Anyone use the HMG pod as a food bag?

[saltysack]

About ready to retire my zpacks food bag as it’s full of tape and holes as it’s about 5 years old...I rarely hang my food and realize HMG advises against hanging the pods. Only reason I’m looking at other options as my go to pack is the 38l burn and the zpacks doesn’t fit the pack well horizontally or vertically, it deforms the shape which is critical in the comfort of a frameless pack...


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[Vince G]

What I would worry about with the pod is the end loop. It looks like it may fail with a couple pounds of food hanging.

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[T.S.Kobzol]

I put food into one of my pods along with my stove, kettle and utensils.

I rarely hang food but if I did I would put the pod into my sleeping bag compression sack and hang that.


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[saltysack]

I put food into one of my pods along with my stove, kettle and utensils.

I rarely hang food but if I did I would put the pod into my sleeping bag compression sack and hang that.


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Did you notice the shape contours better in pack than std stuff sack etc?


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[T.S.Kobzol]

I use the hmg wind rider and the pods are outstanding in that pack. Really good at reducing gaps. I used the pods for food, another for clothes and a few times for top and bottom quilt of my hammock


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[Zalman]

I use an HMG pod for food storage. It's got a loop from which it can depend for hanging. The zipper isn't necessarily guaranteed to be 100% waterproof, but I haven't had mine leak yet in the rain, and my food is all in plastic bags inside the pod anyway.

Side note: I know the pods are designed to stack flat in an HMG (or other) pack, but I find they work really well packed side-by-side upright, standing on a short end, with the flat sides facing each other and the curved sides facing left and right. Packing them this way makes them sit flattest against my back since the height of the pod is its smallest dimension, and allows me easy top-grab access to two of the pods, instead of just one.

[Dogwood]

What size ZP Food Bag are you using with the MLD Burn? ZP's 5-6 day food bag @ 858 cubic inches(14 L) is a huge food bag for 5-6 days chow and IMHO for the 38L Burn. I use the MLD Burn as my go to LD pack but I wouldn't use anything larger than a 10.7 L ZP Food sack in it. OMG ZP suggest their 10.7 L sack holds 3-4 days food! I regularly get 7 days of food in an 8 L S2S Ultra Sil Nano Dry sack at .8 ozs at my cost of $14-16.


This is why I so frequently mention the importance of reducing consumable wt and bulk as a critical component of UL that most often gets ignored in UL yakkity yak. Gear wt is where the crowd mediatates. There would be no way I could employ a sub 40L pack as my go to LD pack with required 6-8 day food hauls and potentiallly heavy H2O wt and bulk hauls, unless I had a strong grasp on consumable logistics.

My question is why are you going to DCF sacks that aren't saving any gear wt costing 2.5X more money? Is there a performance increase in choosing DCF sacks cubes over the S2S Ultra Sil? If there is I'm not aware of it?

[fastfoxengineering]

I've been using my large HMG pod as a food stuff sack off and on. I just recently did a 4 day end to end and used it as my food bag. It works. It fits about 5 days of food unless your eating ravenously. I hung mine from shelter nails. I'd be worried about the zipper bursting open before the loop pulling out tbh. It fits really well in your backpack. Even a burn. 1.1oz dcf is a little light for a food bag that gets kind of abused.

Yeah it works. But I dont think its worth the $$$ price tag as a food bag.

If your not hanging your food. Why not try out OPsaks?

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[saltysack]

I use the hmg wind rider and the pods are outstanding in that pack. Really good at reducing gaps. I used the pods for food, another for clothes and a few times for top and bottom quilt of my hammock


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Thx...after reading more reviews probably go a different direction for food bag but when I buy a HMG bag I’ll definitely try out!


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[saltysack]

I've been using my large HMG pod as a food stuff sack off and on. I just recently did a 4 day end to end and used it as my food bag. It works. It fits about 5 days of food unless your eating ravenously. I hung mine from shelter nails. I'd be worried about the zipper bursting open before the loop pulling out tbh. It fits really well in your backpack. Even a burn. 1.1oz dcf is a little light for a food bag that gets kind of abused.

Yeah it works. But I dont think its worth the $$$ price tag as a food bag.

If your not hanging your food. Why not try out OPsaks?

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Thx after seeing the feed back I’m going a different direction...may look a 2 smaller bags as s2s as DW said....I’ll check our op sack but hear they break easy


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[saltysack]

What size ZP Food Bag are you using with the MLD Burn? ZP's 5-6 day food bag @ 858 cubic inches(14 L) is a huge food bag for 5-6 days chow and IMHO for the 38L Burn. I use the MLD Burn as my go to LD pack but I wouldn't use anything larger than a 10.7 L ZP Food sack in it. OMG ZP suggest their 10.7 L sack holds 3-4 days food! I regularly get 7 days of food in an 8 L S2S Ultra Sil Nano Dry sack at .8 ozs at my cost of $14-16.


This is why I so frequently mention the importance of reducing consumable wt and bulk as a critical component of UL that most often gets ignored in UL yakkity yak. Gear wt is where the crowd mediatates. There would be no way I could employ a sub 40L pack as my go to LD pack with required 6-8 day food hauls and potentiallly heavy H2O wt and bulk hauls, unless I had a strong grasp on consumable logistics.

My question is why are you going to DCF sacks that aren't saving any gear wt costing 2.5X more money? Is there a performance increase in choosing DCF sacks cubes over the S2S Ultra Sil? If there is I'm not aware of it?

Thx for reminding me about good old sil...not sure why I was hung up on cuben for a food bag especially since weight is nearly the same and a lot cheaper!!! my zpacks bag is about 13”x16” flat fully opened...it’s an old size..I often have food for the pup in my food bag also so it’s lil bulkier. I may looks at splitting into 2 smaller sacks to keep more packable...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190422/bf9edb59806e509250ef839a9869579c.jpg


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[fastfoxengineering]

Thx after seeing the feed back I’m going a different direction...may look a 2 smaller bags as s2s as DW said....I’ll check our op sack but hear they break easy


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkThe zippered granite gear bags are a popular choice as well.

I've converted to OPsaks now and still using the same one after 21 nights or so. Need to handle a little more with care for sure.

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[saltysack]

My Maine gripe is how the bag fills my pack...vertically it’s leaves to much wasted so e around it so typical try to fold over horizontally but tough if it’s load on a 4+ day carry.. would like a shorter fatter bag...I’ll keep looking but think two smaller may solve issue...ie one for snacks and one for dinner etc


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[saltysack]

My main gripe is how the bag fills my pack...vertically it’s leaves to much wasted so e around it so typical try to fold over horizontally but tough if it’s load on a 4+ day carry.. would like a shorter fatter bag...I’ll keep looking but think two smaller may solve issue...ie one for snacks and one for dinner etc


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[QuietStorm]

I've started using the food bag from st. Elmo's Fire Quilts. See the link below. It's light, water resistant, opens like a pod, has a sturdy loop, and comes with a bear hanging kit.

https://www.stelmofirequilts.com/products/the-hang-bag

[saltysack]

The zippered granite gear bags are a popular choice as well.

I've converted to OPsaks now and still using the same one after 21 nights or so. Need to handle a little more with care for sure.

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I’ll take it


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[fastfoxengineering]

I’ll take it


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI'll send you a PM when I get hone later tonight.

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[Dogwood]

I was really asking, It wasn't rhetorical. Is there some benefit in a DCF sack over what I suggested? Maybe you're seeing something I'm missing. ;)

[MuddyWaters]

My Maine gripe is how the bag fills my pack...vertically it’s leaves to much wasted so e around it so typical try to fold over horizontally but tough if it’s load on a 4+ day carry.. would like a shorter fatter bag...I’ll keep looking but think two smaller may solve issue...ie one for snacks and one for dinner etc


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Well, you can always make your own. just have to purchase the Cuban and the 3M adhesive, look online for the tutorial. For the rectangular bottoms.

In the good old days Joe @ z packs made me custom one to fit my circuit with no wasted space around it

[fastfoxengineering]

I was really asking, It wasn't rhetorical. Is there some benefit in a DCF sack over what I suggested? Maybe you're seeing something I'm missing. ;)I think DCF had the advantage when using a 1.43 Zpacks food bag for hanging. Being waterproof and all. And then being able to just wipe it dry real fast. If your not hanging it though, then that wouldn't matter.

1.43 dcf is really tough stuff. 1.1 (HMG Pod) is tough but I feel like would have some durability issues over the course of a thru. It's kinda over the top to "baby" a food bag all the time.

Granted... you can still tape it up if a mouse chewed through it.

But no, if your not hanging your food, then DCF doesnt really offer any advantage over something else. Its also not any lighter at that point.

A .51 or .75 dcf stuff sack for food would die an early death for sure.

I think if your sleeping with your food, why not use OPsaks?

Dollar for dollar... A HMG pod cost $60 full retail. That's 10 12x20 Opsaks. I believe the 10 OPsaks would outlast the pod for sure.



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[Dogwood]

I think DCF had the advantage when using a 1.43 Zpacks food bag for hanging. Being waterproof and all. And then being able to just wipe it dry real fast. If your not hanging it though, then that wouldn't matter.

1.43 dcf is really tough stuff. 1.1 (HMG Pod) is tough but I feel like would have some durability issues over the course of a thru. It's kinda over the top to "baby" a food bag all the time.

Granted... you can still tape it up if a mouse chewed through it.

But no, if your not hanging your food, then DCF doesnt really offer any advantage over something else. Its also not any lighter at that point.

A .51 or .75 dcf stuff sack for food would die an early death for sure.

I think if your sleeping with your food, why not use OPsaks?

Dollar for dollar... A HMG pod cost $60 full retail. That's 10 12x20 Opsaks. I believe the 10 OPsaks would outlast the pod for sure.
I was comparing the ZP's food bags with the 8 L S2S Ultra Sil Nano Dry sack at .8 ozs at my cost of $14-16.
It is a DRY SACK. It's double stitched and seam taped. HH 1200 mm for the Ultra Sil Nano 15D. The fabric is WP! The fold down top when used correctly and the sack isn't over stuffed is a DRY SACK. Wouldn't store a $1200 camera and $1000 lenses in it for absolute WPness on a whitewater CR rafting trip outside of a larger WP bagbut never in all the time I've use it has any food ever gotten wet despite being hung(YES it has a folded over handle for hanging too) in all night torrential downpours. In some areas it's my pillow. Doesn't absorb water. If it does get wet drys OK but laying it out in sun or on a warm rock it's dry without wiping off in 10 mins. Doesn't hold mud or dirt. Can be Tenacious Taped.

+1 Those .51 and .75 DCF sacks get beaten up very quickly. Dont know if anyone is making them out of hybrid DCF. All I've seen are made from straight CF. Kinda hard to swallow the $ cost replacement considering the dismal cost averaging. I'm coming from the perspective that I use the gear that I have extensively. Gear for me is not my man toys. I need useful lifespans. And, their is little to know wt advantage.


The MLD Burn is about 10-11" wide.

[saltysack]

Well, you can always make your own. just have to purchase the Cuban and the 3M adhesive, look online for the tutorial. For the rectangular bottoms.

In the good old days Joe @ z packs made me custom one to fit my circuit with no wasted space around it

By the time I screwed it up it I’d be better off buying one......


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[saltysack]

I think DCF had the advantage when using a 1.43 Zpacks food bag for hanging. Being waterproof and all. And then being able to just wipe it dry real fast. If your not hanging it though, then that wouldn't matter.

1.43 dcf is really tough stuff. 1.1 (HMG Pod) is tough but I feel like would have some durability issues over the course of a thru. It's kinda over the top to "baby" a food bag all the time.

Granted... you can still tape it up if a mouse chewed through it.

But no, if your not hanging your food, then DCF doesnt really offer any advantage over something else. Its also not any lighter at that point.

A .51 or .75 dcf stuff sack for food would die an early death for sure.

I think if your sleeping with your food, why not use OPsaks?

Dollar for dollar... A HMG pod cost $60 full retail. That's 10 12x20 Opsaks. I believe the 10 OPsaks would outlast the pod for sure.



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You just talked me out of the HMG pod[emoji23]I like the thought of opsak but most reviews I’ve read says they fail pretty quick...I’ve used the green odor barrier bags to line my holy zpacks to keep food dry if hanging as well as the scent reduction but it didn’t last more than a week or so.


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[saltysack]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190424/517886718d6ed44b60a9b1c10e77dbcf.jpg

Ordered this to try first...like the shape so will see how fits in the burn...


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[saltysack]

I've started using the food bag from st. Elmo's Fire Quilts. See the link below. It's light, water resistant, opens like a pod, has a sturdy loop, and comes with a bear hanging kit.

https://www.stelmofirequilts.com/products/the-hang-bag

What’s the weights?


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[QuietStorm]

What’s the weights?


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I have the black 13-liter in xpac. 2.9 oz. on my food scale. I'm very happy with it. It's a one-man operation but the quality is very good. The bags have a reflective strip as well, which makes them easy to find in the dark.

[Dogwood]

Before going to the S2S Ultra Sil Dry Sacks I was using Granite Gears's eVent Dysacks. These GG sacks hold their shape well. Zippers have wt.

[saltysack]

Before going to the S2S Ultra Sil Dry Sacks I was using Granite Gears's eVent Dysacks. These GG sacks hold their shape well. Zippers have wt.

So far very pleased with how the 9l at 1.2oz sack packs! I only had big boxes of Lara bars and kids cliff bars from Costco to test pack, love how sits flat and fits the burn perfectly. No more packing a bowling ball! Should be fine for 4 day carry if I use dehydrated dog food..



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[fastfoxengineering]

So far very pleased with how the 9l at 1.2oz sack packs! I only had big boxes of Lara bars and kids cliff bars from Costco to test pack, love how sits flat and fits the burn perfectly. No more packing a bowling ball! Should be fine for 4 day carry if I use dehydrated dog food..



Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI bet you could shave a little weight from it too..

It looks like it has too many tags on it lol.. cut off that metal zipper pull and put on a piece of cord.

Get er down to 1 ounce!

I'm kinda interested in trying one of these gg zip sacks. A 9L with a zip is pretty nice for 4 days or so.



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[saltysack]

I bet you could shave a little weight from it too..

It looks like it has too many tags on it lol.. cut off that metal zipper pull and put on a piece of cord.

Get er down to 1 ounce!

I'm kinda interested in trying one of these gg zip sacks. A 9L with a zip is pretty nice for 4 days or so.



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Ha...it already has a cord zip pull but yes there is definitely a few tags etc one could trim and likely get down to 1oz


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