Best Bear Canisters of 2023

JUMP TO: BEARVAULT BV500 | BARE BOXER LIGHTWEIGHT CANISTER | BEARVAULT BV450 JAUNT | WILD IDEAS BEARIKADE EXPEDITION | BACKPACKERS CACHE BEAR-PROOF CONTAINER | BUYING ADVICE  | COMMON QUESTIONS

Author: Steve Edgerton | Updated: Aug 27, 2023
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The Short Version

The Long Version

Make no mistake: no hiker wants to carry a bear canister, otherwise known as the least packable piece of backpacking equipment ever designed. But in some areas, these rigid, bulky behemoths are a necessary (and effective) way to safely protect food from bears and other forest critters.

In regions with considerable grizzly bear populations (like the North Cascades, or the entire state of Alaska) and in high-traffic parks with overconfident black bear populations (like Yosemite), bear canisters are highly recommended, if not legally mandated. Although we prefer going with light and low-profile bear bags whenever possible, bear canisters are irrefutably the most effective food storage solution. They are more reliable and less prone to user error than both bear bags and bear hangs. Hence the weight and bulk.

While it is hard to make bear canisters more packable without reducing storage capacity, the best new models are impressively durable and lightweight, especially when considering what they are tasked with doing.

This article highlights the best bear canisters for trips in high-risk bear areas—whether that is a weekend trip in Yosemite, a multi-week expedition in Alaska, or exploring the remote reaches of the Canadian Rockies.

If you love reading this review of the best bear canisters, then you'll likely love reading some of our other hiking and backpacking content:

 

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Not sure when or even if a bear canister is necessary? The answer often depends on local regulations, backcountry facilities, and your personal risk tolerance. Our buying advice at the bottom of the article will walk you through the factors to consider before investing in a bear canister.

 

Best Overall: BEARVAULT BV500

CAPACITY: 11.5 L

WEIGHT: 40 oz / 1.1 kg

DIMENSIONS: 8.7 x 12.7 in /22.1 x 32.3 cm

MATERIALS: Polycarbonate

PRICE: $$

PROS: Intuitive screw-on lid, wide mouth and transparent design for easy organization

CONS: Threaded screw-on lid potentially less durable

The BearVault BV500 Bear Canister is one of the bigger backpacking canisters available. With an 11.5 L capacity good for up to 7-8 days of food for a single person, the BV500 is versatile, durable, relatively light, and reasonably priced—which together make it the best overall bear canister.

Like all BearVault canisters, the BV500 is constructed from transparent polycarbonate and features a screw-top lid secured by two locking tabs. This locking system eliminates the need for a locking tool or screwdriver that other bear canisters rely on.

Organizing and finding supplies in the BV500 is easy thanks to its 7-inch opening and transparent design. The wider diameter means the canister doubles nicely as a camp stool as well. The exterior features grooves and plastic nubs to help the canister stay in place if strapped to the outside of the pack.

At 2.5 pounds, you can’t call the BV500 light, but its weight-to-volume ratio is solid. To save weight while getting 7+ days of storage capacity, the Wild Ideas Bearikade Expedition is one of the few alternatives, and it costs five times (!) more than the BV500.

All said, the BV500 is the most well-rounded bear canister. It is easy to use, easy to organize, and holds a week's worth of food for one or a long weekend’s worth of food for two. It is also approved by both the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) and the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG)—making it an acceptable option for any park in North America with backcountry food storage requirements.

CAPACITY: 4.5 L

WEIGHT: 25.6 oz / 725.7 g

DIMENSIONS: 7.4 x 8 in / 18.8 x 20.3 cm

MATERIALS: ABS Polymer

PRICE: $$

PROS: Lightweight, inexpensive, and durable

CONS: Limited capacity, need screwdriver/knife to open

If you need a hard-sided container for short trips in bear country and want to go as light as possible, then the Bare Boxer Lightweight Canister is your best bet.

The Bare Boxer weighs 25.6 ounces and offers 4.5 L of storage volume. If you pack smartly, that’s enough to cover two people for a two-night trip, with dinner and snacks for the first day packed externally. Solo no-cook ultralighters could push the Bare Boxer to 4 or even 5 days, but realistically, it is most appropriate for 2-3 day weekend adventures.

The canister locks with three latches on the lid that must be screwed tight with a flathead screwdriver or a knife. The latches can be hard to turn and feel a bit clumsy in general, our biggest gripe with this canister.

Otherwise, the Bare Boxer is inexpensive, IGBC and SIBBG-certified, durable, and lightweight—as far as bear canisters go, anyway. For fast and light weekend trips in the Sierras, this is the way to go.

Best for Short Trips: BEARVAULT BV450 JAUNT

CAPACITY: 7.2 L

WEIGHT: 33.6 oz / 952.5 g

DIMENSIONS: 8.7 x 8.3 in / 22.1 x 21.1 cm

MATERIALS: Polycarbonate

PRICE: $$

PROS: Wide and short design packs nicely, doubles as a camp stool

CONS: Weight-to-volume ratio doesn’t match the BV500

A few steps down from the BV500 is the BearVault BV450 Jaunt. Nearly half a pound lighter than the BV500, the BV450 is an excellent option for short and middle-distance trips. Its 7.2 L capacity is enough for two hikers to enjoy a weekend in relative luxury, which is not always true of the smallest and lightest canisters, where ruthless packing and planning out every last calorie is often required.

The BV450 shares all of the features found in the BV500: transparent polycarbonate construction, screw-top lid, and an integrated locking mechanism. It is also IGBC and SIBBG-certified. The key design difference between the two is the shape. The BV450 is more pancake-shaped than cylindrical: this makes it more packable than most canisters, as it fits nicely into a backpack both horizontally and vertically.

The weight-to-volume ratio of the BV450 doesn’t match that of its larger sibling, but the total weight savings and superior packability make it a better choice for weekend group trips or solo 4-6 day adventures.

CAPACITY: 14.7 L

WEIGHT: 36 oz / 1 kg

DIMENSIONS: 9 x 14.5 in / 22.9 x 36.8 cm

MATERIALS: Carbon fiber

PRICE: $$$$

PROS: Excellent weight-to-volume ratio, extremely durable

CONS: Very expensive

Wild Ideas bear canisters spare nothing in chasing optimal weight and performance. Their largest canister, the Bearikade Expedition, is essentially bombproof, yet it weighs the same as canisters providing only half of its monstrous 14.7 L capacity.

But this impressive combination comes at a price. A big one. You could buy every other canister on this list and still spend less than you would on one Bearikade Expedition. It is truly an investment piece, and probably only worth it if you backpack in bear country on an annual basis.

The Expedition has the best weight-to-volume ratio of any IGBC/SIBBC-certified bear canister. It can support groups of 3-4 for 3 days or a single hiker for 12+ days. It is similar in dimensions to the BearVault BV500, but 2 inches taller, slightly wider, and with 3 L of additional capacity. The wide opening is great for organizing supplies, making up for the canister’s black carbon fiber exterior. Its 14+ inch height is unwieldy but also makes it the most comfortable canister camp stool we’ve tried.

The Expedition locks with 3 screws that are almost flush with the lid. Because of this, a knife doesn’t work to secure them. Very few things do, frustratingly, other than a coin or large screwdriver. It is extremely effective, but if you lose the quarter you brought to open the thing, you’ll be the one who’s screwed.

It is hard to justify the massive upfront cost, but Wild Ideas bear canisters are classic “buy it for life” pieces. If the Expedition is too hefty, they also make three smaller canisters (no escaping the hefty price tag, though). These canisters do eventually pay for themselves, though. The Expedition will serve you for dozens and dozens of trips over decades. There is a good reason backpacking trip leaders, Alaskan mountaineers, and grizzled Sierra thru-hikers swear by these things. They are light, they are indestructible, and they are equipped to handle a lifetime’s worth of bear country abuse.

CAPACITY: 10 L

WEIGHT: 43.2 oz / 1.22 kg

DIMENSIONS: 9.25 x 12.5 in / 23.5 x 31.8 cm

MATERIALS: ABS Polymer

PRICE: $

PROS: Inexpensive, very durable

CONS: Heavy, requires a screwdriver/coin to open and close

The Backpackers Cache Bear-Proof Container (formerly known as the Garcia Machine Backpacker’s Cache) is perhaps the most ubiquitous hard-sided food storage container around. These things fill the gear rooms of National Park offices and are rented out to hikers in the Sierras and other notably bear-y regions throughout the Mountain West.

They are ubiquitous for good reason: this midsize bear canister is cheap, sturdy, and time-tested. The 10 L volume is a good size for the vast majority of backcountry outings, and the price makes it worth picking up your own if your bear canister needs are anything more than a one-off event.

The closest comparable canister to the Backpacker’s Cache is the BearVault BV500. The BV500 has 1.5 L of additional capacity and is 3 ounces lighter, while the Backpacker’s Cache canister has a slightly smaller pack size and is 25% cheaper. We think the transparent design and intuitive locking mechanism of BearVaults offer a better user experience, but the Backpacker’s Cache holds its own as an excellent all-around canister: one that is big enough for weeklong solo trips without being overkill for short weekend getaways.

This canister is perhaps the most cost-effective hard-sided container with certification from both the IGBC and SIBBG. It is a classic workhorse piece of gear: you can spend more to save a few ounces, but for most hikers, the Backpackers Cache simply gets the job done with minimal fuss—at a minimal price.

BUYING ADVICE FOR BEAR CANISTERS

Bear Canisters vs. Bear Bags

Hard-sided canisters remain the food storage solution of choice in areas with strict regulations or high bear activity. And although there are now a few IGBC-certified soft-sided bear bags, like those from Ursack, canisters remain the most reliable option.

In some national parks and forests in the US, canisters remain the only option. Before deciding on a bear bag vs. a bear canister, consider where you will be using it and understand the backcountry regulations in those areas. This national park approval map from Ursack is a helpful starting point.

While canisters are heavy and always a pain to pack, the peace of mind they provide is often worth it. Bear bags are more prone to user error. It is easier to close them incorrectly, and even when closed securely, bears can still smash your food supply into unrecognizable mush. Bear canisters are also far more critter-proof.

IGBC and SIBBG Approval

Bear canisters approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) and the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG) means they have passed bear resistance standards developed with human-bear conflict experts and bear biologists. It DOES NOT mean that the canister is unfailingly bear-proof, but they will be pretty close to that if used correctly.

In most parks, soft-sided IGBC-approved bear bags are acceptable alternatives to hard-sided canisters. King’s Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains are notable exceptions. Hard-sided, SIBBG-approved canisters are required throughout most of these parks. All canisters we feature here are approved options.

Capacity

Your bear container must fit not just your food, but all other scented items with you, including toiletries and any cooking supplies that are not thoroughly cleaned and odor-free. Most hikers need about 1.5 to 2 L of storage capacity for every full day on the trail. For example, a 5 L canister is typically adequate for 2-3 days, 10 L for 5-6 days, and 15 L for 8-10 days.

Rigorous meal planning and ultralight tactics like cold-soaked meals will help you ditch unneeded food and cooking gear further. But if in doubt, go for a bigger sized canister. The weight penalty is usually worth the added versatility.

Odor Resistance

Bear canisters are not odor-resistant by themselves. To maximize their effectiveness, you should line your canister with reusable odor-resistant bags like a LOKSAK OPSAK. This will avoid attracting bears and other critters in the first place, which really is the most important aspect of safe backcountry food storage.

Materials

Almost all bear canisters are made from ABS, an opaque thermoplastic polymer, or transparent polycarbonate. Both are extremely durable. ABS plastic adds extra UV protection, while transparent polycarbonate makes organizing and finding things easier.

Lids and locking mechanisms also come in two general varieties. BearVault canisters employ an integrated push and twist locking tab system. Other canisters on our list use a traditional set of screw-like latches and require a special tool, knife, or coin to close and open.

In tests, neither system proves to be significantly more secure or bear-proof than the other. We generally prefer the BearVault system as it eliminates reliance on an external piece of gear that can be easily misplaced or forgotten at home.

Weight

Bear canisters are heavy, there is simply no getting around that. The lightest ones weigh no less than 1.5 pounds and only offer 4 or 5 L of volume, while the largest ones can weigh over 3 pounds. Larger canisters have a lighter weight-to-volume ratio than smaller ones, so on group trips, sharing one larger canister rather than multiple small ones is often ideal.

Wild Ideas Bearikade Canisters have the best weight-to-volume ratio overall thanks to their unique carbon fiber construction, but they are also very expensive.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Do I need a bear canister? In some areas with bear regulations—usually in grizzly country or areas with high incidences of bear-human interactions—a bear canister may be required. However, in most wilderness areas IGBC-certified bear bags are now considered suitable alternatives for safely storing food.

What is the best bear canister? The best overall bear canister is the BearVault BV500. It has enough volume to handle most trips without being unnecessarily heavy. It is also very durable, reasonably priced, and approved for use in every national park and forest.

Are bear canisters heavy? Most bear canisters weigh between 1.5-3 pounds. They are heavy, but manageably so. More frustrating is how difficult they can be to pack due to their rigid walls.

Are bear canisters really bear-resistant? Bear canisters are not 100% bear resistant. But when used properly (securely closed, stored a safe distance from camp, and lined with odor-resistant bags) they are as close to bear-resistant as you can get.

Will bear canisters keep critters out of my food? Perhaps the biggest advantage of bear canisters over bear bags and hangs is their superior critter-proofness. Mice, raccoons, and other forest rodents will never chew through a canister as they can with dry bags and even some bear bags.

MORE INFORMATION

Think a bear bag might do instead of a bear canister? Then be sure to check out our review of the Best Bear Bags.

Otherwise, if you loved this gear review article, then you'll likely love traversing some of our other hiking and backpacking content:

Or check out our entire list of Gear Reviews, Knowledge Base Articles, or Destination Guides for more hiking, backpacking, and outdoors related content.