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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Home Depot Blue Barrels
 
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ockycamper
03/10/2023 05:57PM
  
We got rid of the blue barrels and went to BV500's years ago.
 
timatkn
03/15/2023 09:16AM
  
A1t2o: "ockycamper: "We got rid of the blue barrels and went to BV500's years ago."



I wish they made bear vaults so that 2 could stack to fit a 30L and 60L barrel bag. I have a CCS pack for a 30L barrel and I don't like the idea of not using it. I'd imagine that there are many people in my situation that would like something more bear proof but don't want to change their whole system. "


I like the blue barrels better than the BV500’s but I have both—depending on. The situation. I have the CCS 30 L barrel bag—I have not used it yet. I’ll try to test my BV500’s in it When I get a chance and report back.


It doesn’t seem like the BV500’s will fit well? But I’ll try it out before judging.


In the past I didn’t have the CCS 30L barrel harness I just pout the BV500’s in a pack—-definitely didn’t packs as well as the 30L barrels but maybe I just need to be more creative.


T
 
timatkn
03/15/2023 08:39AM
  
Yea, I looked at the comments doesn’t seem to be the same as the barrels sold for camping. The key differences seems to be the locking seal. Doesn’t seem to be water tight and obviously not locking scents in. The handles are different as well.


If you are going to use barrels for camping the key factor is reducing scent. Also just for practical use you want water tightness. If I use the barrels one has gear in and the other carries food…I don’t want either getting wet. (Two 30L barrels).


I’ve tested some of the off brands with my GSP. He can smell food on the off brands, the barrels I bought specifically for camping he walks by unnoticed. Ironically I now use the off brand barrel for his dog food—keeps the mice out.


Obviously a bear has a better sense of smell than my dog, but it’s a good test of smell reduction…usually I am camped on a lake with every one else using the ole bear piñata method…hanging their food up, thus carrying their smells further into the woods, while my camp has minimal smell. Nothing is full proof, but I doubt my camp smells as attractive as theirs :) If you buy this barrel you don’t get the smell reduction benefit nor the water protection.


T



 
iCallitMaize
03/15/2023 09:58AM
  
The Home Depot barrel will work just fine. Use a bead of silicone in the lid groove and you will have her water-tight in no time.
 
mschi772
03/07/2023 03:21PM
  
In the sense that it is a high density polyethylene open head drum, yes, it is the same as other blue HDPE open head drums. If I didn't already have one, I wouldn't buy one today. It is only a matter of time before people make the situation with bears so bad that methods and containers that are approved to be bear-resistant will be required at all times, and these HDPE open head drums are not bear resistant. I still use mine as a rigid, waterproof pack, but at camp, my food is stored in an Opsack inside an Ursack.
 
ockycamper
03/15/2023 08:56AM
  
A1t2o: "ockycamper: "We got rid of the blue barrels and went to BV500's years ago."



I wish they made bear vaults so that 2 could stack to fit a 30L and 60L barrel bag. I have a CCS pack for a 30L barrel and I don't like the idea of not using it. I'd imagine that there are many people in my situation that would like something more bear proof but don't want to change their whole system. "


They do. Any decent sized pack will hold 2 BV500 bearvaults. We have an NRS Boundary Bag that will hold 4. I would guess that the CCS pack would hold 2 BV500s easily.
 
A1t2o
03/14/2023 07:56PM
  
ockycamper: "We got rid of the blue barrels and went to BV500's years ago."


I wish they made bear vaults so that 2 could stack to fit a 30L and 60L barrel bag. I have a CCS pack for a 30L barrel and I don't like the idea of not using it. I'd imagine that there are many people in my situation that would like something more bear proof but don't want to change their whole system.
 
timatkn
04/04/2023 12:40PM
  
A1t2o: "ockycamper: "We got rid of the blue barrels and went to BV500's years ago."



I wish they made bear vaults so that 2 could stack to fit a 30L and 60L barrel bag. I have a CCS pack for a 30L barrel and I don't like the idea of not using it. I'd imagine that there are many people in my situation that would like something more bear proof but don't want to change their whole system. "



Alt2o: Finally dug out my CCS 30 L harness and put the BV500's in it. You can stack 2 on top of each other, then you have room on the sides. It's not great but you could make it work. YOu would need to pack around the Barrels to have a good fit, maybe tarps, other loose gear. 2 stacked are a little higher than a 30L barrel so the pack is loose on the sides and tight on the top.


You loose a little food volume 2 BV500 is 6 gallons a 30L barrel is 6.6 gallons.


Hope that helps.


T
 
TomP
03/07/2023 01:07PM
  
Is this the same as blue barrels from other vendors?

Home Depot barrel
 
Mocha
03/07/2023 01:27PM
  
Read through the comments, esp pages 2 and 3. seems it doesn't get much thumbs up for water tight, air tight or food safe.