Will these be good enough? IGBC

These seem very nice and light and will fit into a pack?will these qualify to leave on the ground at portages etc. Only a couple of pounds?

Not cheap tho

won't a bear chew holes in it?

Pinetree: "won't a bear chew holes in it?"

The IGBC certification process is to place the container in a pen with "problem grizzlies". If they can't get into it, its certified.

Most containers are the same size and shape because they are too big around to fit in a bears mouth.

There are a few stories of truly determined wild bears breaking into BVs and ursacks,but in the vast majority of cases these containers keep the bear and your food safe

I have two BV500s and they work OK. Kind of a pain to open but that's the point I guess. Not air or watertight so some people tape the lids on when traveling. Vaults that seal better require a tool (screwdriver or coin) to use. There's no perfect solution but Bear Vaults seem to be what most people prefer. They are relatively light, can be opened with bare hands, and since they are transparent you can see what's in them.

There are some cases of bears getting in them. But generally a canister is going to offer more protection than an Ursack, which can end up with everything crushed and full of slobber. I may still get an Ursack to use in addition to the Bear Vaults, but I don't think I'd want to rely on only an Ursack.

Not so worried about what's going to be most effective in protecting us from bears. We've always been mindful of them and have taken steps to reduce (you can't completely eliminate) chances of problems from bears. I'm now more concerned about what I need to do differently for protection from the forest service and their threat of fines and imprisonment with the new storage rules they've issued on 04/19/24.

To answer your first question directly, Pinetree, the link you provided to the IGBC contains the approved containers that were referenced in the Superior Nat'l Forest order 09-09-24-02 regarding food storage.

The IGBC document has 2 lists for approved food containers (A and B in the table of contents). The Bear Vaults and Ursacks (Major and AllMitey) are on list A and the Counter Assault Bear Keg is on list B. I'm not recommending REI as a retailer, but it sells all those products, so you can easily compare them on one website.

I have a Bear Vault BV500 and an Ursack Major. I've also used my friend's Bear Keg. The BV500, being just under 9 inches in diameter, will fit in lots of packs, although it will cause a significant bulge if the pack is only 6" deep. I've carried it in a Granite Gear Superior One pack (9 inches deep) and a Kondos food pack (11.5 inches deep). The Bear Keg fits similarly.

The Bear Vaults can be a bit tricky to learn to open, but once you get the hang of it, opening them is easy. The Bear Keg is easier to open, but it is heavier. Ursacks have their own procedures.

The one thing I like about this latest food order is that the SNF has finally adopted the IGBC lists as its standard rather than the previous standard that almost no BWCA user could use to determine which containers would be suitable.

Pinetree: "
These seem very nice and light and will fit into a pack?will these qualify to leave on the ground at portages etc. Only a couple of pounds?

Not cheap tho"

We have used the BearVaults for backpacking trips and they work fine. We typically rent from an outfitter, but after several trips of renting its probably better to buy your own. They can be a hassle to pack and it helps to have some organization of what you are going to eat everyday, although I find the food that I place on top inevitably fall to the bottom. Once you get used to it, how it fits in your pack, etc they just become another piece of gear.

It will be interesting to see if this changes what people pack for BWCA trips. Hiking we tend to eat more freeze dried meals than our BWCA trips.

Also, I suspect in using a CCS or Duluth Pack #4, that two bearvaults will able to sit side by side on the bottom of the pack, which would be awesome.

Urasack

Simple to understand video from Ursack on how to tie off an Ursack to a tree.

Ursack slip knot video

More good info here, Thx trying to figure out which way to go.

more options

Used our BV 500 Bear Vault for years. We had one episode where we had to find the container when we believe a bear failed to open but moved it several yards away from our site.

plmn: "I have two BV500s and they work OK. Kind of a pain to open but that's the point I guess. Not air or watertight so some people tape the lids on when traveling. Vaults that seal better require a tool (screwdriver or coin) to use. There's no perfect solution but Bear Vaults seem to be what most people prefer. They are relatively light, can be opened with bare hands, and since they are transparent you can see what's in them.

There are some cases of bears getting in them. But generally a canister is going to offer more protection than an Ursack, which can end up with everything crushed and full of slobber. I may still get an Ursack to use in addition to the Bear Vaults, but I don't think I'd want to rely on only an Ursack. "

We use the BVs also. They are hard to open, especially when cold, and with arthritic fingers. I use an old credit card - you can find YouTube videos of 'how to' - but basically set the cc behind the teeth, between them and the lid, so the lid slides on by as you turn it. To someone else's point, a strip of reflective tape on top and bottom helps for retrieval in the dark if a bear does try to make off w/ the cannister.

That UDAP container Pinetree found on Amazon is on the IGBC-approved list B, in case anyone is wondering.

For those frustrated by how it can be difficult to open a BearVault sometimes, they make tools to make it easier. Here's one example: bear can key

Pinetree: "
These seem very nice and light and will fit into a pack?will these qualify to leave on the ground at portages etc. Only a couple of pounds?

Not cheap tho"

I prefer to use certified hard sided canisters for my food protection but I recommend that novice users research and educate themselves on how to efficiently load, transport and protect the canister. I would not advise showing up to rent a canister without advanced preparation.

Considerations:

1. The internal volume of a canister is small and careful consideration of food type and food packaging is important.

2. Canisters are not air or water tight so waterproof packaging of contents is important.

3. Canisters should never be left unattended in a pack or with anything attached to them which would allow an animal to drag them off.

4. When not in possession the canister should have the lid secured and be placed on the ground in a location away from sleeping or eating area in which it cannot be easily knocked down a hill or into the water by a curious animal.

Ausable: "That UDAP container Pinetree found on Amazon is on the IGBC-approved list B, in case anyone is wondering."

Thanks.

How to choose

I have garcia barrels that I have used for 30 plus years. Bear barrels are required in parts of the Alaska artic and garcia was recommended to me by Gates of the Artic NP. They also make a decent seat.

Product choice

Tomcat: "

Pinetree: "
These seem very nice and light and will fit into a pack?will these qualify to leave on the ground at portages etc. Only a couple of pounds?


Not cheap tho"

2. Canisters are not air or water tight so waterproof packaging of contents is important.


"

Honest question about BV's before I take the plunge and go this direction. If properly used and not covered with anything waterproof, does I run the risk of food being wet if there is an extended period of rain? I know I can put things in plastic bags inside the can, but with the loss in space over what I currently use, I'm trying to reduce extra packaging as much as possible. Suggestions?

naturboy12:... If (a BV) properly used and not covered with anything waterproof, do I run the risk of food being wet if there is an extended period of rain? ..."

I have used a BV for my last five trips. I've had a few times when I was away from camp and it rained, some sustained, and my BV took on no water. I usually stash it under thick bush or tree cover if possible. At night I store it under my canoe stashed in the woods.

I think you'd need to fully submerge it or leave it laying sideways for water to get inside.

YaMarVa: "At night I store it [my BV] under my canoe stashed in the woods."

Not sure I'd store it under my canoe. You never know what stray odors will attract Yogi, and some boat damage may ensue.

I'll second comments on the adequate water repellency of the Bear Vault. Usually overnight under a bit of tree cover in a depression back in the woods, and nothing has been wet, even after pouring rains.

I did get a bit of water inside my Bear Vault overnight a couple of years ago. The rain was an insane deluge during a severe thunderstorm with high winds. My Bear Vault was stored under trees and I think the problem may have been that it was leaning at an angle instead of perfectly upright. I also might not have screwed the lid on super tight (past both tabs but not perfectly tight). Everything stored under my low tarp got wet that night also, and I even had water blow in under my tent rain fly, so it was quite a storm! I do keep any of my food that doesn’t come in waterproof packaging in zip locks inside the canister, so nothing was ruined.

I haven’t had any other issues with water getting in, other than that one night, and I continue to use and love my Bear Vaults.