Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Bear Spray
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Pinetree |
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andym |
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Pinetree |
I will say I like counter assault,but sure some others rank right up there. If you have any what brand? |
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Jaywalker |
I currently have CA's 8.1 oz can and also have high confidence it in. The review above says CA has a better trigger system which may prevent what happened to me, but I have both cans here and have to say the can and trigger systems - at least on the outside - look absolutely identical to me down to the most minor detail. I went with CA this time just because it was at REI when I needed a can. I did also notice in Yellowstone it was in the pockets of most of the rangers I saw. I don't know if that means its any better or not, but I do know it was about $1-2 cheaper in the stores so that could be it too. My personal opinion - its like which pick up is better; Ford or Chevy. People like one or the other, but really both do just about the same thing and both do it well. I can't comment on Frontiersman, MACE brand, or any other bear spray. HALT - to ANDYM's point - is not bear spray, it is dog spray. It is only 0.35% OC (vs 2.0%), and spray's only about 10 feet in a single stream (vs 30+ feet in a cone). I carry it mountain biking in farm country in case of very unfriendly dogs. I see the Bear Center promotes it, but does not cite the research they rely on that I can see, making me think it is their founder - - who also encouraged children to feed wild bears by hand. People can do their research and draw their own conclusions. To me, it very well may be just enough to stop a bear that is not dissuaded by pots and pans banging together, but I personally have no confidence in it to stop any bear that has decided to challenge you for your food. |
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andym |
In grizzly country such as Yellowstone, I would carry one of the true bear sprays. |
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mjmkjun |
Canoearoo: "Apparently old cans leak or explode enough in cars that there is a company dedicated to cleaning it up That's it! Expelling contents on the 5 yrs. expired today. |
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Canoearoo |
Car mace cleanup |
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Canoearoo |
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K |
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BuckFlicks |
Bear Spray isn't excluded in their return policy, but they wouldn't take it back for a refund, even though I didn't crack the safety seal. |
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BAWaters |
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Pinetree |
BAWaters: "If it doesn't work you could just throw the can at it." That was actually done over a decade ago A person went to spray a black bear,it didn't work so he threw the can at it. The bear ran away. |
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andym |
Pinetree: "BAWaters: "If it doesn't work you could just throw the can at it." Yeah, but if people do this often enough one of Yellow Yellow's descendants will probably learn how to use the spray cans to scare the people away from the food. |
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mjmkjun |
K: "I have Counter Assault that expired in 2014. I test fired it twice recently and it still fires over 30 feet." Great! |
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Canoearoo |
*edited to add mine was 5-6 years expired and the plastic top broke off |
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HighnDry |
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MN_Lindsey |
mjmkjun: "K: "I have Counter Assault that expired in 2014. I test fired it twice recently and it still fires over 30 feet." Glad to hear. Not going to griz country. BWCA. Like Jaywalker said its more for peace of mind. Glad to hear from "K" that his still works good. Mine expired this year Feb 2018, so I'm going to use it on my fall trip, and maybe get a new can for 2019 or 2020. LOL on throwing the can at the bear, and bahahha on Yellow Yellows descendants using the spray back on us. They would. Thanks everyone for the tips and not turning this into a debate. I really appreciate that. |
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andym |
I really need to empty our oldest container. |
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Canoearoo |
Lesson learned, the metal can won't break, but the plastic top will. I think the gasket is what expires, and when the gasket goes it takes the top with it |
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LindenTree3 |
MN_Lindsey: You can thank riverrunner for not following the gear thread forum. |
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johnMN |
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mastertangler |
And a smaller can? That would sort of be awesome. I did watch a black bear video however where the guy would blast the bear and yell at it.......it would paw its face but would soon resume steadily pursuing the guy. He would turn around and blast it again all while yelling at it. This happened 3 times and fortunately the guy made it to his vehicle. Not sure how this was filmed but it was definitely not faked. I still really like the idea of a smaller can in canoe country. I have heard that the pepper spray is very effective against moose as well. |
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MN_Lindsey |
For those of you who use it... I know this stuff has an expiration date. Does anyone use their Bear Spray after the expiration date? If so, how far past? Or do you buy new once the old can expires? |
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Tman |
I have a can several years past expiration that I was going to test earlier this summer to train our Boy Scout Venture Crew which is currently on an Amtrak train returning from a backpacking trip in Glacier National Park. We never got around to it. I will probably try it this fall. However, I've never had the need to spray a new can before so won't have a new/old comparison unless our crew brought a can home on the Amtrak (which you are not supposed to do). Bottom line: I would replace upon expiration, particularly in grizzly country. |
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jcavenagh |
Better to spend a few bucks and have a fully charged can than need some distance and not have it. |
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Jaywalker |
I still have a can that's about 1/4 full that expired in 2012. If I can find a good place maybe I'll test the rest of it out to see what it can do. I used the other 3/4 to stop a bison charge in the Yellowstone backcountry. |
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BWPaddler |
K: "I have Counter Assault that expired in 2014. I test fired it twice recently and it still fires over 30 feet." Interesting, thanks. |
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Pinetree |
BWPaddler: "K: "I have Counter Assault that expired in 2014. I test fired it twice recently and it still fires over 30 feet." Someone would know much better than I,but like fire extinguishers we were once told to pound or tap the bottom and sides of a fire extinguisher to shake up contents that might settle. Maybe the same for bear spray? Not the same as a new can but may help get some of the active ingredients back in circulation? |
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boonie |
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BuckFlicks |
Pinetree: "BWPaddler: "K: "I have Counter Assault that expired in 2014. I test fired it twice recently and it still fires over 30 feet." ABC and other dry chemical extinguishers need to be shaken or tapped every once in a while because the powder will eventually settle at the bottom of the canister and the air pressure will hold it down. Shaking and tapping will keep the powder from getting impacted into a puck in the bottom, which will keep it from spraying/spreading effectively if needed to extinguish a fire. I think bear spray is chemical suspended in a liquid or gel... it may need to be shaken occasionally to mix up the solution, but I don't think it would impede the function of the spray if you didn't. |
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andym |
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Canoearoo |
andym: "Were you testing it when it exploded or was it just a spontaneous occurrence?" I was packing for a camping trip and it had just gone into a duluth pack |
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nctry |
Canoearoo: "andym: "Were you testing it when it exploded or was it just a spontaneous occurrence?" |
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Canoearoo |
I only use bears spray 2-3 years after expiration date |
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Canoearoo |
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BAWaters |
andym: "Pinetree: "BAWaters: "If it doesn't work you could just throw the can at it." Maybe catch the can and spray the people. |
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OCDave |
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andym |
One of these days we will take the old ones out for practice. |
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mjmkjun |
Five years after expiration year I'll empty it out in the woods in back of the house--wind at my back ;-)--then toss empty in the trash can. I buy new whenever I go to grizzly country (Alaska or YNP). I don't exactly have to force myself to go to those places every five yrs. I love my system of replenishing. ;-) Last place I acquired one was at REI in Anchorage, AK in June 2017! LindenTree3 got that one upon my departure. I would have donated it to a ranger station, otherwise. When I visit Yellowstone, I get a new one and I send it back home to myself via USPS ground ship only and has to be double walled & sealed to USPS specs. Occasionally, USPS had a canister that would go off by its own and fill the station with pepper spray--so they now require double packaging & airtight sealing tape. Sorry if I rambled too much. I blame the new brand of coffee. |
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Pinetree |
Jaywalker: "If your in Minnesota, I'd argue the main reason for bear spray is your own piece of mind. I believe that past the expiration date the can still spray well; MAYBE not 100%, but probably close. So if it's a couple years out of date, would you sleep well knowing it might be 95%, 90%, 85% as good? I don't know what the number really is, but personally would be ok in MN with a can that was a little out of date. If heading to grizzly country, I'd stick with the expiration date. Kind of agree,but when I head to Griz country I want a fully charged bottle and the larger Counter Assault bottle. Also I wonder like a fire extinguisher you should pound the bottom time to time? |
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ozarkpaddler |
OCDave: "Where will it be used? If going to grizzly country, I'd replace it. Anywhere else, I'd continue to use the expired can. My thoughts exactly. |
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BobDobbs |
I did try to spray an unused cannister that was several years past expiration and the pathetic stream that resulted was really an eye opener. It wouldn't have been enough to deter a trash panda, let alone a real bear. |
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LindenTree3 |
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Pinetree |
BobDobbs: "I wouldn't discard it the day it expires...maybe wait a year? I had really old ones and they still worked fine,as effective? Expiration? Not sure I just looked at one I got a few years back(time flies-so not sure) but it expires in 2019) |
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Pinetree |
LindenTree3: " How long does Bear Spray last? " 4 years 4 years max. spraying distance |
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ducks |
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