[pct-l] Op-Sack Study

[Dan Welch]

There is an interesting study on Backpacking Lite that tested Op-Sack bags
against ordinary ziplocks.  They used K-9s trained to find illicit drugs and
placed illicit drugs into these bags in lockers at a girls university for
the dogs to locate.  Bottom line - the Op-sacks appeared to do no better
than the ziplocks - 84 seconds vs 86 seconds to find the stash.

They took great care to prevent contamination of the outside of the bags,
using surgical gloves and multiple people to carefully load the bags.  This
is certainly more care than the average backpacker would use.  To eliminate
social cues, they made sure the K9 handlers did not know the location of the
drugs.  It looked like a pretty good study overall...

Anyway, if you have a BPL subscription you can judge for yourself - it
requires a membership to read.  However, it appears investing in Op-Sacks vs
using ziplocks for critter deterrence may not be justified...  The link is
below.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/odor_proof_bags_stu
dy.html#.UhT1lMzD9jo

Timberline