Bear Resistant Bags

[jkilburg]

We’re heading to a unit which requires bear resistant containers for food in September, but I hate the idea of a plastic container. Has anyone ever used the Kevlar reinforced options?


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[GotDraw?]

yes, my bother and I have 4 of them.

Do you have specific questions?

 

[jkilburg]

yes, my bother and I have 4 of them.

Do you have specific questions?

Which ones are you running?


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[isocyanate]

My buddy used an ursack, no complaints. I went with a plastic container. Will go with the ursack next time I’m in that kind of area since it’s a little more packable.

 

[trekinit]

Bear canisters suck to pack, but they are pretty nice to have. We do some backpacking in high alpine areas at or above the treeline, and these make bear proof food storage very easy. Just walk 100-200 yds from camp and toss it. There are also several national parks and usfs areas across the US that require canisters. If you have any desire to head to those places some day, it makes sense to buy one.

 

[jkilburg]

My buddy used an ursack, no complaints. I went with a plastic container. Will go with the ursack next time I’m in that kind of area since it’s a little more packable.

I had been looking at the Ursack. But had saw some reviews of them shredded as well.


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[jkilburg]

Bear canisters suck to pack, but they are pretty nice to have. We do some backpacking in high alpine areas at or above the treeline, and these make bear proof food storage very easy. Just walk 100-200 yds from camp and toss it. There are also several national parks and usfs areas across the US that require canisters. If you have any desire to head to those places some day, it makes sense to buy one.

That’s honestly the only reason I’m getting one is because I’m required. I’d rather than pay a fine.


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[Brewski]

I didn't like the bags and switched to cans. I have a bearicade weekender and my buddy has the bearicade expedition cans. They have been well used for the past 4 or so years. The expedition makes a taller seat. Both take up alot of pack space but the weekender lays horizontal in my exo 6400.

Besides being required for some national forests, the biggest benefit I found is that you will never return to camp and find your food eaten by chipmunks.

 

[Poser]

Ursack are the most popular of the bear bags, but they are not approved in some federal lands that require canisters. Only problem with the Sack is if a bear gets a hold of it, your food may not get eaten but it will be destroyed. I’d consider them more of “rodent m” bags for the alpine (assuming your are going to leave your food unattended. I always just keep mine with me in the alpine).

 

[william schmaltz]

Ya, they can absolutely poke holes into a mtn house bag through an ursack.

 

[mthayr]

So if you pair your Ursack with an Opsak, you remove a majority of the attractant to bears (and chipmunks). I can attest to this method form many nights spent in rodent infested mountains where my food stayed unmolested.

It is also suggested you tie a double overhand knot to close the sack and another with the tail ends around a tree about torso high. It's still possible for a bear to crush the contents, but far les likely. Bears (like most thieves) are opportunistic and will happily move on down the ridge to those guys who brought beer and "forgot" to hang their food.

 

[Elkfitness]

I’ve had one like this for 7 or so years now. Not the most compact but I pack it gear and then use it for food once at camp. I bought it for an area like you where it was required. Now it’s an easy way to keep food from rodents as well. I could have sworn in my are it was a stiff fine and you had to hike out if you did t have a canister. It’s been awhile though.

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[S.Clancy]

The area is specific to using bear proof containers and not food storage, aka hanging?

Ive always just hung food in griz country to great effect.

 

[Clarktar]

Same here as @S.Clancy . Hanging has always worked but some places don't allow that as a option.

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[S.Clancy]

Same here as @S.Clancy . Hanging has always worked but some places don't allow that as a option.

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That would suck carrying one of those containers instead of 4 oz of 550 cord....damn hippies

 

[SuspiciousFish]

The area is specific to using bear proof containers and not food storage, aka hanging?

Ive always just hung food in griz country to great effect.

Throwing a paracord over a tall branch 100 yards from camp and hoisting a stuffsack full of food has always been standard practice for me.

 

[jkilburg]

The area is specific to using bear proof containers and not food storage, aka hanging?

Ive always just hung food in griz country to great effect.

This area is specific that all food and wrappers from food must be stored in an approved bear resistant container. Majority are plastic and I can’t even trudging through the mountains with a mini keg strapped to my pack.


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[jkilburg]

I’ve had one like this for 7 or so years now. Not the most compact but I pack it gear and then use it for food once at camp. I bought it for an area like you where it was required. Now it’s an easy way to keep food from rodents as well. I could have sworn in my are it was a stiff fine and you had to hike out if you did t have a canister. It’s been awhile though.

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Yeah, this area carries a $5K fine if caught without. The Bear Vault is nice, but it’s so bulky…


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[jkilburg]

So if you pair your Ursack with an Opsak, you remove a majority of the attractant to bears (and chipmunks). I can attest to this method form many nights spent in rodent infested mountains where my food stayed unmolested.

It is also suggested you tie a double overhand knot to close the sack and another with the tail ends around a tree about torso high. It's still possible for a bear to crush the contents, but far les likely. Bears (like most thieves) are opportunistic and will happily move on down the ridge to those guys who brought beer and "forgot" to hang their food.

Interesting idea. My food will be with me during the day, but at night it will hang. An odor proof bag inside may be the right idea to avoid the plastic containers.


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[GotDraw?]

Which ones are you running?


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Ursak- largest ones. Black color so they hide well in the shade of the tree. Highly recommend a couple reflective marker tags so you can find the tree in the dark. They all look the same when you're exhausted, even when you're close to camp.

The big Ursaks are super handy when on multi day bivvy from basecamp. When we get to our bivvy camp location, we haul extra food up a tree and near our bivvy tents or hammocks. Saves a lot of weight in the backpacks.

Get yourself a urethane coated, thin, lightweight arborist's haul line, they are best because the slippery coating helps keep the line from snagging on the coarse branch bark of the evergreen/pine trees.


JL