The Ultimate Guide to Fitting a BearVault in Your Pack

Jessica Cockroft
September 4, 2024

Part of having a successful backpacking adventure is gear efficiency. Knowing how each piece works lets you bring them together for a cohesive set-up that lets you spend less time figuring out camp and more time enjoying the trail.

Two big pieces of this puzzle are your pack and your responsible food-storage system. Fitting these together lays the groundwork for smooth morning break-downs and comfortable hours of wearing your pack as you tackle those long legs of your journey.

Let’s look at each individually and then see how to fit them together.

OR… you can just scroll down to access the one-of-a-kind search tool to find your pack and see which vault fits. You decide!

How to Choose a Backpacking Pack

Choosing a pack for overnight hikes is a decision deserving of plenty of research, test runs, and maybe even professional fitting. The last thing you want to do is head out on a multi-day trip only to find that your pack is made for a longer torso and your balance is off-kilter.

To select the correct size, you need to know two things.

Torso Length
Capacity Needs

Let’s discuss these briefly before we get to another critical aspect of pack selection.

How to Size a Backpack

If you want to feel more like a mountain goat and less like a roly-poly panda as you scramble over sketchy terrain, you need to know your hip belt measurement and torso length.

To find your hip belt measurement, use a soft tape to wrap around your iliac crest – that’s the fancy term for where your hip bones stick out the most. Round to the nearest number, knowing that hip belts always have some adjustability.

To find your torso length, start at C7, the vertebrae that juts out when you lower your head and look down. Use your soft tape to measure to the line you created around your waist when you got your hip belt number. Round to the nearest whole for this measurement as well. Some manufacturers offer models that can be adjusted to fit your torso length perfectly.

Pack manufacturers usually have pack fit tools on their websites that can guide you to appropriate options if you know these two numbers. Regardless of how a pack may be labeled – male or female, XS-XL, or with cool brand-specific names – knowing your hip belt and torso measurements will get you to the right size

How Many Liters Do You Need for Backpacking?

So you found a pack that fits your body like a glove. Great! Now… what about all your gear?

The volume of backpacks is measured in liters, and the size you need depends on how many nights you plan to camp. For a weekend trip, 40+ liters will suffice, depending on your sleep setup and expected temperatures. Remember that colder temperatures mean you’ll need more space! If you plan on spending more than three nights on the trail, you’ll probably want at least 50 liters.

That sounds pretty straightforward. But two 45-liter packs won’t necessarily have the same dimensions. Width, depth, and height will make a difference in how you pack your gear and whether or not your BearVault can lay down at the bottom of the pack.

BearVault… Why do you need one of those, you wonder? We’re so glad you asked!

How to Store Food When Camping in Bear Country

When you’re camping in bear country, storing your food responsibly is crucial not only for preserving the natural environment and protecting bears from disastrous consequences of naughty behavior but also for your safety and ability to stay well nourished on your journey.

Bear proof containers are how backpackers keep their food safe while hiking through bear country.

Everything that’s scented belongs in your BearVault. That includes things like gum, toothpaste, lip balm, and trash that likely still has crumbs and smells yummy! When you bed down for the night, keep that container 70 steps from your tent to protect yourself from curious bears.

Using bear proof containers prevents the loss of your rations and keeps bears from becoming food conditioned, which is dangerous for them and every backpacker that comes after you.

How Much Food Fits in a BearVault

Packing food for multiple days in a BearVault is easy with some strategy and practice. Typically, hikers can expect to fit 7+ days of food in a BV500, 5-6 days in a BV475, 3-4 days in a BV450, and 1-2 days in a BV425. For a deep dive on what size bear canister to pick, our friends the Adventure Addicts put together a great guide.

You can maximize your space by repackaging certain foods into less bulky wrapping, prioritizing high-energy foods, and using moldable items like tortillas that fit the contours of the canister.
Check out our videos for tips on making the most of your BearVault’s capacity

Where to Put a Bear Canister in a Backpack

The most important part of packing with a bear canister is to DO IT. Even if it seems bulky and cumbersome. Even if it feels like overkill. Just do it.

That being said, where and how you get your canister into your backpack depends on a couple of things.

Comfort

Placing your canister horizontally in the bottom of your pack is usually the most comfortable way to carry it. This keeps your center of gravity lower than if you strapped it on top of the rest of your load. It also prevents lateral shifting that can occur if carried in an upright position. At the beginning of your trip, it’s full of food. But as you eat through your stash, you can use the empty space to store other items and keep the weight low on your back. While many packs allow a canister to be top-strapped, we generally discourage this as it can cause an unbalanced load that can be dangerous.

Accessibility

Obviously, being at the bottom of your pack is a bit of a hindrance when it comes to getting to your food. Many packers choose to keep snacks handy in an exterior pocket so they don’t need to dig out their canister until it’s time to make camp.

Pack Capacity

If you already purchased your pack and BearVault, you’ll just have to check and see if the horizontal method works for you. But if you’re still looking for the best system where your pack capacity meets your BearVault capacity needs, you’re in the right place. Scroll down to check out the Ultimate Pack Compatibility Guide and search for your pack.

Custom packs that work seamlessly with the BearVault canisters BV475/BV500 are also available. If maintaining that bottom-of-the-pack position sounds good but you also want easy access, you may want to check them out!

Introducing the Ultimate Pack Compatibility Guide

Almost every pack designed for multi-day trips can carry a BV475 or BV500 in an upright position. But if you’re one of the crowd of backpackers who want to lay it down at the bottom of their pack, you’re going to have to do some research to make sure your pack fits the BearVault you want to bring on your journey.

If you’re deciding which pack or BearVault to purchase, just search for a pack to see how the two largest BearVaults fit!

Please note, this tool describes whether or not a BV475 or BV500 will fit HORIZONTALLY in a pack. Most packs will accept any canister in a vertical position. Almost all packs fit the BV450 and BV425 well.

Backpack Tool

Backpack	Capacity	BV475	BV500
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL	50L	Tight	Does not fit
Deuter Futura Air Trek 45+10 SL	55L	Fits!	Does not fit
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5	50L	Tight	Does not fit
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 35+5 SL	50L	Tight	Does not fit
Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10	60L	Fits!	Does not fit
Deuter Futura Air Trek 50+10	60L	Fits!	Tight
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5	55L	Fits!	Tight
Deuter Futura Air Trek 55+10 SL	65L	Fits!	Does not fit
Deuter Futura Air Trek 60+10	70L	Fits!	Fits!
Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10 SL	70L	Fits!	Tight
Deuter Expedition 60+10	70L	Fits!	Tight
Deuter Aircontact Core 65+10	75L	Fits!	Fits!
Deuter Aircontact X 70+15 SL	85L	Fits!	Fits!
Deuter Aircontact Core 70+10	80L	Fits!	Fits!
Deuter Aircontact X 80+15	95L	Fits!	Fits!
Deuter Expedition 80+10 SL	90L	Fits!	Fits!
Deuter Expedition 90+10	100L	Fits!	Fits!
ULA Catalyst	75L	Fits!	Fits!
ULA Circuit	68L	Tight	Does not fit
ULA CDT	54L	Does not fit	Does not fit
ULA OHM	54L	Does not fit	Does not fit
ULA Photon	35L	Does not fit	Does not fit
ULA Camino	54L	Fits!	Tight
ULA Dragonfly	30L	Does not fit	Does not fit
Gregory Baltoro 65	65L	Fits!	Tight
Gregory Deva 60	60L	Fits!	Fits!
Gregory Deva 70	70L	Fits!	Fits!
Gregory Jade 63	63L	Fits!	Fits!
Gregory Zulu 65	65L	Fits!	Fits!
Gregory Maven 55	55L	Fits!	Fits!
Gregory Paragon 58	58L	Fits!	Fits!
Gregory Facet 45	45L	Fits!	Fits!
Gregory Jade 43 W	43L	Fits!	Does not fit
REI Flash 55	55L	Fits!	Does not fit
REI Traverse 60	60L	Fits!	Fits!
REI Trailmade 60	60L	Fits!	Fits!
Osprey Aether 65	65L	Fits!	Fits!
Osprey Ariel Plus 70	70L	Fits!	Does not fit
Osprey Atmos AG 50	50L	Fits!	Does not fit
Osprey Aura AG 65	65L	Fits!	Fits!
Osprey Exos 58	58L	Fits!	Fits!
Osprey Aura LT 65	65L	Fits!	Fits!
Osprey Ariel 65 W	65L	Fits!	Fits!
Osprey Atmos 65 AG	65L	Fits!	Fits!
Osprey Aether 55	55L	Fits!	Does not fit
Osprey Kestrel 48	48L	Fits!	Fits!
Osprey Tempest 40 W	40L	Fits!	Does not fit
Osprey Talon 44	44L	Fits!	Does not fit
Mystery Ranch Radix 57	57L	Fits!	Fits!
Mystery Ranch Bridger 45	45L	Fits!	Fits!
Mystery Ranch Terraframe 50	50L	Fits!	Fits!
Mystery Ranch Terraframe 65	65L	Fits!	Fits!
Hyperlite Southwest 55	55L	Tight	Does not fit
Hyperlite Southwest 40	40L	Tight	Does not fit
Granite Gear Blaze 60	60L	Fits!	Fits!
Granite Gear Crown3 60	60L	Fits!	Fits!
Arc'Teryx Aerios 45 W	60L	Fits!	Does not fit
Exped Lightning 45	45L	Fits!	Fits!

Which BearVault fits in a Deuter pack?

The BV475 fits horizontally in all Deuter packs, though it’s tight in the Ultra 45+5 SL, Ultra 45+5, and Ultra 35+5 SL. The BV500 fits horizontally in many Deuter packs, but even some models with a capacity of more than 55 liters struggle to contain it. Check the tool to see how your BearVault will fit with each Deuter pack.

Which BearVault fits in an Osprey pack?

Osprey packs welcome the BV475 with open arms, letting it lie horizontally in every model. The BV500 fits in most Ospreys and even lies horizontally in a 48-liter model. Some Osprey packs are narrow enough, though, to force a vertical position for the BV500. You’ll find notes on specific packs in the fitting tool.

Which BearVault fits in a Gregory pack?

Your BV475 will lie horizontally in any Gregory pack you like, all the way down to the Zulu 40. To fit a BV500, you’ll have to steer upwards of the 43-liter mark. From there, the only tight fit will be the Baltoro 65.

The Ultimate Guide to Fitting a BearVault in Your Pack​