Steve's Bear Canister Page

 I will state that in no way am I associated with any manufacturer of bear canisters or associated with any agency that regulates the use of the canister.

My own backpacking experience is limited to the California Sierra. I am just an individual that has come to realize that:

 
• We need to keep the wilderness natural for all of us to enjoy.
• Keep human food from the animal population and let them forage for their natural foods
• Counterbalancing is no longer an effective method of food storage in the Sierra.
• The convenience and security of the canister far outweigh the supposed inconvenience of weight and bulk.

The Bear Canister is a device used by people to keep their food from the bears, or other animals interested in human food. The one pictured here weighs approximately 3 lbs and is 8 inches in diameter, and 12 inches in height. It is a strong plastic cylinder with a locking top. The top is machined to open with the push of a button, and when locked in place is flush with the rest of the top. This prevents animals from getting a grip on it, making it impossible to open. With a good packing job, you can get 6-7 days of food, plus any other odiferous non-food items(toothpaste, insect repellent, lip balm, etc.)

My Own Opinion Of Why We Should Use A Canister

What Happens When You Counter Balance

I have seen several styles of canister, the one pictured here, the newer style Garcia that is flared slightly in the center, where it is plastic welded/glued and is several ounces lighter than the original, and several made from aluminum and titanium. Garcia, BearVault, Bearikade, and Bear Keg are currently the ONLY canisters approved by the NPS. If you are using a Bearvault and headed into the Rae Lakes area you must use the BV350, or BV400. If you have any of the other BV models there is an exchange program available This Link will give you more information - Rae Lakes BearVault Swap Information

An alternative to the Bear Canister is the URSack. Ursack is a bear & critter resistant food bag made from lightweight, flexible, "bullet proof" fabric. The URSack has not been approved for use in the Sierra even when used in conjunction with the Aluminum liner
 

Garcia Canister

Bearvault Canister

 
 

Garcia Canister Top - Note the Screw slots to lock it. The button at the top is pushed in and the lid will lift up

 
 

		Garcia Canister Top		This is the top of the Garcia canister. When the pins are turned they slide underneath the lid of the canister. This will lock the top on the canister making it impossible for animals to get in. The canister itself is machined so the top is flush. Both pins must be locked to be effective
		BearVault Top		This is the top of the Bearvault canister. It is a simple threaded top that screws onto the top of the canister.

More Canister Information and Pictures
Back To My Home Page

Links to Other Canister Pages and Park Information

Gordie's Ramblings in the High Sierra - Yellow Pages for the Sierra - If it's not here, it doesn't exist

Link To Bear Facts in Yosemite

Link To Food Storage in the NPS

Link To Garcia Backpackers Cache(Approved Canisters)

Link To Bearvault Canister(Approved Canisters)

Link To Bearikade Canister(Approved Canisters)

Link To Counter Assault bear Keg(Approved Canisters)