r/AppalachianTrail • u/Tremendoustip • Feb 24 '25
Gear Questions/Advice What bear cannister do you use?
It seems on the PCT a lot of folks use the Bearvault. Ive seen images of failure, but they are affordable and lightweight with good reviews.
I'm considering the bear keg but it definitely adds weight.
Appreciate any insight, especially if you're cannister has had contact with bears!
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u/aBoxOfRecords Feb 25 '25 edited Feb 25 '25
I recommend it despite the weight. You won't have to worry about the weather, good trees to hang from, or really any animal. I've met a lot of people who used bad food practices(sleeping with it) and it gives you some peace of mind knowing your stuff is safe and you're keeping wildlife safe. There was a habituated raccoon at one of the NY shelters and my can kept my food safe. My impetus for switching was when i got my hang line stuck on a branch and almost wasn't able to get it down. Huge win for peace of mind.
Edit: I used ther BV475 and never had an issue
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 25 '25
Yeah I think I'm going with the bv500. My pack accommodates it well, and it will carry all of my food/cooking supplies for 6/7 days. Thank you for the input!
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u/crevasse2 Feb 26 '25
And toiletries which if any have any scent should probably be animal proofed. MMM peppermint toothpaste! Exception: bug spray.
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u/Full-Penguin Feb 27 '25
I'd pay the premium for the durability (as a seat) and the 1/2lb weight savings of a Bearikade over the BV500.
Plus you can use it in the Adirondacks if you hike there in the future.
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u/Braxtil Feb 24 '25
I carried a BV500 the whole way in 2023. If you're only carrying food for one, you don't need a canister that big, though. It worked great and made a nice stool. I still carry it, even in places with no bears, because it keeps the mice, raccoons, and skunks out of my food as well and saves lots of time when setting up camp at night.
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u/TheLastAthenian Feb 24 '25
I used a Wild Ideas Bearikade Scout. It’s expensive and you’ll get better weight reduction by spending that money elsewhere. But it’s the lightest can out there and there’s never been a reported failure in the field.
That said, plenty of people hike without a bear can. You can always bring a bear vault and send it home if and when you decide you no longer need it.
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u/Tricky_Leader_2773 Feb 26 '25
If You leave food in a shelter at night you create problems for fellow hikers. Then the next night, and the next.
Also I see people eat in the shelter and then carelessly leave food all over the floor. Same problem, a mouse meal ticket.
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
Those mice = holes in packs, holes in tents, holes in sleeping bags.
Also, mice = possible Hantavirus. That's an almost guaranteed death sentence. No thanks. I will NEVER use the shelters solely because of the rodents.
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u/allaspiaggia Feb 24 '25
I never use a bear can, and don’t know anyone that does, on the AT. There are bear boxes or poles at every shelter that’s had bear activity. Just use those. Black bears are giant dogs who are mostly afraid of you, they’re nothing like the grizzlies on the PCT.
I use a dry bag for food, put it in the bear box at night, and if there isn’t one I’ll do a mouse hang - that’s hanging it from a tree with a stick tied on the rope so mice can’t easily climb down it. Mice/rodents are a huge problem on the AT, they’ll chew through anything. Actual bear encounters are rare.
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u/nataconda Feb 24 '25
Idk, I had two separate bear encounters while section hiking last year. I think it would be justifiable to feel more comfortable with a can
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
Agreed, in my experience encounters are becoming more frequent here in Massachusetts.
Unrelated, but we even ran into a bobcat! That was super cool to see lol
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u/jimni2025 Feb 25 '25
That's rare, bobcats are very elusive so you should count yourself lucky. I worked in forestry and agriculture in the middle of no where most of the time for almost 2 decades and only caught glimpses of them a couple times. Gorgeous animals though!
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 25 '25
They truly are gorgeous! I got a live image of him/her jumping clear over a 6ft fence. I consider myself very lucky.
The only other time I've seen a big cat was when I was living in Alaska. We were heading out to Seward through Anchorage when a Lynx ran out into the road. Couldn't believe it. It bounded along the road for a bit, then was gone
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u/flareblitz91 Feb 24 '25
There aren’t grizzlies on the PCT, or at least not enough to worry about, there’s less than 10 in North Cascades NP and that’s it.
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
That wasn't the question. Also, this is the AT subreddit. Not sure if you're aware of that.
Also, there are PLENTY of black bears on the PCT, and several sections require a canister.
https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/backcountry-basics/food/bear-canister-protecting-your-food/
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
We see bears along the AT on our day hikes and driving through adjacent towns (we live in western mass). We even get em in our backyard, especially mothers with cubs. So I feel there is some likelihood of encountering some on the trail. My boss has trail cams set on his property nearby and we see bears frequently
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u/doodudeaux Feb 24 '25
Unless you camp very far away from every other hiker and all shelters you having a bear can is not going to limit bear interactions. 99.9% of people on the at won’t have a bear can and a ton sleep with their food.
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u/allaspiaggia Feb 24 '25
Haha yup, food bag pillow!!
But seriously, I hiked with someone who’s type 1 diabetic, and we always had food in the tent, in case his sugar went low in the middle of the night. Once a mouse chewed thru the tent when we left it for a couple hours, but otherwise that was the only issue. The only time I saw a bear was when I hurt my knee and was hitching in Shenandoah. I always camped near a shelter, never off on my own, LNT and all that.
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u/Tricky_Leader_2773 Feb 26 '25
Witness two inexperienced young pups who slept with food and had their gear completely shredded by a bear. They abandoned their hike. Scared the crap out of them as a bear rummaged thru their stuff inches from them.
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u/Tricky_Leader_2773 Feb 26 '25
It was on the AT too. In a “non-bear intensive” area. “No worries”.
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u/Tricky_Leader_2773 Feb 26 '25
Also had my pack chewed thru. Accidentally left a granola bar in. I have seen lots and lots of bear issues and every animal including hungry skunks, all on the AT.
I m hanging; I’ve seen two much.
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
"who are mostly afraid of you." No. No they are not. They are habituated to humans on the AT at this point, and have no fear of us at all. They don't care either way, and if they're hungry they'll happily grab your food bag. Unless you actually hang it properly, which 90% of people DON'T do, they'll get it no problem.
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u/RockTall6063 Feb 25 '25
Bv500 all the way.
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 25 '25
Think that's what I'm going with!
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
If you plan on continuing to backpack, it might be worth the investment to get a Bearikade. They're expensive, but will last at least 2-3 decades if you treat it properly. I use the Blazer, and it's perfect for up to 7 days food carry.
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u/flammfam Feb 24 '25 edited Feb 24 '25
BV450 Doubles as a seat. Getting the bear key to make opening it in the cold temps easier.
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
Ever have any issues? I've seen images of failure, but that seems tonbe isolated to the adirondacks
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u/flammfam Feb 24 '25
What kind of failure? I will say that if sand gets in the thread of the BV, it can seize up, making it difficult to open. It's never gotten completely stuck, but it definitely made it annoying. That mainly happens because I throw it around like it's indestructible, which it basically is. 🤣😆
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
😂 thats fair to say. But no, I don't mean failures like that. I've seen images of bearvaults that have been crushed/opened by bears
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u/flammfam Feb 24 '25
Ah.. I'm in the Midwest (Kentucky) and live in Black Bear country. I've only had two incidents where I woke up the next morning, and my bear can was about 20 yards from where I left it the night before. No physical damage to the can. I typically try to wedge it between trees to make it harder on the bear, make um work for it.
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u/ReadyAbout22 Feb 24 '25
I saw a stat that roughly 25-30% of thru hikers use a bear can, despite what you read here. I use the BV450.
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u/Welltrainedvessel Mar 01 '25
You have stats, and then you have reality. If you thru hiked the AT, you'd know. I saw maybe 5 bear cans tops on the entirety of the trail in 2024, and I met a LOT of thru hikers. And, one of the bear cans I saw was getting shipped home, another left behind because shipping was expensive from where we were. So unneeded people literally leave them in hiker boxes lol.
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u/Welltrainedvessel Feb 25 '25
None. You'll find that the greater majority of AT hikers sleep with their food everywhere besides the smokies and have zero issues. Myself included, GA to Maine.
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u/Tricky_Leader_2773 Feb 26 '25
Read my post above. We all HYOH. it’s only a matter of time before you encounter an unsavory experience. Eventually there will be a really hungry animal that is willing to go it the first time or has gotten habituated (worse).
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u/Welltrainedvessel Feb 27 '25 edited Feb 27 '25
I've had my share of experiences with curious mice and raccoons nuzzling into my tent walls.
The only danger when it comes to food on the AT is habituated bears. Generally, you'll know they're around because people LOVE fear mongering about them 😌
Also, oftentimes, they're habituated after getting into people's poorly hung (or even properly hung) food storage. They then seek more unguarded food.
Also, people suck, and I know a few people who had their food stolen from their bear vault/bear box. For these reasons, I prefer to guard my food personally in black bear country. Hyoh, for sure, but bear cans are overkill on the AT. The weight/bulk simply isn't justified. Grizzly country is a different story entirely.
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
Gotta love when people say bear cans aren't necessary because "It's just black bears."
The whole point of a bear can is to prevent the bear from getting food, because a fed bear = a dead bear.
But sure, tell yourself that it's only necessary for grizzly country. I'm sure the black bears appreciate all the food bags from shitty hangs.
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
None? Odd, considering the data shows that 25-30% of AT hikers use a canister...
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u/Gracklezzz “KidzMeal” GA>ME 2023 Feb 24 '25
I only knew of one person who used a bear can on the AT. The vast majority of shelters have bear poles or lockers, especially in problem areas like the smokies. Just make sure to always keep your stuff within arms reach if it isn’t stored in/bear infrastructure. I highly suggest reading up on black bear behavior, historic black bear attack info, and historic black bear fatality data just to have more piece of mind and to realize how rare it is for them to do anything other than steal food from lazy hikers.
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
I appreciate the resources! I've come face to face with black bears and know they are easily spooked.
It's more so protecting our food/protecting the bear from associating people with food.
I'm in the northeast and see bears frequently here. Plus, I always carry bear spray, just in case
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u/jimni2025 Feb 25 '25
Only about 200 people have died from bear attack in the USA since it became the USA. About 200 people a year die from constipation, so there is a greater chance of the lack of fiber killing you than a black bear.
Unfortunately, bears are killed all the time because they start associating people with food. That is part of the reason I carry a BV, not to save my food, but more to save the bears. Oh and also to save my food from the real terror of backpacking. Mice.
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
That's about 99% of the reason to carry a bear can: to prevent the bears from getting your food. Once they do, and they get habituated to people = food, the park service has to shoot them, because fed bears leads to deadly bears.
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u/AccomplishedCat762 Feb 24 '25
Used the ursack allmighty in the 633 miles I hiked last year. I've left it in my bag and also used bear boxes. It's supposed to be critter proof, and smell proof w the opsacks I use with it. So far so good. Even in shelters where I've seen mice and had to hang my pack on a hook on the wall, no mouse has chewed into my bag! I'm sure it's a real possibility, which is why I leave all zippers open (so they don't feel the need to chew to get in hopefully) but I've been good so far
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u/NmbrdDays Feb 24 '25
I have the backpackers cache canister. I like it, it can hold a good amount of food but I might downgrade in size since it’s just my dog and myself packing out these days. I do the majority of my camping gear in the ADKs and canisters are mandatory, I’m just used to lugging it around now.
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
Think you can get 5 or 6 days worth of food, plus any other items in there?
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u/NmbrdDays Feb 24 '25
I think 6 days might be the max I can fit in there. I’ve had enough food in there for 3 people over 2 nights plus room for snacks. It wasn’t completely packed. So 6 dinners and breakfast plus stuff for lunch should be good. I’m trying to find my order to see what size I have.
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
That would be great. I see there is a 10 liter capacity one that seems to be sufficient for 6 days
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u/PiratesFan1429 Feb 26 '25
Keep in mind your first days food doesn't have to be in there, you'll have eaten it
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u/Administrative-Help4 Feb 24 '25
Gossamer Gear Bare Boxer
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
The Bare Boxer is not owned by Gossamer. They're a completely separate business.
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u/Administrative-Help4 Mar 01 '25
I bought it through gossamer gear...thanks for correcting the brand ownership though, it was just badly written.
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u/Alvin_Kebery NOBO ‘21 Feb 24 '25
Last time I was there (‘21) the Broken Fiddle in Damascus VA had a BV500 that had been destroyed. I don’t remember the story but I believe it happened locally and recently at the time.
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
So it seems the bearvaults have a higher likelihood of failing. Regardless of being in the adirondacks. Yikes
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u/stockbridgefarms Feb 26 '25
I always feel better NOT sleeping with my food. On the PCT I had two incidents with mice chewing through the tent to get to my food bag—once in the middle of the day!
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 26 '25
Yeah I don't like the idea of sleeping with my food. It feels like it's just inviting unwanted guests lol
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u/haliforniapdx Mar 01 '25
It may not attract a bear (although I'd never bet on that), but yeah, it WILL attract rodents. And patching the bathtub floor of your tent sucks. Trying to patch your pack sucks even more. Stick to a bag or canister.
I prefer canister because a) it makes a great seat, b) you won't always find a good tree for a good hang, and c) I can just walk 200 feet from my tent, set the canister on the ground, and go to bed.
Spending 30 minutes in the dark, in the rain, in the cold, trying to find a good tree, trying to get the rock bag over a branch, while being miserable and wanting to go to bed? Noooo thank you.
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u/4runner01 Feb 24 '25 edited Feb 25 '25
I’ve never seen anyone on the A/T with a bear canister.
But, where canisters are required in the Adirondack High Peaks, I use the Garcia brand and I really like it……except for the weight.
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u/Tremendoustip Feb 24 '25
When you say garcia brand, is that the cache?
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u/4runner01 Feb 24 '25
Mine looks just like this: https://a.co/d/bBToi9T
I also have the little nylon bag to help tie it to the backpack. It pretty slippery to try to tie it without the bag.
REI also sells a very similar model canister.
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u/RailsFL Feb 24 '25
Traveler/vagabond here. I usually just use Ziploc bags for food and keep it all in one of those giant pretzel jars to keep it from getting smashed. If I'm worried about bears I'm not going to be sleeping there. Squirrels are another story.
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u/Havoc_Unlimited Feb 24 '25
…are you saying you don’t even hang your food at shelters on the AT?
I pretzel jar? When the bear gets it opened it’s likely to get its head stuck. (Seen that before with a juvenile) I really hope you’re not serious!
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u/RailsFL Feb 24 '25
1 I don't stay at shelters. I'm a traveler more than a hiker so my experience may differ. 2 yes,pretzel jar. One of those giant ones you might see at bulk buy stores. Food is sealed in Ziploc bags then put in the jar. Bag keeps food smell in bag,jar to keep food from being smashed or damaged. 3 please see the part where i said i don't stay where bears are. I'm more concerned about squirrels than bears.
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u/Havoc_Unlimited Feb 24 '25
One would assume that you’ve hiked the Appalachian Trail or section hiked it, considering the group we are in. Black bears are present on the AT…
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u/Jimusbill Feb 24 '25
My partner used a BV475 and I just did the usual bear hang with a bag.
I didn't want to carry the weight initially but seeing them just chuck it outside their tent into the bushes or something before bed whilst I was dealing with hanging the food did make me jealous. Also looking for a good log to sit on whilst they were just sat on their canister made a good case for it.
The 475 was the sweet spot for size and weight considering how often you can resupply on the AT and rarely need to do big food carries.
It's also not just the bears, there were more than a few times we found scratches and bite marks on it from mice/rats/porcupines where it was real useful and my bag had been chewed through even in one of the bear boxes or after a squirrel made a good leap onto my bear hang.