BearVault BV450 Jaunt Portable Bear Canister for Backpacking - Medium

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!

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

Works great and packs light!

We were originally going to go with a bear bag, but since we live in an area with a LOT of black bears and do plan on visiting places with grizzlies we decided to just go all out and get the BearVault. I have a complicated relationship with bears; I love them but I keep having nightmares about them so I'm slightly apprehensive to have food anywhere near our campsite (even 200ft away). Thankfully the BearVault gives us some peace of mind as it's almost impossible for any bear to get into it (I believe there's only 1 documented case of a grizzly breaking into a BearVault). Any bear that gets into human food is to be put down by law since, once they get a taste, they won't stop trying to get more. I don't want to be responsible for that, nor do I want the calories I need for a backpacking trip to disappear. They also sent a coupon for a free BearVault sticker with the BearVault, so I bought 5 of the 10 different stickers they offer but only paid for 4. They're a great company that makes great products. The 450 is a good choice for a weekend backpacking trip for 2, or about a 4-6 day trip for 1 person. The only downsides are the weight and the bulk, but if you have a half-decent pack you shouldn't have a problem :)

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...