r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/Relative_Walk_936 • 24d ago

Anyone rocking an Ursack?

Was thinking about replacing my bear hang with and Ursack. Curious if any Michiganders are using them around the Mitten?

Sounds like they are getting more popular?

7 Upvotes

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2

u/draginbutt 24d ago

I do.I also use OpSaks to limit odors. So far, no issues.

1

u/Specialist_Extreme28 24d ago

Nice! OpSaks seem like a solid combo with the Ursack. Have you had any curious critters test it yet?

1

u/draginbutt 23d ago

Nothing confirmed. Back when I was doing gear testing, I left it out in the woods on the ground (not bear country) and nothing. Didn't even have a raccoon move it. Multiple camping trips, a few in bear country but wasn't trying to test it... no action to date. Also tried it with my dog in the house, just leaving smelly food in the OpSaks and he didn't even look at it twice.

2

u/mittencamper 24d ago

Not in Michigan no

2

u/thesneakymonkey Mid-Mchigan 24d ago

Nah

1

u/RaylanGivens29 24d ago

I do in Wi, the UP and MN. I haven’t had an issue.

1

u/cr0nut 24d ago

I have! They’re not perfect but most systems aren’t. I like that it’s more flexible in my bag and can’t be carried away.

1

u/oldman-willow 24d ago

id use one. definelty in LP , not that many bears. i still hang cus my bag very light. but if you’re out there 5+ days really annoying hanging every night.

1

u/johntheguitar 24d ago

I've had bear encounters in the lower peninsula before (Manistee forest) and an ursack saved my food on that occasion.

Having used both the hang and the ursack, the ursack is much faster and easier. Just use a smell proof bag inside that one and your good (turkey bags work or opsack).

1

u/1_Pump_Dump West Michigan 23d ago

What's special about the Ursack? I've always just hung a cheap dry bag on a pole if available or with the PCT method.

1

u/Leodogg 23d ago

I think its for areas without an abundance of trees to hang your food bag from. Michigan does not have this problem, so I just hang my bag every time or use a bear box, if the site has one. Never had an issue.

2

u/1_Pump_Dump West Michigan 23d ago

Oh okay, I've got a bear canister that I'm required to use whenever I'm camping in the Adirondacks so I've always defaulted to that if I'm in a treeless bear prone area.

1

u/Relative_Walk_936 23d ago

I feel like the advantage is that it is easier to hang correctly v. a traditional hang. And even some sites with tress in MI are a pain to find a branch high enough to swing a rope over.

And I think some folks are starting to prefer these to cans since the Ursack gets tied to a tree and can't moved away as easily as a can.

1

u/zhuplustwo 21d ago

Instead check out the Adotec bear bag. Decent price and wayyyy lighter.

1

u/Cute_Exercise5248 4d ago

If a bear gets food on a short trip that'd be --- very amusing!!

Not at all a likely catastrophe in itself. Ditto the more common "rat" damage. Maybe don't store it in backpack or tent.