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       Ursacks Now Allowed Under Food Storage Order
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 04:39AM
Ursacks Now Allowed Under Food Storage Order

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
andym 08/13/2021 02:03PM
I agree that Opsacks are a little finicky. I feel like I've gotten better at them over time. But early on I emailed with the original designer of the Ursack about them and he felt they are the best for odor proofing things and we just needed to be careful with them. We do carry a spare or two.


Of course, bear vaults and such aren't odor resistant either. And so switching doesn't get you away from needing Opsacks or something similar.


Those green bags are pretty interesting and we were planning to give them a try. I do wonder if the top seals are as odor proof as an Opsack.
Jaywalker 08/13/2021 10:02AM
^^^ I have also had Opsaks tops fail, in fact all of mine have failed eventually. At least once the plastic tore away from the zipper part the first time I used it, and I have had the zippers fail after multiple open/closes. I now am very careful with each open/close. I still think they are likely the best at restricting odors, but I travel with a spare and also double my Opsack inside another odor barrier bag - I can’t remember the name but they are green and use a yellow clip at the top. I doubt they are as good as Opsaks that are working properly, but they sure are better than one that has a broken zipper.
Blatz 08/12/2021 07:52PM
MossBack: " During the "Dark Times" this past year I bought a couple of Ursacks and Opsaks to contain odors. How does the dry bag benefit? Are the Opsaks not sufficient or easily damaged inside the Ursacks? " My issue with the Opsack was the closure failed too soon. I only used a dry bag while it's in my pack. A lightweight Osprey dry bag. I would use it for trim at the bow of my Advantage then it went into my pack during portages. At night I never used the dry bag when it was tied to the tree. That's asking for it to be destroyed if a Bear is interested.
MossBack 08/12/2021 06:48PM
During the "Dark Times" this past year I bought a couple of Ursacks and Opsaks to contain odors. How does the dry bag benefit? Are the Opsaks not sufficient or easily damaged inside the Ursacks?
gravelroad 08/12/2021 02:11PM
straighthairedcurly: "The change in wording does leave me wondering a bit. Seems to allow Ursacks, but they have been adamantly telling people not to use them. I think I am going to put the bulk of my food in my bear canister and any overflow from the first day or two will get stored in the Ursack like I normally do (dry goods only). But I still have 2 weeks before I leave so I will keep my ear to the ground as this gets clarified."


Ursacks are now acceptable beyond any reasonable doubt, courtesy of this response on Facebook (sorry for the small image rendition here – click on it to expand and read):


Savage Voyageur 08/12/2021 06:16AM
Glad they added these to the list. Just got a “small” Yeti 35 hard side cooler yesterday. It is rated safe for bears. It has a IGBC bear sticker on it so it is in compliance. It might be an option for future trips if I go to an area where I can’t hang food like blow down, or resent burn.
Ausable 08/11/2021 11:29PM
Maybe the FS got such a large amount of negative feedback about the Ursack issue that they gave in to the popular will. At any rate, now at least anything that is on the IGBC list is OK.
andym 08/11/2021 11:14PM
I’m happy but understand the whiplash. I’m not able to get there this year and so have been contemplating from the sidelines.


For a while, I’ve been thinking of getting a BV500 or similar in order to have diversified protection. I may still do that for next year.
jillpine 08/11/2021 09:16PM
I like my Ursack Allmitey. Nevertheless, following the order, I settled on buying a BV500 from Really Expensive Items. Still have the receipt but I’m going to keep it. It’s larger, serves as a stool or little platform and will be handy in Canada next year.

Also leave next week, and asked members of the group I’m leading to specifically get the bv450 or 500. One got a Grubcan, which has not received approval by the Sierra interagency black bear group but is igbc approved. It was a bit of an involved process so, yes, this is a little bit of whiplash. But, I like the bear vault. I appreciated what I learned in the process, except the part about getting called lazy and disinterested. But, hey, maybe I’m a bit of that as well. :0)



straighthairedcurly 08/11/2021 06:32PM
The change in wording does leave me wondering a bit. Seems to allow Ursacks, but they have been adamantly telling people not to use them. I think I am going to put the bulk of my food in my bear canister and any overflow from the first day or two will get stored in the Ursack like I normally do (dry goods only). But I still have 2 weeks before I leave so I will keep my ear to the ground as this gets clarified.
Jaywalker 08/11/2021 06:09PM
Blatz: "I just read that. Great news except I spent some time and money hobbling together a lightweight hanging system. I'm leaving next week."
Yeah, I just bought some 5mm climbing utility rope and also got a BV500 which I already put reflective tape on. Having some mixed emotions right now.


Given the specific words they removed, it sure seems like Ursack would now be compliant with the order - is there anything I am missing here?
Blatz 08/11/2021 04:04PM
I just read that. Great news except I spent some time and money hobbling together a lightweight hanging system. I'm leaving next week.
moosedoggie 08/11/2021 12:35PM
straighthairedcurly: "Wrong link? Took me to an article about surveyor rods..."


My bad!!

I just corrected it.
straighthairedcurly 08/11/2021 12:34PM
Wrong link? Took me to an article about surveyor rods...
bhouse46 08/11/2021 12:34PM
Yeah. I have a plastic storage box (available at many stores) that fits inside the urasack which then goes inside a sea to summit dry bag. There will be no reward from my food stash but I worried my system would not be acceptable.
moosedoggie 08/11/2021 12:31PM
Order Amendment