How to Choose Bear Canisters || REI

All recreation areas have their own regulations for how to store your food at camp, and bear canisters are increasingly required for backpackers. Picking the best one for you comes down to a few factors like size, shape and how you open them. Check out the video to watch Miranda paw through your options, then head to your local REI to test them out for yourself.
Click here to shop REI’s selection of bear canisters: www.rei.com/c/bear-resistant-...
And to learn more about bear canisters, read our article: www.rei.com/learn/expert-advi...
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[@bessermt]

Always put your eating utensil inside the bear canister so the bear has something to eat your food with when they open them.

[@jimwoodworth9130]

At 3:20 "makes it bearable" laughed hysterically.

[@J.5.M.]

She's adorable

[@cjamit2916]

That actually made me truly laugh out loud. It surprised me!

[@old-patriot4509]

I like the fact that she almost lost it when she said it. That cute smile almost turned to laughter, but somehow she was able to hold it together... Great job. Love these videos. Lots of information without unnecessary chit-chat.

[@hunternegron336]

same

[@SkouradakisGiannis]

I hope bears won't see this video and learn all the secrets

[@tarabravewolf3895]

Great information glad you showed these

[@christopherhaak9824]

When you see a bear in the woods with a washer and old credit card around his neck while you are in the woods, you know you are in trouble.

[@Lifeonthetrail]

Very informative..ty for sharing

[@kirk2459]

Bears have figured out and are now opening the tab lid canister types (the clear/opaque ones in the video) in Yosemite.

[@sceby58]

Just learned that they are not allowed in the Adirondacks for this reason.

[@christopherhaak9824]

This is not really true. There is a documented case of a single bear being able to do so, and that bear was put down. There is no widespread, or even more than one bear that has ever been documented to be able to get into these bear canisters. They work. The main issue here for most people is cooking and carelessness at established campsites. The canisters themselves work great when properly used.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@christopherhaak9824 Correct. This has almost become an urban legend at this point. Time and again now the Bear Vault has proven to be a very effective deterrent against bears. The bigger key is to keep your items clean, and keep your food, and garbage, in odor proof barrier bags (yes, even inside the canister), which keeps bears and other critters from smelling your food/campsite unless really close.

[@chriswalker3093]

@@PhilAndersonOutside Bear Vault canisters are routinely defeated by bears in the Adirondacks. not an urban legend.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@chriswalker3093 Valid like or report please.

[@kukukachu]

She picked the one that I bought at the end. Nice. I knew it was the right choice :D

[@rei]

Nice pick! 🙂

[@DumpTrump4TRE45ON]

Bears have opened the Bear Vault and some trails won't let you bring them in. I use a Bear Keg. It leaks and is not completely smell proof but a bear can not open them. If you don't hang that bears sack correctly it becomes a pinata for bears.

[@stampede963]

So here is a thought. I’ve been watching KZbin videos of these ultra light bear electric fences that you can put around your campsite which I imagine would be pretty comforting in grizzly country. Why can’t they create a bear canister that has electric fencing wire wrapped around or embedded along the outside of the canister and then tucked inside the canister where it can connect to 2 D batteries, which are the same power source used by the electric fences. This would teach the Bears to not even play with the canisters. It seems to work well for the “unwelcome mats“ that people put in front of their cabins when they are unoccupied. Maybe REI should talk to some of their vendors and get some research and development done on electrifying a bear canister in this way. It would be super easy to set up and initiate. The lid itself could be left unwired so that you could unscrew the container lid and turn off the power supply when you were ready to put it back in your pack or use it. Would love to have some serious feedback from you through-hikers and outdoor enthusiasts as to whether you think this idea would fly or not. Miranda, what say you?

[@ogc9649]

That’s a terrible idea.

[@stampede963]

OG C Would you care to elaborate on why? The developers of Bear Vault were interested enough that they reached out to me about this idea. Please share your thoughts

[@georgeorwell480]

@@stampede963 That's so cool that they reached out to you! Any updates?

[@stampede963]

@@georgeorwell480 They took the idea back to their lab for further consideration. Seemed interested.

[@chriswatt6835]

laughed at "makes it bearable". I see what you did there lol.

[@hammervonjammer1279]

Desolation Wilderness just implemented this requirement for all overnighters. $5,000 fine.

[@gearhead-do1xh]

How does the grubcan compare to the BV500 ? Performance etc ?

[@rei]

This Bear Canister Basics article may help. Check it our here. www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/bear-resistant-canisters.html

[@ricktimmons458]

why are these round? prefer square shapes more easy to put into backpack. have made screw top 6 inch pvc units that have hanging eye bolts. much easy to raise. painted camo leave patterns.

[@whitneyanderson8231]

im wondering if maybe its harder for them to get a good grip when its round? i dunno though, just a guess

[@austinburns4213]

I believe a bear cannot open its mouth wide enough to get any purchase on the large diameter curved surface . Sure looks that way on the videos.

[@SYBEX21]

The entire Olympics is canister mandatory. Hi from Troop 1539!

[@a.b.705]

Omg bearable

[@yepYup22]

Or get a peice of 4" black pipe (schedule 80) & put a threaded cap on one end / seal the other end .

[@georgeorwell480]

It would probably weigh about 15lbs

[@christopherhaak9824]

That diameter is too small, a bear can get its mouth around that and bite it.

[@DWYL8]

tight

[@StamfordBridge]

A. I am dubious that a bear could fit into even the largest of those canisters. B. I am unclear as to why I need to carry a bear with me on the trail at all.

[@old-patriot4509]

What is this world coming to? What happened to "Hey boo boo, let's go get the pik-i-nik basket." Poor Yogi now has to carry a washer on a lanyard? It's just not right... lol

[@JSRMedia]

1:00 Thumbscrews: "Am I a Joke to you?"

[@ashleycalloway9729]

Da bears . Lol

[@ricktimmons458]

why not just put bear fences back on shelters? Have not slept at shelters since they were removed; prefer to chance it in my tent!

[@joex9407]

Did she say that being able to sit on the canisters make them "bear-able?" LOL.

[@robmilne67]

Except bear canisters are very expensive. But I guess you could always rent one.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Many REI stores rent the one that's black in this video. Call ahead and ask.

[@brandonfoley7519]

Now how do I keep people out of my bear canister Filthy thieves

[@AF-tv6uf]

I read this in Gollum's voice "Filthy little thieves! They stole it from us! My preciousss.."

[@joeserio5739]

Makes them BEARable! Haha I like a good pun!

[@ashleycalloway9729]

I bear-ly caught that pun .lol

[@RayBayFilmStudio]

The Bear Vaults (clear) are the best. In Sierra Nevada at night place well away from camp in plain sight from a distance. I've seen people put them outside tent overnight. This is very foolish! During the day, if leaving you pack for a while, remove the can and place in the shade, in plain sight. This is to protect your pack from marmots, chipmunks, Steller's jay as much as bears. People complain, but they make a great table, seat (esp. the big one) cutting surface, laundry bucket (and please don't do this anywhere near a water source) and large water hauler. You can rent the black ones from the forest service if you don't want to buy.

[@sortbum]

Why wouldn’t we just make hiking clothes out of bear sack material?

[@trailkrum6750]

LOL try it!

[@IPv6Freely]

Is that a joke? Or serious?

[@deKampeerwijzer]

A bear weights around 200 pounds. A jacket won't protect you against crushing you?

[@georgeorwell480]

@@deKampeerwijzer r/woooosh

[@rossfisher323]

Tempted to write, "ZOMG, FIRST!" - but I'm considering if that's even a thing anymore.

[@IPv6Freely]

It never was.

[@FlorinSutu]

Why carry a washer ? Everyone, man or woman, is supposed to carry a knife.

[@danielcollins7960]

No. NO. NOOOOOOO! "Makes it bear-able" 🤦‍♂️

[@sonyalmon]

Oh no. Miranda finally said something incorrect! She mentioned that you could put stickers on the outside of the bear canister to personalize it and make it more visible. DON'T DO THAT. The outside of the canisters are meant to be smooth and difficult for bears to hold onto. Putting stickers on the outside is going to create spots of friction.

[@onewithtrials]

I did not know about this, thanks!

[@christopherhaak9824]

That is not a factor in the bear being able to get into the cannister. Most anyone who owns these (doesn't rent) has stickers on the outside and they work just fine.

[@JamieHitt]

But, ...at some point, ...the food has to come out of the canister. Lol.. I don't think these "rule makers" understand bears. Unless they just think backpackers are "smuggling" food through bear territory without stopping. Lol. The only real purpose for these things is to keep the bears occupied overnight, ...trying to solve a food puzzle, ...a football field away from where you are sleeping.

[@stampede963]

Jamie Hitt so What is your suggestion

[@jerseyltd]

Man watch me forget to get these things and end up having to scarf all my food in one sitting haha