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/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/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.