Bear Vault BearVault - 2007 BCS

The bear canister was better than using a bear bag. We didn't have to find the perfect tree to hang our smellables. This canister in particular was nice because it is clear and you can easily see what you are digging for.

I bought this canister to comply with mandatory bear canister regulations for my hike on the John Muir Trail in the High Sierras. I chose this particular product mainly for its capacity. It holds more food than any other canister on the market and there's a 100+ mile stretch on the JMT with no resupply opportunities. Generally, I found the Bear Vault to work okay. It successfully defeated the attempts of two bears to open it. But it also frequently defeated MY attempts to open it. On cold mornings it was nearly impossible to push the plastic in far enough to spring the latch. Very frustrating. It seemed like everybody had this complaint on the JMT where it gets pretty cold overnight. Also, I was told by the Rae Lakes Ranger that a bear living along Bubb's Creek had learned how to open the Vault and had made its way into 4 of them this summer alone! There is talk that the Bear Vault may have its APPROVED status revoked by the National Park Service. To top it all off, its not watertight! If you leave your BearVault out in the open, and it rains, your food WILL get soaking wet. I consider this a serious flaw considering this product is supposedly designed to be left out in the open. Very shoddy work by the people at BearVault. What were they thinking?

Our Boy Scout Troop has the older-type of bear container. This new bear vault is lighter and holds more food. This new type is also easier to open too.

Great concept with a tragic flaw—it’s too hard to open. My wife made me return it because she couldn't open it. The opening mechanism is something like a large bill bottle, just a harder. It requires some amount of hand and arm strength and technique which she couldn't manage. And I have to admit I struggled with opening it too. The can's wide opening, lightweight and clear walls were a positive but all of it is worthless if you can't get in to get your food.

What can I say except that it works. Depending on what you decide to eat, you can get alot into this BearVault. I got 5 days worth of food for three people in it. Will admit it weighted some, total with food, 11 pounds. 2.6 pounds for the BearVault and 8.4 pounds of food. Rained hard and alot a few nights but the food stayed dried. Can use bearvault for a seat at the camp fire and on the way out with it empty, I stuffed alot of small things into it making my pack easier to carry. It is worth the money and extra weight especially if you have ever lost any food to animals and had to cut your trip short. I lost an entire stuff sack of food to the raccoons and ended up going out early.

It's easy to open and close. The wide mouth makes packing it easy. The transparent canister let's you find your food fast. The only drawback is the weight and it is already lighter than the competition.

The bear vault works, I'm not hungry and the bears are, well, they are stuck with ants and grubs anyway. Need I say more?