Reviews & Ratings for BearVault BV500 Journey Bear Resistant Food Canister — 137 reviews

(137 reviews)
BearVault BV500 Journey Bear Resistant Food Canister
BearVault BV500 Journey Bear Resistant Food Canister
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Beary Good

by KarlosJ83, Gear Expert from UT, United States Written on September 10, 2011
The BV Bear Cannister is all that it promises - lightweight, durable, etc. However, due to a thumb injury, I had difficulty opening it up with my hands only - the tip of a key or coin allowed me to do so by applying pressure with no problem.
Most Helpful Positive Review BV 450 great for weekenders
Got the BV 450 its a very compact can and the large opening makes it very easy to load and unload. The Garcia style cans are easier to open but the larger opening on the BV makes it worth the extra effort. I can get 4 days worth of food easily in there but I use mostly grocery store food (oatmeal, m...
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Most Helpful Negative Review Inconsistent
Purchased 2 solo Bear Vaults for JMT trip. One worked fine though hard to open in the morning. The 2nd vault was virtually impossible for one person to open and it got progressively worse the more you used it. It was impossible to open without one person holding the cannister while the other person ...
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Top rated bear canister

by Skyler Conner-Coash, Verified Owner from OR, United States Written on April 22, 2021
One of those items that you hope never really gets tested. Needed to have for certain areas that I will be hiking in Oregon and Cali. Seems well made. It is a little hard to open, but that's the point. I have read some reviews about using a card or key to help open the lid. Haven't tried that yet, but if you don't have strong hands, or good grip, it will definitively be hard to open.
Pros:
  • Seems well made
Cons:
  • hard to open
Best Used for:
  • hiking in bear country
Would recommend: Yes
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Bear Proof Container

by David, from UT, United States Written on March 28, 2021
Simple and to the point. I like that it is clear. I like that it has grooves around it. I have not used it yet, but the grooves will help to keep it from sliding out when I lash it to my back pack. The 500 is big enough that I am pretty sure that it will be outside rather than inside my pack.
Would recommend: Yes
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Food stash

by Buckaroo, from TN, United States Written on March 20, 2021
Csmpsaver is easy to deal with and this item is going to be exactly what I’m wanting to secure my food. I had read other reviews about the difficulty unscrewing the lid and checked that issue out right off the bat. I found that after practicing 5 or 6 times that I’d become very comfortable with getting the locking tabs past the locking stops. Sure, it’s not easy but there’s a reason for that. The BV500 is just large enough that I believe it will hold most if not all of my menu for my next 7 day BWCA trip.
Pros:
  • I like the weight and the see through light blue plastic.
Cons:
  • Personally I would have like it to have been 12in in diameter.
Best Used for:
  • Obviously Bear Country
Would recommend: Yes
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BV450 - Great Bear Cannister

by JamesLosAngeles, Verified Owner from CA, United States Written on March 12, 2021
I used the BV450 for a solo five day backpacking trip in Yosemite National Park and a three day trans-Catalina hike. This cannister was perfect. The cannister kept my food safe. The weight of the cannister is the price to pay for being responsible. I taped an old plastic membership card to the top of my BV450. You will find in cold weather the tab is difficult to press. Place the plastic card between the edge of the cannister top and the protective tab. Turn the top with the plastic card inserted and it’s so much easier to open.
Pros:
  • Protects your food from animals but most importantly keeps animals from associating people with a quick snack.
Cons:
  • May be difficult to open in cold weather.
Best Used for:
  • Backpacking in places wear a bear cannister is required.
Would recommend: Yes
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450 BearVault

by TK, Verified Owner from VA, United States Written on March 2, 2021
Generous sized canister to stash food for one person for 4 days supposedly. Leave the chips at home bring “add water” ingredients for cooking and should last longer. Very strong material to prevent a bear from crushing.
Would recommend: Yes
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Bear Canister

by Joyous, Verified Owner from WA, United States Written on September 28, 2020
I haven't had the opportunity to use this bear canister yet. I bought it for an upcoming backpacking trip next summer. I was advised to get this size for a 5-day trip and it looks like it will hold everything that I need.
Would recommend: Yes
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Nice that it is smaller

by Hiker, from CO, United States Written on September 28, 2020
I like that it is smaller than most bear canisters. It is good for an overnight and takes up less space in your pack. It meets the requirements of Rocky Mountain National Park. I wish these weren’t so heavy though.
Pros:
  • Smaller size
Cons:
  • Weight
Best Used for:
  • 1-2 night trip
Would recommend: Yes
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Bear Canister

by Bearman, from ID, United States Written on September 27, 2020
I purchased this for a trip to the Olympic National Forest, as a bear canister is required. This canister should work without any issues. The negatives are that it is heavy and large, making it difficult to keep the base weight down low.
Pros:
  • Bear protection
Cons:
  • Weight and size
Best Used for:
  • Making govt happy
Would recommend: Yes
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Our bear can product

by Llama packer, from CA, United States Written on September 27, 2020
We trek through the sierras each summer with 7 llamas. This is our go to product to store all of our food, we have had some for over 10years and they are still working as expected. We have used Kevlar bags which are a bit lighter in weight but they also allow the food to get squished and also are hard to tie and often Allow small mice in.
Would recommend: Yes
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Right Size, Secure & Easy to open

by MG, Verified Owner from CA, United States Written on June 1, 2020
Great mid-sized bear bear canister for extended weekend camping trips and short forays into the back country. Easy to open lid requires zero tools. Dimples on the side aid with grip when opening and closing. Sturdy build means you can also use it as a seat while boiling water for your morning campsite coffee or pan frying the fish you caught form the lake just outside your tent door for dinner. Clear sides help you find what your looking for if you just toss everything in without planning. Only CON is it's not approved for ALL outdoor areas in the states.
Pros:
  • Sturdy
  • Easy open
  • clear
Cons:
  • not approved in all areas
Best Used for:
  • Camping
  • Rafting camp trips
  • Backpacking (multiple days)
  • bear country
Would recommend: Yes
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