as always, god bless you”. I unsubscribed and went about my way. Why do people have to run things by bringing religion into them?