Bear Proof Container

I've seen where people complain about difficulty opening the canister, and I'm not sure where that's coming from, as a fingernail will do the trick. If not, a knife or a spoon handle will work, as well. It's pretty easy.In my research, this is also the best canister compared to the competition.1. Bears in the Adirondacks have figured out how to open the Bearvaults.2. It's bigger than a UDAP, but still easily fits in a backpack.3. Ursacks might keep the food from the bears, but the bears will destroy the food and drool all over it.4. Counter Assault comes in yellow, which I love (and wish this one was offered in a brighter color), but it's rounded on the ends, which means it won't work as a chair, like this one will.It will hold eight Mountain House meals. That's more a reflection of the Mountain House product rather than this canister, as Mountain House takes up a lot more room than, say, a package of instant potatoes. And you're also supposed to store all products that either go in your mouth or on your skin in a canister, so the bigger the better, especially if this is to hold food for more than one person.The Smokies require all food at shelters to be hung from their bear hangs, so you can store this in your backpack and hang the backpack, but it's required in many other places in lieu of a makeshift bear hang. And it does a great job of protecting your food from the "minibears" (mice, raccoons, etc.).It's heavy, like all bear canisters, but so is your tent and sleeping bag and water and everything else. Just accept this is a part of your backpack and go have fun.

We bought this to store food on our trip through Wyoming, Montana and Washington State. Holds a lot of food or whatever else you have that you want to safely store while in the back country. If you are camping in bear country you have to be prepared and be cautious.

Does what it should. You def need a flat head to open this so carry a swiss army or a multi-tool. I read that some parks will not let you carry bear bags (for raising in trees) or those other bear cans (the clear ones) because bears are smart and can get into them. The Garcia is the recommended brand for a reason.It's a few extra pounds in your pack, but this is the safest way to store food in bear country. Proper food and trash discipline are essential for bear and human safety. Bears won't bother us if we don't leave things for them to eat. And when bears don't associate us with food, we reduce the likelihood of deadly interactions.Cook food away from camp, downwind from your tent site (the farther the better but usually a couple of hundred yards will work). Eat everything you cook. Wash your dishes and dry them there, dump water into a sump (I dig a shallow hole with a backpacker trowel), seal your trash in zip locks, food in ziplocks, and put in your can. Leave your can at least 50 yds. from your camp site, somewhere that is is not likely to roll away if a bear tries to take a crack at it (they will not get into this can, will give up and move on). Also leave your toothpaste, deodorant and any other scented products like chewing gum, sunscreen, and bug spray inside the can overnight.I have seen a bear come into a tent for a pack of gum. This is because they associate humans with food and are unafraid. You can think careless campers before you for this behavior (it is learned, not instinctual). But is easily avoidable with the common sense precautions I have laid out above. But just to be safe, carry bear spray too!

I do a lot of extended backcountry hiking. These are required in Rocky Mountain National Park, so I purchased this one. All in all I had a positive experience with it. Now, it's big and heavy. But when it comes bear containers, there's not much getting around this. To give you an idea, you could probably fit a regulation NFL football in it. (Though the opening would not be big enough.) I packed all of my food, a cup and spork, any other smelly liquids or substances, and my jet-boil in this containter. So as long as you have to have it and its taking up room in your pack, stuff as much stuff in there as you can. The reviews on its bear-proofness are good and these are actually rented out by park rangers. If you were going on a 2-3 day hike, you could bring just one of these for two people. Once again, the weight issue is something you'll just have to deal with. My buddy had a bear container with a screw on lid, and expressed that he wished the lid was like this one. The lid locks well and it easy to get in and out of quickly. Can also be used as a stool. For backpacks, I personally packed it sideways (barely fits) and pushed it down so that it rested around my lumbar area. Found that it made it much easier to carry, as opposed to having the weight up around my shoulders or awkwardly heavier on one side of the pack.

Do not use the clear plastic bear canisters, you will be sad and foodless. The only that sucks about these canisters is they are large and heavy. Aside from that, they are the best bear canisters you can use.