Make Your Own Ursack?

There was a guy that posts here, Joe something, that had used an old airbag to make a stuff sack. He posted about it on Thru-Hiker forums, he posted it unded "air bag bear bag" i belive, and his handle is needtoboat.

I was very interested in it but it didn't seem like after making it he used it much, or at least i didn't see much as far as updates.

-Tim

I made my own DIY version of the Ursack from some Kevlar sheets from a bullet proof vest. I bought the Kevlar from Ebay. I don't know if it's actually "bear-proof". I made it mainly for protection against critters, like mice and raccoons, getting in my food bag. Details here:

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=639&

Ursack's are bear resistant not bear proof (nothing is bear proof – even canisters).

Having said that…you could make one, but sewing it would be the hardest part. Cost wise, I would run that out and compare to just buying an Ursack (which are not that pricey).

MY DIY version above only cost me $5 to make. The Kevlar and Vectran material is not hard to sew. I've also made a slightly larger version from a Vectran car air bag. I have gotten several air bags for free from body shops (I work in the automotive repair industry). Body shop normally just throw exploded air bags in the trash.

I found this site…

http://www.discountcomposite.com/#kevf

I'm just not sure which denier to get or how many ounces per yard. Is it K29 that I would need?

What I meant about the sewing is that it is the weakness in a bag – by that, if the stitches fail, the bag will fail if tested by a bear.

I realize that this is an old thread, but I wanted this information here for others to come across. It’s a fine idea! Couple issues, though. First, Ursacks aren’t made of kevlar or vectran! (I believe they’ve stopped using vectran, and if they used kevlar it’s been years.) However, Ursack Minors are kevlar, but not for bears.

Next point is: it seems car air bags are nylon 66, not Kevlar (used for lifting air bags) or Vectran (for the Mars rover air bags). According to this document, this abstract, and this post.

Okay, so who’s got the bright idea on cheap sources of spectra, vectran, and kevlar..? :]

Nomex/Kevlar: http://www.rockywoods.com/Fabrics-Kits/Other-Heavy-Durable-Fabrics

Ross and Jerry,
Thanks for that very helpful info.

No problemo. Sometimes I'm amazed at the discussions that don't get picked up or over. Anyway, I'm glad when I can make any contribution to this great resource and thus slightly lessen my "karmic debt!" Anyone else still thinking about sweet super-cheap gear made from Tyvek envelopes?

By the way, Sam: how're the colors doin' over there, or are they..? (Mmm, NE in the fall…)