BearVault BV450 Jaunt Portable Bear Canister for Backpacking - Medium

Really like the product, just takes a bit to get used to opening it.

Okay, so, I finally got my BearVault 450 and got to take it out on a 4 day backpacking trip. I almost didn't buy this cannister because of all the reviews where people said it was too hard to open. But, I sat down with myself, and I said "self, you're trying to protect your food from animals with varying levels of dexterity. If you have to struggle to open it, at least you'll have the peace of mind that your campsite won't be ransacked." I went ahead and bought it. All I can say is....woa! I had concerns about this thing to be a struggle to open, but it was so easy! The place above the tab where you are supposed to push is clearly marked with ridges, and I didn't have to hold the cannister down or pinch it between my legs. I used one thumb and one hand and had no trouble opening this. Maybe it is because I have small fingers and the hands of a massage therapist? Either way, I do question what is so difficult about opening this. I did see some reviews about it being harder to open in the cold. I was out on a night that dropped into the low 40s and didn't notice any change in the rigidity of the plastic or ease of opening. There might be a lower temperature threshold for that, and if there is, I haven't had the chance to test it out yet. I saw a few reviews about the threads getting stuck. While I was out on the trail, I did get the lid stuck once, but it got stuck on the corner of one of my food bags, not the threading. I made sure to tuck them in below the lip of the opening and never had any snags again! It seems like as long as the cannister isn't over filled and nothing inside is packed in a way that touches the lid, it has less of a chance of getting stuck. The next concern I saw people have was the weight. I packed this cannister for a 4 day trip for me and my dog, including meals, snacks, kibble, and treats. Kibble is not that light and my dog eats 2 cups a day! After all that, the whole weight of the cannister and food was only 5 lbs. I don't know what kinds of meals people are packing to make this thing weigh 10+ pounds for a weekend trip, but if you know your camping food and pack consciously, then weight shouldn't be a problem. Lastly, there are a lot of negative reviews for this cannister in the Adirondacks. In the research I did (assuming it is accurate), you can't legally use any bear cannister in the Adirondacks that isn't approved by the rangers or one you rent from a trailhead. While that might be limiting to this particular cannister, there are thousands of other places around the US that I would love to go where I can bring this cannister. If I ever go to the Adirondacks, I will go in knowing I need to rent one of their cannisters. Easy problem to solve. Other than that, the design is emaculate. The large opening makes packing, reorganizing, and finding what you need so easy, as does the transparency. This can hold a lot of food when packed correctly, and it fits perfectly in my 75L backpack with the rest of my gear. It also makes a nice seat/stool when needed. I'll be getting the BearVault 500 next!

Works great and packs light!

Used this in the Adirondack Marcy Dam area for a 2 person 3-day/2-night excursion and had no critter problems. Fits into my Osprey Atmos 65 pack just fine, although it is still large so I stuffed some other things in it to not end up with stuff hanging on my pack. Had enough room for all of our food, snacks, dishes, toiletries, and dog food for our canine companion. Didn't see any bears, but tons of little squirrels and chipmunks. There was no evidence of any tampering of the container. I'll probably continue to use it even when not in bear country because I like the convenience of not having to hang a line, and I've had small critter failures in some cases even when the line looked perfect. Even a small critter can ruin your trip if it gets into your food - it renders it inedible, but must be carried out and disposed of. Just FYI, because there is some confusion about the use of this canister in the Adirondacks: There's a display in the ADK visitor center at Heart Lake asking not to use these types of canisters because 1 bear several years ago figured out how to open them. They are just asking, they will not stop you. According to the Bear-Vault product page, that bear died in 2012 and there have been no reports of canister tampering since. As I was carrying it back from the cache area (100ft away from camp and cooking sites), a park ranger walked right past me and wished me good morning, making sure I didn't build any campfires. She couldn't care less about the brand of canister. If you have any doubts, call the rangers and see what they say before purchasing. The next alternative weighs 11oz more. As long as you use it properly, store it away from food and food smells, I think you will be ok in the EHPZ. If that is where you do all your camping and hiking, and it makes you feel better, you can install a tap screw, or just go with another brand.

Fits more than we expected and packs well on a motorcycle. Haven't had a bear try to get into it yet but will update if that ever happens...