Gear Review

Bear Vault BV350 Solo

mandatory in many parts of Sierra
weight: 2 pounds, 1 ounce
recommended

Call me a reformed skeptic. The results of the US Forest Service's Bear Canister experiment are in, and the bottom line is they work.

Additionally, I've found a few unexpected benefits to having a bear can along for the ride that almost (but not quite) negate the annoyance of their added bulk and weight.

But first, some of you may be asking: just what the heck is this bear can thingy now required by law in many parts of my beloved Sierra (and elsewhere).

Bear Canisters are an attempt to deal with human-ursa encounters in the wilderness—which usually end poorly for all parties involved.

The typical scenario goes like this: humans concoct crafty hanging system to keep their food away from bears.

Bears subsequenly demonstrate even craftier ability to defeat such efforts, eat human food, and keep coming back for more until the Forest Service is eventually forced to kill them.

Bear Canisters like the Bear Vault are designed to de-habituate bears by preventing them from gaining access to human food in the backcountry.

Even if the bear smells the food, if he or she can't eat it, the bear will eventually give up and return to its native diet. Certainly, there was cause for skepticism about this somewhat rosy plan, but in practice it has panned out: bear canisters are reducing negative human-bear contact in the wild.

Consequently, use of bear canisters is now mandatory for overnight hikers in many areas, such as the Mount Whitney Trail, the John Muir Trail, and of course Yosemite Valley.

Veteran hikers (and especially minimalists) may grumble about this regulatory intrusion, but I have found the peace of mind of using a bear canister makes for a better night's sleep. You don't wake with every rustling sound wondering if a bear is feasting on your provisions.

Additionally, it can be challenging to find a tree suitable for hanging food. Counter-balancing takes time to set up, time to hang and retrieve food, and often fails to withstand the efforts of an especially dedicated bear.

Of course, there are negatives as well. Bear Canisters are indisputably heavy. The Bear Vault models are among the lightest available, but you are still putting an extra two pounds on your back.

And if you're used to carrying overnight loads in 45-55 liter packs, trying to fit the voluminous canister inside your pack can prove maddening. The Bear Vault models conveniently feature friction ribs on the exterior to enable you to strap your bear can outside your pack.

In many wilderness areas, you don't have a choice today regarding Bear Canisters. Carry them when you hike or risk a hefty fine. So, bite the bullet and get one. For their low weight, low price, toolless opening and closure, and convenient features, I recommend the Bear Vault. It's what I use.

* Note: the older Bear Vault 250 series canisters proved less secure, due (apparently) to users not closing the lid correctly. The newer 300/400 series are redesigned to eliminate the possibility of user error in closing the lid.