Got my Ursack

“Got my Ursack in the mail today. It's made of heavy duty stuff. I only wish it wasn't that awful yellow. Funniest part... the "manual" is in the form of a comic book.”

“Have you chewed on it yet?”

“Bluto did it!”

“Yellow is good...so you can see where it went when the bear dragged it off.

Have you tried poking a knife in it to see if it works?”

“knife? No. The video of the bear trial at ursack.com apre pretty convincing.”

“how much beer will it hold?”

“It don't matter Rad, You can't chew through it to get to it anyway.”

“i can if there is beer in it.”

“Maybe a knife isn't a fair test, but if you can poke a fork in it, a bear can sink his teeth in it.

Personally I always test gear before I use it...standing in the shower with rain gear, etc.”

“Yeah, good Idea!
Oldie, Put a six pack in it and let Rad have a go at it!”

“C'mon, walkindude, make it a fair test!”

“Hooooweee. If they could get past the Radagast test they should call it the RADAGAGBEERBAG.”

“Here's what the inside of the "manual" says:
URSA means BEAR.... URSACK means BEAR BAG
URSACK... is designed to protect food and other items from bears, both ursus americanus (black bear) and ursus horribilis (grizzly).
URSACK is IMPENETRABLE
URSACK weighs less than 4 ounces - a major advance for the travel light backpacker.
URSACK is THEFT RESISTANT
Bear theft that is. URSACK is designed to be tied, with its integrated kev-kord, to a fixed object such as a tree. Kev-cord has a tensile strength of 1,280 pounds.
URSACK is COMPRESSIBLE
Since URSACK is made from fabric, it is flexible. It is designed to fit inside most backpacks. As and added bonus: the more you eat, the smaller it gets.
URSACK is SPACIOUS
URSACK (8" dia x 13") holds more than 650 cubic inches. URSACK MAJOR (8" dia x 24") holds about 1200 cubic inces and weighs less than 6 ounces.
URSACK is INEXPENSIVE
Priced well under the hard canisters, URSACK is affordable for all outdoor enthusiasts.
URSACK has been "TESTED BY FISHER"
Fisher is a 500 pound male Black Bear who was relocated to the Folsom Zoo. Fisher is an expert at breaking and entering, which is why he is used to test bear resistant devices. Fisher failed to penetrate URSACK on all three attmepts, some lasting over an hour. Check out our video of Fisher in action at www.ursack.com.


So, it's not pierce resistant, but it is tear, nibble, and bite resistant - or so it says, and judging from the clip, I believe it. When the top is sinched, the two ends of the "kev-cord" are about 25 inches long each, plenty of length to tie it to small-medium tree or a good sized branch. Any other questions. No, I won't give it the Radagast test, not that I don't think it will pass, I just wouldn't put it past him to use a cutting torch or chain saw or something like that.”

“Looks like you could fit 12-16 cans of beer in there, it's fairly roomy.”

“Thinking serious about one for myself, but have been waiting for a TT gear-HO to make the first buy.
Thanks Oldie, what size did you get?”

“I like my bear canister”

“I got the smaller one. cost me $39.95 + shipping. Got here in 2 days. I thought about a bear canister too, but what I saw at REI was about twice as expensive. I do have to say I like that a canister doubles as a camp chair/table.”

“cutting torch?
chain saw?

you are one damned smart kid!”

“I keep all my loose stuff in it too like stove, fuel cannister, flashlight, spoon, extra film, etc.”

“Is it waterproof or water resistant? Could it carry water if needed?

I wonder how it would fair against the persistant gnawing of a mouse if left on the ground overnight in non bear country. Does it completely seal up? no little hole left at the opening?

Does it have any plastic pieces(cinch locks) on it or loops(belt loop style) as to fix to outside of bag via straps?”

“I've been thinking about getting one. Let us know how it stands up to the RADDY TEST.”

“grr!!

*gnaw* *gnaw*

**rrrrrriIIIP!!!!

*crack* hisssssss....

glug glug glug

buUUUURP!!!!

aaaaaah!”

“Ok Oldie....if it is flexible...don't carry fresh bananas or you will have banana puddin'... LOL!

Let me know how it works .....I like the weight of it . I bought two used Garcia bear canisters from the Sierra Wilderness Website for 24.95 each
earlier this year,
they were in greart shape! But I would be interested in hearing how the Ursack performs for you.”

“water tight? Not completely. Since it sinches at the top, there is a very small hole left. I believe it would carry water without leaking. I read (on the website I think) that crushed food won't leak through the fabric so a bear wouldn't get sweet liquid to lick that soaked through the sack. I don't know if you would want to carry water with it though. I suppose if you put food in it, it wouldn't be bad to carry water with either.

It does have a plastic plastic cord lock. The instructions say to tie an overhand knot right on the otherside of the lock so it can't be slid open. It also said on the website, that bears haven't chewed the lock, and even if they did, the overhand knot would keep the sack from opening. It doesn't have any extra loopes or anything - just the protruding "kev-cords."

Rodents - They suggest tieing the sack to a tree off the ground, but that it is gnaw proof ( or at least resistant) as well, so rodents shouldn't be a problem.

"grr!!
*gnaw* *gnaw*
**rrrrrriIIIP!!!!
*crack* hisssssss....
glug glug glug
buUUUURP!!!!
aaaaaah!" - in your dreams buddy. My beer is safe. Besides, if you wanted one, all you had to do was ask.”

“How much does it weigh?
Just curious.”

“I think he said 4 oz. somewhere above”

“yes, 4 oz for the small one and >6 ox for the large one.”

“Yes, you heard me right. The big one weighs the sam as six oxen. I don't know why, it just does. Don't ask any more questions.”

“I think I must have had that one in my pack last week.”

“The 6 Ox'er”

“Wow! You must be built like an... ummm... you must be strong.”

“Not as strong as I needed to be. Ouch.”

“I want one of those! put some pots and pans on top and you would wake up before the bear smashes everything. :)”

“I thought yellow was supposed to attract griz.”

“Grizzlies aren't an issue in the Midwest. They say the bag is yellow because that is the color of the fibers used to make the fabric.”

“So what it's yeller? Oldie when ya use it in bear country, give us a report. I'll hafta pick me up something for San Fran bp'ing. Hehe, bet y'all didn't know that there were bear in San Fran eh?

I'll hafta get one'a these or a heavier cannister.”

“What if they find yellow *really* attractive? You could unwittingly be starting a problem right in your own backyard.”

“1. you don't put it right in your back yard. Tie the sack to a tree a ways away from your site, just like any other food cache
2. If you close it and tie it right, the bag isn't gonna go anywhere
3. Tie a bunch of yellow rags on trees all throughout the woods, and the bears will be busy playing with them instead.”

“1. you don't put it right in your back yard. Tie the sack to a tree a ways away from your site, just like any other food cache
2. If you close it and tie it right, the bag isn't gonna go anywhere
3. Tie a bunch of yellow rags on trees all throughout the woods, and the bears will be busy playing with them instead.”

“NA, unfortunately, I won't even have a chance to use it for at least 6-8 weeks. I'll give a report when I do use it tho.”

“As a demonstration of it's abilities...you ought to put some dog treats in it and let a friend's dog have it's way with it.

That should be somewhat amusing, to say the least!”

“I still wanna see The "Rad vs The Ursack of Beer" test.”

“I just got my Backpacker mag yesterday. They smeared the inside with some good smelling food and let two grizzlies have it. The first one couldn't do much to it but the second one snatched it away and did tear it open.

Backpacker did like it for its weight/size/cost but didn't think you should use it in bear country on extended trips where losing your food could be a major problem.

Looks like something I could use here in the east where we only have those wussy black bears. I've never had one go after my food but I've chased away a fair number of racoons and such who would have no problem with the Hefty bag we usually use.”

“I was referring above to a test they did on the Ursack. They did not smear food inside a magazine and give it to bears.”

“Thanks for the clarification! I had to reread the first few sentences. I was wondering what happened to the letter carrier.”

“I wanna see it!”

“Anybody on here from SoCal? I assume that there are black bears in the Angeles and San Bernardino NFs, true? Are bear canisters required, and would a Ursack meet the requirement?”

“You can keep your Urinsack. Bears can't destroy a cannister.”

“urine sac?”

“wsexson, yes there are black bears in the San Gabriels and San Bernadinos. I don't think cannisters are required yet. You might want to check with the authorities. Or Phil.”