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BearVault 400 Food Container

BearVault 400 Food Container

Item # 738570
!
This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

For your reference, this page contains historical product information.

Keep bears from inviting themselves to your feast! This bear-resistant container features tool-less access, light weight and large volume.

  • Durable polycarbonate construction keeps the weight light and the inner volume high
  • Large rainproof lid features a snapping bump/tab locking mechanism and screws on and off easily
  • Dimpled strap guides on the exterior keep straps from shifting and eliminate the need for a carrying pouch, meaning more weight savings
  • Translucent vault makes finding your meal selection easy
  • Container helps retain strong odors from food, sunscreen, insect repellent, soap and toothpaste, lessening the chance of bear-human conflict
  • Hand wash in warm water with a mild dishwashing detergent
  • This BearVault™ model has approval from both the SIBBG (Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group) and IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee)
  • With the lid fully closed the BearVault™ also makes a great camp seat
  • Store BearVault™ at least 100 yards downwind of campsite, preferably in the shade to keep contents cooler;
  • Never keep the bear canister inside a tent!

Made in USA.

Item 738570

BearVault 400 Food Container Specs

Specification

Description

Weight2 lbs. 9 oz.
Dimensions12.7 x 8.7 inches
MaterialPolycarbonate
Capacity700 cubic inches

BearVault 400 Food Container Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
BearVault 400 Food Container
 
3.7

(based on 12 reviews)

83%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Unbreakable (8)
  • Good grip (7)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backcountry camping (11)
    • Campgrounds (3)
    • River trips (3)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Avid adventurer (9)

    Reviewed by 12 customers

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    Sep

    8

    2007

    (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Lighter and faster

    By SW

    from Alaska

    About Me Casual/ Recreational

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Easy to open
    • Lightweight
    • Spacious
    • Tough

    Cons

    • Way too expensive

    Best Uses

    • Backcountry Camping
    • Bear country camping
    • River Trips

    Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

    What an upgrade from the old-style heavy bear canisters with the small mouthed openings that you need a knife or a coin to open! The Bear Vault is lighter, easier to open, and larger. I wish it had some sort of loop built in to the plastic for attaching webbing or cord, especially for canoeing. It also seems like quite an expensive item considering it is just a plastic can with a fancy lid...

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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    Oct

    15

    2007

     
    1.0

    Not legal in Denali National Park

    By jenny from the swamp

    from Albuquerque, NM

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Good Capacity

    Cons

    • Breakable

    Best Uses

    • Fish tank

    Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

    The rangers at Denali National Park would not let us take this bear canister into the back-country because one of them (a ranger) had broken it by jumping on it. A bear can't unscrew the lid, but can still get at the food inside. The Garcia canisters are what they consider grizzly-proof, and what they issue at DNP. I'd stay away from this product.

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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    Oct

    15

    2007

     
    4.0

    Peace of Mind

    By hike4trout

    from Chicago, IL

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Durable
    • Good Capacity
    • Good grip

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping

      Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

      A bear country must! Hanging food is not a sure thing...bears do climb. Hang the pots, pans and stoves and use the vault for the rest. One vault for two people. We simply positioned the vaults in a clearing away from camp and away from water (did'nt want to see them floating in the middle of the lake in the morning). We had a bear move one around, but no damage and no second visit. They make decent camp seating and wind breaks for the stove.

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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      Sep

      21

      2007

       
      4.0

      Does the trick

      By hikenm

      from Albuquerque, NM

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Good grip
      • Unbreakable

      Cons

      • Heavy

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping

      Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

      As far as bear resistant containers go, I give this one high marks because it does its job very well (as far as I can tell). I haven't had any bear problems while using it, but then again I didn't have any while hanging my food either. It does give me a little extra peace of mind and it gets high marks for simplicity - just stash all the smellables, park it as some distance from your tent, and forget it. No throwing bear bags in trees and hoping the varmints don't figure it out. My one big dislike is the weight - but I guess that's a concession I'm willing to make for the convenience. It also makes a nifty camp stool. Until someone figures out how to make a 6-ounce bear proof container that carries 5-7 days' food, I guess this is the way to go.

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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      Sep

      17

      2007

       
      4.0

      Bear Vaults Work

      By Whiskers25

      from Fort Mill, SC

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Seeing Your Food
      • Unbreakable

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping

        Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

        I just returned from a 110 mile hike in the Sierras and the BearVault worked great. A bear tried to open both my BearVault and a Garcia and both products were successful in keeping our food save. I even have claw marks on the lid's label to prove the bear tried to break into it. Another thing I like about this product is that it's see-through. So, you can look without opening it and know where in the canister the food you're looking for is. That makes it easy to dig out. Another positive is that it doubles as a chair. I saw the review about the failure and assume that it's the old model that was improved. If your model has a red sticker on the top and a wide lid lip, then it's the improved model. If your model lacks the red sticker, then write the company and see about obtaining a free replacement. The only negative I can say, and it's not much of a negative, is that it's a little hard to unscrew the lid. However, if that's the cost of keeping a bear out of your food, then it's ok.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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        Sep

        16

        2007

         
        4.0

        Great food protection from wildlife

        By IssyHikerBiker

        from Issaquah, WA

        About Me Casual/ Recreational

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Good grip
        • Unbreakable

        Cons

        • Bulky

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • Campgrounds

        Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

        I appreciate how well this bear container protects my food and other smelling stuff from bears and other critters. Also acts as a table if need to. A little bulky. If going above treeline though, it is better to use a bear bag or Ursack (which I plan to get).

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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        Sep

        14

        2007

         
        4.0

        versatile!

        By uwish

        from Hartford, CT

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Easy to use lid
        • See-thru
        • Unbreakable

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Backcountry Camping
          • Campgrounds

          Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

          It was a perfect size for 8 days/nights in the Sierra Nevada's. Easy to locate items, and large mouth and lid made for simple packing. It was also a great seat, water jug and I even washed clothes in it.

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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          Sep

          12

          2007

           
          5.0

          What a Seat

          By Yancr

          from Essex Jct., Vermont

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Pros

          • Good grip
          • Holds all the food
          • Unbreakable

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Backcountry Camping
            • River Trips
            • Survival

            Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

            When you are 67 yrs of age, and hummping a pack up the Whitney Trail weighing in at 48 lbs. You finally make camp and pull the Bearvault out and can sit down and relax. Not only that you have all your food safe and sound. This is really living now. Best bear safe I have ever used. It seals tight and will hold me on it.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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            Sep

            12

            2007

             
            4.0

            Better than Garcia

            By Wendy Geo

            from Los Angeles, CA

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Good grip
            • Lightweight
            • Unbreakable

            Cons

            • hard to open lid

            Best Uses

            • Backcountry Camping

            Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

            The vault is much lighter than the standard Garcia Barrel. The top is wider, so that it is easier to get food into and out of it. It has ribs that makes it easier to attach to your pack with a strap. Also, the top does not allow rain to seep in. The top can be a bit tricky to unlock, but is easy enough once you get used to it.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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            Sep

            12

            2007

             
            5.0

            I dig it

            By Mtn. Rhino

            from OC, CA

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Clear
            • Good grip
            • Unbreakable

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Backcountry Camping
              • Campgrounds
              • River Trips

              Comments about BearVault 400 Food Container:

              It's very sturdy, easy to open...for a human, no tools required. I used it as a seat and a bongo as well. It has ridges for straps. It will hold 10 double serving packets of freeze dried food with toiletrees, no problem. The clear plastic makes it easy to see what your looking for.

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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