DURASACK Heavy Duty Burlap Sand Bags with Tie Strings Empty Sand-Bags for Flooding and Erosion Control, 14x26 inches, Pack of 5

Why I chose these bags

I keep a small stock of sandbags for seasonal flooding, quick erosion fixes, and the occasional anchoring job. I wanted something I could deploy fast, that wouldn’t leave a plastic mess behind if I needed to build a temporary berm and then walk away. That’s what drew me to the DURASACK burlap sandbags. They’re a straightforward 14x26-inch burlap bag with built-in tie strings—nothing fancy, just a reliable, biodegradable workhorse that slots into several jobs.

Build and materials

These are classic jute burlap bags: coarse, breathable, and surprisingly tough for their weight. The weave is on the tighter side for burlap, which helps minimize shedding and improves how well they seal when stacked for flood control. Stitching on the bottoms of my set was consistent and clean; I didn’t see skipped seams or loose ends. The integrated tie strings are a small but meaningful convenience—no scrambling for twine when your hands are gritty and wet.

Burlap has a distinct earthy smell out of the package and sheds a little fiber; both are normal. I recommend gloves when handling, especially if you’re filling with sand or gravel. At 14x26 inches, one person can handle, fill, and stack these without fighting the weight or bulk.

Filling and setup

These bags are easy to fill with a shovel, but a short section of 4–6-inch PVC or a traffic cone makes an excellent funnel if you’re working solo. The sweet spot for weight and stackability is about half to two-thirds full, which yields a bag in the 30–40 lb range with standard sand. That lets you mold the bag in place and keeps it from rolling. Overfilling seems appealing for fewer trips, but it makes the bags harder to shape and more likely to shift under water flow.

A few practical notes from use:
- For flood control, use fine sand. Gravel drains and won’t seal as tightly.
- For anchoring (canopies, basketball hoops), gravel or small river rock works well and is cleaner to handle.
- If you’re using sharp aggregate, consider double-bagging or lining the inside with a strip of landscape fabric to reduce abrasion from the inside out.

The built-in tie strings are long enough to close securely with gloves on. A simple double knot works; leave a little room at the mouth so the bag can flatten when stacked.

Performance for flood and storm prep

For quick barriers around doorways and low threshold areas, these sandbags do what they should. Properly filled and stacked, they seal effectively under light-to-moderate flow. I’ve stacked them two to three courses high along a driveway edge and around a garage door. The burlap conforms well, which matters when you’re trying to close gaps against uneven concrete.

Tips for better barriers:
- Stagger the seams like brickwork.
- Tuck the tied ends inward to reduce leakage paths.
- If you expect a longer event, a sheet of plastic on the “water side” with the bags holding the sheet in place improves sealing dramatically, especially over rough ground.

The biggest advantage here is speed: because the bags are pliable and easy to tie, I was able to build out a 10–12 bag barrier in minutes without fighting rigid or slippery material.

Erosion control and landscaping

Where these bags shine is temporary stabilization that’s meant to transition into something permanent. I used them to pin a small eroding bank behind a shed and to shore up a drainage swale that undercut a slope after heavy rain. The burlap’s biodegradability is an asset in those cases—after a season, roots from native grasses started to knit through the fabric, and the soil I backfilled behind the bags began to lock in place.

For shoreline or garden work, the breathability helps: the material wicks and doesn’t trap water, which reduces anaerobic rot in contained soil. Stack lightly, backfill with soil or gravel as needed, and plan to plant. If you’re doing a true shoreline or ditch project, a layer of coir matting on the slope and these bags at the toe makes for a sturdy, plantable system that doesn’t leave plastics behind.

Durability and weathering

These are burlap—strong for their category but intentionally not long-lived. That’s both a feature and a practical limitation. In my testing:
- Bags used as a seasonal flood barrier, stacked on concrete and stowed dry afterward, were fine to reuse the next season.
- Bags left outdoors in sun and weather started to soften and fray noticeably by month four to six, especially where they sat on damp ground or saw daily UV.
- Stored under cover and off the ground (on a pallet), they held up for many months with minimal degradation.

If you need a setup to last longer than a season under full exposure, burlap is not the right choice. Woven polypropylene will outlast burlap in sun and rain. If the goal is short-term control that can gracefully become part of the soil, these are ideal.

Handling and day-to-day use

Two practical notes from varied use:
- As truck-bed ballast during winter, the bags held up better than cheap plastic tubes. They didn’t burst in the cold and didn’t slide around as much. That said, if they sit in a wet bed, moisture wicking will accelerate rot—lay down a rubber mat and keep them away from standing water.
- For anchoring a portable basketball hoop or a canopy, filling with small rock makes a compact, stable weight that drains quickly after rain. Put a scrap of tarp or rubber under the bags if they’ll sit on abrasive concrete.

Because they breathe, they’re also handy for hauling or temporarily storing dry materials like firewood kindling or soil amendments. Just be aware that the coarse weave can snag on rough surfaces.

What I’d change

A couple of refinements would make these even better:
- A slightly longer tie string would help if you’re double-bagging or wearing heavy winter gloves.
- A UV-inhibited burlap option would extend usable life for sun-exposed installations without abandoning the biodegradability entirely.

Neither is a dealbreaker; as-is, they perform to expectations for burlap.

Sizing and quantity considerations

A pack of five is a sensible starter or emergency set, but it goes fast. For planning:
- A typical doorway threshold might take 10–15 bags for a two-high stack.
- A small 10-foot curbside berm takes about 12–20 bags depending on height and taper.
- Erosion control projects scale quickly; plan on multiples of five for anything beyond a small patch.

Weight-wise, expect 30–40 lb per bag when properly filled with sand. That’s liftable for most people, but pace yourself and use a dolly or wheelbarrow for staged builds.

Care and storage

To get the most life out of these:
- Don’t drag them on rough concrete—lift or slide on a tarp.
- Keep them dry when not in use; store on a pallet or shelf, not directly on floors.
- If they get soaked, let them dry out before long-term storage to avoid mold and premature fiber breakdown.
- Rotate bags if you’re reusing them seasonally; the bottom course sees the most wear.

Verdict and recommendation

I recommend the DURASACK burlap sandbags for anyone who needs an easy-to-handle, biodegradable option for temporary flood barriers, quick erosion fixes, and general-purpose anchoring. They’re sturdy for burlap, the tie strings simplify deployment, and their breathable, plant-friendly construction makes them a smart choice where you want the installation to transition into the landscape over time. Just be clear about the trade-off: these are not long-term, year-round bags for full exposure. If your use case is seasonal or project-based and you value cleanup-free biodegradability, they’re exactly the right tool. If you need multi-year durability under sun and weather, look to woven polypropylene instead.