Are dry bags bear proof?

I tie the bag at ground level to a waterside tree. On the Appalachian Trail I have had bears steal my well suspended food between trees two different times. in the last 25 years of hiking, I have used the dry bag under water method and it has never failed me. Bears cannot apparently steal what they cannot see or smell.

Will a dry bag work as a bear bag?

To be completely safe, hang smell-proof and dry bags. The bag should be 12 feet off the ground and 4 feet away from the tree trunk.

Can bears smell through Ziploc bags?

Bears can smell through Ziploc bags. They do so because scent molecules escape through the thin plastic.

Is a dry bag smell-proof?

But the original question here was regarding dry bags. They are not odor proof, but do offer some protection when using the OPSAK. "it looks like cuben bags (roll top type) might be water proof, but they are NOT odor proof.

Can bears smell vacuum sealed food?

Bears don't see well, especially at night, so as long as there's no food odor (there must be none), they'll leave things alone. As an added precaution, I vacuum-seal foods in plastic. Some grocery stores will vacuum-seal foods at no charge. Medical grade OPSAK bags are 100 percent odor proof and waterproof.

Backpacking Food Storage - How I Store My Food On Trail

Can bears smell sealed food?

Bears have an insatiable appetite and an amazing sense of smell, and they consider anything with a scent to be "food." This can include canned goods, bottles, drinks, soaps, cosmetics, toiletries, trash, ice chests, sunscreen, bug repellant, fuel, items used for preparing or eating meals, etc.

Do bear bags work?

In a best-case scenario (i.e., a skilled hanger, a light food load, favorable trees nearby, and no mistakes), hanging a bear bag takes about 15 minutes. But it rarely works out that way. Why? Most backpackers have limited hanging skills and experience and are therefore inefficient.

Do Opsak bags work?

On its own, an Opsak is an inadequate method of overnight food protection. It's best considered an enhancement to a more reliable method. Specifically, an Opsak can be used to line an Ursack Major or Ursack Minor to make it less detectable or less interesting to a bear or rodent.

Do I need a bear bag on the Appalachian Trail?

Because of the bear hang's frequent failures along the A.T., the Appalachian Trail Conservancy highly recommends that hikers use bear canisters as their form of food storage. A bear canister is one of the most foolproof methods of food storage.

Can bears smell through mylar bags?

If a bear can't smell your food or see your food, he won't get your food. Today's freeze-dried foods have near zero moisture content (you add the water) and are sealed in odor-proof mylar foil. It's doubtful a bear can smell through the foil, but it certainly can smell you—and your hands where you handled the package.

Can a bear smell frozen food?

Bears, said Gustafson, can smell the frozen contents of a freezer from half a mile away. And if it's not locked, it's dinner – potentially a deadly dinner.

How do you keep bears away from food?

Place containers on flat, level ground 100 feet or more from your campsite. Do NOT place containers near cliffs or any water source, as a bear may knock the container around or roll it down a hill trying to open it. Do NOT attach anything to containers. Ropes attached to containers enable a bear to carry it away.

What can I use instead of a bear bag?

If you just can't get the hang of hanging a bear bag, try using a Ursack instead.

Do you really need a bear canister?

Protecting your food from bears is recommended in any area that is inhabited by bears, and using a bear canister is required in many state and national parks, national forests and wilderness areas, and a number of other public lands.

How do you store food without a bear canister?

How do you wash Opsak?

To reduce food odor contamination, an OPSAK could be washed between uses with soap and water. One 12″ x 20″ bag weighs 1.5 oz and holds about 5 days of food.

How big should a bear bag be?

If you're carrying bulkier food, you may need to consider a 20-30L bag. Exceeding 20L usually makes the contents too heavy for the bag to be hung, though. You'll want to consider splitting into two 20-30L bags at that point. Another consideration is that most backpackers carry around a 50-60L backpack.

Are Ursacks worth it?

An Ursack is a big improvement over a traditional bear-bag hang because many, if not most backpackers and campers, do such a poor job hanging their food bags so an animal can't bring it down. Once down, it's easy for an animal to rip open a stuff sack, eat, or foul all the food inside.

Why is a fed bear a dead bear?

A Fed Bear Is A Dead Bear!

It changes the bear's behavior and causes them to lose their instinctive fear of humans. Over time, these bears may begin approaching people in search of food and may become more unpredictable and dangerous. Bears that obtain human food and garbage may damage property and injure people.

What smells will deter bears?

Some sources recommend ammonia-filled balloons covered with honey or peanut butter as a deterrent; theoretically when the bear tries to bite the balloon, it gets a face full of ammonia instead of a treat. But an eyeful of ammonia or bleach is more than a deterrent – it can seriously injure or blind a bear.

Does human poop attract bears?

Human waste

Both urine and feces are known to attract bears so it is best to set up the bathroom a little way away from camp and make sure waste is stored in an odor-proof bag where possible.

Can bears smell through Mason jars?

They are not scent proof either. As for glass…. I have known of people who carried it. It is heavy, bulky and runs the real risk of breaking.

Will bears go after freeze dried food?

Just remember "1, 5, 10, 50" . As to prepackaged [freeze-dried] food, yes, this STILL applies! Bears are perfectly suited for survival in the wilderness; they can run as fast as a horse, swim like a fish, climb trees like a monkey, AND, they have a nose like a bloodhound. Plus, they're SMART, they can learn!