View Full Version : What do you use for a food sack?
I'll be on the AT in northern TN or Southern VA (different thread) in two weeks.
From what I've seen you hang your food in the trees below the tree line and in your shelter above the tree line. Is that correct?
I have the rope and other tools for hanging the bag, but want to hear what is best to use for the bag. I figured I would use ziplocs for the food and stuff it all in a stuff sack. Any need for a waterproof sack?
A water proof stuff sack works for me.
summermike
07-29-2009, 16:05
Sometimes rain can make its way into packaged foods. I think a waterproof sack, the kind that hangs upside down, is a must.
Sea to Summit UL Cordura WP sack with fold down top. Usually 8 L that I can hold up to 7 days trailfood.
Snowleopard
07-29-2009, 16:12
Ziplocs inside any light nylon stuff sack would work, or add a plastic bag as a liner to make it waterproof.
What I'll use is Opsak odorproof bags, as a liner inside a homemade nylon stuff sack.
http://www.rei.com/product/758707
REI has large and small; they're basically stronger, more waterproof ziplock bags with an odorproof liner.
Some people have just tied directly to the Opsak to hang it, but that's won't last for a long time. The idea here would be that some animals have much much better sense of smell than humans -- if they can't smell it they don't know it's there. It probably helps, but bears and maybe raccoons are smart enough to learn what situations will get them food; mice probably just chew on everything.
Spinnaker and Cuben fiber fabric WP sacks are also available.
No, you don't absolutely always need a WP food sack, but it helps to not only keep your food dry , but to also decrease animal attracting odors because they are normally seam sealed or taped.
Ziplocs inside any light nylon stuff sack would work, or add a plastic bag as a liner to make it waterproof.
What I'll use is Opsak odorproof bags, as a liner inside a homemade nylon stuff sack.
http://www.rei.com/product/758707
REI has large and small; they're basically stronger, more waterproof ziplock bags with an odorproof liner.
Sounds like a good idea but I guess they would only be as good as you are at not contaminating the outside of the sack. If you had summer sausage in one and got the scent on your hands and then on the bag when resealing it I think it would defeat the purpose of the sack.
The waterproof stuff sacks I have seen did not have an attachment point on the bottom for the rope. I guess I need to check more of them.
http://www.rei.com/product/780942
has a band that goes across the bottom. use a caribiner and you're all set.
I scored some hunter orange sil-nylon from Wally World a while back. made me a couple of homemade stuff sacks. Orange is a good color, when you go looking for your food the next morning.
and no you don't have to have water proof, but why wouldn't you.
Thanks,
I'll pick up the orange one Shoe posted up.
Ed
Aloksak also makes WP odorproof food sacks that could be placed inside any nylon sack. Look for a foodsack that encloses by folding down and then clasping a snap that provides a handle as a place of attachement for bear bagging or just attach to a bag that close with a drawstring. Any outfitter or big boxstore should have plenty to choose from.
brooklynkayak
07-29-2009, 16:33
If you don't mind carrying the extra weight, an Ursack doesn't have to be hung. Double scent block bags are a good idea if you don't want critters messing with any food bag.
http://media.rei.com/media/cc/fe06ddbc-25ea-4ba9-ad2b-376549b88e3c.jpg
No hanging food hassles, no worries about bears, mice, or any vermin. No worry about rain soaked food, or getting wet hanging/retrieving food, and it makes a handy camp table to boot! :)
P.S. No wasted space either. Will hold 6-7 days worth of food and when not full of food (as I eat it) I just pack other stuff inside to fill it up, like my Jetboil & cansiter(s) so my pack space grows as the food quantity decreases.
ChinMusic
07-29-2009, 17:28
I've used an Outdoor Research 20L Waterproof StuffSack in the past few years. It is designed to have a drawstring opening on one end and hang from the other. I find this sack kinda large and cumbersome to get in and out of my pack. I also have a hard time digging through it finding what I want.
I am switching to carrying two smaller Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sacks (8L and 13L = total 2.5 oz) and will be splitting up my food into day and evening foods. It will make it easier to find what I want and by being two sacks fit into my pack better. http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/7
http://www.rei.com/product/780942
has a band that goes across the bottom. use a caribiner and you're all set.Don't need a biner. Just tie your bear bag rope/cord directly to the bag, haul it up and tie it off. I still don't understand people's obsession with biners.
superman
07-29-2009, 18:32
I use the plastic grocery bags that they put the food in at the grocery store.
Kerosene
07-29-2009, 18:32
I just re-purposed a silnyl sleeping bag stuffsack for my food. Probably not fully waterproof, but I hang it upside-down. Even a bright royal blue can get lost in the canopy; I like the idea of orange.
http://www.altrec.com/outdoor-research/durable-dry-sack (http://www.altrec.com/outdoor-research/durable-dry-sack)
mister krabs
07-29-2009, 19:50
I use the largest of the 10$ 3 pack of walmart outdoor products "dry" sacks. Plastic grocery bags if I have more than that.
Jim Adams
07-29-2009, 20:06
Don't need a biner. Just tie your bear bag rope/cord directly to the bag, haul it up and tie it off. I still don't understand people's obsession with biners.
Use a small keychain type biner and hang it upside down. A silnylon sack with the opening hanging down is all you need for waterproof.
geek
Snowleopard
07-29-2009, 20:08
Summit, don't use that BearVault in the Adirondacks or Yellow-yellow, the genius bear, will eat your food. It'll work fine everywhere else. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?hp
Dogwood, Aloksak and Opsak are made by Loksak. Opsak is the one that has the odor barrier, I think.
TexasEd, "not contaminating the outside of the sack". You're right. They're not foolproof, but help some.
Use a small keychain type biner and hang it upside down. A silnylon sack with the opening hanging down is all you need for waterproof.
geekDon't need no stinkin' biner. Tie a knot and go on. :D
Don't need a biner. Just tie your bear bag rope/cord directly to the bag, haul it up and tie it off. I still don't understand people's obsession with biners.
I don't call carrying 1 biner an obsession but whatever.
I don't call carrying 1 biner an obsession but whatever. True, 1 biner does not an obsession make. I'm speaking in general of folks who venture into the outdoors. I guess a biner makes them more outdoorsy or something. My point is simply this, there's no need to put a mechanical object into play that could potentially fail when a simple knot is more reliable. Too many people who venture into the backcountry are all too willing to buy stuff instead of learning skills that could serve them just as well, if not better.
Ok, off soapbox now.
I feel better.
:D
Summit, don't use that BearVault in the Adirondacks or Yellow-yellow, the genius bear, will eat your food. It'll work fine everywhere else. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?hp
Well I'll be . . . my hat's off to Yellow-yellow. Quite the ingenious little bear! :)
ChinMusic
07-29-2009, 23:43
Well I'll be . . . my hat's off to Yellow-yellow. Quite the ingenious little bear! :)
I wonder if Yellow-Yellow carries to penny to get into my Bearikade.......
I wonder if Yellow-Yellow carries to penny to get into my Bearikade.......I think you're safe . . . unless he has a change pocket! :eek:
Surplusman
07-30-2009, 19:00
I think you're safe . . . unless he has a change pocket! :eek:
...or the screwdriver blades on his Leatherman.
Blissful
07-30-2009, 19:51
Sea to summit bag works great.
Used the wallie world ones but they were not totally waterproof, so glad the food was double bagged
Old leaky stuffsacks that I don't mind mice chewing on. I actually pinch a piece of fabric on the bottom and burn a hole in it so water can drain out. All of my food is in ziplock freezer bags so it's all waterproofed anyway.
slippery6000
08-07-2009, 13:01
Use any kind of zip close bag, and put in inside a well hung outsak bag. search for "outsak" and you will see the manufacturer, retailer, videos. It will keep it waterproof, and keep the animals out.
This bag will work in any environment, as long as its out of reach from bears, the little critters thatcan climb the up or down the rope, or cables and get nothing because that steel mesh bag will keep them out.
http://www.simpleoutdoorstore.com/Outsak.html
Thats the link to the manufacturer. I will continue to praise the outsak.
or a retail site
www.summithut.com/products/outsak/ – $32.99 to $44.99 (http://www.summithut.com/products/outsak/ – $32.99 to $44.99)
Outsak Rules!!!
Recently I switched to a large Zpacks Blast Food Bag (http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/stuff_sacks.shtml) made from 1.5oz cuben fiber. Lightweight, waterproof and rodent proof.
I always find these things hanging in trees, alot of good food in them, some or orange and some or brown, but man the help out when your hungery...(Warning this is just a Joke...Newbies should never attempt to take a food bag out of a tree...) leave it to a professional.....
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack , plastic g-bag for carry outs. S-2-S bag hung on a biner PCT method, easy to deploy and hasn't failed me yet.
envirodiver
08-08-2009, 10:26
Don't need a biner. Just tie your bear bag rope/cord directly to the bag, haul it up and tie it off. I still don't understand people's obsession with biners.
I use a biner with the method that I hang the bag with. It doesn't require tieing the cord off to a tree. After tossing the cord over the limb, just attach the biner to the bag, pull the cord through the biner, yank the bag up as high as possible, tie a stick to the cord and let it slide up to the biner, where it turns sideways and holds the bag in place.
I use a sea to summit UL dry sack for my food. Usually several.
"I use a biner with the method that I hang the bag with."
Indeed, PCT method is the logical approach for a solo hiker or a couple, with counterbalance better IMO when a bigger group is using the same tree limb.
This (PCT method) does suggest a biner, but doesn't absolutely have to have one; a person could instead tie some sort of loop knot (bowline for example) to attach their food bag and make the loop ~biner sized. A bit more friction, but the cord that folks carry these days tends to be low-friction stuff (a good thing for bear bag cord anyway).
PCT method:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/bear_bag_hanging_technique.html
summermike
08-08-2009, 12:32
Use any kind of zip close bag, and put in inside a well hung outsak bag.
The closer I get to the leave date for my fall hike the more I'm considering this. I've woken up too many times to a squirrel-chewed bag.
I'll be on the AT in northern TN or Southern VA (different thread) in two weeks.
From what I've seen you hang your food in the trees below the tree line and in your shelter above the tree line. Is that correct?
I have the rope and other tools for hanging the bag, but want to hear what is best to use for the bag. I figured I would use ziplocs for the food and stuff it all in a stuff sack. Any need for a waterproof sack?
I typically use nylon cord to hang either plastic grocery bags (double bagged) or a stuff sack high up from a tree branch. I have all my food and trash in gallon size zip-lock freezer bags to help minimize smells.
On my next trip I am going to try using an old washed out protein container. I don't see how it'll be much different than a bear canister since it is sealed tight and contains odors. Call me crazy, but I'll probably still hang it with the nylon cord.