Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Bear resistant food containers?
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TominMpls |
Understand that to actually hang a non-resistent pack correctly takes time and practice, or a lucky site. Back when I would hang I never had a bear get into my bag, but I did have lots of rodents eat my food - a situation I've never once had happen since I started use bearvaults and ursacks. That said, on a first trip I wouldn't buy an ursack or bearvault. They're expensive investments for people who plan to use them a bunch. You could probably rent a bearvault from an outfitter, but otherwise I'd just put the food inside an odorproof bag (such as an OpSak), put that bag inside a hangable pack, and hang it. It'll probably take you a half hour to get it right, and another fifteen minutes to retrieve it in the morning, but that's part of the experience, right? Recall that most camp pests - both bears and mini-bears - are creatures of habit. Even if you keep a clean camp, you'll notice the same perfect tree to hang that every other camper at that site notices. When the squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and maybe bears come into camp they don't even need to smell it - they'll go where the bag always is, and they'll have a snack. So try to hang it away from camp, in a place others haven't used. |
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Portage99 |
Much easier! Hack |
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mschi772 |
jrlatt: "mschi772: "Your options for bear resistant containers are: My language was chosen deliberately. Limiting the discussion to containers that are realistic for these uses (so no steel vaults for example), no container is bear-proof. That kind of guarantee just can't be given. Bear resistance, as far as I'm concerned, is earned by passing something like the IGBC testing program. Blue barrels have not earned this distinction and, as pictured below, it's not just the crappy ones made infamous by Fishguts but also the better ones that have demonstrated their lack of proper resistance. |
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ashlandjack |
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boonie |
The vast majority of people never have a bear visit. In that case, everything works. Keep odors to a minimum, keep a clean camp, keep food put away and secured by whatever method you use. Don't put your greasy bacon and garlic fingers all over your food container. Don't feed the cute little mice, chipmunks, etc. Pack out the leftovers, wrappers, etc. Don't camp at sites with obvious signs of bear trouble or visitation, i.e. a pile of bear scat in camp. Hanging has been used for a long time, but depends on a good hang, which is not always easy to achieve. In places such as the Barrenlands there is no place to hang. Hanging is not permitted in some heavily used places where bears have become accustomed to it and adept at getting hung food. Those places require "approved" bear resistant containers such as BearVaults, Backpackers Cache, Ursacks, Bearikades, etc. The approval comes from the SIBBG and the IGBC. You can read about those tests at their sites and also some information at the BearVault and Ursack sites I linked. There is also stashing (see Cliff Jacobson), which can be employed with food packs, blue barrels, buckets, Vittles Vaults (none of which are "approved" bear resistant containers), as well as with the BearVaults, Ursacks, etc. The non-approved containers do not offer the same level of protection as the approved ones if a bear finds it. All things work if no bear finds it. None works all the time, but some offer much greater protection than others. You may be able to rent or borrow a bear canister rather than buy. You can usually rent them at places that require them, but I think there's a place that rents them by mail. Bear canisters are not large, so be aware of the size limitations. You can find dimensions on the websites. |
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schweady |
Portage99: "Hack " Great. Now I have to be on the lookout for credit card-carrying bears... :-) |
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campnfish |
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boonie |
Those options don't have large volumes, so food (and packaging) needs to be compact. Other options - things like blue barrels, buckets, Vittles Vaults (pet food container) - rely mostly on odor containment and stashing out of the way. Of course, there's always the option of hanging a food pack. |
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jrlatt |
I have used the blue barrels for years with no problems. I am currently using a 30l. I think you should read what Cliff has to say. There is also a good video on youtube if you search bear and knife lake Cliffs Jacobson recommendations Have a great trip |
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jrlatt |
mschi772: "Your options for bear resistant containers are: Bear walking away from blue barrel I agree blue barrels are not bear proof. I disagree they are not bear resistant. The BV has been redesigned, due to some smart bears. BV failure Have a nice day |
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BWPaddler |
Then I heard of stashing or caching and I just made sure all my food was in plastic and then inside a thick plastic liner bag and then in a pack. The theory there was two take that pack someplace off the beaten path where a bear would not think to look and ensure no smells led the bear to the pack. Despite all the reports of the mini and micro bears that chew through canvas to get food, I have never ever had even one nibble with this approach. This caching worked perfectly for quite some time, and eventually I got even lazier and didn't like paddling a little ways from Camp to put the pack in an unsuspecting place, or gearing up to paddle over and get it again in the morning. So now, as I noted above I use a bear vault. The downside to that is that my cooking gear does not fit inside and no doubt smells like food. So I sometimes just leave that on the grate in the hopes that the bear will recognize there's nothing left to lick. The food in the vault I just walk to a place on the edge of Camp that's not on the latrine Trail LOL. I stick it in the shadow of a rock or under the lowest limbs of a tree. Much easier to collect again in the morning. If you are anywhere near the metro area you would be welcome to borrow a bear Vault for your initial trip. I own three of them and I'm quite sure I don't need them all at the same time this summer. Drop me an e-mail. |
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boonie |
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billconner |
Lable it confirmation bias if you wish but when I googled the definition of that term I found "the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories." My own empirical evidence is over 20 years, and Scouts much longer, hardly "new". If you don't like to hang, good options above, especially if you like very compact dried food. I use the CCS deluxe food pack - 80+ liters. I like some fresh food and enjoy the sport of hunting for the tree and hanging the bag. Don't know what will work best for you. |
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MagicPaddler |
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Zulu |
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TipsyPaddler |
I am a fan of the Ursacks but they are not cheap and maybe overkill for a first, short trip. |
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sdebol |
Portage99: "FYI, I had trouble opening the BearVault. I’ve been googling for hacks. For a slick way to open the bearvault, place a credit card or thin pocket knife against the clicker tabs. Yes, especially when it is cold. I use the tip of the little pliers on a leatherman juice multi knife—just keep them closed and push on the little tabs as you open. The knife handle provides nice leverage too. We usually just keep one sitting by the vaults. |
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TominMpls |
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andym |
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Jaywalker |
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mschi772 |
billconner: "I believe Northern Tier, who send a lot if Scouts into the wilderness, still hang. I'd wager that if it was not overwhelming successful, they'd change. My apologies. The logical fallacy at work in the "I've been doing X for this long and nothing has ever gone wrong" is normalcy bias. Sorry for the mix-up. Good hangs are effective. Most hangs are NOT good hangs. That's neither here nor there because the OP asked about bear resistant containers, not hanging. |
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TominMpls |
Personally I've gone backpacking in the BWCA with a lot of people who use nothing bear resistant at all - their tactic is to put their food in odorproof bags and stash - on the ground - in the woods where animals aren't looking for it. They've never had trouble with that approach while I was with any of them. But I don't do it, I use a Bearvault or an ursack because I want bear resistant. They have an approach that works for them, but it's not bear resistant. |
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novak324 |
I’m a first time BWCA goer this summer. I’m doing just a brief weekend base camping on Seagull lake, but have been researching a ton & just trying to be as prepared as possible so I enjoy it & feel ready to take on a longer trip with more portages later on! So right now, I’m looking for a cheap bear resistant food container. And any advice on this at this point. Thanks! |
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billconner |
mschi772: "billconner: "I believe Northern Tier, who send a lot if Scouts into the wilderness, still hang. I'd wager that if it was not overwhelming successful, they'd change. Quoting: "Normalcy bias, or normality bias, is a cognitive bias which leads people to disbelieve or minimize threat warnings. Consequently, individuals underestimate the likelihood of a disaster, when it might affect them, and its potential adverse effects." By hanging, I dont underestimate a thing. There is a minute chance a bear might get my food pack hanging in a tree. Hardly a diaster for me if once in hundreds of trips the bear wins. |
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A1t2o |
I prefer an alarm system and the blue barrel, I use a sound grenade for my alarm. The whole point is to slow the bear down long enough to scare it off. As long as the bear doesn't get any food in it's mouth, you should be able to scare it off. A blue barrel is cheap enough to replace too in the event that a bear does damage it. |
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BWPaddler |
Portage99: "FYI, I had trouble opening the BearVault. I’ve been googling for hacks. For a slick way to open the bearvault, place a credit card or thin pocket knife against the clicker tabs. In Camp, I usually just pick up a stick and push it in as I'm turning the lid. Without a stick or some other leverage it is indeed pretty hard. My whole approach is to put the Vault between my two legs and hold it while I try to turn the lid with one hand and push the tab in with a stick with my other hand. I figure if it's hard for me hopefully it will be impossible for the bear LOL |
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Blatz |
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andym |
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jrlatt |
This was posted by ragged ragged I will still use my blue barrel. I will also continue to keep a clean camp and making sure all food smells are in a sealed container. You do not want to have spilled food on the outside of your food container. Having a sow walk away from a blue barrel After spending a lot work getting it down. There was some footage of the video that was removed from the original post. The sow head was right above the barrel, then she just walked away. To me that is a thumbs up for there usefulness even if they not certified. Have a nice day |
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boonie |
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EddyTurn |
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mschi772 |
Ursack Bearvault Garcia Wild Ideas Bearikade Lighter1 (and some others that are much like those above but inferior in some way imo such that I never remember them) None of these are cheap. Ignoring Bearikade which has astronomical prices, Ursack has the largest volumes coming in at 30 liter or 15 liter. Bearvault BV500 is the next biggest at 11.5 liter. This is highly dependent upon MANY factors, but I generally feed 4 people for a week with 60 liters with some bulkier foods and less than perfect packing. Gamma sealed buckets are NOT bear resistant. Vittles Vaults are NOT bear resistant. Blue barrels are NOT bear resistant. I'm not saying you can't use these, but don't lie to yourself or your friends about what they are/aren't. Tripping for years with no problems is not proof of bear resistance. That is normalcy bias and nothing more. |