mtnkngxt
08-11-2015, 08:06
PCT method, sleeping with your food, bear canister, I've tried them all, I have them all, and each has a place. These days though, I like to hike long days and put down miles. My least favorite part of the day is hanging a bear bag, and the UL fanatic in me hates carrying my BV450 unless I'm in an area where I am required to or encouraged to because of bears who have become acclimated to people.
Enter the Ursack and Opsak liner. The Ursack seems like a great product, something simple yet rugged in proper use. It does leave a lot to desire though, as many have mentioned the finishing on the rope holes is sloppy, and they'll tell you it doesn't affect usability so they don't worry about it. Fine, I still think it is sloppy from a manufacturing point of view.
The rope is heavy and trying to get the sack cinched tight is aggravating because of the diameter of rope. Enter my modifications. Amsteel Blue, the same wonderful Spectra line the hammock world and vehicle winch world love, is available in a 1/4 line with a Tensile Strength of 8600 pounds. It is also able to be spliced. So I am replacing the line on my Ursack with a 3' piece of 1/4 Amsteel with two spliced eyes on the end and then using a 1,000 lb rated Titanium Suspension biner from Dutchware to connect the eyes.
Not only does this reduce the weight of the Ursack, make the cinch tighter, but it also makes hanging the Ursack from a branch a quick and painless without the need to tie knots in the dark.
Disclaimer
I'm not making these for sale or offering a product, just a discussion of the idea.
Enter the Ursack and Opsak liner. The Ursack seems like a great product, something simple yet rugged in proper use. It does leave a lot to desire though, as many have mentioned the finishing on the rope holes is sloppy, and they'll tell you it doesn't affect usability so they don't worry about it. Fine, I still think it is sloppy from a manufacturing point of view.
The rope is heavy and trying to get the sack cinched tight is aggravating because of the diameter of rope. Enter my modifications. Amsteel Blue, the same wonderful Spectra line the hammock world and vehicle winch world love, is available in a 1/4 line with a Tensile Strength of 8600 pounds. It is also able to be spliced. So I am replacing the line on my Ursack with a 3' piece of 1/4 Amsteel with two spliced eyes on the end and then using a 1,000 lb rated Titanium Suspension biner from Dutchware to connect the eyes.
Not only does this reduce the weight of the Ursack, make the cinch tighter, but it also makes hanging the Ursack from a branch a quick and painless without the need to tie knots in the dark.
Disclaimer
I'm not making these for sale or offering a product, just a discussion of the idea.