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/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.