Topic
Become a member to post in the forums.
Just replaced my old Outsak with a Outsak UL. It's an animal proof bag made out of steel mesh. Here:
http://www.simpleoutdoorstore.com/store.html
less than 100 grams, as advertised. A great piece of mind on campsites where rodents or birds are an issue. Used from Grand Canyon NP to Olypmpic NP and many other places.
I was really impressed by the responsiveness and fast shipping. The quality is impeccable (I am a neat freak).
No relation to the store, just thought I would share a great product.
Good to know. Thanks.
I agree, I picked one up last year, they are nicely made. It's impressive how strong they are for the weight.
Your post prompted me to check out the videos on their website. It seems that they don't think the UL is raven-proof. They suggest piling rocks around it and a few other ideas.
I had mice get through to my oatmeal in a freezer ziploc. Consider also covering the food with a stronger stuff sac of some sort.
John S
r u saying the mice got thru an Outsak?
The rodents will chew any plastic or silnylon pushed through the mesh.
The ravens have torn the mesh open.
A lot depends on where you camp.
In prior threads, cookie tins are gaining as the preferred storage container.
While backpacking in Utah's Coyote Gulch several of our party used Outsaks.
I thought it was overkill but when ravens and ring-tailed cats tried getting in them the contents remained untouched.
Me? I hung my food in a stout nylon bag. It was OK but I think I'd like to try an Outsak for my '15 trip back there.
If ravens in GC area did NOT breach your Outsak, it was because they didn't find it. Having seen them demolish an Outsak and eat all the food in it, I wouldn't bet my life on the product! Don't make me post my photo of the demolished mesh again (I've already shared it three times)…
Brian, yes they can get to food in an outsak if only covered by a ziplock. My instance happened last April.
Thanks Anton. Your words are kind.
Back in December of 2013 I heard about a picture of a breached Outsak UL that was posted on BPL. I wanted to know more. I reached out to Valerie to see if she would share the who, what, when andwhere’s of how the breach occurred. Below is our interaction.
Valeries Response to my inquiry.
“Hi Dave,
My friend, who owned the Outsak, told me that he doesn't want to follow up, but — in the interest of helping you develop a better product — I'll answer your questions about the event.
Place: North Rim, Grand Canyon — outside the actual park, on the "Esplanade" level (about halfway down), just off the Bill Hall Trail from Monument Point.
History of Use: Bag was newly purchased (never used before).
Storage Details: Bag was placed in a wider rock crevice (about 10" high); a rock locker had been built around 2 drybags, but the Outsak was added after the completion of the rock locker, so only a few rocks had been put on it at the last minute, because we assumed that the Outsak would provide enough additional protection.
Storage Length: 3.5 days.
Result: You saw the photos on BPL.
Good luck outsmarting those ravens. They are SO smart. Thank god they're not interested in water bottles (which is what we normally cache). I'd love it if someone developed a really "bomb-proof" solution. The Grand Canyon critters, in particular, seem to be voracious.
I hope you enjoy your backpacking trip. If you have any other questions about that incident, please feel free to email me, since Bob doesn't want to take the time.
Valerie
Message From User Follows: (me reaching out to Valerie)
I'd prefer he contact me through normal email channels or phone. Any future communication about the bag should be sent to info@simpleoutdoorstore.com THE PM alerts sometimes go to my junk mail. Not sure why.
That being said, I'm out of the office until January 6…going backpacking. Have a great new year and I hope your friend contacts me while I'm away or shortly after I get back in the office.”
End of emails.
Some thoughts I want to share.
This is a great example of using a tool incorrectly. A couple rocks on top of an Outsak is not a sufficient “rock locker”, especially for 3.5 days. Proper caching of food will take some time. Not a long time, but a little effort goes a long way. Grand Canyon has NO shortage of rocks to gather. The area the food was cached is a heavily traveled and often times used as a cache location. This draws in the ravens. Now, you leave it somewhat exposed for an extended period of time, and yes, ravens will try to breach the bag. Outsak is designed to stops the sharp teeth of gnawing animals, like rats, ring-tails and rock squirrels. To keep the ravens away, the locker must be built in a way that keeps the beak of the bird away from the Outsak. Little holes between rocks will occur. These holes are where the rats will enter and try to get to your food. The Outsak will stop the rats, but it won’t stop a raven that has 3.5 days to work on your food storage. You could also hang the Outsak out of reach of the Ravens, but this is sometimes very difficult in areas with a lack of vegetation, as is the case where Valerie cached her food.
Everyone can learn from Valerie’s experience.
What did we learn? We learned that we need to make a bag for long term caching in Grand Canyon; something a step up from the normal Outsak. We did. Canyon season is just around the corner and we will need field testers soon.
Pie tins and paint cans have been used in the canyon for a long time. A properly used Outsak also does the job at less weight and more volume. Food for thought.
A correction to Dave's post, above.
Actually, Valerie's food was untouched: it was in a full-strength rock locker, in a regular drybag (no Outsak).
Valerie's FRIEND'S food was in the Outsak, added at the last minute, with only a few rocks around it, and was eaten by the raven.
Become a member to post in the forums.
Pro-Grade Water RepellencyPolypropylene face fabrics: see the future of raingear.
© Beartooth Media Group Inc.
Loading...
