Review: Outsak Spectrum Outdoor Ratsack Food Bag

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This is a part of our review series, where we give detailed reviews of all of the gear that we use on our trips. You can see the full list of gear here.

Whether you love to camp, hunt, hike, or live off the grid for periods of time, the Outsak food storage bag has a lot to offer. The Outsak outdoor ratsack is an ingenious way to keep all of your food and gear safe from rodents and large animals. With a unique interlocking wire mesh design and super durable hook and loop closure, the Outsak is sure to keep your food and scented items safe while out in the backcountry.

Overview: Outsak Outdoor Ratsack Food Bag

Perfect for: hikers, hunters, and campers living in localities that are home to small and large animals notorious for raiding campsites.

Dimensions/length	X-Small	Small	Medium	Large
Weight	6.5 ounces	7.5 ounces	10.0 ounces	11.5 ounces
Dimensions	14 × 14 inches	14 × 18 inches	18 × 18 inches	18 × 22 inches
Capacity	795 cubic inches	1050 cubic inches	1685 cubic inches	2095 cubic inches

Who the Outsak Outdoor Ratsack Food Bag Is For

The Outsak Outdoor Rat Sack Food Bag is a compact, rodent-proof, and animal-proof mesh bag that is designed to protect food and gear in any environment. The bag is made from a strong steel wire mesh fabric and it is collapsible. This makes them perfect for a whole heap of different outdoor activities, including hiking, backpacking, camping, and hunting.

Outsak Outdoor Ratsack Food Bag Key Features

Aside from its super durable and lightweight design, the Outsak outdoor ratsack food storage bag has a heap of outstanding features. We’ve listed our favorites below.

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh Construction

The stainless steel wire mesh is the backbone of Outsak’s bags. It’s a combination of hundreds of thousands of interlocking links made of high-quality stainless steel wire. This acts to stop the sharp teeth of small animals from chewing through food bags, helps to prevent food waste, and keeps your scented items like sunscreen and lip balm safe and sound.

Polypropylene Closure Webbing

The closure on the outside of the Outsak ratsack is a 2-inch polypropylene webbing. The webbing is embedded with a UV inhibitor to help protect it from the sun’s rays and add resistance to moisture, mildew, and mold. The loop on the end is convenient for hanging your bag outside of the reach of hungry and inquisitive critters. You can also use the loop as a carry aid by simply slipping a couple of fingers through it.

Hook and Loop Closure Seal

The closure itself is 2-inches in size. There are two pieces attached with hook and loop – one side of the closure being hook and the other loop. The stainless steel mesh underneath this closure is sturdy and is sandwiched securely underneath the polypropylene material.

A creature will soon be frustrated trying to chew through this mesh, even if he were able to pull apart the closure using its teeth. This is because the meshing underneath will prohibit it from getting access to the contents inside.

Quadruple Stitched Bottom

To further pest proof the Outsak ratsack, the bottom of the bag is sealed on the inside to ensure sharp teeth cannot find any purchase to pull the bag apart. The entire bottom of the bag is quadruple stitched, with extra stitching at key points which are anchored deep within the fabric. The stitching is on the inside – the only thing an animal can get at on this part of the bag is the impenetrable stainless steel mesh.

Velcro Storage Strap

Included with every Outsak bag is a little velcro strap. Once the bag is rolled up for storage, this strap will help you store it between trips or, if you have the bag hanging from your pack, during one of your outdoor expeditions.

Warranty Info

Outsak Bags offer a 3-year manufacturer’s guarantee from defects in stitching, materials, and workmanship. In case of a defect, customers are required to provide a showing of the original receipt for all warranty claims. Damage caused by overuse or abuse is not covered under the terms of the warranty.

FAQs

Is it worth using a ratsack food storage bag while overnight hiking?

Depending on your locality, most times it is well worth considering taking a ratsack with you. Hungry and curious rodents, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, bears, and even deer or cats love nothing more than to rummage through your food items. With that in mind, we do recommend carrying a food storage bag and non-scent bags while out in the backcountry.

Final Thoughts

The Outsak is a versatile and compact ratsack food storage bag that is a great food storage solution for a variety of different outdoor activities. Whether you love to camp, hunt, hike, or do any activity where food storage is a necessity, this bag can be a great addition to your gear. 

And depending on the size you opt for, it is perfect to use for a single-day outing or can store enough food to last you a week or more. It is also a great addition to your survival gear and can keep all of your food and water protected and out of reach of pesky critters for long periods of time.

But most of all, we love the Outsak ratsack because it’s ultra light, reliable, and family-owned out of Flagstaff, AZ. We’ve used our Outsaks in the Grand Canyon, and they stood up to the sharp toothed squirrels without a hint of a problem.