most secure plastic bag

I only use Ziploc brand bags. Usually their freezer bags. I used some off-brand freezer bag and have had so many of those fail. I've never had a problem with Ziploc freezer bags.

+1 on the ZipLoc for smaller sizes. The extra-wide band of yellow/blue makes for a secure closure.

For bigger sizes (clothes & small sleeping bags) I use the Hefty freezer bags with the zipper. These have also been very reliable.

This is one time where I don't prefer the generics or store brand stuff.

Another vote for the real-deal Ziplocs. I usually get the double zip quart & gallon sizes. If I repackage food, I use the quart bags, and I put daily food inside a gallon size. (I like to keep it a little organized.) Then it all goes inside an appropriate sized Opsak.

I'm going to differ and say I prefer Glad bags. I've had better luck with them than the ziploc brand.

Rafi,

I almost always use ziplocs as well.

That said, do not overlook used, clean produce bags. They are tough and can be tied off, untied, and retied easily.

The price is most agreeable too!

PS: They also make good rain mitts. Warmer handz is guuuud.

I'm going to differ and say I prefer Glad bags. I've had better luck with them than the ziploc brand.

How so? The only failure I've had with ziploc bags is when I use them to store my daily food in my front mesh pocket. The plastic near the zipper eventually stretches and fails after a couple months of using the top part of the ziploc bag to pull it out of the mesh pocket.

Just to be clear–we're talking about the non-slider lock type of ziploc bag, right?

thanks again.

Non-slider for me.

Yes to the zipper eventually going off track like you said. I also find the slide can catch on stuff in my pack when I'm pulling the bag out. I guess it would be more accurate to say I prefer press seal over zip seal than one brand to another, although I don't know if anyone but ziploc makes zip seal bags.

I was in a discussion about this topic last night with some fellow backpackers at a local camp. I used to use freezer ziploc brand bags exclusively due to their weight. Someone (I think on this board) mentioned the weight of ziplocs. After some weighing and testing I've stopped using the ziplocs and have gone to lighter generic zips and slider zips both for storage and boiling water in a bag cooking. I've never had a problem with water leaks. By my scale the quart ziplocs are .50oz, the slider zips (Hefty brand) are .21oz and the generic zips .11oz. I usually use 3-4 bags a day for food (breakfast, snacks, lunch & dinner). If you're carrying 5 days of food the bag weights can add up. Possibly trivial to some but important to my old body.

Regarding getting holes in the bags, I put a pinhole in my bags near the the opening on purpose. It's amazing how much trapped air there is. When using a bear canister where space is at a premium it can become the difference between carrying 6 days or 5 days of food.

The one food item I never pack in a single plastic bag with a pinhole or not is coffee. The smell of it will permeate everything. I usually double bag my coffee or use an opsack

Yes to the zipper eventually going off track like you said. I also find the slide can catch on stuff in my pack when I'm pulling the bag out. I guess it would be more accurate to say I prefer press seal over zip seal than one brand to another, although I don't know if anyone but ziploc makes zip seal bags.

Oh, I never use bags with a slider now. I did once before and found that it was a garbage design.