/ they're really, really stupid directions

https://ursack.com/pages/how-to-use

Step 1: TIE CORD IN A KNOT Tie the cord with a double overhand knot-tight-so that there is no opening at the top of the bag. If food is visible, you have packed too much in. Ifyou can see it, a bear can get it.

A double overhand is the wrong knot, all it does is make it harder to untie if an animal tries to pull on the extra cord. What would work better is after pulling closed is to tie a clove hitch tight around the bag below the cinch point. You can adjust it easily so there's no slack between it and the opening. This knot cinches down really easy and tightens the opening even more. It's taught to ten-year-olds so it's easy to get right. Then wrap again more time and tie a square knot . Wrap again and tie another. Keep wrapping until there's no extra cord. The square knots keep the clove hitch from going loose. This idea on the square knots, if not necessarily this knot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=n-DtbFTd-7M

Step 2: KEEP AWAY FROM CAMP Ursack must be secured to a fixed object that is a safe distance from our camp site. If using more than one Ursack, separate them at least 25 yards. No trees? Try hiding your Ursack under a pile of rocks. If you are using an OPSak and have been keeping food smells off the outside, it is unlikely a bear can find a well hidden Ursack.

No mention of LNT, just make up your own distance? And tell people to move rocks. NO, DON'T MOVE ROCKS! Leave No Trace Principals say "Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them." You should never go hunting for enough rocks to make a pile a bear can't push out of the way. It's never a practice to undertake. If you find a pile of rocks you should scatter it to return the campsite to a more natural appearance. Or build a better fire ring if a fire spot needs improving. Leave the place better than you found it.

LNT has issues with bear hangs and going out of the campsite to place a canister in general "Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent." But it's easier to avoid vegetation in terms of impact than moving dozens upon dozens of rocks around from all over.

step 3:

TIE UP TO A STRONG BRANCH Tie Ursack to a tree branch using a figure 8 or another knot that resists clinching, so that it can be untied easily. Alternatively, tie a secure knot and then counterbalance over a high (10' ) tree branch-not a guarantee, but it will thwart some bears.

There's just a slight problem, you would NEVER be able to tie to anything to a tree using a Figure 8.

A figure 8 knot is a stop knot. You use it when putting a rope through a grommet. They meant a clove hitch for sure and just didn't care to check their work. https://www.animatedknots.com/figure-8-knot

Also notice you have two options. Tie with a defined (but wrong knot) and put it on "a tree branch" of undefined size and location.

Or counterbalance 10 feet up using an undefined method. You need to bring extra cord to do so. And you need *two* bags to counterbalance so something else needs to go in the air of similar weight. For directions they sure assume you can figure that out.

Wait, counterbalancing works sometimes but most of the time a bear gets into my food? Yeah, let me get right on that method. I really wanted a recommendation that they already know mostly doesn't work.

So at this point all three methods to secure are badly written. These directions are just bad. Top to bottom they need to be rewritten for clarity and use correct methods.

I looked deeply at getting an Ursack. It could have been a good product but the flaws in how they present their product doesn't lend confidence. I got a bear vault in the end. To use it I screw the lid on properly walk 100 feet away, put it down and walk away.

Ursack needs new directions with that level of simplicity and clarity.