How To Properly Store Your Bear Canister When Backpacking

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What to store in your bear canister​:

When backpacking in bear country, it's important to store all food, toiletries, and anything with a scent in a bear canister. This includes:

1. Food: snacks, candy, meals, and drink mixed, gum. This includes anything that has a scent, such as canned or dried foods, spices, oils, and pet food/treats.
2. Toiletries: toothpaste, insect repellent, soap, chapstick, sunscreen, flavored floss, lotion, and even some medications. These items can also attract bears because they have a strong scent.
3. Cookware: Store all cookware, such as pots, pans, and utensils, in your bear can or wherever you're storing your canister if they don't fit. Even if they don't have food on them, these items can still have strong scents from cooking.
4. Trash: all trash, including food wrappers and used paper towels must be in your bear canister. 

How to store your bear canister​:

When backpacking in bear country, storing your food properly is essential to prevent attracting bears to your campsite. A bear canister is a container specifically designed to keep bears from getting to your food. Here are some tips on how to store a bear canister when backpacking and camping in the backcountry:

1. To store your canister, look for a spot at least 100 yards from your campsite and 100 yards away from where you are eating. 
2. Look for a spot that is surrounded by natural barriers such as rocks, in the hollow of some trees, or in a hollowed out log so that the bear can't roll the canister away.
3. Store the canister downwind of your campsite to prevent any food odors from wafting towards your tent and having the bears associate humans with food.
4. Secure the canister properly. Some bear canisters come with a strap or cord that you can use to secure it to a tree or other object. Make sure the canister is securely fastened so that it cannot be easily knocked over or rolled away by a bear.
5. If you cannot store the canister in a hollow or behind rocks, you can stack them with your cook pots and rocks on top so that if a bear messes with them and they topple over, it will make noise and alert campers.
6. Follow local regulations: Be sure to check local regulations to ensure that you are storing your bear canister in compliance with any specific guidelines or rules that may apply in the area you are backpacking.​ There are many areas such as National Parks where bear canisters are required by law and things like odor proof sacks and bear hanging your food is not allowed.

Types of bear canisters & other storage​:

BearVault containers (most popular bear canisters for backpackers): BearVault 500  BearVault 475  BearVault 450  BearVault 425
Counter Assault Bear Keg Food Container
Backpacker's Cache 
Udap NO-FED-Bear Bear Resistant Canister
SABRE Frontiersman Bear Safe Food Storage Container
​Ursack Major XL Bear Sack - 15 Liters

Remember that proper food storage is essential to protect both yourself and the bears in the area. Always follow recommended guidelines and best practices to ensure that your food is stored safely and securely while backpacking in bear country.