Im not happy about having to buy bear canisters...but I don't want to hang 8 days of food and damage trees so we are getting a couple, and will have a small cold food backpack just for the 1st few days until we are out of cold food.
Anyway, my question is, do you pack them in the old school boundary waters packs for portaging so they are easier to carry or do you strap them to a pack?
They could even just fill in around the other packs in the canoe I suppose, but then would be in direct sunlight. Putting them in packs and packing things around them seems to be the right play, we've just never used them.

At camp, ofcourse they will be tossed in a low area in the woods back behind the campsite.

thanks

We have just placed them in the usual portage packs. Then we fill space around them with smaller stuff.

You can use a dedicated backpack to carry several canisters, you can place a canister in your pack with other equipment, you can attach a canister to the outside of your backpack, you can shoulder carry a canister with a shoulder strap attached and you can hand carry a canister with hand grip attached. I have tried each of these methods and prefer attaching the canister to the outside of my backpack. Reminder - never leave canisters unattended inside a backpack or with straps attached for an animal to use as a hold to carry off.

I just put them in packs. Note: prolonged UV exposure can weaken them over time, so store appropriately. I always tried to limit as much as possible. See website.

CCS rucksack holds 2 BV 500's perfectly

I used to put it in my main pack with everything else (CCS Guide or Pioneer depending on the trip) when I single portaged on solo trips or when I was tandem with one of my kids. Now, I always put it in my daypack (CCS Wanderer) for solo trips because I don't single portage anymore and tandem trips with one of my kids. If I ever need to bring 2 of them I'll carry them in a CCS Rucksack.

We put them on-end in a portage pack, and I slide a crazy creek chair or piece of closed cell foam behind them for extra padding against my back. Then weasel other stuff in to hold them in place. On a long trip where we bring 3, two as standing as noted above, and in another pack, the 3rd may lay crosswise, atop other gear, unless I have something of similar weight/size to balance next to #3. Once we eat down some food, we begin to add kitchen objects to the bear barrels, such as cookware, bowls, etc. I put reflective tape on either end in case I need to find them in the woods, after dark, other than where I placed them. I try to always keep them in the shade.

When I use them, I'll take one or two BV500s in my grey GG food pack. I happen to have an insulated zippered insert for this pack. For what it's worth, two canisters fit side by side standing up inside the insert with room to spare on top for other kitchen gear and would even fit a 3rd canister inside laying on its side if that was ever needed.

I don't find the insulated insert to be necessary, but I have it so I use it and kind of like it. Makes for a solid carry and tidy pack and offers some limited insulation on day 1 before the canisters get placed in the woods.

chessie: "I put reflective tape on either end in case I need to find them in the woods, after dark, other than where I placed them. I try to always keep them in the shade. "

+1

I put mine inside a Kondos/ Portage North food pack . It fits 4 BV 500 perfectly. I line it with a contractor bag and a cardboard box to give it structure.