This topic is a good place for this...
I received an email from a friend asking the questions below. I know people here are better at helping out with container info than I, so maybe y'all can share your knowledge.
I’m planning a 5-day backpack over Shepherd Pass this summer.
My question is about bear-resistant storage. I have an ancient Garcia that weighs a ton and doesn’t hold enough food for 5 days. (I eat a lot.) The BearVault BV500 is an obvious candidate. Do you have any better ideas? Is the Ursack even legal (in Seki)?
Thanks everyone for the help!
The BearVault is both a reasonable choice, and a popular one. There are other choices, but they involve more weight, more money, or questionable legality.
Let's answer the question concerning legality in the Inyo National Forest..."The Inyo National Forest requires proper food storage in all wilderness areas. In some places, visitors must use bear bear-resistant containers, designed specifically to protect food from bears. In all other areas within designated wilderness, visitors are required to counter-balance their food, or store it in bear-resistant containers." Here's the link thingy...
http://tinyurl.com/omwtm2tIf I'm not mistaken, Ursack are designed specially to protect food from bears.
Let's talk Bear Vault, some are ok everywhere and others are not legal in Rae Lakes because the bears are smarter there than anywhere else in the Sierra. Also, I do remember a seasonal ranger telling me to put my bright new shinny Bear Vault in bear box at Kearsarge Lakes a while ago because 7 had failed.
Again, all canister fail and the failure usually involves the two legged owner of the canister.