Customer Reviews

Backpackers' Cache - Bear Proof Container

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've used bear canisters for hiking since the early 1990s. Indeed, in the summer of 1990, I was one of several hikers who volunteered to use them in Sequoia/King's Canyon National Parks to help the Park Service decide if they were useful. I was so impressed I immediately purchased one, and recently my father got one as well. The Park Service, for its part, mandates their use in Yosemite and Sequoia, but these are recommended anywhere there is a sizable black bear population.

Garcia was the first of the canisters and is still the most popular. The new model, with the bowed out middle can hold almost 6 days worth of (dehydrated) food. My older model holds more like 5, but fits better in a pack. The top is clasped tight by two locks which can be easily opened with a small coin like a dime or a penny, but not a fingernail, or claw. The one downside is that it is a little unwieldy in an exterior frame pack, especially the newer model. You may want to purchase the carrying case that attaches easily to a pack.

Of course, the main purpose of these canisters is to keep bears from your food. And they do a decent job of that. Indeed, in my experience bear encounters in the back country have declined as canisters have become popular. But any experienced hiker will tell you that bears are the least of your food supply problems. Squirrels, porcupines, and any number of smaller rodents are also food thieves. My best guess is that my Garcia canister has done far more to protect my food from these denizens of the woods than it has kept the bears away. Of course, keeping animals from your food in the long run does them a favor as well. All in all, this is a useful, and increasingly required, piece of backpacking gear. Get it and hit the trails.

This is a very well designed, well made bear canister which will protect your food from bears, squirrels, and all other animals. I've had this canister for several years and used it on many trips without any problems. This is the same canister used in the Yosemite National Park canister rental program. It can be hard to sleep in the backcountry but it's easier when you know your food is away from your tent and safe. It weighs a couple ounces more than some other products, but I think the extra weight is worth the top quality and bomb proof construction.

It stores just a little more than I expected; fits easily in my pack; holds snug to trees overnight; a great stool; locks securely; and easily opens with a coin or zipper. But like others have said, flip it upside down if it rains, or loads of water will seep in.

Its black, its plastic, it holds food, its easy to open compared to the Bear Vault, it makes a great seat, drops into a backpack nicely, ropes to a backpack nicely.

We went in the adirondacks High peaks region with this canister. We learned that this is the canister that they recommend to use, the ranger told us that bears in the high peaks region have learned to break into other types of canisters, this canister however still is bear proof.

This can is the heaviest brand, but most secure. California and Alaska require this brand in places. If you are not going to bear/people heavy areas - I would get a lighter brand. Bears know this one and move on to easier targets. You can smell food (not air tight). It will roll, so take care where you put it.

I recently was making a trip out to California to Climb Mt. Whitney and we were required to have a bear container in this area. So i went down to the local REI to see what they had available in this department. They had a pretty small selection as this isnt as big of an issue in Colorado. And I wasn't very fond of any of the ones they had there anyways. So I did a little searching online and this one was recommended by quite a few people. This turned out to be the best option for me all things considered. My only issue with this is that it is just a hair to big for some smaller packs. I purchased, and recommend getting the carry case for it unless you have a fairly large pack. Otherwise this will take up a lot of room or worse, may not even fit.

I've rented these for years, but it's unpredictable to find them available for rent at the last minute. I have no gripes about this particular model. I have two complaints about bear canisters in general.

1. They are overpriced.
2. They are bulky.
3. They are heavy.

I prefer this model over the other ones I've tried. They clear bear canisters are hard to open. They yellow ones are too big to fit in a pack. I wouldn't get a smaller canister, due to the cost. It's better to get one of these large ones and have two people use it. Of all the models I've tried, I like this one the most. This is the same one they rent to you at Yosemite NP. I've never had a single problem with the lock mechanism. Great for fetching water from nearby sources (but not watertight).

It is sturdy but it is not water proof. Also, I think the cannister should be a brighter color such as orange so when a bear kicks the can around your camp site you can more easily find it. I plan to attach some orange duct tape on the container to make it stand out better.

I was first turned on to these "bear cans" by trips to a couple national parks that have made their use mandatory in the backcountry. They are a little heavy, but it's a small price to pay to keep your food and yourself a little safer. These are practically indestructible and completely live up to the claim of being "bear proof". Don't waste your time hanging your food up in a tree ever again.