I bought a new Ursack bag. One question for you folks that have been using them: The instructions indicate hanging them from an 11 foot branch. I get the idea that it is harder to crush the contents. However, seems to defeat the purpose of the bag in some respects. I don't want to carry an aluminum liner.
Soooooo, what do you folks do?

I just hang mine on a nice thick branch as high as I reasonably can.

Instructions on the website.

"So that it can’t be crushed or stolen. Tie URSACK to a tree branch using a figure 8 or another knot that resists clinching, so that it can be untied easily. Alternatively, tie a secure knot and then counterbalance over a high (10? +) tree branch–not a guarantee, but it will thwart some bears."

What's the point of an Ursack if you still have to hang your food?

If hanging might as well go with a heavy duty dry bag.

Banksiana: "What's the point of an Ursack if you still have to hang your food?

If hanging might as well go with a heavy duty dry bag."

You don't have hang it like a bear bag. You're suppose to tie it off to something so a bear doesn't drag it away. If it's tied off to a branch and not base of a tree it prevents a bear from standing on your food as well.

If you hung a dry bag like an Ursack a bear would eat all your food. You could hang the Ursack like a bear bag if you wanted.

Got it. I figured if you have to hang it above 10' why bother with the extra expense for the same amount of hassle.

I just tie around the trunk of a medium size tree with the rope going over a decent branch that prevents sliding down to the ground. All of this at a height that I can easily reach. On occasion, I just tie around the trunk and friction will keep it off the ground although a bear could push it down. Nothing is perfect but the Ursack does a lot, is perfect against mini-bears, and is really light.

I picked up an accordion folding wind screen I use when cooking then insert into the ursack and tie off from a branch or around the trunk and laying on a branch of a smaller tree. Mostly do not want it drug off. I have never had my system tested by bears so I will not give any guarantees.

Tied to a tree at arm level.

Above tree line, I stacked rocks in a ring and put big rocks across the ring. It was what was suggested when I researched. I know the fact it worked - food was there and untouched each morning - doesnt prove anything.

GraniteCliffs: "I bought a new Ursack bag. One question for you folks that have been using them: The instructions indicate hanging them from an 11 foot branch. I get the idea that it is harder to crush the contents. However, seems to defeat the purpose of the bag in some respects. I don't want to carry an aluminum liner.
Soooooo, what do you folks do?"

I tied mine shoulder height to the trunk of any tree that was away from my tent. Zero problems with bears or critters.

Also add that I think the Spectra and Kevlar Uraack is a scam. If a knife can’t cut spectra I’d like to see a mouses teeth after it tries for hours to break a single strand.

I'm less than 5' tall and I hang mine around a tree w/o hoisting it up in the air.

Maybe they mean 11" in diameter so the bear can't just snap it right off? IDK....

They make OPSAKs too to conceal food odor. Got one in my Carin box a while back. SCORE!

My read of the directions is that hanging it over a branch above 10’ high is a secondary alternative to the sort of tying we all do. That sort of hang with a counterweight, such as a stuff sack is done with no rope going down within reach. You use a stick to push the bags down when you want them back. I’ve seen this done by backpackers.

Just tying them to a good sized branch is choice 1 on Ursack.com

Another vote for hanging it at head level.

Ursack, opsacks, liner, hammock, underquilt, overquilt, sidequilt...