If you frequently do weekend trips 2-4 days then this is your canister. I read an article saying your first day's food doesn't need to be inside because you'll eat it before the day is done, and that helped me to chose the bearvault 350. It is actually quite large and holds my scented toiletries also. I was able to solve another problem with this item. I'm so sick of sitting on cold rocks and wet ground, this thing doubles as a perfect backpacker seat and it fits nicely into my backpack. Great product-highly recommend.

My husband and I had purchased previous models of the Bear Vault food canister and have had no problems. I exchanged the prior models for the newer model in the Sierras last August. I think bear vault got the second version right-it's difficult to open even if you have opposable thumbs! We decided to buy the smaller model for weekend backpacking trips in the Smokies. We used it in early November and were very happy with it's food storage capacity and how easily it slid into my pack.

Excellent bear canister, just the right size for one person. Clear, easy to see everything you need inside. Very easy to open, the people who said they had some difficulty must have a hard time opening their car door.

The people at this site are the nicest and most helpful people I have ever done business with. That said, this is the best B.C. I have ever used makes a great seat also. See threw, lite, and the best price I have found.
Big T

I've done a lot of backpacking in bear country and tried all the big names in bear canisters. Bear Vault simply makes the best containers I've ever used. Tool free opening, wide mouth, and clear plastic make it easy to find and grab food with a minimum of searching. The extra wide lid also makes a comfy seat for your derriere. All these features combined in a canister with one of the lowest weights you can find make this product one of my absolute favorites.

I bought this container for peace of mind on a backcountry trip in grizzly country, and it served its purpose. Seemingly sturdy, I liked the transparency of the container and the no-tool-necessary unscrewing of the lid, but had trouble opening it sometimes when my hands were very dry or cold (temperatures were around freezing in the mornings). The four-day size was fine for my solo trip; very tight, efficient packing would probably be necessary for two people. Definitely adds weight to the backpack but I didn't know I wanted to have this as an alternative to using a bear bag since I was going by myself(turns out I put it up high anyway using a stuff sack).

These make your backcountry adventures so much safer. Bear safety is not something you take for granted. This will take up some of your room in your pack, so pack accordingly for this container. Holds a lot of dry goods, so you can pack it pretty deep. Make sure you use this according to the backcountry travel instructions from the local rangers in the wilderness area you are visiting.

I also own the much larger version of this bear canister. This canister holds just the right amount of food for a long weekend excursion. It is great not to hassle with hanging a bear bag and I don't have to worry about rodents either. The clear plastic allows me to easily find what I want and the hassle-free lid allows me to get at it quickly.

I also have the larger canister. We find ourselves using them all the time. The convenience and peace of mind of not worrying about "little critter" raids, and the nice option the canisters provide as a seat has made the extra weight worth it. The clear canister and wide mouth are every bit as useful as advertised.

These are required to hike in Yosemite national Park. (although you can also rent them where they issue wilderness permits).
This one worked well. It is clear plastic so you can see what's inside. The lid is a screw-on type with a little press-in latch.
I bought two of these. I am using them to store backpack gear until the next trip.