Canister for Backpacking. 4 Sizes: BV500, BV475, BV450, BV425. Bear-Resistant Food Container for Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Hunting, Bikepacking. BearVault is Bear Safe!

This bear canister functions, is easy to use. With one simple movement you can open this container with ease, it has as a good storage capacity, isn't too heavy, in my opinion the quality of this item is outstanding..

Needed this to hike on the john muir trail. I firsthand watched a bear try to get into another backpackers bear vault, it rolled it around, pushed on it with all its weight, and it never got in, I dont even think they screwed the lid on all the way, maybe that how the bear smelled it. Obviously it will last forever then you have it when its needed. Its bulky, id say very heavy at almost what, 4 pounds? Yeah heavy and takes up so much room in my pack. But it worked. Served its purpose and it was needed. Where its not required I would use a bag and hang it any day. But it's well made, up to the task, and it was worth not getting fined on the trail. If not backpacking and easily carried to campsite its a great item, and if its required its a great item. I was able to cram about 8 or 9 days of food into this thing, had to repackage everything into it. But it can hold a lot if packed properly.

I recently used the BV475 on a 5-day backpacking trip, and overall, I am very pleased with its performance. This bear canister is large enough to accommodate my dietary needs, which include aiming for 3000 calories per day, roughly equating to a maximum of 2 lbs of food. When packed properly, the BV475 provided ample space to store all my meals, ensuring I could eat healthily throughout my adventure.Pros:- Spacious: The BV475's capacity is impressive, easily fitting enough food for an extended trip. With careful packing, I had no trouble fitting in all my meals.- Durable: The canister is sturdy and well-constructed, offering reliable protection against bears and other wildlife.- Ease of Use: The lid mechanism is straightforward, making it easy to open and close even in challenging conditions.- Visibility: The transparent design allows for quick identification of contents without needing to open the canister repeatedly.Cons:- Weight: Like most bear canisters, the BV475 adds some weight to your pack. However, the peace of mind it provides is well worth the extra pounds.- Size: While the size is great for longer trips, it might be a bit bulky for shorter outings or if space is a critical concern.Overall, the BV475 is an excellent investment for any serious backpacker. Its capacity and durability make it a reliable companion for ensuring your food stays safe and secure in the wilderness. I highly recommend it for anyone planning extended trips into bear country.

I dislike having to put one of these in my pack, they add weight and take up space, but I suppose the forest service doesn't want bears to associate hikers with an easy meal. You could always take the chance of hiking without one in areas where they are required, but then you run the risk of getting pulled off the trail.Gripping about the rules aside, this is a great canister and I've used it on countless trips now. It's easy to get your food in and out of since the lid is about the same diameter as the canister. I have friends that use the backpackers cache canisters, and they are constantly stuffing and ripping packaged food trying to get it through its smaller opening. Or they are asking to borrow my leatherman to undo the lid screws that eventually get clogged with dirt or other foreign particles, which can make it nearly impossible to open without a tool.This canister is relatively lightweight, easy to open and close, provides easy access to food, packs as nicely as any other canister, and has provided me with a decent seat on many occasions.If you are forced to pack a canister, then get this one, although I dislike all bear canisters this one is the least objectionable.

I review these products from the point of view of a sea kayaker intending to use a bear resistant food container on the Inside Passage from Vancouver Island, BC to Glacier Bay, Alaska, where I have to interface with the containers twice a day for 90 days. I compared the Garcia Backpacker's Cache and the BearVault BV-500 because they're both top of the line, readily available, and they're the two that most long-range voyagers through bear country would likely consider. On the west coast, raccoons are as problematic as bears, and mice everywhere are equally frustrating. Both containers weigh essentially the same, about two and a half pounds, and both are approximately 8.75" in diameter and each about 12" long. The Garcia is the standard loaner/rental used in State and National Parks. It has a more pleasant shape than the BearVault but has only a 600 cu/in capacity, while the BearVault holds 700 cu/in. The BearVault has a screw lid, while the Garcia closes with twist latches. While some reviewers state that you need a coin or object to open the lid latches on the Garcia, on mine I need only my fingernail, and I easily could open the lid without a tool of any kind. It's a matter of reasoned technique that becomes easier over time.I compared the Garcia Backpacker's Cache and the BearVault BV-500 side by side for several days and ultimately chose the BearVault over the Garcia because (1) it has a greater carrying capacity for the same weight, (2) because it's made from clear (bluish) polycarbonate that you can see through (and which light can enter through) and because the lid opening is significantly larger. Neither container is claimed to be odorproof or waterproof, however the BearVault seems more waterproof from ordinary rain than the Garcia. Both units require use of some kind of odor-proof plastic bag inside, such as a 12" by 20" Opsak, and the bags are easier to put into and remove from the BearVault (because the opening is larger) than the Garcia. Although the Garcia seems easier to fit into a backpack or kayak compartment hatch because it is less angular, the BearVault was my choice because light enters the container through the translucent sides and bottom, and it is easier to see inside than the Garcia, so things are easier to find. A bear or raccoon can see inside too, but seeing won't get him the food, and I'd rather avoid the frustration of continuously digging for things I can't see. Although the BearVault is a bit harder to open, overall the increased visibility and accessibility of the BearVault make it easier to deal with than the Garcia. I covered my BearVault with disks of black reflective tape to obscure some of the contents and make it more stealthy, as well as to make it easier to find at night with a headlamp. The reflective tape stickers still let in enough light to see the interior. It's probably a small consideration, but I liked that the BearVault lid was large enough to put things in (contents being emptied from the vault) to keep them off the ground, and that the BearVault had a broader lid to sit upon as a stool. On a long trip I can easily envision using the wide mouth BearVault as a bucket to wash clothes, which would be more difficult with the Garcia due to the narrower mouth of the container. I think both containers are really nice products and the ultimate choice is one of aesthetic and personal preference. Aesthetically, the Garcia was my favorite.One think is certain: On long trips through bear and raccoon country, walking a bear canister 100 yards downwind of camp (and stashing it on the ground) is less difficult and time consuming than rigging drysacks to hang food in, especially where vegetation is dense and good tree branches are scare. Hanging food properly is daily drudgery, and the task gets old really fast.