BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

My backpacking buddy and I both have these, and we greatly prefer them over the standard Garcia models you see in the parks...the opening at the top is as wide as the container, which makes it much easier to pack, and being able to see how it's packing helps optimize space usage (since it is translucent.) No issues at all and find that this smaller size holds enough food for about six real meals if you pack carefully (i.e. good for a 3-day weekend with two people.)

Another big advantage is toolless opening--I can't tell you how many times I've gone hunting for a quarter to get the Garcias to open. It's also pretty easy to open with gloves, although below freezing the plastic stiffens up and it takes a bit more effort.

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

After getting fed up with dealing with bear bags: having to search around for a suitable tree, stringing a bag up in a downpour, etc., etc. And since a lot of places require you to have one anyway, I finally decided to get a bear can. I've used the Garcia out in YNP and that's heavy and cumbersome due to its odd shape. The BV500 is ridiculously huge. I really don't know anyone who uses that one. The BV 450 is a decent and manageable size for a longer multi-day solo trip or a shorter multi-day trip for 2-people. I do tend to pack nutrient dense (couscous, Clif bars, oatmeal, dried fruit) and freeze-dried foods in order to save space in my pack. The 2lbs isn't a big issue when you consider the overall size of one's pack. For those who complain about how much extra space there can be, especially after food is consumed, just fill that extra space with other items. Just be careful not to store clothing or things that you'd want in your tent or else there might be food residue or odors lingering on them. The little bumps on the outside for straps is a nice option should you want/need to strap it to the outside of your pack, but also helps with gripping the vault itself.

I have no trouble with the lid. I find it extremely easy to open and close, and a lot more convenient than having to twist off a screw with a nickel. I would recommend that those who have trouble unlocking the lid, only lock it when you're absolutely finished with it for the evening. I usually keep mine all the way closed but not past the locked position even in my pack, or just keep it locked past the first tab so you only have to deal with one. (Of course lock it past both tabs when you're leaving campsite or done for the evening and going to sleep!)

I have been lucky enough to NOT have to test its durability, but having stood on it myself and tossed it around at the campsite, it has been fine. But hope to never have to put it through a true backcountry test!

I do really like the BV 450. Sure, it would be nice if it could be maybe 1/2-lb lighter, but maybe in a few more years it will be. (I believe the original ones were heavier than they are now.) I would also like to see them make one that's maybe 2/3 to 1/2 smaller for true soloists who are only going to do a 2-3 night trip on a long weekend. I like to do take off on the weekends and the BV450 is much more room than I need for storing items for what really turns out to be only 2-full days. But other than that, it's a worthwhile investment if you're going to be backpacking!

Service and delivery comments:

Very fast shipping to my home. Arrived in excellent condition. Didn't need REI customer service, but it's a good place to add that REI customer service has always been exceptional!

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

This is a great bear canister for long weekends in bear country. Despite the reviews that say it's hard to open, it is not. The directions just stink. I read them, had no clue, struggled for 30 seconds to budge the lid, and thought "those reviews were right!". Then I looked closer, and saw how it works and laughed at myself. Very simple. To open, simply press on the little, black triangles of hard plastic that stick out from the edges of the lid so they slide behind the blue plastic on the container. It's like a bigger version of an Advil or Tylenol bottle. It takes little force and no fingernails. I have no doubt that the people complaining about opening the canister are not taking a closer look at how the lid works because it's a joke how easy it is once you see how it works.

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

I've had no difficulty opening it. My five year old son who comes camping with me has figured out how to open it. And as mentioned before, is far easier to open than the garcia cannisters.

The translucent body is great so you know where to dig in to find that elusive pack of salt.

I weigh 170lb and I have used it as a stool to sit on and once to stand on to tie a rope on a high branch. This thing is tough.

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

Okay, let's stop complaining about the size of this canister. If it's smaller, a bear can get it in it's mouth, and it's crunch time! Size matters, as does the shape. Weight? Someone makes a Carbon Fiber mix can, which as I recall, weighs a few ounces less and costs quite a bit more. It takes heavy material to make strong products. Leave the jiffy-pop and metal wine cooler home, or otherwise lighten the load, and enjoy your food because the bear, marmot, squirrel, mouse, bugs and coyotes won't get it! Oh, and leaving it a hundred yards (or more) away from your camp is a good way to lose it. When the bear starts kicking it toward the lake (you did seal your food in a plastic bag, right?) you want to be able to track it's progress! I've been using bear-avoidance tactics for over 40 years and only lost my food once in all that time. These cans are the only way to go.

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

Works great for us Oregonians, but apparently there's been some issues with this model on the other side of the country, where some black bears have had more time to tinker with bearvaults. Just Google "new york times bear proof" for the article. Note to REI webmaster, I didn't include HTML =)A good product all around.

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

Had problems a couple years ago with this canister that have since been resolved. The lid was redesigned and that resolved the first issue. The older style lid was VERY difficult to unscrew and get a grip on. My friend had to cut his off with a knife to get to his food one morning because nobody in the camp could get it open including myself. However, the new lid is much easier to unscrew, so easy that I had to take it back and replace it because the lid would come unscrewed on its own. It has a couple small plastic "catches" that prevent the lid from coming off and they were not "catching" the lid to prevent it from coming unscrewed. So, I took that one back too. I'm on my third canister now but still believe that its a great can and I do believe that BearVault has got it right this time. Although, I'm thinking the lid could still use some good field testing and possible redesign. I recommend checking the lid before you buy it and also recommend checking it periodically for any loosening or excessive tightening. I'm not sure if this is caused by fluctuations in climate temps or if it just depends on the one you get. When my friends got stuck it had dipped down into the high 20's that morning when we awoke so I'm not sure if that was part of the deal or not. Anyway, the one I have now seems to work perfect for me and its been on about 4-5 multi-day trips throughout Washington State during all 4 seasons of the year without fail and the lid still seems secure so i have to give this little canister a good rating overall.

Happy Trails.

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

We bought it for a three day RMNP trip. Unless you are very strong and have tiny hands it is hard to open. It even locked up on us and it took to guys an hour to unscrew the lid. There is obviously no other way of getting to your food short of using a band saw. I'm going to bring it back today. In my book this product is a complete fail

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

Note: I have not used this item out in the field yet. But it's pretty easy to see how it will perform... there's not much to it.

I like doing quick overnight trips, so I wanted a smallish bear canister with enough room for about two days worth of food for two people. The BV450 is really the only reasonable choice. Every other canister available is way too big.

People complain that this canister is hard to open, and I'd agree. It even makes the tips of my fingers hurt a little bit - having longer nails would help. I think it will become easier with practice though (learning exactly where/how to push and turn, etc.) Or, you can use a car key, or the back of a knife, etc, and it becomes pretty effortless. I'm not bothered by this issue… it's not like you should be opening and closing it that often anyways.

It's nice that the BV450 has a wide mouth (the Garcia is narrow) and that you can see inside it easily because it's transparent (the Garcia is not).

It seems like it's very durable. And, though there are reports that one bear has figured out how to open it in NY, I think it should keep out the other 99.9999% of bears and animals, which works for me. The locking mechanism seems pretty well designed, though I do worry about the locking tabs wearing down, but only time will tell…

So, unless you do long trips, or eat a LOT, this is probably what you're looking for.

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

not practical for frequent openings.