Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board bear canisters - how do you carry yours?

in your pack or strapped to the outside?

Do they sell sacks for them?

I've done both, but find it best to strap it on the outside. I have a Bear Vault and I put a little bit of adhesive velcro on it to make it more secure to strap it on vertically.

Counter Assault Bear Keg Storage Sack will work for Bear Vault and obviously for the Counter Assault Bear Keg. REI sells all of the above. Since it is smaller I am sure the Garcia Backpackers Cache will also fit in this storage sack.

My BearVault (solo) rides inside my pack - seems to be the most stable/balanced for me. It contains all but the current days food. I have heard of some people putting their sleeping bag in it in the bottom of their pack and storing the food when in camp - haven't tried it myself but it sounds like a pretty good idea. Always get in the habit of emptying your pack out completely and leaving the zippers open because any tiny morsel or interesting smell will attract varmints. By leaving the zippers open they can crawl into your pack rather than chew a nice hole in it to gain access.

I have heard of some people putting their sleeping bag in it in the bottom of their pack and storing the food when in camp - haven't tried it myself but it sounds like a pretty good idea.
I would not want to get food smells permeated into MY sleeping bag === BAD IDEA..............steve

I have two sizes of bear cannisters:The classic NPS rental "Garcia", and a newer, smaller, "Bare Boxer" that is excellent for overnighters. When I use the larger can, I lay it sideways on my sleeping bag inside the bottom of the pack. The smaller can is upright on the bag, with the space next to it stuffed with tent, rainfly or other softgoods. I try to avoid strapping cumbersome items to the outside of my pack, due to the fact that I seem to X-country frequently. Like previously mentioned,I only store food that will be used the next day; the current day's food is kept in a more convenient pouch.

B

put it inside your pack . . . but you'll figure out what you're comfortable with. canisters tend to be heavy and they are not soft. put it on top of your pack and you'll be constantly having to tighten the straps to keep it from wobbling all over. Strap it to the bottom and you've got it slapping your ass all day, but these are just my peeves on the trail––seeing people come bouncing along with ten different things hanging off their packs. Keep it inside, on its side.

My Bearikade Weekender goes in my pack vertically, inside a padded cylinder made by rolling my 3/4 length Ridgerest. That's what works for me.