BearVault  BV475 Trek Bear Canister

I’m sure this canister works fantastically and as advertised in many places, but note, NONE of the Bear Vault line is authorized for use in the Adirondacks. They won’t let you pack in with one as the black bears there have figured out how to chew though them. No kidding! Am exchanging for the Counter Assault model which is approved for that region and it’s where I do most of my paddling and backpacking anyway. REI, please make this known in the purchasing details. The rangers in the ADK can confirm.

I really enjoy this bear canister, originally I was going to get the BV450, but the employee said that the BV475 has more flexibility for how long you can backpack for. If you have extra food for an overnight trip, you can always just put your cook set and other misc items inside with it! As for the quality of the product, I heard people talking about how its hard to open, I disagree. Its very easy for me to open when you put it on its side and press with both thumbs! I am able to carry food for me and a friend for a few nights and love to not worry about packing too much!

I appreciate the ease of storing my food with a food barrel and that it protects food from being crushed in my pack. I don't mind the bulk of the barrel in exchange for the easy stowing when I'm at camp and the protection of my food (i.e. if it rains your bear bag will get soaked). For being what it is it isn't too heavy. My only complaint (and this is a normal reaction of plastic), is that when it is cold the plastic gets more brittle and it becomes difficult to open the barrel. I think that there are attachments out there now for that problem.

I like this size. Not too big, not too small, holds dehydrated meals better than the 450. Still big inside the backpack but manageable. Also makes a nice place to sit when needed. Very easy to sort through food and can hold your stove and cooking wear too.

4 stars because... no bear tried to get in, and I had a friend who had a bear resistant tarp like thingy for his food and it was super lightweight and I was really getting quite jealous on mile 35 and onwards. It did not feel fair. But then, I also had a nice place to sit while I was eating and washing my face and all those things. So, it worked over all and this bear (me) did have trouble getting into from time to time. I just wished it wasn't so heavy... but then it wouldn't be bear proof I guess.

Okay, before we get ahead of ourselves let’s pacify the die hard tech weeines and gear junkies; No, there is no bear canister that is 100% “bear-proof”. Some bears are craftier than others, some are bigger, stronger, smarter… and some are hungrier. So full disclosure there no canister made that a bear has not opened, crushed or broken into, but after roughly 35+ years of using bear canisters I can comfortable say that the Bear Vault products are the ‘best options out there’... at least for me. Why? - Balance of Protection, Certification (IGBC, SIBBG), Cost, Weight and Usability Size Options - choose the size that best fits your usage needs. Or if your like me, over the years you end up with FOUR different sizes to fit different needs, packs, trip durations etc, etc. Clear - You can see thru the material. This just makes using the canister ‘better’ Its easier to find what you want when you start digging. It also allows you so see open space and pockets so you can insure that your packing every cubic inch of the container. Its dark, your sitting on a very uncomfortable rock and you need to dig out the toothbrush which you cut in half so its hard to find - but you can shine your headlamp thru the material and wa-la, there it is. Weight - These are the lightest bear canisters out there with the exception of the $500 Grubcan. Lid - Some people really struggle with this. I happen to like it. I find it easy to open, everytime. Trick is I don’t use my finger. I use the edge of my folded Leatherman. When your in the store, or home, playing with the container its 70 degrees, the material is warm and flexible and your finger can easily depress / flex the lid material to unlock it. But when your out in the mountains your usually opening the container in the early morning or in the evening when the temps have cooled and that plastic lid is as stiff as steel. Instead of sitting there cursing at it for 5 min (like I’ve watched people do 100+ times) just use the corner edge of your Leatherman, pocket knife etc, and push the lid’s tab down. It takes 1 second and it opens everytime. You could also use a pointy rock… anything besides your soft mushy finger. The other plus is the locking mechanism is not mechanical and has no moving parts that can break or get jammed (Beware REI’s Modular Canister). Note: On the new adjustable Bear Vault they have a new lock which is much more straight forward… for those of you who have spent a lifetime pushing on the door that says “pull”. What size is best for you? - this depends on how much food you’re carrying… and that is a “you” question. For “me”, and I have FOUR different sizes of the Bear Vaults, I find the size I use 90% of the time is the Three-Quarter (The BV475). This is because I tend to do a lot of 3 night, 4 day trips, for which I find the 475 the perfect size. For the kind of food I bring and the quantity I bring the 475 holds a solid 3 full days of breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. Including the 4th day dinner which is actually an emergency reserve meal and space for toothpaste, lip balm, trash, and the other misc. things that attract bears; the Oatmeal Raspberry Lotion that you did not know your friend Yvonne was going to pack (Are you kidding me Yvonne!). EXAMPLE - Day 1 - Breakfast at or before the trailhead. Lunch, snacks and dinner will be consumed before bed so they don’t go in the container, just space for their trash. Day 2 - All food in the container: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Snacks (S) and Dinner (D) Day 3 - All food in the container: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Snacks (S) and Dinner (D) Day 4 - All food in the container: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Snacks (S) and an Emergency Meal (EM) Day 4 by end of day we are planning on being “out” (back at the car) so I/we carry a dinner for that day just incase. Incase someone gets injured and it takes an extra day to get out. Incase that ridge line that looked passable wasn’t and the shortest way around added 18 miles. Or because “someone” knocked the pot over and “Dinner 3” ended up in the dirt. It’s always good to bring a little extra. I use the BV500 on longer trips and I use the BV450 on 1 or 2 night trips. If I don’t to fill it with food I top it off with a stove canister or anything else that will fit in to use the volume. The BV425s, I have found 2 great uses for: 1 - I use one to keep food in on climbing trips when I’m leaving my pack at the base of a route. Keeps the squirrels and chip monks from chewing up my pack and my snacks. 2 - Smaller packs - This size is great as it fits in smaller/lower volume packs. Example: When I have small people along this allows them to carry ‘some’ without eating up 50% of the volume of their packs; Kids, my wife, etc… General - Other Positives: They are great to sit on. Rain/Weather proof and make a good small card-table. If you a thru-hiker ounce counter I’d still use a BV product but there is lighter - “Grubcan”… but its funky shape is harder to pack and the $500 price point is a bit high for most dirtbags.

It’s going to be touch getting 5-6 days worth of food in here, but gosh darn, im gonna try!

A bit hard to open when you have low hand strength but it served it's purpose during our backpacking trip.

Tried this for a Sierra hike in September. Bad choice: when temperature is around freezing the plastic becomes too stiff to deform and it is worse than having no canister, since you will be going without breakfast. After warming it in the sun, and using my hiking pole to poke the tabs, I was finally able to unlock it. Even at room temperature, the locking mechanism is not exactly easy to use compared to my old Garcia. Happily, REI refunded my purchase upon my return. But I almost had to abandon my hike. Beware.

Easy to open for a human, but sturdy enough to be a challenge for a bear. This is a good size for several days of backpacking, and can double as a seat at camp. Comes with informative stickers and guidelines for safe storage in bear country. Mine also came with a coupon for a free BearVault brand sticker! Very pleased with my purchase.