There's a guy on Facebook Market place selling blue barrels for $10. He has pallets full of them. They have a bit of an odor to them, as they had some sort of pharmaceutical stored in them, but they are really nice, with a good seal, and seem brand new. They are 10 gallons, so about 38L or so, I would guess. I bought 4 of them.

The bad new is, he is located in litchfield, about an hour west of the twin cities.

I'm looking around for an inexpensive harness. I see steep and cheap has the Harmony Harness, but I might get the GG, or the CCS instead.

Thanks analyzer! I just got two. Inside they're 21" tall by 14" diameter. That's 53 L. I shopped a little and chose Chinook for a harness.

How do they compare to the ones you would rent from an outfitter, think those are 60l, so size is similar at least?

I never considered using these until this year, when I've got two large groups a week in the Quetico. It looks similar to all... see pic.

Hey Analyzer,

How did you get the odor out of yours? The guy I used to buy barrels from around Chicago sold me one which had a pharmaceutical. Whenever I'd close it up for a while (hours, day tops) it would smell so horrible inside. It's been on the side of my house outside for the last 2 years hoping that time and exposure will get it out.

I tried washing it thoroughly as well as baking soda....

The blue barrels that we use started life with laundry detergent in them. The smell was very strong after being shut for any amount of time. I washed them several times with no luck.

The thing that finally worked was to set them outside full of water for a few weeks. I put them under the downspouts and used the water to water the garden. When I thought they were out there long enough I dumped a few ounces of bleach in each one and let that cook for a few hours before scrubbing them out. They have been odor free ever since.

D

WiresNPipes: "I never considered using these until this year, when I've got two large groups a week in the Quetico. It looks similar to all... see pic. "

Careful, that one on the right is not latched properly. The lip of the lid is not inside of the closing ring completely. It will leak that way and may damage the lid or the ring clamp.

Dammfast: "The blue barrels that we use started life with laundry detergent in them. The smell was very strong after being shut for any amount of time. I washed them several times with no luck.

The thing that finally worked was to set them outside full of water for a few weeks. I put them under the downspouts and used the water to water the garden. When I thought they were out there long enough I dumped a few ounces of bleach in each one and let that cook for a few hours before scrubbing them out. They have been odor free ever since.


D"

Thanks, I'll give that a try. Haven't checked the barrel yet this year. It's been sitting upside down open to the dirt since fall ~18 months ago.

Mirazyme has always worked well for me as an odor eliminator.

Thanks arneser! I'll fix that right away. Hope it's not damaged too badly.

I haven't been able to eliminate the odor yet. But I've only washed them so far. I ordered a GG Vapor flatbed barrel harness, which at $99 was on the spendy side, but I rationalized, the the barrels are normally $49-$79 so, by getting them for $10, I could splurge a bit on a good harness.

The GG's get very good reviews.

My wash cloth turned yellow, as did my jeans when I was washing them. My Brother n law bought two of them, and he said the yellow stain is from a chemical called Tumarac, which is a yellow spice found in Indian food. It's apparently food safe at least.

The barrels seem like very good quality. The odor, while still present, seems a little weaker. So maybe time will tame it down a bit. I was kinda of hoping the pungent smell, might keep bears away, however, if it's a food spice, perhaps that's wishful thinking. I may have to try the water and bleach trick. Maybe I'll just run my outboard in the barrel. LOL.

Turmeric stains things, analyzer - it's what makes mustard yellow. If bleach doesn't do it, try the Mirazyme.

try household vinegar...or bleach. buy 4 gallons. dump in and seal. let it set for a day or two then dump and scrub with baking soda. put in full sun with lid off to air for a few days. sunshine is a great disinfector.

Odor's gone. A few squirts of a weak solution of dawn dish soap (I use it to find air leaks in tires and plumbing), wipe it out with a paper towel. Rinse with sink sprayer and hot water. Leave a slobber (cup) of water in it and add a tablespoon or two of baking soda. Replace lid and shake well, turning every which way. Rinse that out. Finally, set the barrel upside down on a post outside for a couple days. Mine happen to enjoy a light intermittent breeze and overcast skies. My wife (sensitive sniffer) can't smell any residual odor.

though I've never tried or even seen any barrel harness until I received my Chinook ones, I'm impressed.

WiresNPipes: "Odor's gone. A few squirts of a weak solution of dawn dish soap (I use it to find air leaks in tires and plumbing), wipe it out with a paper towel. Rinse with sink sprayer and hot water. Leave a slobber (cup) of water in it and add a tablespoon or two of baking soda. Replace lid and shake well, turning every which way. Rinse that out. Finally, set the barrel upside down on a post outside for a couple days. Mine happen to enjoy a light intermittent breeze and overcast skies. My wife (sensitive sniffer) can't smell any residual odor.


though I've never tried or even seen any barrel harness until I received my Chinook ones, I'm impressed."

left mine out in the rain, stink is all but gone. Thanks for the suggestion.

Just received my GG vapor harness thingy. I like it alot. Seems very well constructed.

Do these have any bear resistance? Or is it more to keep food dry and small critters out? Any idea on the barrel weight?

I've read that bears can and do smash these blue food barrels. My scale says I'm 8# heavier with both barrels ;-)

WiresNPipes: "I've read that bears can and do smash these blue food barrels. My scale says I'm 8# heavier with both barrels ;-)"

I've also read that bears can and do get at food packs that are hung in trees. How often do you get your food pack as high off the ground as you are supposed to? What are the odds of hurting yourself getting it up there? I'd personally take the chance with the blue barrels hidden away from the campsite instead of the risks involved with hanging.

I have just run into too many close calls being tired and making poor decisions or mistakes.

Um, odors not gone. Might leave it or try mirazyme or another suggestion here. I don't mind it and I doubt my wife does. Just showed to brother. Opened to same odor.

WiresNPipes: "Odor's gone. A few squirts of a weak solution of dawn dish soap (I use it to find air leaks in tires and plumbing), wipe it out with a paper towel. Rinse with sink sprayer and hot water. Leave a slobber (cup) of water in it and add a tablespoon or two of baking soda. Replace lid and shake well, turning every which way. Rinse that out. Finally, set the barrel upside down on a post outside for a couple days. Mine happen to enjoy a light intermittent breeze and overcast skies. My wife (sensitive sniffer) can't smell any residual odor.


though I've never tried or even seen any barrel harness until I received my Chinook ones, I'm impressed."

Getting the food 12 feet high and 6 feet out is not easy for me. But I plan to for the barrel.

WiresNPipes: "Getting the food 12 feet high and 6 feet out is not easy for me. But I plan to for the barrel. "

I wrap a rope around my 30 L blue barrel to secure to a tree in plain sight of camp. Mostly to keep an animal from knocking it around and possibly rolling it in lake. I reason that if I do get a bear in camp the bear spray will be utilized. So far, no issues in 9 years of BWCA campsites. I make sure there are no traces of food smells on lid or body of the barrel (fingerprint of bacon grease, a smear of peanut butter, etc) and the ring/hasp is secured after each meal.

A1t2o: "

WiresNPipes: "I've read that bears can and do smash these blue food barrels. My scale says I'm 8# heavier with both barrels ;-)"

I've also read that bears can and do get at food packs that are hung in trees. How often do you get your food pack as high off the ground as you are supposed to? What are the odds of hurting yourself getting it up there? I'd personally take the chance with the blue barrels hidden away from the campsite instead of the risks involved with hanging.


I have just run into too many close calls being tired and making poor decisions or mistakes. "

I agree. If you are lightly packed it isn't hard but any kind of weight and it is a chore pulling that thing 12 feet up. I use a homemade barrel and leave it on the other side of camp. If a bear gets in so be it. I've never even seen one up there and I don't keep camp the cleanest.

Does anyone know if these are still available? Any contact info for the seller?
Thanks!

I might just lash it to a tree and stack cleaned mess kit near with a string to upset it. My boy said that's how he's gonna play it.

I'll email you his Facebook link.