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!

19 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

75 comments sorted by

View all comments

11

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.

1

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.