BearVault BV500 Bear Resistant Food Canister Review
Reading Time: 7 minutes The BearVault BV500 is a polycarbonate (plastic), 11.5-liter, bear-resistant food canister (i.e., a bear canister or bear can) weighing 2 lbs 9 oz / 1.162 kg. It’s approved for use to ward off both black bears and grizzly bears and is approved for use everywhere you are required to have a bear canister (in the United States).
It is the most common bear canister among Pacific Crest Trail hikers (who are required to have a bear canister in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Lassen Volcanic National Park), according to the PCT Hiker Survey. It is the bear canister I used during my first trip on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Testing Conditions
I used the BV500 hiking through the Sierra Nevada on the Pacific Crest Trail and have used it on multiple trips to Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks since then. It’s been my food container, seat, and large annoying thing in my backpack for many weeks.
Notes on the BV500
- Always close the lid all the way before using it as a seat
- The BV500 and the BV450 use the same lid (and you can purchase just the lid directly from BearVault if you somehow lose yours).
- Store your bear canister away from your campsite (but preferably close enough that you will be able to hear should it attract company).
- Applying reflective tape to your bear canister can make it easier to locate in the dark.
- You can mail a bear can by simply attaching a label to the outside of it – no box is required.
The Specs
- Weight: 41 oz / 1.162 kg
- Capacity: 11.5 liters / 700 cubic inches
- Material: Polycarbonate
- Dimensions: 8.7 x 12.7 in / 22.1 x 32.26 cm
- Color: Blue
- Transparent: Yes
- Tools required to open: None
- MSRP: $79.95
The Features
- Grizzly and black bear approved
- The opening provides full access for loading, unloading, and finding items
- Patented design to allow for opening and closing the lid without tools
- Transparent polycarbonate housing resists impacts without shattering
- Built-in guides keep tie-down straps in place
The Good
The Durability
The BearVault BV500 is not going to break – at least not as a result of anything your puny human hands/strength hope to do to it. You can beat the hell out of this thing and know it’s going to hold up. The only “moving part” would be the tab (part of the canister) that keeps the lid from coming off and the two notches (part of the lid) that need to be depressed to open the can. That said, there are some questions regarding the bears (more below).
The Transparency
The BV500 is made from polycarbonate—a transparent plastic—which allows you to see what’s inside your bear canister without needing to open it. It’s basically magic. Sure, you may know exactly what you have left in your bear canister, but it’s nice to be able to see inside without having to open it (and then the bears can see what they’re missing out on).
The Approved-ness
Even though we should all be carrying bear-resistant food canisters because we want to protect wildlife (specifically, bears) from themselves (and our invasion into their homes), most people carry a bear canister because they have to, not because they want to. The BV500 is approved for use in all the places where you are required to have a bear canister (there’s some debate surrounding the High Peaks Wilderness in the Adirondacks, as the bears there appear to be able to break into polycarbonate canisters).
The Seat
The BV500 makes an excellent seat – possibly the most practical thing about these canisters (except for the whole keeping the bears away from your food thing). That said, it’s recommended that you close the lid all the way before sitting on it to avoid damage to the bear can. Its function as a seat is almost enough to justify carrying it, except not really.
The Okay
The Bulk
The BearVault BV500 is not something you’ll want to put inside your pack. If you know you’re going to be taking one of these along, I suggest making sure it can fit into your pack horizontally before committing to a backpack. If it doesn’t, you could always strap it to the outside of your pack (there are grooves to make it more secure when lashing it to something).
The Integrity
Despite the BV500 being approved for use with both black and grizzly bears, there are reports of bears having been able to break into this canister. Some bears have figured out how to unscrew the lid, while others have managed to break through the canister itself. It’s still approved for use in places like Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Lassen Volcanic National Parks, but you should always check local regulations before heading out (or making a purchase).
The Cold
The BV500 requires that you depress two adjacent parts of the lid to open it, which can sometimes be difficult when your fingers are cold (or nearly frozen after packing up a wet shelter in the morning). The cold has never prevented me from opening the canister, but it has definitely made it inconvenient.
The Bad
The Weight
This is unavoidable when it comes to bear canisters, but the BearVault BV500 is quite heavy. At 41 oz / 1.162 kg, it could easily be the single heaviest piece of gear in your pack (including your pack). It’s also one of the heaviest bear canister options available (that said, your options are fairly limited).
Who is it for?
Solo Hikers
Everyone’s caloric needs are different, and it will depend on how much you are planning to eat every day, but the BearVault BV500 could work for a solo hiker. I would say that the absolute maximum you could probably squeeze into one of these would be 12 days of food. That said, I have usually managed around 8 days’ worth on a maximum carry (but this was pushing big days, so I was eating a lot). If you can avoid that long of a carry, the BV450 might be a better option for you (I switched to a BV450 and haven’t looked back).
Couples
The BV500 is an excellent choice for couples, as it weighs significantly less than two BV450s. Remember, you can always split up the food carried during the day—the bear can is only required to protect your food when it’s not with you. A couple could easily squeeze a long weekend or more’s worth of food into a BV500.
Most-Popular Alternatives
| BEAR CANISTER | PRICE | WEIGHT | CAPACITY | MATERIAL | DIMENSIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearikade Weekender | $288 | 31 oz / 879 g | 10.6 L | Carbon fiber | 10.5 x 9 in / 27 x 23 cm |
| Bearikade Expedition | $350 | 36 oz / 1.021 kg | 14.7 L | Carbon fiber | 14.5 x 9 in / 37 x 23 cm |
| Ursack Allmitey | $140 | 13 oz / 369 g | 10.6 L | Spectra (ballistic polyethylene), Kevlar | 8 x 19 in / 20.3 x 48.7 cm |
| Garcia Bear-Resistant Container | $75 | 43 oz / 1.219 kg | 10 L | ABS polymer | 12 x 8.8 in / 30 x 22 cm |
| BearVault BV450 | $70 | 33 oz / 935 g | 7.2 L | Polycarbonate | 8.7 x 8.3 in / 22 x 21 cm |
Conclusion
The BearVault BV500 is a bear canister. Bear canisters are bulky, heavy, and a pain to carry, but they are necessary to protect the bears (and other animals) from our delicious human food.
If you’re heading out on a solo backpacking trip, the BV500 could be a good option. However, I would consider checking if all your food would fit into a BV450, as it’s significantly smaller and lighter. However, if your backpack can fit the BV500 and you’re happy to carry it, then there’s nothing wrong with it (except for the possibility of bears getting into it, which is also a concern with the BV450). If you’re a couple and you’re out for a weekend or even a bit longer, the BV500 is also a great option.
Check out the BearVault BV500 here.
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