Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container

$49.99
$66.95^*

REDUCED PRICE You Save 25%

(20)

Item # 768901

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Gear and Advice You Can Trust

Orders of $50 or more ship for free.
Learn more

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

Lighter and more compact than other bear canisters, the BearVault BV450 gives solo hikers a secure way to stow their food.

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 without the use of tools
Dimpled exterior keeps tie-down straps from shifting and eliminates the need for a carrying pouch
Translucent vault makes finding your meal selection easy
Container helps suppress strong odors from food, sunscreen, insect repellent, soap and toothpaste, lessening the chance of bear vs. human conflict
Hand wash in warm water with a mild dishwashing detergent
With the lid fully closed the BearVault also makes a great camp seat
This BearVault model has approval from both the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group and Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee
Store BearVault at least 100 yards downwind of campsite, preferably in the shade to keep contents cool
Never keep a bear canister inside your tent!

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.

Made in USA.

Item 768901

View all BearVault products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container

3.9

(based on 20 reviews)

85%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Durable (14)
Good capacity (14)
Easy to drain (4)
Good grip (4)
No plastic taste (3)

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry camping (14)
Camping (5)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (10), Casual/ recreational (7)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (13)

Reviewed by 20 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

Apr

2013

5.0

It works!

By Light camper

from Fort Collins colorado

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Drain
Good Capacity
Good Grip
No Plastic Taste
Retains Temperature Well

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

Well I have to say I used to go camping with a lunch box that I would hang in a tree so bears or others Animals wouldn't get my food. I never really saw or heard any bears but I'm sure they were out there! But now that I have this bear container I haven't had any run ins with any bears! The thing works!

Comment on this review

Nov

2012

2.0

Can't open in cold weather!!!

By Chars

from Oakland, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Big Opening
Clear

Cons

Small Volume
Too Hard To Open In Cold

Best Uses

3 Season Backpacking

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

The tabs are way too difficult to open in cold weather. I do snowshoe trips, so seeing temps in the teens is pretty common. To press in those tabs in that cold of temps is very difficult. I was breathing on them to warm them up, and pressing with all my might. Takes about ~10 minutes, my buddy was already done with breakfast by the time I got my can open! Also, can really only hold 4 days of food. 5 days is really pushing it. And that's with leaving my toothpaste, sunscreen, etc. outside the can at night....

Otherwise, works well. Clear plastic is nice for organization/finding things. Returned for a garcia.

Comment on this review

Oct

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Bear Cans Are Cool

By Penny

from Litchfield, Maine

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Contains Odor
Durable
Good Capacity

Cons

Threads Can Be Sticky

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

Bear cans are a good way to be responsible and safe when you're camping in bear country. I pack heavy for a solo backpacker, yet this container held enough for a 3-day trip, including luxury items like pancake mix and syrup, powdered milk for each supper, and mixes for scones and biscuits. It sealed well, actually forming negative pressure with some weather changes, and I never noticed any food odor until the can was unscrewed. If you understand how it works it's not hard to open. For some reason mine is hard to close, sticking when it's about 2/3 screwed down, but if I just grab hold and act like I mean business, it's no problem. Might be a bit bulky if you're carrying everything on your back, but it's a good trade-off for not feeding the wildlife.

Comment on this review

May

2012

4.0

Excellent piece of gear

By Motorcycle Vagabond

from Bend Oregon

About Me Professional/Guide

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Good Capacity
Good size

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
River Trips
Survival

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

Works great, makes a good chair, and or table.

Comment on this review

Feb

2012

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Very Happy!

By MN NtrLvr

from Minnesota

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

I purchased this container because I wasn't sure I needed one of the full size containers for those times when I will be packing only for myself. Well... this thing is HUGE! I'm not worried at all about fitting food for four or five days. Heck, if you pack dried and freeze dried goods you could get five days for two people in this container and still eat like a king.

I laughed out loud at myself when I figured out the lid. It is so easy to open it is silly. Just silly and awesome. The directions are awful, just push in on the black lid very close to the tab with your thumb and you'll get it open.

The container fits inside my pack nicely. I have a smallish pack at 2600cc, and it slides in easy with plenty of room for other gear.

Bring it on furry forest friends, bring it on.

Comment on this review

Feb

2012

(0 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

It's the Bee's Knees

By LoftusRoadLad

from Burke, VA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy to open
Good Capacity

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

Used these for years. Can't understand people having problems opening these things--my son, without instructions figured it out in about a minute. It's routine! Hate having to try and pack it into my backpack--could they have designed a carrying case or something so I could carry it externally?!!

Comment on this review

Jan

2012

(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Does the Job

By humboldt29

from Upland, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Drain
Good Capacity

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

My fiance purchased this for a backpacking trip he went on with his brother through Yosemite NP. He didn't like the way it fit in his backpack so I sewed together some straps around the outside of this canister so he could clip it to the outside of his pack. My fiance & his brother were able to fit all of their food for their 3 day hike into this 1 canister.

Comment on this review

Dec

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Works for me

By THDW

from Reno, NV

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Good Capacity

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

I have been using this canister for a few years, Yosemite is my favorite place to hike and close to home so the canister gets a lot of use. When I first got it I thought it was hard to open, then I found if I press on the edge right at the back of the tab it works easily. The lid looks a little different in the newest model, not sure if the locking mechanism is the same. The solo size is perfect for me, I have packed up to 5 days worth of food in it. I carry a 3500 cubic inch backpack, with a panel opening, the canister sits on top of my sleeping bag with the lid towards the panel opening, when I take a break I can access the food inside the canister without taking it out of the pack. I dont know if a bear has made an attempt to get my food, if it happened I slept through it, and my food was always there is the morning...while I'm not crazy about carrying the extra weight I do sleep a lot better now.

Comment on this review

Nov

2011

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

hard to open

By dw152

from Virginia

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable

Cons

Hard to open

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

I've found this container to be hard to open, and I'm a reasonably strong male. The last time I used it, it was a cold morning, and I could not open it wearing gloves or bare handed. FInally, I got out my leatherman and used it to push in the tabs. Every time I wanted to get into it, I dreaded the experience, and it seems to get worse the more I use it. Otherwise, I guess it works OK. It does make a good camp stool. It is a bit heavy.

Comment on this review

Jul

2011

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great for 3-Day Trips

By Stone Soup Adventure

from Salem, OR

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Good Capacity

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds

Comments about BearVault BV450 Solo Food Container:

My wife and I use this product for our 3-day backpacking trips. It holds just enough food to last us for 3 days. It is great to have a half sized canister that fits nicely in my pack just above the tent and cloths.

I have never had a problem getting the lid off even in cold weather. The key is to press right behind the peg as close to the end of the rim as possible. My wife has trouble opening it sometimes. She uses the handle of a small pocket knife to press the peg down which seems to work well for her.

It makes a great seat and keeps you dry on wet ground. The lid also makes a great plate for serving up dinner. The bucket part can be used to keep your water pump inlet from getting to the mud when filtering water from a lake or stream.

Overall a great design with many uses.