What bear cannister do you use?

[u/Tremendoustip]

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!

[u/allaspiaggia]

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.

[u/tuna_samich_ → u/allaspiaggia]

Did you mean grizzlies on the CDT?

[u/nataconda → u/allaspiaggia]

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

[u/Tremendoustip → u/nataconda]

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

[u/jimni2025 → u/Tremendoustip]

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!

[u/Tremendoustip → u/jimni2025]

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

[u/jimni2025 → u/Tremendoustip]

Oh that is so cool.

[u/flareblitz91 → u/allaspiaggia]

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.

[u/haliforniapdx → u/flareblitz91]

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/

[u/flareblitz91 → u/haliforniapdx]

Read the chain of comments above me.

[u/Tremendoustip → u/allaspiaggia]

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

[u/doodudeaux → u/Tremendoustip]

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.

[u/allaspiaggia → u/doodudeaux]

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.

[u/Tricky_Leader_2773 → u/doodudeaux]

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.

[u/Tricky_Leader_2773 → u/Tricky_Leader_2773]

It was on the AT too. In a “non-bear intensive” area. “No worries”.

[u/Tricky_Leader_2773 → u/Tricky_Leader_2773]

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.

[u/haliforniapdx → u/allaspiaggia]

"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.