Link Below

So thinking about the Hang Restrictions (which I dont love) and taking fresh food, this is something I am toying with.
I am just looking at options at this point.

This cooler ($90) fits perfectly into a grey portaging pack...like CCS or Kondos/Portage North food pack. I have not removed tags and have the receipt. Still battling the positives and negatives right now.

The problem is it reduces the food storage by around 60% in the large food pack. It fits in perfectly for portaging, sitting on its end. It is 17 lbs by itself and not ideal, but the hang order makes food storage less than ideal no matter what...if you want fresh food. We do take 4 of the REI red bear canisters also for the non fresh food. Of course, all of this depends on your group size. I am looking at a group of 4. I am trying to avoid hanging.

It is Grizzly tested and meets the requirements. You latch it and put a lock on it (I think you have to lock it, not sure yet, to be grizzly safe) and then can leave it in camp over night...maybe put it back in the woods.
Small advantage, it works perfectly as a seat, so maybe take 1 less camp chair.

Thoughts?

cooler

We bring 15-20 men up each fall broke into 3 groups. After the new rules we switched to Lifetime 55 qt coolers. One group brought one, the other two camps brought two per camp. We are base campers. The reason for the larger size was to accomadate frozen milk containers with water in them. We use two per cooler. If you put the food in frozen, and use two 1/2 gallon containers of frozen water, things were still cold from Sunday through Friday.

This year the decision was made to not bring the bearvaults/BV500's but rather one smaller cooler (probably 35qt) for things that don't need to be kept cool, and the larger ones for frozen things. Two guys can easily carry a 55 qt cooler between them with the rope handles over the portage. They would much rather do that then run back and forth for 6-7 BV 500's which don't keep anything cold.

Marshall, while I no longer canoe trip I still camp a lot. Have used lifetime coolers for several years. They are better in my opinion than Yeti keeping contents cooler longer. They are certified by the IGBC and need a lock or bolt'/nut securing them closed. They are thick (the reason they perform so well) and rubber gasket-ed to seal. When I did trip I never carried fresh food so never a cooler, seemed to much hassle for my solo tripping preferences. But when it comes to camp coolers Lifetime is my choice. bh

This kind of cooler or a Yeti cooler is good to bring for your food. You will need to keep it locked at night or when away fishing to be certified as a food container. I would also suggest you lock it to a tree with a cable lock also.

I use a Boundary Waters Journal Food Pack. I've used it on two trips now. Both times I put two - one (or half)-gallon jugs of frozen water in the packs. Still had ice in them on the 5th day. Kept my fresh food plenty cold.

Just a pain in the ass to portage! My secret, make the other members carry it ;)

bnics: "I use a Boundary Waters Journal Food Pack. I've used it on two trips now. Both times I put two - one (or half)-gallon jugs of frozen water in the packs. Still had ice in them on the 5th day. Kept my fresh food plenty cold.

Just a pain in the ass to portage! My secret, make the other members carry it ;)"

Doesn't solve the compliance problem with bear certified containers or hanging. If you don't want to hang, the BWJ Food pack is out.

Fair point. Completely missed the "no hanging" portion of the thread.

Could always put BearVaults or Ursacks inside them!

Yes, we have used those big food packs for years and love them (used the upside down canoe on top at night for 25 trips with no issues with bears) but hanging those is just a ridiculous event. SO DIFFICULT. They usually weigh close to 70 lbs on day 1. So that is what I am thinking about putting this cooler inside to portage. It just reduces the food storage of the pack by at least 50 %.

Food ALWAYS go with us in the canoe when out fishing for the day/afternoon/evening. NEVER left alone at camp. Yes, I will plan to lock it at night and either stash in the woods with a bell on it (right beside our REI bear barrels) or leave it in near camp. Chaining to a tree isnt a bad idea.

Our crew uses the 55Q Lifetime coolers and we love them. We have two of them and my sons are both pack mules so they do the portaging. The grandkids aren't ready to haul them for a couple of more years but they sure love the real food that we now bring in for a week. We use bolts/nuts to meet compliance and we'll add the cable to lock them to a tree this year (thanks for the tip Savage Voyageur!).
Blessings,
Papa

bnics: "Fair point. Completely missed the "no hanging" portion of the thread.


Could always put BearVaults or Ursacks inside them!"

Some have advocated for this but I don't get the point. The bear would simply haul off the pack by the straps or fabric. The reason bearvaults work is they are hard for the bear to get a grip on. Ursacks also are easily hauled off and even if tied to a tree the food will be destroyed.

I realize we are base campers. However certified bear coolers has really freed us up to cook/eat what we want and not worry about bears or compliance.

I agree with you ockycamper. My comment is only a recommendation to be "legal" in regards to the requirements.

bnics: "Fair point. Completely missed the "no hanging" portion of the thread.


Could always put BearVaults or Ursacks inside them!"

Putting Ursacks into your existing food storage container also makes sense to me.

I believe many experienced BWCA canoers on this forum have a method they are confident in and, through that experience, has proven to be effective for them. They don't want to change from that method yet also want to be in compliance with current food storage regulations. While it adds some cost, this seems like the best way I've seen put forward to accomplish those objectives: comply with the current regs and continue doing what you were familiar, confident and comfortable with to keep food safe from being eaten or damaged by bears.

While the coolers being discussed may be an option for basecampers who are fine with their bulk and weight, they just don't seem very practical for those that move around much or hope to cover much territory on their trips.

What do I know. I'm an Adirondacks NY Green Mountain VT camper and camper. I have struggled over the years with hanging food bags. The disparity between the cute little diagrams in outdoor and camping books and the reality is vast. Many times it's virtually impossible. I took a rather heavy 1/2" arborist line for a while and even a second line with a pulley. It's still frustrating...and then a half hour after dark, after two people struggling for a half hour... someone says they left something in the food bag and need it back down. No more.

I have used army surplus ammo cans. . particularly the 20.mm.and the larger 30mm cans. They are not lightweight but they're not THAT heavy. With their gasketed locking lid, they are waterproof and smell proof. They can go overboard full loaded and usually still float. They are bombproof durable and they cost $20-40 each. The locking handles need a light stainless steel cable between the two of them so a bear cannot open it. Not a great solution for portaging but to my mind...if there are multiple portages on a trip, that changes the food and storage strategies dramatically.

I have been using an insulated Mule Bag cooler bag for cold food but I'm thinking after several year, it's better suited for the beach or music festivals. Mice like to get into it. It's not even close to bear prior. I think I may experiment with getting one of the larger army ammo cans and putting an envelope of 1" rigid insulation inside it.for a durable animal-proof cooler.

I like the ideas but the problem is, to meet the law, they have to be Bear Approved Storage Items by IGBC and on the Approved Products list.


List of Approved Containers