So you’re starting to plan for an epic adventure, and you’ve realized you need a bear canister! The next step is to determine what size bear canister you need. We love having a variety of sizes to choose from, as we frequent bear country many times every year.
| At a Glance
Choosing the right size bear canister depends on a few factors: your trip length, group size, food type, and whether you’re sharing gear.
Most backpackers use the BV450 for 3–4 day trips, while the BV500 is ideal for longer hikes or for two people sharing.
Use our bear canister size guide below or take the quiz to find the right fit for you.
Each of BearVault’s four sizes has a place in our gear closet, from a long day climbing to a multi-week trip. Ensuring you have the right size for your next adventure is crucial for having plenty of space for all your snacks, while avoiding unnecessary bulk (we all appreciate saving weight whenever possible!).
These four sizes are suitable for adventures ranging from long-day excursions to 2-night backpacking trips to thru-hiking from Mexico to Canada.
Adding the two additional size options (BV425-Sprint and BV475-Trek) was a huge step forward for BearVault’s ability to provide a size for all adventurers.
BearVault Canisters
Breaking Down The Sizes
All BearVault models share the same diameter (8.7 inches) and generally fit vertically in most overnight packs. The BV425-Sprint, BV450-Jaunt, and BV475-Trek also nestle horizontally in most packs, offering more flexibility in how you carry them.
When choosing your size, consider your trip length, whether you’ll be sharing a canister, the types of food and smellables you plan to bring, and any extras that need to fit.
Still unsure where to begin, we'll break it down step by step.
How Much Food Fits in a Bear Canister?
A general rule of thumb is - one day’s worth of food takes up about 100 cubic inches or 1.6L.
A BV425 can typically fit about 2 days of food and smellables for one person, a BV450 can hold about 4 days, a BV475 can hold up to 6 days, and a BV500 can hold up to 7 or more days.
Now, we’ll give you a heads up, this can vary A LOT. We all eat vastly different amounts and types of foods. If you’re chef-ing it up at camp and plan to bring an entire charcuterie assortment (we’re with you there!), you will likely need a lot more space than your partner, who lives for an entire week strictly on homemade freeze-dried meals and energy bars.
From our personal experience, here are a few different scenarios and what we’d bring:
Which canister for a solo two-day backpacking trip?
BV425 Sprint
Which canister is for two people on an easy two-day trip?
BV450 Jaunt®
Which canister is for two people on a 3-day trip with calorie-dense/re-packaged food?
BV475 Trek
Which canister for two people on a 3-day backpacking trip using pre-made freeze-dried meals, fresh fruits and extra snacks for a harder hike?
One BV500-Journey® OR two BV450-Jaunt®
Which canister is for two people on a 4-day backpacking trip with a dog?
One BV500 Journey® & One BV475 Trek
Which canister is for three people on a 3-day trip?
ither 3 BV450 Jaunt® or one BV500 Journey® and B450 Jaunt®
Which canister is for two people on 5+ day trips?
Two BV500 Juurney®
The difficulty and mileage of a hike make a huge difference in how much food needs to be packed, and two-night trips can look vastly different based on calories needed and expended. Plus, each of us has very different caloric needs on a trip like this, and all of these needs must be taken into account.
Backpacking is all about finding ways to distribute weight among your hiking partners — the canisters play a significant part in this. Something we’ve found to be really beneficial is the ability to bring two different sizes of canisters to divvy up weight. If on a 3-day trip, one of us carries the majority of the food in the BV500-Journey, while the other carries a BV425-Sprint or BV450-Jaunt with the excess food. They then opt to carry the stove, tent, and/or cookware, thereby taking on some extra weight.
There are many ways to choose foods that pack easily, or to alter the packaging, which we will discuss further down. BUT there are also a few other things to consider besides just what food you will be bringing!
What Else Goes in a Bear Canister (Besides Food)?
ANYTHING that has a scent.
Bears are thought to have the best sense of smell in the animal kingdom. It is estimated that a black bear can smell a food source from over a mile away (a polar bear has been estimated to follow seals for up to 40 miles!). Amazing, isn’t it?!
To protect bears from our food, it’s important to ensure that all items with a scent are packed into the canister. Bears will be attracted to your food, but also anything else you may bring that smells!
This includes:
- Toiletries (toothpaste, scented wipes)
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
- Even a spoon that hasn't been cleaned
- All Trash!
We cannot stress enough the importance of doing a sweep of your packs every evening when you arrive at camp (and then checking one more time). The bear canisters do a great job at keeping your food and yourself safe, but accidentally leaving your sunscreen or a bar in your hip pocket from your hike could make the difference between the bears leaving your campsite alone and coming by to browse while you’re asleep.
If you plan to bring an animal friend along on the trip, all of their food needs to fit in the canister as well. A large dog’s food can take up nearly the amount of space yours will. This can often be split between hiking partners (if they are so kind), but it can significantly impact the amount of food you can fit in a canister and is a major factor to consider when preparing.
Make sure you pre-pack everything (while you’re at home) that needs to fit in the canister on the first night to ensure it fits!
How to Fit More Food in a Bear Canister?
Choose calorie-dense foods
Food like nuts, nut butters, some energy bars, and dehydrated meals are often high-calorie foods that take up little space per calorie. On the other hand, popcorn, bread, fresh fruits, and chips occupy a lot more space and contain significantly fewer calories and therefore, less energy.
Higher-calorie foods will take up less canister space, weigh less per calorie, and also give you more energy for your trip.
Repackage foods
Many dehydrated meals come in packaging that you can pour boiling water directly into, to cook and eat out of. While these bags can come in super handy on the trail, they also take up a lot of extra space in your canister. If you're short on space or hoping to fit into a smaller canister, placing the contents of these meals into a smaller zip-lock bag can save a significant amount of space (pictured to the left). Another option is to use a needle to poke a hole in the bag to squeeze out any extra air.
Pack toiletries wisely
Being on the trail really makes you choose which toiletries are totally necessary. This rings especially true when you’re choosing between the extra wipes and a Snickers bar for summit day! Each smellable item has to go into the canister, so take that into consideration when packing.
"Typically, we bring toothpaste, a toothbrush, a small sunscreen and chapstick, and a small travel-size bag of wipes. Thankfully, these can all fit between the nooks and crannies of our harder items, as we squeeze them in."
If you want to bring moisturizers or lotions, a great hack is to use a contact case and fill both trays with your products. It keeps them from leaking, and you only have to bring as much as you’ll use.
Make your own meals!
This can be a little intimidating at first, but I promise it’s not as difficult as it seems! We purchased a dehydrator and began experimenting with simple meals that we could prepare at home. Tacos, pasta, and ramen are great ways to get some veggies into your diet.
Adjust the portions to suit your preferred intake, and consider changing flavors to ensure you’ll love the meal. It’s also a great way to conserve space in any size canister, as we package them into freezer ziplock bags, which take up far less space than pre-made meals on the market.
Bringing a Furry Friend?
If you’re bringing a dog, consider freeze-dried food for them as well. It will require access to water, and it is likely more costly, but the space and weight savings may be worth it (and you can also repackage these).
| Pro Tip: If you are planning to hike all day, and you know you’ll be with your backpack the entire time — don’t pack the first day’s food into the canister. There is no need if you know it will all be eaten by the time you go to put your bear canister in its place for the night. Plus, it helps with easy access while you’re hiking.
Just remember that you may need to pack leftovers, and you will need enough space for the trash!
Which Bear Canister Size is Right for Me?
Now that you understand the different sizes, what needs to fit into your bear canister, and how to pack a little lighter, it's time to make a decision! We have a handy flow chart to help you out.
| Helpful Hints: As we explained earlier, the “packability of smellables” can vary significantly. This chart would consider you “ultralight” if you are repackaging your meals into ziplock bags, carrying calorie-dense bars and snacks, and are bringing the bare minimum for toiletries (small toothpaste, chapstick, toothbrush).
On the other hand, I’d recommend opting for the “bulky” option if you are packing more specialty or fresh foods, have a strenuous trip planned with a lot of calories needed, are bringing a dog along, or are bringing some extra toiletries.
How to Pack a Bear Canister Into Your Backpack?
There are a few common ways people pack the canisters, and it often depends on personal comfort, the backpack being used, and the amount of other gear being carried.
The main goal when packing your canister is to ensure it is comfortable for hiking long distances, stays centered on your back, and the pack feels balanced.
Here are the 3 most common ways to pack a bear canister:
#1 Inside the Backpack:
Nine times out of ten, we prefer to pack our canisters inside our packs. We use Osprey 65L packs for most of our trips, and all four canisters fit perfectly into the pack vertically. Packing the canister inside the pack allows for it to always be full of food and reduces the need for unpacking and repacking the canister each time you camp.
We always place the canister at the base of the pack, on top of the sleeping bag compartment, and pack other soft items around it to keep it centered. This keeps the canister (and its weight) centered on our backs, which helps for comfort while hiking.
#2 Strapped to the Top of the Pack:
Many backpackers prefer to keep the canister out of the backpack (especially if you’re using the BV475-Trek or BV500-Journey). There are a few ways to do this, depending on your pack, but strapping it to the top can be done with the “brain” of the pack, a bungee cord or a Y-strap.
Often, the canister will be emptied into your pack, as the weight near the top of the pack can throw you off balance when hiking on an incline/decline.
#3 Strapped to the Bottom of the Pack
This is the least preferred way of packing a bear canister. However, if your pack has sleeping bag straps on the base of the pack, you may be able to fit the canister into these to carry it underneath the pack.
Be prepared that this may be in the way when you set your pack down to take a break!
Overall, packing your canister depends on what will be most comfortable for you! We highly recommend testing each option out before your hike to determine what will be easiest, require the least adjusting, and feel right for your pack.
Choosing the right size for your trips depends on several factors and will likely be unique to each adventurer. We definitely love backpacking with some extra comfort, so we typically will opt for a larger size to accommodate extra snacks, any trash we pick up on the trail, and just not having to stress about ensuring it all fits.
Generally speaking, if you’re looking to take shorter 1-3 night trips, a BV425-Sprint or BV450-Jaunt should be sufficient for your needs. If you are hoping to do some longer treks, thru-hikes, or to share a canister with a hiking partner, a BV500 will guarantee you have plenty of room and plenty of snacks!
Still have questions, or need help figuring out which canister is best for your next adventure? BearVault is always happy to help you out.
Feel free to connect with Adventure Addicts as well! You can follow along with our adventures on Instagram at @the_adventureaddicts and on our blog.
Author Profile
Adventure Addicts
Hey! We are Kelby and Zoe: two adventure addicted, outdoor-loving, adrenaline-seeking, gear junkies. We are on a mission to inspire more people to get outside, provide them with quality gear reviews and recommendations, and show them why we have fallen in love with the outdoors! We spend all of our free time backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, or trying to find ways to combine all of the above. We absolutely love BearVault and are excited to be helping with some informational content regarding bear canister use and conservation! You can follow along with our adventures on Instagram at @the_adventureaddicts and our blog www.theadventureaddicts.com!