I have over 30 years backpacking experience, starting with Scouting as a youth. I am currently the High Adventure Leader for a Scout Troop. I try to get out once or twice a month, plus at least one week-long trek each year. My trips are of two types. First, I am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in sections, some of which have some rather crafty bears, and generally use a lightweight approach on these typically solo trips. Other trips involving family involve more traditional backpacking equipment. Terrain varies from sea level to 14,000 feet (4,300 m), desert to mountain, and trail to cross country, occasionally including snow travel. I lost food to a bear once many years ago, and have had my food kept safe from a bear by a bear resistant container on several occasions.

This is the second of three reports of the BearVault BV200 based on use in the field. The First report described the BearVault in detail. This report is based on field use over a two month period. The final report will update this report on how I feel about the BearVault after six months.

Product Description:

BearVault BV200
http://www.BearVault.com
Received May 18, 2004
Black bear resistant food canister
Certified by the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG)
Weight 2 lb 6 oz (1.08 kg) (Listed and tested)
Outside dimensions 12.4 in (31.5 cm) long by 8.7 in (22.1 cm) diameter (Listed and tested)
Interior volume 380 fl oz (11.24 L) (Listed and tested), 7 day capacity claimed by manufacturer
Interior dimensions (Tested but not listed by manufacturer, approximate):
12 in (30.5 cm) long by 8.3 in (21.1 cm) diameter
Opening diameter 7.25 in (18.41 cm)
Approximate thickness of can wall 0.17 in (0.43 cm)
Rain proof opening, tool free screw-on lid
Transparent blue polycarbonate container with black ABS plastic lid

Field Test: Testing took place in the mountains of the Pacific Crest Trail, including Little Bear Trail Camp near Big Bear Lake (Hmm, I wonder where those names came from?) and the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. Elevation 6,500 to 10,500 feet (2,000 to 3,200 meters). Temperatures 28 to 85 degrees F (-2 to +29 C), including light rain and very light snow flurries.

Loading It Up with Food: The clear polycarbonate canister makes it easy to find the item you are looking for, and the wide opening makes it easy to pack the can full. At home, I put nine "serves two" (yeah, right!) freeze dried entrees in and there was still plenty of room for lots of granola bars, candy bars, gorp, and drink mixes, as well as other odiferous items like sunscreen and soap. On the trail, the most I carried was four days of food. As much as I love food, I do not spend much time cooking when backpacking. My hot meal generally consists of couscous or ramen noodles with home-dried meat and vegetables, so I can just pour boiling water in a bag and eat. I had no difficulty in packing all my food for four days. The remainder of my food consists of various granola and candy bars, trail mix, dried fruit, etc. The BearVault had plenty of room to spare.

The clarity of the container did not appear to have any effect on the quality of the food inside. The temperature inside of the BearVault did not appear to be any different than that inside any other food container I have used.

Ease of Use:

The lid is made of black ABS plastic which simply screws on the can. More specific instructions for opening the BearVault are provided by the manufacturer:

Stand the BearVault flat on the ground with the lid at the top.
Hold the base of the canister firmly between your boots and use the vertical ridges at the base to keep the canister from turning.
Place hands on the rim (not the center) of the lid while turning it counter clock-wise until the bumps on the rim snap quickly past the canister tabs. The lid can then be unscrewed from the canister.

I found this quite easy to do, although the can slipped a bit when wearing only socks on my feet. Stronger hikers will simply power past the tabs. Other hikers will want to back off a quarter turn, and then quickly "snap" the lid past the tabs. I also found that by holding the canister firmly under one arm and using both hands on the lid, I could open the container with just a little effort while holding it. This is my preferred method of operation, as I can open it standing or sitting without having to bend over to the ground.

I did have one day when I experienced difficulty opening the BearVault. It was the end of a 27-mile hike. I had previously opened and closed the can several times without difficulty, but, upon arriving in camp, I had to work hard to get the lid open. Curious, I then proceeded to open and close the can several times, each time having difficulty closing the lid past the tabs, and then difficulty opening it again. Finally it became easier. I suspect the difficulty was fine dust in the threads, although it may have been simply that I needed a nap. According to the manufacturer, "The lid [now] comes with a dry food grade silicone lubricant on the threads to ensure smooth low friction operation for many seasons." I requested and today received some lubricant that, after application to the threads, makes the lid much easier to remove. I have not tested the BearVault in the field since applying the lubricant.

I did note that I had to remove my polypro gloves to get enough friction to open the lid. This is not a great inconvenience, as I remove my gloves to prepare food anyway, not wanting to get food on the gloves and attract unwanted attention from the bears.

Packability: I normally use a G4 frameless pack from Gossamer Gear (formerly GVP Gear). The main body of this pack is 3,100 cu in (51 L). I put my sleeping bag in the bottom of the pack first. The BearVault then goes in vertically, on top of the sleeping bag. There is room on either side to stuff my tent and extra clothes. A stuff sack with my essentials goes on top. I find that the pack fits very comfortably with the BearVault inside, and maybe even a bit more comfortable, as the bear container provides a bit of rigid shape for the pack.

I found that, if I left the lid on loose while in my pack, I could get food out of the BearVault easily without taking it and everything around it out of my pack. It is important, however, to close the lid properly according to the instructions if the BearVault will be left unattended. Of course, the BearVault should not be left in a pack unattended anyway, or a bear may drag off the entire pack, even if it cannot get to the food.

Near both ends of the can are seven pairs of raised dots in rows 1-1/8 inches (2.9 cm) apart which are guides to allow straps to be used to lash the BearVault to a pack without slipping off the ends of the container. While I normally carry my bear can inside my pack, I strapped the BearVault on top of an internal frame pack. I found I had to tighten the straps very snug to keep them from slipping off over the guides, being careful to keep the strap straight and not twisted so it would lay flat against the can. Lashing the can to the top of a large external frame pack, the can wanted to slide against the pack frame unless I cinched the straps very snugly.

Protection of Food: I did not ask a bear to test the container as that has already been done by Fisher and his friends. I have no intention of luring a bear into my peaceful camp. I suspect that smaller critters no doubt visited my BearVault at night while I was asleep, although I did not notice them except for tiny footprints around the can one morning.

Functional Durability: As mentioned above, I did experience difficulty opening the lid one day, which I believe was related to dust. However, I have not had any problem with cross-threading the lid or wear on the threads from grit and grime.

I sprayed some 15% DEET insect repellant on both the lid and the bottom of the canister. I let the DEET sit for an hour and then rubbed it with a paper towel. Rubbing the lid caused the paper towel to pick up black from the lid and left a mark similar to a water stain, as it appears the lid was temporarily softened by the DEET. The can itself was similarly affected to a lesser degree. These results were not unexpected, as DEET damages most, if not all, plastics. Putting insect repellant inside a plastic bag before putting it in the BearVault is a good idea.

Rain: Light rain, and a home test with sprinklers, did not result in any water entering the BearVault lid. I was curious if "rain-proof opening" meant submersible, so I threw the BearVault empty into the swimming pool. It floated. I then pushed it under water for a few minutes, and found some small drops of water inside. So much for use as a dry box, although it is not meant to be submersible. Still, it is nice to know that if rolled down a hill into a lake at camp, it should float long enough to retrieve and salvage dinner.

Extreme Durability: When I first received the BearVault, I tossed it on the carpet and watched it bounce. I then tossed it on the tile floor, and again it bounced. Filling it with potatoes and dropping it three feet onto a concrete slab caused no harm to the BearVault. Filled with freeze-dried food, I dropped it at various angles to try to force the lid off, but the lid held tight.

Summary: The BearVault BV200 is an easy-to-use cannister that should become the standard in bear resistant containers.

Next: My final report will focus on how my impressions may change over the next four months.

Read more reviews of BearVault gear
Read more gear reviews by Bill Jeffrey

Field Report

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