Zpacks Bear Bagging Kit Review

JUMP TO: SPECS  |  PROS & CONS  |  HOW IT PERFORMED  |  FEATURES  |  ACCESSORIES  |  SUMMARY

Author: Steve Edgerton | Updated: Nov 5, 2023
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The Zpacks Bear Bagging Kit is an all-in-one food storage solution for backpacking in bear country. It includes a Dyneema food bag, a rock sack, 50 feet of cord, and a small carabiner.

Setting a proper bear hang is often challenging, but this kit makes it as easy as possible. While more effective and convenient options exist, the Zpacks kit is lightweight and relatively wallet-friendly: it is an excellent choice for thru-hikers and skilled backpackers looking for a durable and ultralight way to keep their food stash safe from bears and rodents.

SPECS

 

CAPACITY: 14 L (10.7 L size also available)

WEIGHT: 3.4 oz / 96 g (includes food bag, rock sack, cord, and mini carabiner)

IGBC CERTIFIED BEAR-RESISTANT: No

MATERIALS: 1.6 oz/sqyd Dyneema Composite Fabric, UHMWPE slick cord

 

 

PROS

  • Simple and lightweight solution for bear hangs

  • Dyneema food bag is durable and waterproof

  • Rock bag and slick cord make setting a hang easier

CONS

  • Not certified bear or critter-proof

  • Effectiveness ultimately depends on setting error-free bear hangs

 

HOW IT PERFORMED

BEAR RESISTANCE: Dyneema is pretty darn durable, but it is still no match for hungry bears. It may deter rodents, but with enough time, persistent pests will still be able to chew their way through the food bag. This kit’s effectiveness is ultimately dependent on a hang that makes it impossible for sharp-toothed and long-clawed creatures to even get near it in the first place.

SETUP: Setting a bear hang is hard. Setting an effective bear hang is even harder. Between finding a branch extending into open air, that is neither that is not too big or too small, and tossing a cord over your selected branch then tying it off securely, opportunities for user error are abundant.

This kit makes the process about as easy as it possibly can be. With help from the included rock sack, I successfully launched the cord over my target branch on my first throw — an exciting first for me. The slick material ensures the cord slides freely when hauling up the food bag, and its generous 50-foot length adds versatility.

 

The included rock sack makes getting the cord over tall branches much easier.

 

VOLUME: The large size can fit up to 5-6 days of food. A full food bag can get quite heavy, so branch selection and hang setup become even more important if you pack the thing to capacity.

WEIGHT: A bear hang kit weighing 3.4 ounces is as good as it gets. The Dyneema stuff sack can also be used on its own as a food bag on trips where you can count on bear food storage infrastructure at campgrounds.

 

The full kit weighs just 3.4 ounces and includes a 14 L Dyneema food bag, rock sack, 50 ft of cord, and a small carabiner.

 

NOTABLE FEATURES

DYNEEMA STUFF SACK: Dyneema Composite Fabric (commonly known as Dyneema or DCF) is an ultralight and ultra-strong fabric. Both the stuff sack and small rock sack are made from Dyneema, ensuring they will stand up to years of abuse from the elements. The kit’s Dyneema stuff sack is seam-sealed, reinforcing the material’s inherent waterproof qualities. 

UHMWPE CORD: The 50-foot cord included with the bag is made from solid braided UHMWPE fiber and is equally durable. The material is slick to avoid snagging and catching on branches. It is lightweight and the dark gray color is supposedly less noticeable to rodents, minimizing the chances of them chewing through the cord.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

ODOR-RESISTANT LINERS: Lining the food bag with an odor-resistant layer will significantly help keep it off the olfactory radar of any furry forest dwellers. LOKSAK OPSAK liners are the first choice for many backpackers, favored for being lightweight, reusable, and reliable.

SUMMARY

The Zpacks Bear Bagging Kit is an ultralight and complete package for traditional bear hangs. Most of its downsides are inherent to all bear hang systems: it is prone to user error, can be frustrating (or impossible) to set up in some environments, and is not bear-resistant on its own.

For most of my trips in bear country, these downsides are simply not worth the weight and cost savings. I prefer certified bear-resistant bear bags like the Ursack AllMitey, which don’t need to be hung.

But, there are certainly contexts in which the Zpacks kit makes more sense. For thru-hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail or Arizona Trail, where bears are a more sporadic threat, the weight savings could very well be worth the lack of convenience. It is an excellent choice for PCT hangs for rodent protection, as these are easier to set and allow for a greater margin of error than a hang in bear country permits.

Though it is not my go-to food storage option, the Zpacks Bear Bagging Kit is exceptionally light, durable, and reasonably priced. It is an ideal solution for many thru-hikes and a worthy addition to any dedicated backpacker’s gear arsenal.

 

Light, durable, and cheaper than bear-resistant bear bags, the Zpacks Bear Bagging Kit is best on long thru-hikes where every gram matters.

 

DISCLOSURE

Zpacks provided me with a free sample for this review – but the views expressed here are all my own. The review might also contain affiliate links, which help us keep churning out more content.

MORE INFORMATION

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Happy hiking and take care out there in the wild!