Anyone try these? Kinda spendy but I would pay if it is truly ‘proof’ not just resistant. I’m just not strong enough to hang bags.

Here's the standard most Federal agencies rely on Bear canisters , and here's a current pdf (Oct 2019) of accepted canisters IGBC accepted canisters .

The Bearikade is not included on the list, and their website doesn't reference the IGBC acceptance, rather "Bearikades are used by these and many other groups: National Park Service Rangers, Wildfire Fighters, Search & Rescue, U.S. State Department, Boy Scouts of America, Alaskan Hunting Guides"Bearikade .

So, they may not be legal for where you paddle, but they might be effective.

MReid summed it up pretty well.

Only want to add: The Bearikade may be an effective product, but won't be acceptable in places that require such things. Just because a canister (or sack) is IGBC approved, is not a guarantee that it is accepted for use in any given area that requires use of "bear resistant" food storage, so if you have any particular such place in mind, it would be a good idea to check there first. Acceptable ones vary from one place to another.

Even the federal accepted containers are described as resistant not bear-proof. When dealing with a grizzly, brown or polar bear there is no portable bear-proof container.

If you are going to be using this ONLY in the BWCAW it is probably a fine container. I like everything about it but the price. There are currently no regulations about food storage in the BWCAW, so its status with the feds doesn't matter. If you plan to travel in areas that do have food storage regulations you need to get approved containers or they won't give you a permit.

I used bear vaults for the first time on my latest trip and really enjoyed not having the hassle of hanging food. Spent that time out on the lake.

Cool thanks for the clarification. Yes interested in bwca mostly, Wisconsin sometimes and the farthest I go is Michigan. For the price I kinda expected it would be special! Ill try less expensive first though.

MinnesotaJenny, if you do go with a canister and are interested I have 2 Granite Gear Nimbus Core packs meant specifically for canisters.

butthead

The Bearikade (I have one) is accepted by Yosemite as an approved container. Approved I carried it on the JMT and the Sierra section of the PCT. Rangers checked it, all was good. They are pretty careful about bears in Yosemite, Yosemite will not even approve the Ursak, despite the Ursak being certified by the IGBC. I use an Ursak in the BWCA .I also added the optional aluminum liner to make it crush proof. Ursak. I sleep well with this configuration, and worry more about the candy bar I forgot in my pocket. The Ursak Major XL easily held 9 days of food for me (much was freeze dried and repackaged).

Here is an interesting article by Andrew Skurka (highly regarded in hiking circles). Article