Absolutely! Important reminder. Thanks for sharing 👍

Everything has scent 😊

Also just don't bring scented deodorant, soap, or lotion into the backcountry

Who would take deodorant camping with them? Hahahahahahaha!

@@elderlord5164 .. You would be surprised ,, also colognes and perfumes ..

Thanks so much! It sounds like you are concerned about the safety of fellow hikers and wildlife as well. I really appreciate it when people like yourself are responsible and conscientious when enjoying the outdoors. Stay safe out there ☺️

@@jfowler that said, what is your favorite bear can make/model?

@jbro151 I have two. The first is a UDAP No-Fed-Bear canister. It’s my lightest and smallest and fits in my 48L pack. I can comfortably pack food for a 3 night trip. The second is a Garcia Backpackers Cache which is a little larger and heavier. It requires a little larger pack. I’ll bring that one on trips where I’m not covering as many miles and want to have a few extra treats.

@@jfowler thanks!!

Thanks for sharing that! Well said 👍

I like that expression of yours!"Ultra light tunnel vision "! Mine is:dum as a donut hole!

Why do they make them round? Wouldn't they at least be a little easier to carry if they were rectangular?

Thanks, I really appreciate it! Great tips! I totally agree. At first, the canister was the big unwieldy object I had to wrestle with. Now, i don’t give it a second thought. Everything just fits 😎

Thanks so much! Im glad you enjoyed it 😊

I’m so glad it was helpful! Thanks so much 😄

That’s so kind of you! Thank you. I’m really glad that you find the information helpful. Stay safe!

Thanks so much! That’s what I’ve found, too. I don’t give it a second thought when packing. The canister always fits and I think the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Stay safe!

Thanks so much for the tips! A few practical measures can make all the difference. Odor proof bags have been a recurring suggestion and they make a lot of sense. Not leaving camp unguarded is important, too. Within seconds a bear can wipe out $1,000 worth of gear 😱

Agree. I prefer Ursack Almighty wherever bear canisters are not required.

A bear found my friend's Ursac. No, the bear didn't get in it, but everything inside was crushed and mixed beyond usability. So, I suppose it served its primary purpose of not teaching the bear that its efforts would be successful, but it didn't preserve the contents. Luckily, it was the last day of the trip.

"The first day out on your backpack is "free", in that you don't need to store your food in it, " But you will need to store your stove, utensils and food trash in it.

Wow, thanks! I really appreciate it. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

Good to know! I’m constantly amazed by bears. There’s a famous bear in the Adirondacks that figured out how to open BearVault canisters. Personally, I have a UDAP No-Fed-Bear canister and Backpackers Cache. Been good so far, but who knows? Regarding Great Smoky Mountain, thankfully they set up cables for a secure hang. It’s difficult to get it right when utilizing trees. Thanks for sharing the info 😄

Thank so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it. That’s an excellent rule to follow. I am going to have to commit that to memory and apply it on the next trip. Stay safe! 😊

Glad you enjoyed the tips! That’s a great idea that some people neglect. The fragrances and odors on stuff other than food definitely attract bears.

Thanks so much! That’s vital, love AND respect 😊

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you! I really appreciated it 😄

Awesome, thank you!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad that you have avoided bear problems 👍

All through Boundary Waters and up into Ontario canoeing....Never had a bear problem. Always sleep under a large tarp, never in a tent, and always keep my food and gear close to me under the tarp. Most people really should just stay home where they feel safe!

@@johnswanson3741Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m going to BWCA in September for the fist time. Good to hear you didn’t have bear problems

I grew up camping in Yosemite Valley with my parents and siblings. At that time they still had the dump where trash from dumpsters was unloaded. We used to call it the "bear pit" because people used to drive up and park their cars to watch the bears rummage through the garbage! This was long before they had bear boxes and it was common, believe it or not, to keep your food in the tent or car! Only once did a bear get into the tent of my aunt and uncle who were camping at the site next to ours. My uncle threw a box at the bear and it ran off. I can't believe it used to be like that in Yosemite!

Thanks, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! You might be right. As the bear population increases and they become more comfortable around people, it seems there is more potential for dangerous encounters. Stay safe out there! 😊

Thanks for the tips! That’s an important reminder that i wish I mentioned in the video. Anything other than food that goes in the canister needs to be protected from the food odors. 👍

Thanks so much! Of course, where you hike is a big factor to consider. Bears are simply not a problem in some parts of the world. However, here in the Southeast United States, a bear encounter is always a possibility. Honestly, the only reason I got a bear canister at first was because it was a requirement for the area where I was backpacking. Then I was hooked by the convenience and reliability of using one. Thanks for sharing your comments. Stay safe out there! 😄🥾

I’m glad you found it helpful! Welcome to the trail! I mostly backpack in the Southeast United States which has a growing population of black bears. So, bear canisters are a necessity for me. I’m sure there are other areas of the country where there is less risk of bear encounters. Personally, I like the peace of mind of having one along. 😄

Take a look at wild-ideas Bearikade

I live a few hours from the AT in New England and the bears have learned how to take down hanging bear bags and slash through Ursaks. There are plenty of bear boxes, but they are sometimes full. And I had an habitual through-hiker named "Jazzman" steal food from my canister where it was stashed in a bear box in Massachusetts...after he took a 30-minute dump in the privy at midnight. He is one of the infamous, chronically-homeless backpackers constantly hiking trails and stealing from other hikers. He even stole one of my dirty Darn Tough socks before he bolted from that shelter early that morning. Not both socks. Just one. And yeah, he was a privy door slammer. Now I won't use a bear box if other hikers are at the site. I have heard of food theft from other hikers.

@gregoryfarris4801 Yeah, on our first trip with bear canisters we rented a couple of those. Super nice, and pretty light!

@chriseidam7319 that’s pretty comical until you mention the part about Darn Tough sock. I love my Darn Toughs 😂

Thanks for your comments. We rented a couple of those, too. I love how light they are but I wish they would design one with a narrower diameter. That would make them compatible with a lot more packs.

I'd love to get a Bearikade, however they are not IGBC certified so they're not approved in some NP like Yellowstone or Glacier =(

It sounds to me that you hang your bag the right way. That takes some skill! The bear canisters that I have are not watertight, so water will get in if submerged. However, I think it would float if there are some sealed backpacking meals or Ziploc bags inside. Thanks for the feedback! 😎

Thank you too! I really appreciate it 😊

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the feedback 👍

Great minds 😂

Thanks for sharing your insights! Seems like you’re right. We now have generations of bears that have learned to seek out people food 😮

Thanks so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head. The smaller critters can definitely be problem. Especially in frequently used campsites where they come to expect and rely on campers as their primary food source.

I’m with you! The Garcia is pretty big so my go-to can is the UDAP No-Fed-Bear. It’s the perfect size for my typical 3 night trips and fits easily in any orientation inside my 48L pack. Thanks for mentioning the Nanuk. I’ll have to check that out 👍

Thank you.

Absolutely! So glad you enjoyed the video 👍

Thanks for sharing your experience! Unfortunately, I hear more and more about Ursaks getting torn open. I’ve also read about a bear in New York State that has learned how to open Bear Vaults.

@@jfowler I eventually went w/ a Bearikade Blazer. It was one of my last big upgrades... slightly more volume than a BV500 and ~$35/ounce for the difference. I usually stick it a bush overnight. So when you hear metallic tapping at night, you know that a bear is checking it out =)

@@jfowler , Yeah, it's a female bear and she's been teaching the other bears how to do it. I have to respect that bear. After a long day on a winter's hike, I sometimes struggle to open the lid with my freezing fingers on the Bear Vault. So that bear is smarter than I am. The other thing that some bears have learned to do is to roll the canister off a cliff to break it open. So you're really have to do a good job of anchoring or wedging it into something, like the crotch of a tree or a rock pile.

@@jfowler they can't open a bear vault while I'm running at them like crazy person with a stick. chasem like youre gonna eatem. They bluff charge as well.

@@chriseidam7319 bears are like prisoners....to much time, curiosity, and dogged determination to get what they want.

Thanks for your thoughts! That’s a great tip. Don’t give the bear a reason to investigate in the first place 👍

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it 😊

Nice! Thanks for the tip. That’s the challenging part, getting the line where you want it. Especially when bridging your hang between two trees. Thanks for sharing!

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, a more packable and lighter solution would be great. It would definitely take some brains! Bears are so crazy powerful and determined.

That collapsing idea is genius. You might want to contact one of the companies that makes the carbon fiber canisters that can be customized.

Maybe ask the company who built that cheap Titanic submarine. It can collapse real good

For sure! Yeah, he learned a lesson that day, but he really likes to tell the story 😂 Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!

Thanks so much!

Thanks so much! If it’s a long thru-hike I leave the chair. If it’s a little more of a leisure trip, the canister and the camp chair come along 😄

Thank you very much!

I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, I’m not thrilled about the weight penalty for carrying one. You get used to it, though 😄

Absolutely! I don’t have any personal experience to share regarding Ursak, but I have heard about bears getting in them. Might be worth considering the alternatives.

Lots of pics of damaged ursacks online. When they don’t get into them the bear will smash and destroy the contents making them unusable… plastic packaging and food contents turned into its own special granola. Bear doesn’t get the treat, but neither do you so your trip can be ended. I’m in Colorado and see people posting about it every summer, especially on the CT. I’ll use one where bears aren’t expected but are possible but usually I carry a bearikade.

Thanks for sharing your experiences! I totally agree! Being joined by a bear in camp, that would probably be a good time to leave!

I don't know who wins that battle - you just mentioned the 3 smartest pests in the world.

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. It’s amazing how the bear population has really grown. 😮

Thanks so much for sharing your comments! We can all benefit from your years of experience 👍

Thanks so much! I checked out the channel and you’re doing great! Congratulations 😎

Glad it was helpful!

Great points! It’s definitely important to be hyper-aware of items that carry a scent and to handle them carefully. It’s so easy to forget and contaminate all of your gear. Thanks so much for sharing! 😄

Thanks! I really appreciate it. Stay safe 👍

Thanks, i’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’m with you on the weight/comfort balancing act. I also thought about the cost factor as being another drawback after I recorded the script. That’s still less significant to me than the weight and bulk. If you decide to put other items in the canister to save room, please be mindful of items that come in contact with food smells. If these end up in your tent they can still attract bears even though they aren’t food. Stay safe out there 😊

@@jfowler Than you Jeff, I appreciate your good advice...

Thanks! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 😊

Thanks for the tip! I’ve seen a picture of one of those torn open BearVault canisters. Personally, I have a Udap No-Fed-Bear and a Backpacker’s Cache. For my three day trips the Udap is the best size. Stay safe!

I took one of those Bearvault blue cans to Alaska, Wrangell St Elias, a few years ago and it got crushed and ripped open at the lid. We didn't see or hear anything. It was my first time using one and we were on the tundra for the first part of the trip so that was kind of our only option anyway. We had to satellite call for a food drop as we were in the middle of a 21 day hike.

Thanks for the tip! Makes a lot of sense (scents? 😂) I have to start doing that 👍

I constant carry food on me and eat snacks in my tent at night like nuts and meat Chomps. Do you guys just not eat snacks at night? Do you burn the wrappers?

​@@j01150126I think if you keep doing that you're gonna be one of those people we read about that got eaten in his own tent.

​@@j01150126Might as well smear yourself with pork/chicken gravy and chocolate chips

@@franny5295 I did it all through the Marines in the jungles of the Philippines but not bears there lol

Thanks! I think you make a good point. A good hang is the key to success when hanging a bear bag. Some areas are simply not suited for achieving this.

Thanks for mentioning it! I think you’re right. There are published lists of which bear canisters are approved. Definitely a good idea to be familiar with which ones are allowed.

Also I know of more than one canister that has been carried off on the AT this year...Two went missing in the Hot Springs area just a few weeks ago...

That would be the BearVault canister that a few bears have managed to open. If I remember correctly, the BearVault canisters are no longer allowed in the Adirondacks. Definitely check the list of approved bear canisters before you go someplace.

Don't tempt fate. Keep your contact down with bears. Don't leave a canister vulnerable if you can. Take all precaution. There's plenty of other wild life.

Wow, that’s quite an experience! Amazing how bold, determined and smart that bear was. So, sorry to hear that trip was cut short. Glad everyone stayed safe and have a story to tell, though 😄

Thanks so much. Glad you liked it!

Thanks! One of my buddies even attached a disc he cut from sleeping pad foam to make it a little more comfortable 😄

I would concern over getting food smell on it considering most would think to sit on it while cooking. I would keep the canister (and/or bear bag AND my motorcycle!) away and upwind from the kitchen. Just a thought.

Thanks, so glad you found it helpful! ☺️

Oh man! I hope everyone stayed safe and didn’t lose any food or gear 😳

@@jfowler no my son on on Trip had Beef Jerky in his Rucksack in our TENT😳he was around 10-12 yrs old and bear was at our Tent ( we scared it off) but my son got so scared that he Pee’d his sleeping bag. So out that goes. We were @12,000 ft. Cold so we shared my bag😜. Other times I did the pull the Backpack up off ground yet lower than the branches… Nope that bear 🐻 is smart and knows what’s inside that so he pulled it up and left with it. In morning we found it shredded about 100 ft away. Thx god we had our bear Canisters in a ditch so bear would have hard time taking off w/ it… their so large, they can’t get their mouth around it but they’ll mess with it and give up. 🙏☺️

Wow, rough night! Poor kid 😟 An experience he will never forget. Sounds like you made the best of the situation, though. I hope the rest of the trip went well.

I know, they are so smart! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Sharing the outdoors with these amazing animals is unavoidable making it so important to be educated and prepared.

Thanks for the tip! That is a good idea. It’s easy to forget exactly where it is even when it doesn’t move 😄

Thanks for the tip! I didn’t know about that product. Finding the canister the next morning can be a challenge even when it hasn’t been moved 😄

That’s great! I would love to get back out there. I’m so glad the video helped. Thanks for sharing your comments 😄

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊

Great points! Thanks for sharing your experience 😃

Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I have not tried odor-proof bags but I’ll have to look into it. Probably good to have the extra layer of protection. Stay safe!

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing that story. Another commenter mentioned inserting a Tile Tracker inside the canister when stashing it. The tracker has at least a 250 ft range, some even 400 ft. Might be enough to locate it if a bear manages to drag it off. I have had the same experience with hanging bear bags. Finding the right trees is challenge #1 and once you do it can take a while to get the hang right.

Thank you! That is very kind of you. No, this is a hobby for me. However, with each video this is becoming more and more of a job. I really enjoy the work, though. And love backpacking, of course. If things go well with the channel, it might end up as a profession. Idaho is beautiful, with so many awesome places to go hiking! 😎

Thanks so much! I agree with you. No perfect solution. I suspect that canisters require less skill than hanging bear bags and that probably contributes to their effectiveness.

I’ve carried a bear canister for decades in wilderness, and the biggest pain is fitting it in my pack. I’m just about to head off on a motocamping trip and just got an Ursack, the big one, and some odor-proof bags. Because I won’t be in wilderness areas, I think it will be allowed everywhere. I haven’t hung a bag from a tree in decades, not looking forward to that part, but definitely looking forward to not caring a big can on a motorcycle.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I had some terrible hangs, too. No problems but the bear population has increased considerably since then. The convenience of the canister is probably the biggest plus for me. In recent years we’ve had more visits from small critters including raccoons and mice. I like how the canister works well against them, too. Yeah, there has to be a way to make them less heavy. Wild Ideas Bearikade is probably the lightest option but I don’t like the bulky shape and sharp corners. For now I'll stick with my trusty UDAP No-Fed-Bear. It’s the perfect size for my lightweight packs and holds plenty for a long weekend. Stay safe out there!

Thanks so much for the tips! I will have to check out that pack. I have been considering the Arc Haul 60L, but it sounds like it is too compact for most bear canisters.

@@jfowler I would not buy the Arc haul again. It squeaks. It squeaks and it squeaks and it squeaks. The V-strap Z-Packs offers that's supposed to be able to mount a canister to the top of the pack? It won't work because the straps are so narrow and frail that they slip loose at the same time that the contents in your backpack settle. So the canister keeps falling off to the side. If you put the canister inside the pack it has to go vertically, which doesn't feel right against your back. And it puts a lot of strain on the seams. The most-frustrating thing about the Arc Haul is that those carbon rods that are supposed to make the arc for venting your back we're not designed properly. They're secured at the top, the bottom and the middle, and when you have the pack loaded to its maximum carry, instead of arcing the rods collapse into an S-shape and the pack sits flat against your back. The arcing rods are supposed to be the big, innovative advantage. How could Z-Packs screw it up and leave it screwed up for years for that kind of money? It's telling that most of the major-name KZfaq personalities for backpacking that once highly recommend it no longer use the Arc Haul. I heard Dan Becker say it's his favorite pack, but he is the only one I've seen and give it acclaim in years. If Z-Packs had the carbon rods anchored at the top, the bottom and at two or three places in between, that collapse wouldn't happen. Z-Packs has known about the problem for years. I don't know if it's fixed it on the newer ones. I haven't heard anything about it being fixed. The last problem is that the load lifters need adjustment every ten or so miles because the straps are too narrow and thus slip for lack of sufficient friction. Those are a lot of flaws for the $425 I spent on the thing. There's a guy with a KZfaq channel that I think is called ShastaBubba. He lives out West in the mountain states. He did a really good review on the Divide pack. That's why I bought it. The only flaw I found is that the frame height velcro adjusting strap has sharp corners at the end of that strap that curl up and rub against my back if I'm only wearing a thin shirt. It's not a major thing, and it's something I could fix by cutting and rounding the corners and then restitching the end of the strap. I sent Seek Outside an email to advise them on it. Maybe most people wouldn't even notice it. Another easy fix would be to throw some duct tape over the ends of the strap. Considering how many faults I've found in the various backpacks I've owned, that was the most minor annoyance of any of them. I doubt I will ever buy another pack. Or need to. Happy trails.

Thanks so much for the review! Good stuff to know when considering a pretty expensive pack like the Arc Haul. I will take a serious look at the Divide pack. Thanks again 👍

Sounds like a great trail companion! 😀

Oh wow! Bears are very determined and persistent creatures! 😮

Thanks for watching the video and sharing a comment!

Those Bearikades would make a pretty comfortable seat! More so than the Garcia because they are so wide. I rented a couple of those on my first thru-hike of the Art Loeb Trail. I loved the light weight but wasn’t a fan of the bulky size and sharp edges. Thanks for sharing your observations about bears avoiding bear canister equipped sites. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was intentional behavior-bears are so smart 😄

Oh wow! I’m sure that was a frustrating discovery 😫

Based on your username it sounds like you might be in the southeast, too. Yeah, I agree. It’s the weight, but that’s a small sacrifice compared to the safety and convenience. Stay safe out there 😄

Thanks for the question! The three pictured in the video are the only ones that I have experience using. The Osprey Exos 48L pack in that scene fits the Udap NO-FED-Bear canister horizontally just fine. It weighs in at just under 2.5 lbs. It’s the Backpacker’s Cache bear canister that is too large to fit horizontally in the 48L Exos, and it’s also heavier than the Udap. The lightest of the three is the Wild Ideas Bearikade, but it has a larger diameter than the others. The one in the video belongs to a friend of mine. He uses an Exos 58L and it fits fine. I think it weighs at or just under 2 lbs. The Udap and Backpacker’s Cache are available on Amazon and come with free returns. Perhaps, you can give them a try and return if they don’t fit well. Hope this helps 😊

My buddy brings a bottle of cayenne along, too 🌶️

Funny story! Thanks for sharing! That’s a good reminder. Anything that comes in contact with food during a trip in bear country should not be kept in the tent. 👍

Thanks! I totally agree! We know who the problem is here 😞

Thank you! The bear encounters in the video were in and near Shining Rock Wilderness, North Carolina.

Not familiar with them 🤷🏼‍♂️

Thanks for the experience! Yeah, makes sense. My trips are usually 3 nights so I haven't had to deal with the size limitation yet. Stay safe!

That’s what I’ve heard, too 👍

Thanks, it sounds like you have a good system working for you 👍

Good points! Yeah, trips that long might require multiple canisters which could get pretty heavy and bulky. Alternatively, there is a Wild Ideas Bearikade model that they say is good for up to 12 days of food. I’ve been hearing about the advances in bear resistant bags but I don’t have experience with them either.

Good question! I don’t know. I would guess that it has something to do with how a cylindrical object distributes a load. Maybe a rectangular object would be more likely to cave in 🤷🏼‍♂️

It's for strength. They need to withstand a bear stomping on them to "pop" the container, also a round shape eliminates places to grab/bite so they don't carry it off or rip it open.

Thanks for your feedback. I prefer that method, too. Hanging a bag from a single limb seems much more vulnerable. I’m not saying that hanging a bear bag doesn’t work. However, it has to be done right and my observation is that most people don’t know how or don’t care. Personally, I would rather take 2 minutes walking my canister away from camp than 30 minutes or more engineering a hang done right. Not that this is typical, but one of my buddies spent over an hour working on hanging his bag. At the end of a long day on the trail, I just don’t have the patience 😄

Thanks, I’m glad you liked it! The first encounter was along Flat Laurel Creek Trail not far from Sam Knob in North Carolina. The second encounter was right near the intersection of Old Butt Knob Trail and the Art Loeb Trail in Shining Rock Wilderness, North Carolina.

@@jfowler oh no! I was hoping you wouldnt say that! I had a feeling you were from NC the way you talked and the way the photos looked. I want to do flat laurel creek and sam knob. What scares me is I don't know how much of the bear activity goesunreported. Thank you for the heads up. I do have a bear canister and I figured you were going in that area when you said they were required in the area you were speaking of.

I did report the encounter but never received a response. So, I’m not sure if it was received. I’ve been back to the Art Loeb Trail and Shining Rock Wilderness, but not Flat Laurel Creek. I haven’t had any recent bear encounters up there. Stay safe!

Thanks for sharing your experiences! I have had the same observations about the agility and speed of bears. However, similar to your comments, I would have to say that my encounters have never felt threatening. The bears just wanted our food. However, they did come into camp. Maybe your theory about the dogs is correct because we didn't have one with us. Your mouse story is alarming! On my last trip I had just one chew a hole in my tent while I was in it. I can't imagine dealing with the numbers you’re talking about! That sounds like a plague of mice. The prevalence of smaller critters is probably one of the biggest reasons I carry a canister now. Especially when visiting popular campsites along high traffic trails.

Thanks for your question! They actually don’t come out. You give them a 1/4 turn to open the canister and they stay attached to the lid. I keep a 3/8" flat washer attached to my pack which is the perfect size to turn the screws.

@@jfowler Great idea! I was thinking a coin, but I'd lose it. A washer can hang out with my whistle on my pack. Thank you for responding!

Yeah, some areas seem to be hot spots while other areas rarely report encounters. Personally, I would be inclined to keep my food away from my sleeping area, though. If a bear wandered through, maybe it would be more curious about a tent with food rather than mine 😜

Thanks for your comment! I would absolutely love to backpack in Yosemite. My wife and I visited once and we both agree it was even more breathtaking than The Grand Canyon 😃

Glad you enjoyed it! 😀

Ugh. The small critters can really make life miserable. I had an issue with a mouse recently. It sounds like you found a workable solution for mounting the can to your pack. That can be a challenge with some of the smaller volume ultralight packs. Thanks for sharing your experience! 😄