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Bear Canisters: Which Fit in Which Packs, Where You Need Them, and How to Pack One
The following is a sponsored post brought to you by Gossamer Gear.
Who likes food? Yeah, me too. You know who else likes food? Bears. If your next backcountry trip takes you into bear habitat, it may be necessary to pack a bear canister, the scourge of ultralight backpackers everywhere.
There is no escaping them on the Sierra section of a PCT thru-hike. They’re required seasonally on the AT between Jarrard Gap and Neel Gap in Georgia, and there are plenty of reasons to carry them further. And a terrifying amount of the northern CDT passes through grizzly habitat.
Heavy, unwieldy, and requiring better-than-average thumb dexterity, the same features that make these hard-sided cylinders a tough nut for bears to crack also make them a PITA to pack efficiently in a backpack. And with such a wide variety of canisters and backpacks on the market, knowing what will fit in what is not a given.
Fortunately, there’s always a solution. With just a touch of care and patience, packing a bear canister need not be a daily puzzle. And remember, protecting your food and protecting bears’ lives is worth the effort.
Get Over It
The first step to achieving a comfortable carry of a bear canister is to accept it. Understand that your plastic barrel was not invented to ruin your vacation. There is no sinister motive to push your base weight from three to 75 pounds. No, they’re designed to save the lives of bears. When we hike, we’re entering their domain. And when humans screw up, bears die.
Any idea how many blueberries (do bears even eat blueberries?) it takes to equal the caloric content of a single Clif Bar? I don’t know either, but I do know that there’s a reason I pack the latter and forego foraging for the former. Even buying that many berries in the supermarket would destroy my burrito budget for the month.
Huckleberries are yummier than Clif Bars, but bears are in it for the calories.
Bears are smart. They want our people food more than we do. While we’re guests in their home, it’s our job to not let them have it. Otherwise, we risk not only hungry stomachs but—more importantly—their lives. So remember why bear canisters are necessary. That’s what I try to do when I feel a hard-plastic edge digging into my kidney as I sweat up a set of switchbacks.
Bonus Benefits of a Bear Canister
Tango might not be a bear, but keeping him out of my food is important too.
It’s not all about protecting your food from bears and vice versa. Bear canisters offer many other benefits to the responsible backpacker. Here are some of my favorites:
- Protection from smaller varmints: Marmots, mice, squirrels, and chipmunks all like people food as much as bears and they’ll chew through just about anything to get it. They don’t care that your backpack cost $250. They’re perforation masters who delight in rendering an entire gallon of carrot cake Oreos no longer fit for consumption (and yes, I can hold a grudge). However, hard-sided canisters are impenetrable. Keep your precious Oreos secret and safe.
- Protection from rain: Numerous times on the CDT, I hid my food bag a safe distance from camp in the evening only to find it heavy and rain-sodden the next morning. Sometimes it wouldn’t dry out for days. Bear canisters beat the rain. The plastic dries with a wipe before packing it away for the day.
- Camp furniture: I am much too cool to carry a camp chair when I backpack. My ego would never allow it. Following bear canister regulations inadvertently forces me to carry a comfy place to sit. Turns out, I don’t actually like sitting in the dirt as much as I claim, and won’t if I don’t have to. My Gossamer Gear backpack includes a removable sit pad that elevates comfort to the next level.
- Muscle roller: Tight hamstrings, calves, and IT bands beware. A canister also makes for a passable and painful version of a foam roller. Good for a campsite stretch session.
Where are bear canisters required?
Unlike checkers, it’s complicated. Regulations are set by land managers and, as a result, vary widely. It’s confusing and frustrating to find this information. Unless you’re afraid of talking to humans, it’s probably easiest just to call the managing ranger station of wherever you’re headed.
Triple-Crown Requirements
If you’re headed to the AT, PCT, or CDT, here’s a rundown of the relevant bear canister requirements:
Appalachian Trail
Although the only stretch of trail where a bear canister is required is for those camping between Jarrard Gap and Neel Gap in Georgia, the ATC points out that “black bears live or pass through almost all parts of the Appalachian Trail corridor,” and recommends carrying a bear canister for the full length of the AT. Get the latest updates from the ATC here: LINK
Pacific Crest Trail
Overnight backpackers and equestrians are required to carry bear canisters for roughly 330 miles of the PCT, all in California. Per the PCTA, “carry canisters between Kennedy Meadows (mile 702) in the south and Sonora Pass (mile 1017) in the north and then again in Lassen Volcanic National Park (mile 1343-1363). We also strongly recommend carrying a bear canister in Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe.” That information and updates from the PCTA can be found here: LINK
Continental Divide Trail
Though the CDT runs through over 1,000 miles of grizzly habitat in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, bear canisters are only officially required if camping in Rocky Mountain National Park. Hanging food or using the provided bear boxes is required in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. Additionally, hanging food or using bear canisters is required in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Bridger Teton NF, Shoshone NF, and near some roads in the Collegiate Range in Colorado. This info was pulled from the excellent CDT Planning Guide provided by the CDTC, which can be downloaded here: LINK
Which bear canisters are approved?
So you figured out that you’re required to carry a canister. It probably needs to be certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). Most commercially available bear-resistant canisters are on that list, but it’s important to note that while the stuff sack-like Ursack does have IGBC’s blessing, it is not universally accepted as adequate by land managers. Yosemite National Park is conspicuously absent from the list of those in favor and, if backpacking in the California Sierra, the best bet is to carry a canister that’s approved by the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG) in addition to IGBC. See what I mean by confusing? The phone is your friend here. Don’t be afraid to dial the number for the specific ranger station that has jurisdiction in the area you’re headed.
Which bear canister is right for you?
There are several brands of bear canisters and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The two most popular options (and the two that I have used) are the Garcia Bear-Resistant Container, and the BearVault BV500 Food Container, 10-liter and 11.5-liter capacity respectively. Each of these will hold about a week’s worth of food for a single hiker, but that can vary greatly between individuals.
I became familiar with the Garcia by renting it many times at California ranger stations before buying one of my own to be a home for my backcountry bumper stickers, which prove how cool I am. I’ve since used the BV500 and appreciate the transparent plastic, but hate the finicky opening system on cold mornings, probably because my thumbs are weaker than average. Neither of these canisters is perfect and I don’t prefer one over the other. They are similar enough by just about every metric, including price and weight, that I recommend trying them (and others) out at the store to uncover your hidden preference.
Go smaller and lighter.
If you’re planning a shorter trip, the Bare Boxer is the smallest IGBC and SIBBG approved canister available. With a 4.5-liter capacity, it holds about three days of food and weighs significantly less than the BV500 (27oz vs. 41oz). It fits either horizontally or vertically in just about any backpack making packing it away an afterthought.
For middle-of-the-pack capacity, BearVault also makes the 7.2-liter BV450 Food Container, which is good for about four days, although it doesn’t save you a ton of weight (eight ounces) over the big guy.
It’s not just your food.
Regardless of which bear canister you hate the least like the best, the most important consideration is that it fits in everything that it needs to fit. Duh, sounds obvious right? Well, it’s not just your food that smells yummy to bears. Lip balm, sunscreen, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, wet wipes, sanitizer, and trash all smell good enough to eat to wild critters. Heck, some lip balms are yummy enough to eat! Don’t ask me how I know.
Yes, ALL scented things need to fit in your bear canister every night—even the first one. And don’t forget to stuff other gear into your canister as your food supply dwindles over the course of your trip. No need to carry around dead space.
Few Bear Canisters, Many Backpacks
My G4-20 backpack from Gossamer Gear carries a canister well despite being small and frameless. Photo credit SpiceRack.
I’m impressed by how many bear-resistant, plastic barrels are on the market today. For something that absolutely zero people like using, we have more choices than ever before. I might even go so far as to say that we live in a Golden Age of bear-resistant food storage options.
However, compared with the number of different backpacks on the market, the bear canister industry is puny. A bear canister is a bear canister, a hard-plastic cylinder. It’s the backpack that will either swallow it whole or make you feel like you’re wrestling with a small hippopotamus.
A backpack’s capacity, given here in liters (L), indicates a lot about how easily a canister will fit inside. Although just about any overnight backpack will be able to fit a BV500 or Garcia vertically (in addition to smaller canisters), how much useable storage space is left can vary dramatically based on overall capacity. Carrying a canister horizontally is another option, and only the biggest packs can carry the big canisters in this configuration. Let’s break it down to see how different packs, spanning a range from cavernous load-hauler to ultralight frameless, interface with different bear canisters.
More Than 60 Liters
Big packs with carrying capacity above 60L are great for hauling big loads. They eat bear canisters for breakfast, sometimes more than one. They have no trouble fitting a canister vertically and many will even carry them horizontally. These packs will make a canister disappear and still leave a ton of space for spare clothes and camp luxuries.
Popular Packs in this range: Osprey Atmos AG 65, ULA Catalyst, Gregory Baltoro 65
Canisters that will fit horizontally: BV500, Garcia, BV450, Bare Boxer
50-60 Liters
Plenty of room left in the 60L Mariposa with a BV500 sitting vertically. Photo credit Maggie Slepian.
Packs in this range are great for long trips in bear country. A bear canister won’t leave a ton of space for extras in the main pocket, but with carefully chosen gear, a backpack like the Gossamer Gear Mariposa will be easy to pack for Tetris masters and rubes alike. This makes it a popular choice for PCT thru-hikers with a pared-down gear list who need a comfortable pack that can handle huge food carries through bear territory.
Popular Packs in this range: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, Granite Gear Crown2 60, Osprey Exos 58
Canisters that will fit horizontally: BV450, Bare Boxer (Exos fits BV500 and Garcia)
40-50 Liters
This Gorilla is loaded with a BV500 and a gallon ziplock on top of that. Hiker hunger! Photo credit Chris Guynn.
A bear canister feels downright intrusive in a backpack this small. It is definitely the elephant in the (small) room. That said, for the minimalist, a canister will fit comfortably with practice. The Gossamer Gear Gorilla, like the Mariposa, is an excellent choice for the PCT and other trips where bear canisters are an unavoidable inconvenience. A BV500 slides in vertically and the extension collar makes sure that there is still plenty of room for favorite layers and easy-access items.
Popular Packs in this range: Gossamer Gear Gorilla 40, Osprey Exos 48, REI Flash 45
Canisters that will fit horizontally: BV450, Bare Boxer (Exos fits BV500 and Garcia)
Even Smaller
It might be a challenge to get a full-sized bear canister in anything smaller than a 40L backpack. At that point it’s best to contact the pack manufacturer directly. Even if the canister doesn’t fit inside, it might be possible to strap it on the outside. Though I’ve never seen one in person, reviews indicate that the Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 will carry a canister internally.
Popular Packs in this range: Gossamer Gear Kumo 36, Granite Gear Crown2 38
Canisters that will fit horizontally: BV450, Bare Boxer
Frameless
A BV500 on top of a quilt in my G4-20. Frameless packs can hang.
Backpacks lacking a frame will carry a bear canister too. These packs tend to be on the smaller size because of the inherent limitation on how much they can comfortably carry. Packing a frameless backpack is an art, and I’ve found that adding the rigid structure of a canister actually makes it easier. My Gossamer Gear G4-20 fits a canister vertically and, like the Gorilla, still has plenty of space left for non-food items around and above it by virtue of the roll-top extension collar. The removable foam back panel does the job of keeping the hard plastic off of my vertebra in addition to being a comfortable sit pad during breaks.
Popular Packs in this range: Gossamer Gear G4-20, ULA CDT
Canisters that will fit horizontally: BV450, Bare Boxer
Another Way to Look At It
The 60L Mariposa and even larger backpacks are sure bets to interface well with the BV500 for longer trips. The smaller size of the BV450 makes it a natural fit for mid-sized packs like the 40L Gorilla, while the Bare Boxer is a great choice for the minimalist who can move quickly between resupply points toting a small, or even frameless backpack like the G4-20. Of course, the Mariposa will also fit a Bare Boxer or BV450 for short trips. Conversely, a BV500 will shimmy into the G4-20 if it absolutely has to, but will need to be paired with a minimal gear list to fit everything comfortably.
A Bare Boxer packed horizontally in a Gorilla. Photo credit Zach Davis.
How To Pack A Bear Canister
Bear canisters’ roundness make them awkward to pack. When I’m lazy, I pay for it with discomfort all day long, and when I take the time to do it right, I can forget it’s there. I use two methods for carrying my canister. One is lazier than the other, but both work well if executed properly.
Bury It
It’s easy to bury a canister vertically in the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 40.
Besides water, food is likely the densest stuff in your backpack. For that reason, unless you’re looking for a good core workout, it’s best to pack it low and close to your body. This improves stability and helps to reduce shoulder fatigue while backpacking. With most backpacks, this means burying your food-filled bear canister somewhere in the middle of the main pocket. I like to keep the day’s snacks accessible in an outer pocket, but the rest of my food won’t see daylight until I’m in camp.
A heavy plastic cylinder doesn’t feel good on the spine, so make sure to pack some padding between your canister and backpack’s back panel. My canister goes in my pack vertically, then I stuff my quilt and spare clothes around it to fill gaps and ensure a few centimeters of separation between my back and the hard plastic. As I mentioned above, the removable foam back panel of my G4-20 does a great job of adding to this cushion. Ditto for the Gorilla and Mariposa. Backpacks with suspension systems still need to be loaded carefully to prevent discomfort.
Strap In On Top
This lid on this old-school Gossamer Gear Gorilla 40 holds a canister securely. Newer models do an even better job.
If burying your bear canister doesn’t make sense for some reason (maybe it doesn’t fit or you need extra carrying capacity), you can always strap it on top. Many backpacks come equipped with either a top strap or a lid that can extend far enough to encircle the circumference of a standard canister. The Mariposa and Gorilla use something in between with their Over-the-Top (OTT) closure system that provides an extremely secure home for a bear canister or bag of BBQ Lays. On my G4-20, a single strap barely makes it around a BV500 with a half-full pack, but Gossamer Gear is updating the newest iteration to specifically improve the tight fit with a longer strap.
If this is your preferred method, still consider burying your heavy food close to your body while you hike. Yummy things only need to be in a bear canister when you’re sleeping or away from your pack and can be made secure in camp. Keep your center of gravity low while you’re moving by carrying lightweight items like clothing in your top-strapped canister instead of heavy food.
Other Carrying Options
Some larger packs like the Atmos AG 65 have a lower zippered compartment that can fit a bear canister horizontally, which is another good carrying option. A different, not-so-good-idea is carrying it in your arms, but this is incompatible with trekking poles and looks foolish, among other shortcomings.
Bear Canister Acceptance
Once you accept that a bear canister is coming along, you can focus on the things that matter, like mountains. Photo credit SpiceRack.
When I learn that I need to carry a bear canister on an upcoming backpacking trip, my fluctuating emotions parallel the five stages of grief:
- Denial: That website must be out of date.
- Anger: I’ll never see a bear out there! Who are they to tell me what to do?
- Bargaining: Maybe I can bring an Ursack?
- Depression: *sigh* Maybe I’ll go somewhere else… or not at all.
- Acceptance: Look how many Pop-Tarts I can fit in this thing!
Bear canisters are expensive, heavy, and cumbersome. They are also necessary to protect the animals that call home the wild places where we like to play. The sooner we all understand that, the better. Once at the acceptance stage, knowing how to pack your canister in your backpack could make all the difference between bouncing right back to anger or moving on to the next, better thing (i.e. Pop-Tarts).
Take some time to get to know your gear by practicing with it before you reach the trailhead. A comfy pack results from a combination of a great backpack and the knowledge of how to use it. Pack it well, carry it comfortably, and keep those yummy snacks to yourself.
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Comments 43
Thanks for the in-depth on bear canisters. I was on the fence on the subject. In addition, it gives me a new perspective on the specs for a new pack.
Perfect! That’s exactly what we were going for with this article.
Great article and a good reminder. I can’t speak for other parks but Olympic National park in Washington will let you rent a bear canister (I did so for an overnighter on the beach). I don’t remember the cost but it was very reasonable. A nice option if you don’t want to buy a canister just yet or get a feel for carrying one. Worth checking if you are going to a park for an overnighter.
That’s a great point, Kurt. Thanks for reminding us that canisters can be available to rent. Gear shops will sometimes offer this service as well as many ranger stations in areas where canisters are required. I recall paying $5 per day in California, but that was a decade ago, before I bought my own. As you said, it’s a great option for an occasional user.
Thanks for the in-depth on bear canisters. I was on the fence on the subject. In addition, it gives me a new perspective on the specs for a new pack.
What does one do with the bear canister at night?
Great question! And generally speaking, the answer is easy: just leave it somewhere at least 200 feet from camp and at least 200 feet from where you prepared/ate dinner. In theory, this creates a triangle with your kitchen, your food, and your camp at the vertices. In LNT parlance, this is called the Bear-muda Triangle. It gives you plenty of separation if a bear does decide to come sniffing around for food.
If you’re worried about a bear rolling your canister into a creek or off of a cliff, then you can wedge it under a log or in between some boulders depending on the terrain, but that is largely unnecessary. However, any way you do it, it’s a lot easier, quicker, and more reliable than hanging your food.
Curious that you didn’t mention Wild Ideas Bearikade, esp since you were focusing on minimalist backpacking. Their Scout Bearikade is perfect for a solo hiker for 6-7 days, and fits horizontally in any pack with ease. Also, the lightest canister available…
Great point. The variously sized Bearikades look like awesome canisters and are clearly the lightest options for the volume. I’ve never seen one in person, but would love to as a huge carbon fiber nerd.
Honestly, I didn’t even consider mentioning them in this article, just as I’ve never considered purchasing one, due to their premium price point. With a $275 base price for the Scout (smallest), they’re way above my budget and I would guess that a lot of hikers feel the same way. That said, you’re right, the Bearikades are worth mentioning. The price-to-weight sweet spot is different for everyone, and some hikers may decide that dropping half a pound is worth $200+.
FYI Bearikade will rent their canisters as well.
FYI Bearikade will rent their canisters as well.
Quite a few long distance hikers (including me) carry a Hyperlite pack, yet you didn’t mention it in your reviews. What canisters fit, and how well?
Thanks for the question.
I’ve never had the pleasure of carrying a Hyperlite pack myself and so I can’t speak from personal experience, but all of their packs will carry even the largest bear canisters vertically. All of the Hyperlite packs (Windrider, Southwest, Junction, Northrim) are based on the same 2400, 3400, and 4400 pack bodies, and so backpack model will not change bear canister compatibility. Nor will the pack volume. A 2400 cubic inch (40L) pack shares the same bottom circumference as the 3400. The 4400 circumference is larger (37.5″ vs. 33.5″), however, although the back width is 10.5″ on all packs.
Soooo, all Hyperlite packs will fit bear canisters similarly. Big canisters will fit vertically, not horizontally. Small canisters like the BV450 and Bare Boxer will most likely fit horizontally based on their dimensions.
Hope that helps!
Thanks for the Hyperlite update.
As for ursacks, the big news in the AT groups is the number of ursacks that bears have clawed into.
I and my wife are planning on starting the PCT next year (249 miles left on the AT) so bear canisters are on our minds.
Well. 1600 miles on the PCT in ‘22 and in ‘23 between the PCT and other trails we got another thousand.
CDT this year.
BV 475 was added purely to fit horizontally to most facts.
Durston Kakwa 55 is specifically designed to take a Bearikade or a BV 500 horizontally.
My wife and I went from Garcia to BV 500 to Bearikade.
I disliked vertical carry that I sold my Hyperlite and went to the Kakwa. My wife kept her HMG.
Oh. Finished the AT too. Enjoying hiking.
Couple of weeks ago I got lectured for about half an hour by a forest service guy on how the AT needed to go 100% canister.
So that is probably coming. In spite of all the bear boxes.
I own a HMG 3400 Sw and my wife uses a 2400. Both accept a BV 450 horizontally quite well. The ideal, so to speak. But limited volume for long carry’s. The also carry the Wild Ideas Bearikade Scout horizontally but it’s a bit snug. But works. The BV fits vertically but you don’t have much pack volume left in the 2400. If your a minimalist with small bag or quilt and willing to strap tent to top it could work. In the 3400 there is enough volume because of the extended collar.
Some hikers will carry a bear can strapped to the top of a HMG pack, but I found the weight to imbalanced unless you’ve only got a couple/three days food. The Bearikade Blazer is 50 cu-in more than a bv500. It’s ¾” sorter but a full 9” dia. instead of 8-½”. It fits in the hyperlight pack, but the added diameter makes stuffing gear around it a pain. Lastly, I’ll add that a vertical bear can in HMG packs tends to round out th3 pack and pull the shoulder straps away from your shoulders unless you really stuff your loose stuff 8n strategically.
I could never make just strapping it work on my Hyperlite pack.
True story. In the PCT I did pass a guy carrying a BV 500 in his arms.
Great article! Just did a trip to the Wind River Range and would have been pressed to find suitable branches to hang bags. As much as I curse the BV 500 weight and rotundness, it is easy to stroll a couple hundred feet, set it down, and not worry. Protects hiker and bear. Ditto on the Mariposa packing strategy. Thx!
Glad you liked it!
And you’re right. Bear canisters are not ideal, but they are often the only responsible method of food storage in the backcountry. Hiking at or above treeline is awesome, and there can still be bears even if there are no trees. I’m sure you still managed to have a great trip in that wonderful range despite the awkwardness of the BV500.
Fun and informative article.? Yes, opening the Bear Vaults can be challenging, but have you used the old credit card trick shown on the company’s website? Much easier than trying to push that plastic in. ☺️
Have a happy Autumn ahead!
You know, now that you mention it, I have heard of that trick. I’ve never remembered to use it though. D’oh! Thanks for the reminder, Karen! Maybe I’ll tape an old credit card to the lid or something so that it’s always there and obvious.
Hi Owen,
Regarding your 5 stages of grief, I keep coming back to the fact that we have trained bears find food in our backpacks. As we all know, bears are quick learners, and easy food access makes a nuisance bear. Lucky nuisance bears are relocated, unlucky ones are, well unlucky. This is all our fault, and preventable. So I keep telling myself as part of the acceptance stage, that I am helping train the bears that we are not an easy source of food. It is a strong motivator for me to carry the extra 2 lbs.
Thanks for your article,
Bo
You are absolutely right, Bo. I like that way of thinking about it. How much is a bear’s life worth? Certainly more than the discomfort of two extra pounds on my back, I think.
Ok ok ok I’ll get over it…time to move into “acceptance” and look at the positives!!
Thank you!!!
Hahaha. Yes come on to the acceptance side. It’s better over here 🙂
Either this was a Gossamer Gear ad, or the writer really didn’t do much research on other bag brands.
Yep, you nailed it!
“The following is a sponsored post brought to you by Gossamer Gear.”
Learned that the popular Hyperlite packs won’t fit a bear canister.
Hmmmm, I wonder where you learned that? My brief search on Google suggests that Hyperlite packs have no problem fitting bear canisters, vertically at least. I’ve confirmed this with my BV500 and Southwest 2400 Hyperlite pack. Maybe you are talking about horizontally? A lot of backpacks, particularly those of the “ultralight” variety, struggle to fit larger bear canisters horizontally. The Hyperlite’s seem to be no different in this case.
What do you think? I’m happy to hear otherwise. Thanks!
Oh boy, Christmas came early! I get to read another super informative and thorough article from Owen The Great. Just when you set me straight with my fabulous Nemo sleeping pad (which is still working beautifully and going strong)…I now have the delight of gaining your expertise on a bear canister. Woohoo! Sooo you say you don’t have a preference over the Garcia and the BearVault…but do you reckon if you just had to recommend one over the other for am extremely indecisive and inexperienced backpacker (that may or may not be me idk) which one would take home the grand prize? OR do you recommend I check out a sack instead of the canister and go that route. I know, I know, I’m getting wild here but I’m obviously not sure which way to go and want to invest in the right one since there seem to be pros and cons to both. For reference, I mostly hike the AT, but am hiking the Colorado Trail this summer and God willing will thru-hike the AT the following year. Idk if that makes any difference or if that’s irrelevant but I do plan on getting a lot of wear and tear on it so I really appreciate your perspective on this! And wow, I never thought to put my toothpaste, sanitizer, chapstick etc into the canister. Great tip! I’m sure bears enjoy Burt’s Bees too, nobody wants chapped lips ?
Oh dear, I’m sorry I realized I unintentionally commented under someone else’s comment…party foul! I’m typing this on my phone and am technologically impaired to the point where I need a Jitterbug not a smart phone. Sorry about that guys!
We meet again, Shannon 🙂 I hope your winter is beginning to thaw wherever you are, and I’m glad to hear that the Nemo is still working out for you. Still jealous that you can get a comfortable night’s sleep on a CCF pad.
Now for bear canisters, there isn’t a clean answer to your question. My first recommendation is to search for a used canister on Craigslist or eBay or Facebook. In my opinion, they are all so similar that the one with a significantly reduced price wins. They are durable, so a used canister should still last for a long time, and it is always awesome when we can give new life to unwanted gear. I picked up my Garcia for $30 on Craigslist and it’s been my workhorse for 10 years now.
If the used market doesn’t solve your problem, then consider that the BV500 is marginally superior to the Garcia in almost every way. It’s 3 ounces lighter while having a slightly larger capacity (11.5L vs 10L), and don’t underestimate the convenience of a transparent barrel. However, the big downside with the BV500 (and BV450) is the unlocking mechanism. It is finicky and rough on cold thumbs. I much prefer the easy open/close of the Garcia. Is this difficulty a dealbreaker for the BV500? No, tons of people use them without complaining too much. Are the extra weight and reduced capacity dealbreakers for the Garcia? No, the differences are not huge.
Perhaps the most important question you need to answer is how big your bear canister needs to be? The BV500 and Garcia are great for long hauls in the Sierra or for pairs on a shorter trip, but on the AT you might not need all that space. A smaller canister like the BV450 would even work on the Colorado Trail because the areas where canisters are required are limited. What is the maximum amount of food that you expect to carry? Is it seven or eight days? Or more like four days?
For your purposes, mainly focused around the AT corridor, I would recommend using a hard-sided canister versus an Ursack. Of course, I have zero experience with east coast backpacking to draw from, for now, so I defer to the ATC’s advice. I’ve also heard that rodents are the real danger out there. A canister with deter both mice and bears. An Ursack with the same capability costs $140, which is kind of high. For what it’s worth, when I head to the AT next year, I plan on carrying a small canister, either the Boxer or BV450, mostly for rodent protection.
I hope this all helps. Maybe I just confused things, but I really think that you can’t go wrong.
Thanks so much for your super informative and thoughtful (as always!) response. I seriously appreciate it a ton and this has helped me immensely. First of all, I never even considered the fact that I could get a used canister, which makes absolute sense especially since they are durable and can be pricey. I’ll definitely look into that and maybe hopefully I’ll have some luck like you did! Regarding the BV500, I’ve read some horror stories of bears actually being able to successfully break into these canisters and get right to the food but perhaps that’s not super common or something I really shouldn’t take too much stock in given the odds? The Garcia seems more durable in that regard but as you said it’s heavier and bulkier, definitely a downside but I know it’s worth it in the end if the food and bears are protected. And perhaps I should just consider the smaller model as you suggested. My initial assumption was that I would need a bigger one for thru-hiking the AT or any long trail. My fantasy is completing the triple crown, but I know, one day at a time Shannon lol. So I wasn’t sure with that in mind if a larger model would make more sense in the long-run or if just getting the smaller model would be sufficient and make more sense. Currently I mostly do overnights, some week-longers on the AT, but as I said I do intend on hiking the Colorado Trail this summer and god willing, thru-hiking the AT, next year. I see you mentioned the AT, do you intend on thru-hiking the AT next year as well? Best of luck if you do, not that you need it! Thanks again for everything, I really appreciate your help with this!
Always happy to spread the knowledge and good vibes…
Regarding the BV500 not being totally bear proof, as you said, I don’t think those stories are something to take too much stock in. Sure, I don’t doubt that a few particularly meddlesome bears have had their efforts rewarded, but I think it’s fair to say that those are the rarest of the rare occurrences. I certainly don’t think there is enough evidence to warrant total avoidance of the BV500. The odds of a bear encounter are low to begin with, assuming that reasonable bear avoidance tactics are observed, and the BV500 will keep your food, and the bear, safe.
I really believe that most hikers can get by just fine with a smaller canister. A BV500 or Garcia each hold a ton of food, which make them great for really long hauls, like the Sierra section on the PCT, but those instances are rare. I can’t even remember the last time I had to pack my Garcia tight. That might have been during the PCT in 2015! For the AT and/or the Colorado Trail I think a BV450 will carry plenty of food unless you’re planning on skipping resupply stops. You might decide to upgrade to a larger canister at some point, but I recommend getting gear suited to the trips you have coming up soon-ish.
Yep, I’m heading to the AT in 2022. That’s the plan at least, though a lot can change between now and then.
Thanks for talking me off the ledge with the BV500. As you mentioned those are rare instances and realistically the odds of a bear getting to mine would be slim. Plus I really do like that the BV500 is transparent and the shape of it so you can pop a squat at camp with it! I’ll definitely look into both canisters and I’ll let ya know which one I end up with and how it works out! If a bear gets into my BV500…now that’s on YOU…kidding of course 🙂 And I will seriously consider the smaller options that you mentioned since I really do need to be realistic about my current situation and what I’ll be using it for in the near future, not necessarily what may happen in the next few years. I’m someone who actually prefers to just keep chugging along, getting off trail as minimally as possible, I just like to keep it moving and to have as much of what I need with me at all times (probably because I’m a slower hiker and can’t afford to stop into town often lol) but I’ve only been on a few week-long backpacking trips so I will probably have a different approach and mentality towards going into town for resupplies on a thru-hike, especially on the AT where you’re never too far from town. So with that in mind, I’ll definitely look at the smaller version especially since you mentioned that would save me weight and using unnecessary space.
And not that you need it cause you clearly know what you’re doing and this ain’t your first rodeo but, best of luck to you as you prep for your AT thru-hike. I’m really excited for you and I’m sure you’ll do great out there! Are you going NOBO, SOBO, or flip-flop? I had always considered NOBO but since I live in Maryland, not too far from the trail, I’m seriously considering a flip-flop. I really have no reason or excuse not to so maybe I’ll see ya out there! If nothing else, I’ll be sure to leave some trail magic out for ya when you go through the seemingly endless green tunnel that is Maryland! 🙂
I’ll take all the luck I can get on the AT! I’m expecting it to crush my puny human hopes and dreams. It’s so different from all the hiking I’ve done out west that it could easily feel like my first thru-hike all over again. I’m planning on going NOBO, but that’s just my default. Besides pinning a map to my wall, I have done close to zero research. But whatever happens, I will definitely take you up on that trail magic. Ain’t nobody will say no to that! Best of luck with your own hiking season of learning and discovery. Let us know how the bear canister works out!
My Exos 48 easily holds a BV500 horizontally.
Noted. Thanks, Scott!
I carried the Bearikade Weekender horizontally in the Exos 58 on the JMT, worked and carried well.
I am hiking the TRT in August and use the Gorilla 40L pack. So, this article could not have arrived at a better time. Not excited about carrying a bear cannister but recognize the importance of protecting bears, food and myself. Thanks for the great info!!!
I’ve carried a bear canister in the high sierras on the PCT. It really didn’t hold enough so we each had a bag of food too. For an old timer like me it seemed silly. This week on a short just for fun AT trip in Vermont where I live I went sobo for a few days and met 47 Nobos. Maybe 20-30% had cannisters (I didn’t ask everyone) I’ve done the AT three times (I’m 74) so I was curious as to what people do now. For most trips in the past I’ve kept my food in my tent and only hung it if I saw bear sign. While backpacking PCT, AT, etc I’ve seen 57 bears. They all ran away. I’ve never seen a bear on the on trail in Vermont. But I get them in my neighborhood and back yard from time to time. My observation is there are way more bears out there today than there were twenty years ago so bearcans are the right thing to do.
Bamboo Bob