Hilltop Packs Ecopak Food Bag Review

Overview

The Ecopak Food Bag is a roll-top hanging sack from Hilltop Packs, a small Pennsylvania shop that sews its gear in Waynesburg. The large size weighs 1.6 oz (45.4 g) and the small weighs 1.15 oz (about 33 g). Both have taped seams, a built-in bear-hanging loop, and options for a flat bottom and an interior spoon pocket. It is built to hang food out of reach, not to resist a bear, and that distinction decides who should buy it.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	33–45.4 g (1.15 oz small, 1.6 oz large)
Fabric	Ecopak DTRS75, a hybrid recycled/virgin material
Dimensions (flat)	Small 11 x 17 in (28 x 43 cm); large 16 x 19 in (41 x 48 cm)
Volume	Small 7–8 L; large 12–13 L
Trip capacity	Small about 1–3 days for one person; large about 3–7 days
Seams	Taped
Hanging loop	Yes, built in
Flat bottom	Optional
Spoon stash pocket	Optional, adds 0.1 oz
Bear/odor proof	No
Made in	USA

Performance

Weight. Hilltop sells the heavier EPLX200 version of its Ecopak line at 2.1 oz (small) and 3.1 oz (large). This DTRS75 build comes in about a third lighter, so the large weighs 1.5 oz less than the EPLX200 large. Hilltop says plainly that its Ecopak fabrics trade a little weight for durability, and DTRS75 is the lighter end of that trade. The flat bottom and spoon pocket add little. The spoon pocket costs 0.1 oz.

Weather resistance. The seams are taped and the interior is laminated, so the bag sheds rain and survives a wet night under a tree. Hilltop’s own listings call it highly water-resistant, and a roll-top closure is the usual limit on any bag like this. It is not a submersion-grade dry bag. For a food sack that spends its nights on a branch, that’s enough.

Hanging. The reinforced loop is the reason to buy a purpose-built bag over a stuff sack. Hikers who have used Hilltop’s roll-top food bags describe them as easy to hang, and one buyer reported tying off the built-in loop with no trouble. The bag ships without a hanging kit. Hilltop sells cord, carabiner and rock sack separately as a bundle, so budget for that or use a setup you already carry.

Capacity. Trail reports on the Hilltop bags are favorable on volume. One buyer fit four freeze-dried meals and snacks in the large and still had room to roll the top. A hiker who finished an eight-day San Francisco-to-Tahoe route said the roll-top style held all of its food. That report was for a larger-capacity D50T sack, not this one. The 12–13 L large suits about a week for one person. Anyone carrying more should look at Hilltop’s 20 L model.

Flat bottom and spoon pocket. Owners like the flat bottom because it lets the bag stand open at camp. On a slope, it also keeps the bag from rolling away. The spoon pocket gets a more mixed reception. One buyer said the spoon still fell out some of the time.

Durability. Hilltop presents Ecopak as the tougher option and recommends its heavier EPLX200 fabric for maximum durability. DTRS75 and the D50T fabric replacing it sit at the lighter end, so they’re better suited to careful handling than to bags that get dragged and stuffed for months. One customer of a Hilltop bear bag reported delamination, and the company responded with a credit for a replacement. That is a useful sign of service, though it also shows that thin laminated fabrics can fail.

Fabric transition. Hilltop is phasing out DTRS75 in favor of Challenge D50T. Buyers who order now may receive D50T instead. The weights quoted for the large (1.6 oz) and small (1.15 oz) match the D50T listing, so the weight story stays the same.

Choosing a Version

The only differences between the two sizes are volume and weight. Both have the same fabric, taped seams, hanging loop and option set.

• Small (11 x 17 in, 7–8 L, 1.15 oz): Suits weekend trips and short food carries of one to three days, or hikers who resupply often and eat compact meals. It is also the better pick for a cold-soak diet with few bulky items.
• Large (16 x 19 in, 12–13 L, 1.6 oz): Suits carries of three to seven days. Pick it if the food bag also holds a stove, cookpot or toiletries at night, or if the food carries are bulky. The 0.45 oz penalty is trivial next to the headache of an overstuffed small.

For most thru-hikers, the large is the safer choice. Roll-top bags only seal well when the top has room to roll.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Very light: 1.15 oz small, 1.6 oz large
• Taped seams and laminated interior for rain protection
• Built-in hanging loop
• Optional flat bottom and spoon pocket
• Made in the USA by a small shop that stands behind its work

Cons

• Not bear-proof or odor-proof, per the manufacturer
• Hanging kit sold separately
• Lighter fabric is less rugged than Hilltop’s heavier EPLX200
• Spoon pocket doesn’t always hold the spoon
• Fabric is changing from DTRS75 to D50T

Who Should Buy This

This bag suits ultralight hikers who hang food in areas where a hang is the accepted method, and who want a lightweight sack with a hanging loop instead of a repurposed stuff sack. It is also a good fit for anyone replacing a heavier bag and willing to handle thin fabric with care. Hikers in regions that require hard-sided canisters or approved bear-resistant bags should look elsewhere, as should anyone who wants a heavy-duty sack for rough use. Those buyers should consider Hilltop’s own heavier EPLX200 build.

Verdict

The Ecopak Food Bag is a well-made, very light hanging sack for hikers who want the weight savings and understand its limits. It is not bear-proof, and the lighter fabric needs gentler handling than the heavier options. For hang-friendly trails, it is an easy recommendation.