Do I Need a Bear Canister Backpacking?

By Alice Nichols

Backpacking is a fun and rewarding outdoor activity, but there are certain things you need to consider when preparing for a backpacking trip. One of the most important items you will need is a bear canister.

A bear canister is a hard-sided container designed to protect your food and other scented items from being accessed by bears. Bears have an incredible sense of smell and can detect food from miles away.

When camping in bear country, it’s important to keep all food and scented items stored in an animal-proof container like a bear canister.

Bear canisters are made of tough plastic or aluminum and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They’re designed to be lightweight and waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about your food getting wet or ruined while on the trail. They also help keep food odors contained so bears can’t smell them from far away.

Bear canisters are also essential for areas where bear hangs are not allowed or impractical. Bear hangs require the hanging of food at least 10 feet off the ground using rope, which isn’t always possible in some terrain or tree densities. Bear canisters provide an efficient alternative for storing food securely when bear hangs aren’t possible.

In conclusion, if you are planning on going backpacking in any area known for having bears, it is important that you bring along a bear canister. These containers provide an effective way to store your food securely so that bears cannot access it, and they also help contain odors so that bears won’t be drawn towards your camp site.