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Size of bear canisters
#51179 07/25/17 01:44 PM
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What's the size of bear canisters available for rent at Whitney Portal? I'm assuming I can get a small one man canister for a 2 day summit attempt?

Re: Size of bear canisters
Marcus #51183 07/25/17 03:20 PM
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Plenty large enough for 2 days. If you eat more than that in two days, consider going on a diet...

Re: Size of bear canisters
Bob West #51197 07/26/17 05:41 AM
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My concern is actually whether or not it would to too large to fit in my 44L Osprey Talon?

Do they rent them out in different sizes? I'm worried that it'll be a massive bin that won't fit in my rucksack.

Re: Size of bear canisters
Marcus #51198 07/26/17 06:20 AM
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The smallest container the Forest Service offers might not fit inside your 44L pack. With that pack you might have to find a way to strap the container to the outside of the pack. I used to use a stuff sack large enough to hold the container; then strapped it to the top of my Osprey (70 liter bag).

A better alternative in your situation might be an Ursack.
I now always use an Ursack Allwhite model and have never had a problem with bears or marmots getting into my food. The Ursack must be closed according to the manufacturers instructions in order to make it bear-proof. The Ursack can then be stuffed down into your pack as small as necessary to secure your food, which is what I do for short trips with less food to carry. The Ursack closure rope can be used to tie it to a tree or heavy rock. Make sure it is the Ursack Allwhite model; the cheaper models are only good against mice.

http://www.ursack.com/

Last edited by Bob West; 07/26/17 07:41 AM.
Re: Size of bear canisters
Bob West #51201 07/26/17 08:09 AM
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Thanks - it's annoying that they don't rent out smaller ones - especially considering that it's only a 1 night hike up and down for most people.

Why would people need such a huge canister??

Ursack looks great, but a bit expensive for a one off trip in bear country.

Re: Size of bear canisters
Marcus #51203 07/26/17 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted By: Marcus
Why would people need such a huge canister??

I have an old, heavy, Garcia bear can. I also have a somewhat lighter Bear Vault (BV500). It’s all I can do to cram four days’ food into one of these cans. Yes, I eat a lot. No, I don’t need to go on a diet.

If cost were no object, I could buy an assortment of Bearikade carbon fiber bear cans and have one that’s the perfect size for every trip. I could even buy an assortment of packs to match the different size bear cans. I thought it was more practical to buy one pack and one bear can that I can use for trips up to four nights.

Re: Size of bear canisters
Marcus #51204 07/26/17 09:30 AM
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You can always put things besides food in the canister, right? On week long trips mine is packed tight with food and lashed to the bottom of my pack, but by the end of the trip it is inside of my pack with things like the trash and dirty laundry, my head lamp and stove, etc. And besides, the overwhelming majority of the canisters on the market fall within one or two size ranges because most people just won't buy more than one. Even a retailer as big as REI stocks more than one brand, but essentially only in one or two sizes.

Re: Size of bear canisters
Goose #51205 07/26/17 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted By: Goose
You can always put things besides food in the canister, right? On week long trips mine is packed tight with food and lashed to the bottom of my pack, but by the end of the trip it is inside of my pack with things like the trash and dirty laundry, my head lamp and stove, etc. And besides, the overwhelming majority of the canisters on the market fall within one or two size ranges because most people just won't buy more than one. Even a retailer as big as REI stocks more than one brand, but essentially only in one or two sizes.


Yes, I do this too. Depending on what else I'm carrying, I'll put my stove and cooking cup in there (except on long trips when I need to cram every cubic CM with food).

Since I have the Bearvault 500, it also makes a good chair when there's not a convenient boulder around. I stopped using my 450 even for small trips because of this. I just fill it up with other stuff so stuff doesn't rattle around too much inside.

Re: Size of bear canisters
WanderingJim #51207 07/26/17 01:52 PM
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Huh - it never occurred to me to put other stuff in there - then technically, I could just stick it in my 44L osprey, and cram everything else inside it! And it won't matter if the top pokes out the top of my pack.

Plus, like you guys say - it's a portable seat!

Great idea!

Re: Size of bear canisters
Marcus #51213 07/26/17 02:56 PM
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Thinking back, I have used it to pre-soak and then wash laundry, carry water for drowning campfires, and even strapped to a tree for a game of backcountry hoops with my kids. And if you really want some instant good karma, you can even pack out a ton of those clearly abandoned WAG bags by lining the can with a garbage bag without any worry about leaks.

Re: Size of bear canisters
Goose #51214 07/26/17 03:02 PM
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Besides, it is fun to watch the black bears playing soccer with your bear canister.

Re: Size of bear canisters
Bobby49 #51662 08/16/17 08:20 AM
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After trip conclusion:

Bear cannisters are totally unnecessary for the Whitney Trail - if you're planning on camping at Trail Camp. No bears up there, just marmots.

Just grab yourself an Ursak, and pile some rocks on it.

That's what I'll do next time.


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