Bear cannisters

[yardwork]

Hey all. How many of you carry bear cannisters on your backpacking trips? I'm thinking of picking one up with my rei 20% off. Do you have the large or small one?

 

[flyinsquirel]

Solo?

When backpacking i usually go with the lady so I have the BV500 to make sure I can get what I need in it. Bear cans are a joke, but the BV500 was the lightest I could find when I was in the market.

 

[yardwork]

Occasionally solo. I am looking g at the bv500 as well. If soon I can always stuff clean clothes in it. I've seen a few videos where bears in the bwca are persistent enough to drag food caches out of the trees then shred the sack so it might not be a bad investment.

 

[napeequa55]

If a bear drags your hanging food out of a tree, you did a poor job of hanging it. Save the space and weight - just hang your food the right way.

Sometimes that takes a little time to find the right beach and location, but to me that's better than stuffing a canister in my backpack.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I've got a bear canister and likely will never carry it. They are stupid bulky and too heavy to pack IMO.

 

[flyinsquirel]

^^^^ yup.

Unfortunately, some areas require cans, and you WILL be checked if you cross paths with FS personnel, at least here in the Sierras.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

^^^^ yup.

Unfortunately, some areas require cans, and you WILL be checked if you cross paths with FS personnel, at least here in the Sierras.

They are required where we go in CO too but I've never seen a ranger and will play stupid if I do. Lol

 

[larryschwartz]

yardwork,

If you are not required to use a bear canister of some sort where you will be backpacking then you might want to reconsider your purchase. Yes, they will keep a bear away from what it inside of the canister. But, they are not scentproof so the bears will smell what is inside and will go after it. So, if you are buying it thinking that it will keep the bears away from your food you are misinformed. The best and safest strategy, as mentioned above, is to hang your food and any other smellables in a tree about ten feet from the tree trunk and ten feet down from the branch it is hung from.

 

[napeequa55]

Yes they will definitely smell it still. The purpose of the can is to prevent the bear from eating human food.

Even if they can get to the can, they can't get the food. If they can get to the food, then it starts thinking humans carry food and then humans are food.

That's when they're dangerous to us.

It's to protect the bear from becoming a problem which will result in it being killed by a park ranger.

 

[yardwork]

Thank you all for the replies. I did end up buying one as I had my 20% off plus a gift card. I agree that a canister does not prevent you from practicing good food and smell-able management and I've not had issues in the BWCA or other places getting my food up and out of reach. I considered it a purchase for piece of mind that if a yogi comes along while I'm out hunting or snoozing I know my food cache is safe.

I'm trying not to pack all of my insecurities but this one seemed like a good idea if I end up going out solo.

thanks again! Good luck!

 

[sneaky]

I think I would do an Ursack before I would do a can. Those things are just too bulky.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

^^^^ yup.

Unfortunately, some areas require cans, and you WILL be checked if you cross paths with FS personnel, at least here in the Sierras.

Yup! Welcome to California-here's your citation! We pack one for this reason but still hang our groceries.