Yes, Our Canisters Are Really Tested on Bears
BearVault canisters are certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC), passing mandatory live grizzly bear testing.
Every model must withstand over 60 minutes of active bear contact without access—ensuring you carry gear that’s not just “theoretically” bear-resistant, but proven under the toughest conditions.
These tests are required by many national parks for backcountry travel.
| Model | IGBC Certified | IGBC Certification Number | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BV500 | ✅ | No. 5340 | Approved | Our largest and most popular model |
| BV475 | ✅ | No. 5423 | Approved on 6/13/2022 | |
| BV450 | ✅ | No. 5339 | Approved | Compact model for short trips |
| BV425 | ✅ | No. 5422 | Approved on 6/13/2022 | Ultralight summer trips |
Why Bear Testing Matters
Built to Keep Bears Wild — and You Safe
Bears possess an extraordinary sense of smell. It's estimated to be over 2,000 times stronger than humans. They can detect food, scented toiletries, and other items from miles away.
When bears gain access to human food, they become “food-conditioned,” increasing the risk of dangerous encounters. Unfortunately, most food-conditioned bears are relocated or euthanized to protect public safety.
By developing and thoroughly testing bear-resistant canisters, BearVault helps avoid these conflicts. Our gear supports conservation efforts by keeping both bears and people safe in the backcountry.
| “A fed bear is a dead bear.” - A common saying among wildlife biologists, NPS
Who Certifies Bear-Resistant Gear?
Meet the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC)
Established in 1983, the IGBC is a coalition of multiple federal and state agencies dedicated to grizzly bear recovery and human-bear conflict reduction across the U.S. Northern Rockies and beyond.
Participating agencies include:
- National Park Service
- U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- State wildlife and land management departments
The IGBC oversees grizzly bear testing and certifies bear-resistant products, such as canisters, coolers, and dumpsters, that meet rigorous safety standards.
To be IGBC certified, a bear canister must pass live testing at an approved facility featuring captive grizzlies. These bears are pros at getting into even the toughest-looking containers.
What it Really Means to be IGBC Approved
IGBC certification is not a rubber stamp — it’s a strict pass/fail evaluation based on aggressive, real bear behavior in a controlled environment. In fact, over 95% of products tested by these professional bears don’t make the cut!
- The product undergoes a pre-test evaluation to ensure that there are no gaps, seams, or holes where a bear could gain access and that it will be safe for bears to test.
- The product undergoes a live grizzly bear test where the canister must accumulate a minimum of 60 minutes of continuous bear contact (biting, clawing, or pumping) with the product. There must be no gaps, tears, or holes of ¼” or more at any time during the test - even if the canister sustains damage.
- All tests are video-recorded, documented, & reviewed by a multi-agency panel of bear experts before official certification is issued.
Other Approval Agencies
Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group
Before the IGBC’s national standard, the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group managed black bear-specific gear testing in California’s Sierra Nevada region. Their early protocols laid the groundwork for modern bear canister standards.
This interagency group was a collaboration of agencies that developed a rigorous four-part standard that included the following:
SIBBG Testing Protocol:
1. Visual inspection
To pass visual inspection, a container must have no gaps and be made of bear-resistant materials. It can’t pose risks to wildlife, people, or the environment, serve only as a delay tactic, be overly complex, or fail when dropped.
2. Structural Testing
The structural test is conducted using an approved impact-testing machine where 100 foot-pounds of energy were applied once to the container lid and once to the side. To pass, the container could not have cracks, openings, or hinges that would allow bear entry by biting or clawing—specifically, none greater than 1/8 inch.
3. Live Bear Testing
Captive black bears in a zoo were used to test food storage devices.. Containers were filled with odorous foods, weighted to simulate real-use conditions, and given to one or more black bears whose daily meals were withheld that day. To pass, the container had to withstand 60 minutes of bear contact.
4. Approval Timeline
If a container passes the first three tests, it receives conditional approval for use in SIBBG areas and undergoes a three-month field testing period. Successful field tests upgrade it to “approved,” but patterns of failure—even after approval—may result in the loss of approval.
The SIBBG was disbanded around 2011. However, before it was disbanded, the BearVault BV500 and BV450 were proudly certified by the interagency group.
How BearVaults Are Tested
BearVault doesn’t take shortcuts on bear safety. Since earning IGBC certification in 2004, every BearVault model and size variant—including updates to materials or lid design—undergoes rigorous grizzly bear testing at IGBC-approved facilities.
This testing program is the only bear-resistance certification officially recognized by bear management experts in the U.S., designed to prevent ineffective products from going to market.
Visual and Mechanical Design Review
BearVault knows that both backpackers and bears are counting on a reliable bear canister. Our meticulous design process starts well before live testing begins to ensure the best possible product.
Our engineering team utilizes state-of-the-art materials, prototyping, and engineering tools to design a canister that is easy for users to open and carry, yet stands strong against bears of all shapes and sizes.
We conduct advanced computer simulations, mechanical testing, and other proprietary test methods to create the best products possible.
Live Grizzly Bear Testing
Live testing takes place at either the WSU Bear Center in Pullman, Washington or the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana.
Testing Protocol:
- The canister is filled with highly appealing substances, such as peanut butter, honey, fish, and dog kibble, to attract the bears' interest.
- Several grizzlies of varying ages and strength interact with the container throughout the test.
- Bears bite, claw, chew, compress, scratch, and pound—but licking and rolling are excluded from contact time.
The test ends when:
- The canister withstands 60 minutes of bear contact without breach = Pass
- The canister is penetrated, bent, broken, or compromised, allowing access = Fail
All testing is monitored, recorded, and archived to guide future product development and maintain a clear record of what has passed.
This rigorous protocol ensures BearVault canisters aren’t just theoretically resistant—they’re proven in the paws of bear experts
Approved For The Backcountry
What This Means For You
IGBC certification isn’t just for show — it’s your ticket to legal and safe backcountry camping. Many national parks and wilderness areas now require bear canisters, and most of them rely on IGBC’s list of certified models.
With BearVault, you’re carrying a canister that’s:
- Trusted by park rangers
- Officially approved by the IGBC
- Tested by real grizzlies
