Bear Vault BV500 Bear Resistant Food Canister

I got this for a trip to Yosemite earlier this summer. It's a little tricky to open but I suppose that is part of the idea. I've got plenty of space for food and I feel comfortable traveling with this. Fill it up, strap it to your pack and go!

I’ll preface this review with my cut and paste statement that I work as a backcountry backpacking guide in Yosemite National Park. Nearly all of the products I take the time to review have seen at least a half a season, if not more, of use... and I’m committed to not bothering to write a review until I feel like I’ve really gotten to know a product. I never thought I’d bother to write reviews, but I’ve recently decided that since I’ve spent so much time over these last many years reading reviews, and finding a tremendous amount of value in articulate and well-informed opinions, that I wanted to give back to the community. So, with that being said, here we go...

When I'm spending time in the backcountry of Yosemite you can be sure that from one to eight of these cans is not far from our camp. We use a combination of these and the Garcia cans, so I'm quite familiar with both. (Just for reference, Garcia cans are the black cans that Yosemite, and other parks, rent out. They are also sold many places.) They each have their advantages and disadvantanges, but you really can't go wrong with either. There is a third option, which is a Bearikade, but they are quite expensive... and when comparing capacity to weight and size they are a bit better than the Bear Vault, but cost significantly more.

The BV 500 has significantly more capacity than a Garcia. Being clear is a nice feature as well, though if you're out solo, or managing your own food, then that advantage is irrelevant. When I'm not working with a group and I'm out with friends then we all generally take care of our own food... so the can being clear is not important to me. However, if you're with a group that is packing food together then being able to see what's in each can is nice. We usually label the lid of each can with some random picture so that we know what items are to be kept in each can (a picture of a tube of toothpaste for toiletries, etc).

There are two major advantages to the BV 500 that makes me lean a bit toward them over other options. The lid, though not watertight or waterproof, is rainproof. If you keep the can sitting right side up in the rain (or heavy overnight condensation) then the contents will remain dry. This is not the case with the Garcia. The lid on the Garcia is recessed, and it will take on rain, leaving the contents soggy and sad in the bottom of a very small and dark kiddy pool. The frequent solution is to simply turn the Garcia over when not accessing it, which works perfectly. However, if someone forgets, or isn't familiar with this weakness of the Garcia, then you're back to the food in the kiddy pool.

The other advantage is that you do not need a tool, blade, coin, or other item for leverage to open the BV. To open the can you push, quite firmly, into the outer edges of the lid to cause two tabs on each side of the can to pass over a little squared lip, allowing the lid to be unscrewed. The Garcia requires a coin, knife, or some other implement to open. Not a big deal, but it can get old sometimes. However, if its really chilly and your hands are cold, pushing the lid in on the BV can be an exercise in sadism. Having a tool to easily open the Garcia in those circumstances can be a bonus. With that being said, if you're going to be in *cold* bear country then I'd suggest going with the Garcia.

I won't go into the downsides of the Garcia, since Backcountry doesn't sell them and this isn't the place for it. However, let it be said that if you have a pack big enough (the BV500 can be a tight fit in some packs) and aren't going to be spending most of your time in below freezing temps... I'd go with the BV500.

One last note, though this is a bit esoteric... it is rumored (I have yet to verify this story) that either the park service or the makers of this can, or both in concert, have stumbled across a bear somewhere around the AT that they have trapped and are studying that figured out how to open these cans. Folks, if you are new to dealing with bears... they are intensely intelligent, and great at solving puzzles. I spend most of my time around very, very experienced backpackers and backcountry folk who have story after story of bears managing nearly Superbear type antics to get your food. Don't gamble with your food, or the life of a bear. All it takes is for a bear to successfully raid a single camp to start associating people with easy calories. Once that happens its a slippery slope, and the entire reason that bear is going to struggle with people (and vice versa), and very possibly see its eventual premature destruction, is because someone was lazy or irresponsible.

I don't mean to get preachy, but seeing a bear in the wild is absolute magic. Hearing story after story of them being put down is a crying shame, particularly when you realize that the only reason its happening is because we are lazy and stupid with our food and toiletries.

Also, a bear can is a great way to keep other critters (squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, etc) out of your grub. The most aggressive animal I've seen trying to raid my bag for my stash are squirrels.

PS. The BV500 makes the best stool of all the bear cans!

Most the reviews cover it all: heavy, over-priced, occassionally difficult to open, necessary, clear, effective, & doubles as a seat.
Few things worth adding:
-It can really help new campers feel more comfortable at night once you explained the bear vault's purpose and exercise good practice.
-It's been recommended that you super glue foam to the lid for sitting comfort, think thin like a mouse pad, but maybe lighter-weight foam.
-It can be used as a very large temporary water basin should the need arise.
-And lastly, I've also heard people will use it to wash socks, underwear, tshirts etc in. Just some ideas for making it more appealing lol

I've searched high and low and found this to be the best, at least for my needs. It does the job and does it well. You don't need a tool to open it and while it can be hard to open in the cold, I would rather it be too hard than too easy to open if you know what I mean. Works great as a seat or a flat surface to cut/prep food on...just make sure to clean it a bit. I love that it is see through as well. It's bulky but so is every other brand. In this price point though, I do believe it is the lightest.

When the outing is done, it is also a great place to store some of my gear while it sits in the garage.

This bear barrel has a lot more room then many of the others, It takes up more room as well though. It is lighter than some of the smaller models. The opening is nice and wide as well, making putting a cook set inside easier. I can fit 10 days of food in here with nothing else. As long as I make sure to bring some very lightweight items (couscous, oatmeal, clif bars, etc.). I also like the fact that you do not need any other tool besides your hands to open this barrel. I also use it as a seat in camp. Just be sure it's 100% closed.

I've tested this a few times and it is what it is ... I've never had any bears around it so I can't speak to it's ability to stop bears from getting your food. However, this canister is solid and isn't hard to use in normal conditions. It is large, too large for a solo trip, but perfect for 2 people's worth of food. Its true, you can use it as a seat which is actually nice but there are much lighter options for seats when you are backpacking. I would never use this unless actually required to by park rules. Normal bear bag techniques using a stuff sack and paracord works fine.

Living in California requires anyone who wants to be sleep outside and on the trails to have some approved bear canister. Reviewing and researching all the approved options led me to the Bear Vault. The can is sturdy, spacious, and makes a great camp stool. It is somewhat cumbersome, but that is to be expected. I have never really had a terrible time taking the lid off, but sometimes in big temperature swings, or if the threads are dirty, it can stick. You can use twigs, a lighter, titan spork, etc. to depress the lid lock so don't let that deter you.

We use these as standard issue with the Forest Service. Our cache is filled with these. It's a bear can...not much to say but the BV 500 isn't too heavy, and packs better than those black ones that require a coin or knife to open and have a lipped top.

Also, some of the lids make a perfect cutting board flipped upside down, though I've seen newer ones that have ridges that eliminate use.

Like everyone says this really solid and a little hard for even humans to open. I thought bigger would be better, but this is quite large. Probably would get the smaller one doing it again because we don't typically go out for more than an couple days at a time.

Worked perfect for a recent 4-day outing in the Sierras. Serves dual purpose as as a seat, very comfortable while watching friends work out their counter-balanced bear bag setup. You will appreciate the clear material that lets you see inside. I like that you can operate the lid without needing a coin like some other types of bear cans. Just as easy to use with or without gloves. Works well at both 60-degrees and 6-degrees.

Fits just fine vertically in my Granite Gear packs (Nimbus Meridian and Vapor Trail) with room to spare on the sides; even managed to cram it horizontally in the bottom of an Osprey Ariel 65.

I'm surprised at how much trouble some people have opening theirs. I put the canister between my legs and squeeze while depressing the tabs with a finger and turning the lid with both hands. Works great. Much easier for me than having to remember a tool.

As for size, this thing is pretty amazing. It's really too big for the 2-3 night trips I've used it for so far (just holding food for me). I'm looking at getting a BV450 instead for that length of trip.

These things are one those "damned if you do, damned if you don't" deals. They are required in many places so you have to get one, but why they are $79 just baffles me. Do they work? Yes. But in reality, they are a glorified 5 gallon water jug with a lid - although not quite that large. I haven't had a problem with my BV500 but then again, I haven't been fortunate enough to experience a bear trying to open it, yet. I should mention, however, that I use mine in an area (Shenandoah NP) that doesn't require one but could and probably should. It fits perfectly into my Osprey Argon 85 but the outside grooves conveniently allow it to be strapped down as well if space is limited. Being clear is definitely a plus and as was stated earlier, it is strong enough to double as a stool. It does weight in at 2 lbs 9 oz. but I guess I'm glad it's heavier than not for smell insulation purposes. According to the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (www.sierrawildbear.gov), the BV500 is "conditionally approved" but nonetheless, approved.

Took this and a garcia cache on a three day/two night outing with four people. It was a stretch holding all our food and smelly things though we weren't being very efficient about it.

The instructions were a bit confusing, but once I realized I could just use my finger pad instead of my fingernail to press the lid in, operating it became a non-problem. Haven't tried it with insulated gloves though; I could see that being an issue. Still, I prefer this over needing to carry a tool (coin) to open the lid lie the garcia.

Last but not least, I was pleased to discover the bv500 fit nicely into the bottom of my Ariel 65 sitting sideways.

I had the hardest time opening this until I realized how stupid I was: the plastic near the open tab is drastically thinner, allowing merely thumbnail pressure to unlatch it. After that, it's been a piece of cake to open. (Even the store salesman didn't know how to easily open it!) My only complaint is the lack of attachment points. While it has raised bumps to facilitate an attachment strap (to prevent the straps from sliding off), it would've been better to add molded loops on the ends and/or sides to allow for easier external carry. I can fit the entire thing into the sleeping bag compartment of my Lowe Alpine Alpamayo 90 liter pack, but I don't want to have to always lug around a large pack just to fit a bear cannister. (And since I live in Alaska, hiking in the summer = bear danger.)

Unfortunately I've had first hand experience finding out how well this works. I had my backpack ready and set for an 8-day backpacking trip for work, which included this bear canister filled with food. I left it in the back of a friend's truck with a camper shell for less than 1 hour to poach a shower at the hotel he worked at in Mammoth Lakes, CA. I returned to the truck to see that the camper shell door was ajar in a funny way with my backpack gone. Scoping out the nearby woods, I saw my pack with all my work gear splayed and shredded on the ground, but low and behold the bear canister was the only thing that wasn't destroyed. The bear definitely tried as there were plenty of teeth and scratch marks, but it just couldn't do it.

So with that being said, even if you are away from your car or whatever it is that could potentially attract a bear in known bear country, just take it with you even for those few minutes. Also, this canister for its size is better for week long trips. The one that is half the size is much better for weekenders. Although it may take up a bunch of space in your pack, you can easily fit other things in it if it isn't filled with food all the way. I'll usually stick whatever extra clothes, stove, first aid kit, etc. just to use up all the space in the canister. This model is also a little bigger than the standard black bear cans that the park service or forest service lets you rent out. I never usually tighten this all the way. Once the tabs pass the point on the lid where a bear essentially can't open it, I don't go any further.

I know lots of people complain on how big and bulky or heavy this is. Well, a bear is a pretty f-ing strong creature and if we want to play in their backyard than we just gotta deal with using these things because they work.

It's big! Very handy though. In my experience the lid was pretty easy to manage. I was even able to open it a couple of times while it was sitting in my backpack - just have to get the right angle with one or both of your thumbnails. I noticed a little difference at 75 vs 60 degrees on the amount of effort it took to bypass the snaps - not a big difference, but if it was super cold it may add up to something. If you are wearing gloves you would surely have to use some kind of pointy object to bypass the snaps anyway so maybe it's not a big deal. I'm happy with the product

Bear canisters are a pain in the bearbehind but are the price to pay for years of us going into the backcountry and bears getting habituated to us as a source of food. So use one, it may save your food and it will keep Yogi from getting habituated, aggressive, and eventually having to be removed or killed.

If you have trouble opening it, there is a trick where you use a credit card, knife, spoon or other thin object to guide the tabs past the locking stop. This works even below freezing when the plastic is stiffer. Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyEbLfL_lSU

Sometimes when the lid is difficult to turn, it's because you overpacked it and the ribs on the underside of the lid are catching on your food.

It's not as simple or foolproof as the Garcia but has some offsetting advantages.

One reason that all canisters are so big and bulky and have no attachment points for straps is so bears can't pick them up or get them in their mouths to carry off, or get leverage to bash them against rocks.

Great seat and hungry bears.

Have used my BV500 on several trips, and while haven't seen Yellow Yellow yet I'm alway glad I have it. Can be tricky to open but a simple knife blade does the trick, no muss no fuss. Purchasing 4 more for my son's scout troop; tired of spending hours finding just the right tree for a bag, getting stuff stuck in the branches, and knowing it wouldn't do any good anyway.

Why would you want a bear canister that a bear can open ?

There are well documented cases of these canisters being opened by a bear in the Adirondacks near Marcy Dam. The manufacturer discussed this at :

http://www.bearvault.com/bearvault_productnotices.php

Especially bad is that this problem was identified in the 2007 hiking season and has not been fixed, nor retrofits made available to existing customers, so far (near the end of the 2010 season).

BearVaults are NOT approved for use in the NY area because there is a bear in the Marcy Dam area of the Adirondacks in upstate New York that has learned to open BearVault food containers. BearVaults are approved for use everywhere except the area encompassing the Lake Colden/Marcy Dam corridor and the Johns Brook valley in the Adirondacks.
As far as I know, the Adirondacks bears are not holding classes for bears in other areas.

Used the Bear Vault on a 3 week trip in the Sierras. At first I was very happy with it, but eventually two serious problems emerged:

1. When it is really cold (high 20s), it is extremely difficult to open - the plastic becomes so hard you cannot press it it enough to get past the notches.

2. When it is really warm, the plastic lid becomes soft and I could open the canister by twisting it hard and fast - not very confidence inspiring. Mine may have been a defective model, but it was certainly not bear proof in warm weather.

I ended up returning it...looking for alternatives...

Just got off hiking 500 miles on the PCT with this thing; I have a hard time opening the lid with my fingers and generally just press the butt of my knife against the lid for the same effect. If you stuff it it can be hard to open. Does the job, use only when necessary (this weighs 2.5 lbs more than a bear bag). I can get 6 days of food in here at the most solo but I eat a lot. Bears in California don't bother with bear canisters anymore - I never found mine disturbed in the morning. Saw lots of folks on the JMT with these and lots of us had problem "accidentally" opening these e.g. the lid would stick & then fly open, snaps and all. No bueno. I would not buy this bear canister again except for it's enormous size relative to other bear canisters (most canisters seem to average around 1 gallon). I've heard great things about bearikade The bottom line is that bear canisters suck but getting eaten by a bear sucks more.

I purchased the BV500 and was pretty happy with it. One thing I would add or change is the lid and add more gripping or friction tape in order to grip the lid when pushing in to open it when raining. One more thing I added was reflective tape both red and white strips in order to locate my container at night or in the morning.
Overall great Bear Vault with lot's of room and ez to pack in my Gregory Palisades 80.

I used it for my hike on the JMT leaving out of Yosemite where the bears are infamous, as well as other parts of the PCT up in Tahoe. I woke up several morning with bear prints and other curious animal scat scattered around my bin, but my food was safe every time.
While it is heavy, especially for those ultra light hikers, it is not really any heavier than bins of comparable size (and actually packs a little more internal volume due to its shape). It can be tricky and frustrating to open at times, but ultimately is the quickest to get into (once you get the hang of it) because you don't have to scrounge around the bottom of your bag in search of something like a coin or tool to open it with, as with some bins.
The best feature is that it is see through so you can quickly and easily access the food you are looking for without pulling everything out of the bin every time!
I have the older model which only had one safety tab and the company replaced the lid with the newer double tab for free.
overall, bear bins suck to carry...thus this is the best of the worst.

It fits next to my tent and can store all food and other perishables. It makes a great seat. You can see what's inside. It keeps racoon's out! It's easy to open with a tiny bit of pressure on the very small nipple. What else is there to consider?

I researched this...it is approved in NYS per the DEC...check out this link

http://www.dec.ny.gov/environmentdec/19085.html

I really have only one good thing to say about the BV500; you can see into it. Now to the gripes: 1) It's too expensive. Funny how the material looks exactly like my Sparkletts-type 5 gallon water bottle. I paid about $10 dollars for it, and I'm sure they still made a healthy profit. 2) It's too heavy. Why? Because it's over-built. If a bear can't get into it in an hour, why would you make it so a bear can't get into it for over 24 hours? My canister weighs about 2 lbs. It is the single most heaviest item in my backpack. 3) It's too hard to open. I'm a big strong guy and I have trouble opening it. I would consider your latching system a failure. You really missed the mark on that one. What a pain when after getting your food out and closing the thing, and you forgot to get out the salt and pepper. And your hands are cold because you can't unlatch it with gloves on. 4) It isn't waterproof. Why don't you put a flat rubber gasket in the lid to make the canister water (and oder) proof? And why a screw lid? Why not a bayonet-type mount that only takes, say, a quarter turn to open and close the lid? All that turning!

i am graduating from a garcia backpackers cache can. the garcia is great, but this appears to be better, though i haven't taken it out yet =)
1) lighter
2) larger
3) cylindrical, wheras the garcia can is wider at the midsection, which makes pack fit on a smaller lighter pack more awkward.
4) clear, so you can see what it inside it.
5) screw top removes the need for a tool to open it, as it is with the garcia

a great can: to do better, one must spend a lot more $

If you are looking into this canister you may be scratching your head about the different options. This is my favorite of Sierra Nevada approved canisters because it is clear and you can see where stuff is inside it. Also you don't need a coin to open it up. It makes for a handy chair to sit on, as well. The Bearikade is a little lighter, but ridiculously expensive (and a little too long to fit sideways into many packs).

With some of the older models you would have to be careful to screw it back on just right or else you could leave a small gap to let claws in to pry it open. No problems with the current version.

Research what is required for your trip. The Sierras want canisters and I used mine for the entire John Muir Trail. In 2007 Grand Teton NP didn't want canisters and requested backpackers hang their food.

Be aware these are NOT approved for use in NY high peaks area. The DEC will turn you back.

Online chat on Sunday morning at 8:30 EST...got all my questions about my order answered quickly. Thanks Jessica...