Trash compactor bag. – Really for garbage only now?

[Greg Flynn]

I have been using heavy duty lawn bags in my pack to waterproof my clothes and sleeping bag. Decided to get some of those trash compactor bags that everyone raves about. Get them home and they have that "fresh odor" smell. Crap! Since I put anything that even might have ever had a scent hanging 10 feet in the air at night, I am thinking these really are garbage. Don't want racoons clawing through my tent while I'm trying to sleep. Not too many bears around here, though. Just thought I would get a second (or third opinion) before I pack my trusty old garbage bag for the weekend. What do you think?

[jimmy b]

Yeah, I buy the unscented ones. I hear some say they are tough to find in their area. If so just use what works for you that is unscented. If the garbage bags are the same MIL thickness you will effectively have the same protection and you can cut them down to the size needed to keep your dry stuff dry. jimmyb

[Bob Moulder]

Google "nyloflume" I got some thru gearswap here recently. I've not used them yet, but if they're as tough as reputed they are the ticket for our purposes… lighter weight and much more pliable.

[Kenneth Keating]

The Nylofume bags work great. They fit 50L backpacks perfectly and are quite strong. K

[jimmy b]

This is good news to me. I have wanted a lighter option for some time. Now if I can just source a few outside a box of 100. Thanks all, jimmyb

[jimmy b]

FWIW I found this http://quantumtermite.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=nylofume%20bags 20 bags for $25 but if they are more durable than the compactor bags that's even more than I would need. Still, hard to argue when you can cut the weight of a piece of gear in half.

[Donna C]

I have the scented bags as well but if you leave them exposed to the air, they do lose their smell.

[kristen buckland]

what Donna said, I hang the scented ones on my clothes line for a few days and the scent goes away.

[Rex Sanders]

I use large turkey bags for sleeping bag and clothes: Tough enough. No odors. Easy to buy in supermarkets, big box stores, and online. Twist and fold the top. — Rex

[Joe]

I use these for my food too. Works great for keeping smells in and they are surprisingly tough.

[Rich K.]

The lightly scented compactor bags lose their smell fairly quick. Air them out for a while if you have the time.

[Justin Baker]

I wonder if all of the odor really goes away? You can't smell it, but maybe animals still can?

[Bob Moulder]

lol I was thinking the same thing… Anyone with actual experience using an aired-out scented bag in areas with heavy bear populations?

[J-L]

Doesn't everything have an odor? Even "unscented" items still have a scent to them. As long as it doesn't smell strongly of food, why would there be an issue?

[Bob Moulder]

As long as it doesn't smell strongly of food, why would there be an issue? I don't know, but it's interesting that items with similar smells, such as toothpaste and antiperspirants, are required to be stored in bear cans.

[Valerie E]

I was amazed at how tough the Nylofume bags have been… (got mine via GearSwap). I used one as a pack liner and another as a food bag liner for the CT. I assumed that I would have to throw them away after 500 miles, but both bags are in great shape, and probably have — at least — another 500 miles in them!

[Todd T]

"As long as it doesn't smell strongly of food, why would there be an issue?" The scented compactor bags I (accidentally) bought smelled like marshmallows.

[Andy F]

"Anyone with actual experience using an aired-out scented bag in areas with heavy bear populations?" I can't tell if the compactor bags I use have a scent or just smell like plastic. It seems like there's a bit of a light scent. I've used them fresh out of the box in the Cranberry Wilderness of WV on a family trip (2 adults, 4 kids). There were at least 6 bags along, all left in packs in the vestibule of Tarptents. The packs and compactor bags were untouched. On the last night of this 2 night trip, we ate a late dinner. As a result, I didn't clean up camp until after dark. As it was getting dark, I went down to the river to pump-filter about a gallon of water for morning. When I returned, the campsite was dark and the wife and kids were in bed. I began to clean up camp (food and dishes out in the open), and when I shook a trash bag loudly, I heard at least two bears run into the woods. The area is a former black bear sanctuary, but that designation is no longer because of the healthy population. That night, I'm pretty sure I heard a bear shaking branches and jumping or falling in attempts to get our food bag down from the marginal hang. Edit: Also, this was in mid-late September when the bears are most eager to eat.

[Steve B]

I'll get a pack of 25 of those bags from the above link, look for a post in the gear swap for the extra. Steve

[Bob Moulder]

Somewhat OT, but the reputed extreme toughness of Nylofume bags has me wondering if anyone has taped 2-3 of them together to make a ground sheet…(?) I could use a much lighter groundsheet for my Duomid. My current Tyvek ground sheet weighs 7.5oz and I'm not quite ready to relent and pony up for a Cuben sheet. I tried Polycryo and did not like it at all on snow — super slippery! But maybe that'll be a problem with Nylofume as well.

[jimmy b]

Bob, are you using the house wrap or a lighter version tyvek? I dropped a few oz. by using the lighter version tyvek. Not the lightest option as mentioned but it has worked fine for us so far.

[Bob Moulder]

Hi, jimmy b! Yep, the tyvek I'm using is the housewrap stuff… definitely heavier than the kite stuff. The polycryo was 2.5 oz vs 7.5 for tyvek… The problem with tyvek is that it freezes and sticks to snow, as there is always some melting beneath the sleep pad even with the best insulation. The lighter tyvek varieties that I've seen have more texture in their surfaces and I'd guess that they stick even more tenaciously to the snow melt beneath the pad. Funny story… I had the bright idea to stick the "hook" side of Velcro to the bottom of the polycryo so it wouldn't slide around on snow. Interestingly, at very low temps (single digits F) the velcro adhesive doesn't stick to polycryo and I had to spend a few minutes chipping out little Velcro squares from the area beneath my sleep pad… LNT and all that, lol! Ah well, the 5oz weight penalty for house wrap isn't such a big deal; otherwise it really has worked out perfectly. Which, of course, isn't going to preclude a test with the Nylofume, lol!

[jimmy b]

Yeah, I could see how the lighter stuff might be a problem. Its a bit fuzzy on one side and even the opposite side is more textured as you mention. Maybe a little ski wax would do the trick for a non stick surface :) Used the Nylofume bags you sent and they worked out great. Thanks again!

[Rolex .]

Steve, I'll take half (10) of them. Or only 5 if someone else wants some. Let me know how/where to pay you. Lenny

[Kelly G]

I have found unscented compactor bags at Safeway. But I've found that after much use (several outings) that I'll find a clean, horizontal slit in the bags, as if it has a grain to it. Whether damage from a packed items (which shouldn't happen since there are no unprotected sharp items) or just wear-and-tear, I just don't find that they last very long. Will have to try the turkey bags or Nylofume. Kelly

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