When camping or hiking, the last thing you’ll want is to have an unexpected encounter with the furry kind, right? All adventurers who like hiking in bear-prone regions would agree that they need one important tool for their safety—as well as the safety of their food and belongings—a bear canister.
A bear canister is defined as a special container, usually made of a high-quality plastic, the role of which is to keep food and various strong smelling items inside so bears wouldn’t be attracted to them. In this article, we are going to provide you with the best bear canister reviews so you’d know which ones are really up for the challenge of fending off a bear.
Bear canisters do not only protect contents from hungry animals but also prevent them from getting wet in case of a rainy weather. They allow you to remain environmentally friendly. You can also use a bear canister for carrying water. With a bear canister, you are given the freedom to choose where to camp and stay overnight without the necessity of searching for a particular place because a bear canister can be easily left anywhere at night.
Today, the outdoor market offers a great variety of bear canisters of different shapes, sizes, and brands. Therefore, it might be tricky and quite difficult to find the best one, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. In order to help you with your choice, we have written this guide that contains basic useful information about bear canisters to help you buy the right product.
Our Top Picks
| Product Name | Capacity | Material | Best Use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ursack S29.3 | 650 cubic inches | "Bullet proof" spectra fabric | 6-7 days camping in bear-prone areas | Check price on Amazon |
| Bear Vault | 440 and 700 cubic inches | Transparent polycarbonate | 4-7 days camping in bear-prone areas | Check price on Amazon |
| Counter Assault Bear Keg Container Carry Pack | N/A | 600 denier nylon | For carrying Counter Assault Food Keg | Check price on Amazon |
| Counter Assault Bear Keg | 716 cubic inches | Polymer blend | For the safe carrying and storing of up to 8 days’ worth of food | Check price on Amazon |
| Backpacker’s Cache | 614 cubic inches | ABS polymer | For storing up to 6 days’ worth of food | Check price on Amazon |
Things to Consider Before Buying
There is no shortage of bear-proof canisters and accessories that you can buy. However, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the many options that are available to you. So you’d be able to make a choice easily, below you can find some useful tips on how to choose the best bear canister for you.
Capacity
One very important factor that you should consider before buying a bear canister is the capacity. Bear canisters, in general, have a capacity of 400 to 700 cubic inches. That kind of volume should be able to hold food supplies for one person for up to one week.
When you pack your canister, plan your diet and menu thoroughly by choosing proper food, including dried fruits, nuts, energy bars, tortillas, chocolate, etc. In addition to food and various snacks, a good bear canister should be able to hold such items of personal hygiene as soap, mosquito repellent, lip balsam, deodorant, sun cream, etc.
If your canister is too small, you can leave the first two meals that you are going to eat during the first day outside of the container.
Versatility
One of the most important things in using a bear canister is choosing the right place for keeping it at night. For your own safety never leave a container inside or close to your tent.
Make sure that the distance between your camping site and the place for the canister is minimum 50 ft. Because of this, the versatility of the canister is important. A good canister should have a rope or a buckle so you can hang it from a branch away from the camp.
Specialists also recommend leaving a canister in the upside-down position at night. It is worth doing this for two reasons. First of all, such position will prevent your food and belongings from getting wet in a rainy weather. Second, if the container is put upside-down it reduces the likelihood of a bear breaking it with its jaw. A good canister, in this case, should be able to hold all the food inside upside down without spilling anything.
You should avoid leaving a container near ledges, cliffs or water resources, including rivers and lakes, because a bear by trying to open it can kick it into the water or roll it down. The best places are spots in bushes or between rocks, where it is not so easy to find it.
Accessories
Generally, any additional accessories attached to a canister make it easier for bears to grab it and take it with them. Therefore, it is not recommended to attach a rope or anything else to your food container.
On the other hand, there are also accessories that can come in handy, like a reflective tape. At night in the dark, it can be very easy to lose your canister and you might spend much time for looking for it. Therefore, it is worth attaching a special reflective tape on it for making it easier to find.
A carrying case is also a useful additional accessory for bear canisters. It is not advised to carry a canister by hand, especially for long distances. You might get tired very quickly, and secondly – both hands are needed for balancing, especially if you are walking through a hilly terrain or hike somewhere in mountains. With a carrying case, you would be able to strap the canister to your backpack.
Size and Weight
Bear canisters differ in size and weight so you can essentially choose one that suits your needs when buying one, but generally, a bear canister is quite a bulky equipment. Therefore, if it is carried incorrectly it can cause notable discomfort.
A proper position to carry the canister during hiking is near the shoulders and close enough to the back. This position provides you with a necessary balance and feeling of comfort even if the container is full and heavy.
Credentials
It is important to check the rules of each area where you are going, especially if it is the National Park or a protected area. Most national parks and sanctuaries require hikers or campers to have a bear canister with them, but not all bear canisters are allowed.
Each National Park in the United States set their own rules concerning the use of bear canisters. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your bear canister is approved by the particular area. Usually, such information is available on official websites of Parks.
Best Products on Today’s Market
Below we offer you detailed reviews of the products that we recommend you to buy: not only bear containers themselves but also various additional accessories for better convenience.
Hopefully, they will help you decide for yourself which canister and its accessories will become a great addition to your outdoor arsenal in order to make your experience in the wilderness as safe and pleasant as possible.
Ursack S29.3 Bear Resistant Sack Bag
Weight: 0.5 pound
Dimensions: 2.2 x 6.7 x 9.8 inches
Specific features: “Bullet proof” spectra fabric, tighter weave, BPA-free, 6-foot long 2,500-pound tensile cord, 650 cubic inches capacity, critter-resistant, limited lifetime warranty
Best use: For 6 to 7 days camping in bear-prone areas
This Ursack S29.3 Bear Resistant Sack Bag is a soft-sided bag with bear resistant qualities that are perfect for storing your food or strong-smelling items at night in the wilderness. It has a 650 cubic inches or 10.6 liters capacity and can hold up to 37 servings of food for two people. You won’t need to worry about running out of bear-proofed food while camping outside with this bag.
One unique characteristic that makes it different from other bags: you do not have to hang it very high off the ground because the bear-proof fabric will prevent bears from easily opening it. Also, this Ursack has improved Spectra seams that have passed the test of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
The bag is also a huge time saver because it has a simple design, is easy to pack and you do not need any additional tools to handle it. Experienced adventurers will also appreciate the fact that in comparison with bulky bear canisters, the bag will not occupy too much space in your backpack. This is a great storage solution for long-day hiking trips.
PROS:
- Small and compact, it’s perfect for backpacking trips
- Approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, so the quality is guaranteed
- Lightweight
- Prevents smells from getting out perfectly
CONS:
- Cannot be placed on the ground because the top does not seal off the food completely
- Runs small in size
Related: You can purchase Ursack Aluminum Liner as additional protection to your Ursack. It adds crash resistance and also protects your food and items from being crushed.
Bear Vault Bear Resistant Food Canister
Weight: 3.4 pounds
Dimensions: 14 x 9 x 9 inches
Specific features: Made of transparent polycarbonate, innovative tool-free top, extra-wide lid measuring around 7 inches in diameter, available in 440 cubic inches capacity (M) and 700 cubic inches capacity (L), shatter-resistant
Best use: For 4 to 7 days camping in bear-prone areas
The Bear Vault Bear Resistant Food Canister is a pretty large bear-resistant canister and is a perfect storage for various items and food during trips outdoors. It is available in two different capacities. If you plan to go on a 4-day camping trip, you should take the 440 cubic inches option with you. If it’s a 7-day trip, you’ll need 700 cubic inches capacity.
Due to its large volume, you can easily pack in food that will be enough for a multiple day journey. In addition, it is made of transparent polycarbonate which means that you do not have to rummage around just to find the items inside. This material is also shatterproof, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking even if you drop it or accidentally smash it against rocks.
Despite its large capacity, this canister is not bulky so you can easily attach it outside of your backpack if necessary. Its opening mechanism is a bit tricky, so you might face some difficulties with opening it, but this can hardly be considered as a serious disadvantage.
PROS:
- Durable, shatterproof material
- Two capacity options available
- Small and portable, so it’s easy to carry around
CONS:
- Bit hard to open, especially when it’s cold outside
- Some areas with bigger and more dangerous bears like the grizzly might not accept this canister because bigger bears have been known to be able to chew through the bottom
- Heavy
Related: If you’re wondering what kind of food you should take on your trip and put into this bear canister, the Mountain House Beef Stroganoff can be a great option. Not only is this highly delicious and nutritious, the packaging also minimizes the smell that bears can pick up on. Coupled with the bear canister, it’ll be hard for even well-trained dogs to sniff the food out.
Counter Assault Bear Keg Carry Pack
Weight: 0.45 pound
Dimensions: 9.88 x 2 x 5.25 inches
Specific features: Easy access to food without removing the bear container, four webbing loops that secure the canister when packing, 600 denier nylon
Best use: For carrying Counter Assault Food Keg
This one isn’t really a bear canister; it’s a container carry for the Counter Assault Food Keg we are going to review after this, but we believe that this accessory deserves a spot on our article because of how handy it is.
Due to its light and easy to use carrying case, you will surely enjoy carrying and packing your Counter Assault Bear Keg Carry Pack. It is very strong and durable because it is made of 600 denier nylon, so you can use it for heavier cans. Though you do not have to buy this one necessarily, it can become a very useful accessory.
With the help of this pack, you can easily attach the canister outside of your backpack which can seriously help in saving pack space. Another great thing about this accessory that’s worth mentioning is its lighter weight.
The only thing that might be considered a drawback is the absence of straps which can present some inconveniences. However, you can always buy straps separately or make it by yourself.
PROS:
- Durable
- Can be attached to the outside of your backpack so you’ll have more space inside for other things
- Lightweight
CONS:
- The straps have to be purchased separately
Related: With this carrying case and the Counter Assault Food Keg, you’ve got the sustenance front pretty much covered. But man does not live by bread alone. Man also needs clean water to drink. That’s where this Sawyer Products PointOne Water Filter comes in.
Counter Assault Bear Keg
Weight: 3.5 pounds
Dimensions: 14.13 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches
Specific features: Made of polymer blend material, bright yellow color, meets the Inter-agency Bear Committee Recommendations for Bear Deterrents, approved by Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee Recommendations for Bear Deterrents, 716 cubic inches capacity, critter-proof
Best use: For the safe carrying and storing of up to 8 days worth of food
By having the Counter Assault Bear Keg in your hiking trips in bear-prone areas, you can be sure that your food and belongings are completely protected. With the capacity to hold up to 8 days’ worth of food, you’ll never have to worry about going hungry even when you’re on a long-distance hiking trip.
The main advantage and significant element of this canister is its locking system: the container is equipped with stainless steel locks that are easy to open for people but impossible for beasts. It’s also critter-proof. Your food will be protected not only against bears, but also smaller threats such as squirrels and rodents.
But you might want to double-check to see whether the canister has been locked properly or not because the locking mechanism is quite tricky and will only clamp down in one exact position.
The keg is extremely durable due to its capacity to withstand a force of 250 pounds, so it leaves no chance for bears to break it. The bright yellow color is also a great boon especially when you are camping in a particularly dark area.
PROS:
- Very durable
- Lots of space to place food in
- The bright color makes this canister easy to spot
CONS:
- Tricky locking mechanism
- Heavy
Related: Although you shouldn’t encounter any trouble with bears out in the wild when you’ve got this food keg with you, just to err on the side of caution you should take this Surviveware Small First Aid Kit with you whenever you’re going out on a trip.
Backpacker’s Cache Bear-Resistant Container
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 12 inches
Specific features: Expertly tested, durable, locks securely and easy to open, ABS polymer material, 614 cubic inches capacity, critter-proof
Best use: For storing up to 6 days’ worth of food
With Backpacker’s Cache Bear-Resistant Container you can be sure that you won’t be left hungry in the wilderness for almost a week because there is enough space for all your meals. It also earns a commendation for its durability which makes it one tough container. The container is cleverly shaped, therefore it fits easily in any backpack.
In addition, this item is multifunctional because you can also use it as a camping stool or a small table. This item is durable enough to withstand any kind of bear attack, but it likely won’t ever come down that because once you’ve flipped it open and used it as a table, bears aren’t likely to be interested in it.
The only one disadvantage is that is made of black, non-transparent plastic, so it can be quite a chore to try and find items inside. This shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, though. This is definitely a top-notch container in every respect.
PROS:
- Roomy, so it’s perfect for long-distance hiking
- Can also be used as a table or a stool
- Very durable
- Great locking mechanism
CONS:
- You’ll need to rummage around to find the things you need because the material is non-transparent
Related: You should consider purchasing the Garcia Machine Nylon Cases also since these will make it easier for you to transport the above container since you can fasten your canister to your hand carry, backpack or even to your companion pet.
Wrap up
If you like hiking in bear-prone areas, you will definitely need a bear canister for not just for protecting your food but yourself as well. With a bear-proof canister, you can be sure that you have a reliable storage container without the fear of attracting unwanted attention from the furry residents of the great outdoors.
If a bear has already found your container and you are watching him trying to open it, you should not intervene. At times like this, bears are very aggressive, so your intervention can result in tragedy. The best way out for you would be to leave the bear alone: in most cases, the bear would lose interest in canisters that they cannot open and go off on a search of other sources of food.
Featured Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/44124370018@N01/14971014101
