Two of my hippy friends and myself just out of highschool in 73 started hiking the High Sierra mountains. We conquered every mountain in California over 10K. You have no idea how many black bears and mountain lions we've chased like wildmen. And they ran like hell every time. We have no idea how many lives we might have saved making them fear humans. We got in trouble once when a ranger caught us chasing bears in a state park. At 69 I'm still backpacking. I bought 5 acres one from the Yosemite main gate or a two hour hike out my back door to Toulumne Meadows for free. The last thing a bear or mountain lion expects is something wild chasing them.👍
I vote yes to the unedited short videos. Where else can we get gold like “Save a bear, ride a cowboy” 😂 The bear vault message is great too. I don’t mind the bulk. Especially for short overnights or weekend trips. Way easier than trying to get a bag hang right. I love bears… and I love my snacks, so keeping them both safe is a win-win!
@@martinhafner2201 many bears understand lines now in my region, they snap the branches etc, and get the food…creating problem bears that walk into camps. If you try one, and realize how friggin convient and time saving they are it’s easy to carry one and have you fo safe from everything, squirrels,chipmunks etc easier get onto lines and take bags down in some areas. Safe and easy costs 2 pounds, that’s easy to cut in buying lighter gear once you’re serious about being in the woods.
I'm all about saving the bears and being sensible with food storage in the wild. What bothers me is the price of these canisters. They are merely polycarbonate containers that probably cost a fraction of their price to manufacture. I guess I'll breakdown and buy one...eventually. Oh, and love the short videos (unedited or otherwise). I know you went out on a limb on this one though...😆
I’ve been using a bearvault from the beginning. And it has prevented little creatures from chewing hole in my tent and backpack! It’s my seat.. and it keeps my food from being crushed. I use a lot of the protein wraps and they fit perfectly in the bottom or the top of the canister. And really as far as space… the more I use the food, I can put other things in the canister if I want…
Running on that log was pretty impressive tbh. And yes here in WA state we are required to carry bear cans in Olympic NP. They are a PIA but they are not just for bears - for raccoons and rodents as well.
I live basically adjacent to the Great Smokey Mountains. Bears are a thing. Hoisting your smellables onto a raised cable is still a thing here. If you had a bear container you would still have to hoist it onto the cable at the approved campsite. I did three treks at BSA Philmont on New Mexico and all smellables went up on the cable.
@@charlesperry1051 yeah no, you walk away from camp 100 ft and stashing it in the Lee of a tree or extra bushy shrub, I’m in Grizzly and Black bear country, even had my canister get some scratches on the stickers…safe as can be.
@@MrsStevenBrown The backcountry sites around GSM have lines permanently in place. You just clip your food bag to it. They actually discourage bear canisters around here.
Make sure to check what type of bear canister is approved for the the area you hike in. For example, in the Adirondacks (upstate NY), the bear vault is not an acceptable canister as some bears have learned to open them.
I pretty much exclusively carry a bear can unless I'm someplace that I know has an established storage or hang in place. At the end of a long day, I don't have to worry about finding a good place or dealing with lines... I just walk out, stuff it someplace, and I'm done.
I like the video. I think you should go deeper on everything that needs to go in a bear canister, how to eat at camp, how to store a bv, etc. I find when you add all the non food items to a bv, the bv size needed becomes more of an issue. I have the bv475 and 5 days of tightly packed food, plus other stuff that is scented, s a tight squeeze
@@xbalance repackage the instant meals into freezer ziploc with info written on it, I can fit 4 days into a 450, with ditty space left for the smelly stuff, you don’t need the packaging, it takes up far too much space.
I've heard rumors they will start requiring on the Appalachian Trail. I tend to use the bearvault 450 while backpacking the Arizona Trail. only way I can keep my food safe from the critters.
There is a very small section on the at that has the requirement, The pct has the sierra section where the bear can is required mostly from kennedy meadows south to kennedy meadows north is the norm, but possibly that could change for Washington in future too as they migrate more grizzlys in and around the cascades regions through the next couple years.
You forgot to mention the added benefit of the Bear Vault doubling as a stool/table/foot rest! It's a shame that NP's can't trust visitors to properly secure their food to begin with. I never minded bringing my Bear Vault along though. What are your thoughts on Ursacks? I have one and have used it where allowed, with the sometimes-mandatory aluminum liner to help prevent crushing, and like that they have a little more pliability to them. Though bear vaults are idiot proof and I feel like that's what these regulations are aiming for.
@BackpackingTV I used it in Glacier National Park, which had no specific bear can policies at the time, and Rocky Mountain NP, which required you to have a sheet of aluminum to go inside the Sack as added protection. Without the aluminum liner, the ursack is great and let's you position your food in ways that may fit better (i.e. stack your food in a tall and narrow fashion if you needed to work around other gear). If the aluminum liner is required, you've essentially got a bear can that's less protective. So for parks that require the liner, I say just take a bear can. If you end up ever checking them out, it'd be great to see even a short video with your opinions.
@@BackpackingTV They have worked for friends, but having your food crushed to death by a curious bear really ruins a hike they told me and they got a bear vault after that hike. Sure the bear didn’t get in, but your food is now crushed and possibly mixed together..yuck! lol
enjoyed the unedited video and Mike's delivery is clear and great, but I'm watching on my phone so the wide/long shot makes it hard to see the actual canister in question. I mean I know what they look like but still,
I’ve been carrying a bear vault on backpacking trips for many years. Not a big deal. The bear vault keeps other critters out of your food besides bears.
Personally, the convenience of not having to find an appropriqte tree the right distance away from camp outweighs the inconvenience of the bucket in ylur pack. You get used to it, like all things.
They are so much easier to use though! ❤ as a bear vault person in the Rockies, I stash it when I go for my final potty and pick it back up in the morning, hanging takes FOREVER TO DO! Click click and I’m in my food, it’s safe, I’m safe, and bears are safe! Once you have a few sizes for different hike lengths, you’re good to go! My 450 is used the most, the 425 is great for overnights.
Just a guy on his log, hanging out with his plastic tub
It's a simple life
Two of my hippy friends and myself just out of highschool in 73 started hiking the High Sierra mountains. We conquered every mountain in California over 10K. You have no idea how many black bears and mountain lions we've chased like wildmen. And they ran like hell every time. We have no idea how many lives we might have saved making them fear humans. We got in trouble once when a ranger caught us chasing bears in a state park. At 69 I'm still backpacking. I bought 5 acres one from the Yosemite main gate or a two hour hike out my back door to Toulumne Meadows for free. The last thing a bear or mountain lion expects is something wild chasing them.👍
I vote yes to the unedited short videos. Where else can we get gold like “Save a bear, ride a cowboy” 😂 The bear vault message is great too. I don’t mind the bulk. Especially for short overnights or weekend trips. Way easier than trying to get a bag hang right. I love bears… and I love my snacks, so keeping them both safe is a win-win!
Dialogue that stupid has to be made up on the spot
I like this unedited, short video. Very informative. Of course they should not all be like this, but I like the variety. Keep up the good work!
So because some jerks won't throw a line, I have to carry a heavy, awkward piece of gear? Punish the idiots, not me.
Them's the breaks, unfortunately
@@martinhafner2201 many bears understand lines now in my region, they snap the branches etc, and get the food…creating problem bears that walk into camps. If you try one, and realize how friggin convient and time saving they are it’s easy to carry one and have you fo safe from everything, squirrels,chipmunks etc easier get onto lines and take bags down in some areas. Safe and easy costs 2 pounds, that’s easy to cut in buying lighter gear once you’re serious about being in the woods.
I'm all about saving the bears and being sensible with food storage in the wild. What bothers me is the price of these canisters. They are merely polycarbonate containers that probably cost a fraction of their price to manufacture. I guess I'll breakdown and buy one...eventually. Oh, and love the short videos (unedited or otherwise). I know you went out on a limb on this one though...😆
Heeeeey haha good one. I should have worked that in somehow. Talk about a missed opportunity.
Yeah these things are way too expensive
No way a piece of molded plastic costs 70+$. Way overpriced. Total scam.
I’ve been using a bearvault from the beginning. And it has prevented little creatures from chewing hole in my tent and backpack! It’s my seat.. and it keeps my food from being crushed. I use a lot of the protein wraps and they fit perfectly in the bottom or the top of the canister. And really as far as space… the more I use the food, I can put other things in the canister if I want…
Running on that log was pretty impressive tbh. And yes here in WA state we are required to carry bear cans in Olympic NP. They are a PIA but they are not just for bears - for raccoons and rodents as well.
I live basically adjacent to the Great Smokey Mountains. Bears are a thing. Hoisting your smellables onto a raised cable is still a thing here. If you had a bear container you would still have to hoist it onto the cable at the approved campsite. I did three treks at BSA Philmont on New Mexico and all smellables went up on the cable.
@@charlesperry1051 yeah no, you walk away from camp 100 ft and stashing it in the Lee of a tree or extra bushy shrub, I’m in Grizzly and Black bear country, even had my canister get some scratches on the stickers…safe as can be.
@@MrsStevenBrown
The backcountry sites around GSM have lines permanently in place. You just clip your food bag to it. They actually discourage bear canisters around here.
Make sure to check what type of bear canister is approved for the the area you hike in. For example, in the Adirondacks (upstate NY), the bear vault is not an acceptable canister as some bears have learned to open them.
That's a very good thought! It's wild that they figured out how to do that considering it took me a minute or two
Damn that speech was impressive to do in one take. Didnt seem disingenuous and youre easy to listen to
Thank you!
Good video and I like the form. Is there any outtakes of you falling off the log while running across it?
It would have been sweet but unfortunately not
I pretty much exclusively carry a bear can unless I'm someplace that I know has an established storage or hang in place. At the end of a long day, I don't have to worry about finding a good place or dealing with lines... I just walk out, stuff it someplace, and I'm done.
Love this short video! Full of great info!
I like the video. I think you should go deeper on everything that needs to go in a bear canister, how to eat at camp, how to store a bv, etc. I find when you add all the non food items to a bv, the bv size needed becomes more of an issue. I have the bv475 and 5 days of tightly packed food, plus other stuff that is scented, s a tight squeeze
@@xbalance repackage the instant meals into freezer ziploc with info written on it, I can fit 4 days into a 450, with ditty space left for the smelly stuff, you don’t need the packaging, it takes up far too much space.
What about bagging your poop, doesn’t that attract bears. National parks are getting way too many rules in US and Canada.
😮 I get most of the rules. Bagging can be pretty inconvenient so hopefully we only have to do that in rocky areas haha
I've heard rumors they will start requiring on the Appalachian Trail. I tend to use the bearvault 450 while backpacking the Arizona Trail. only way I can keep my food safe from the critters.
There is one short section in Georgia, 7 miles or so, that it’s required. So it’s coming.
Interesting! Good to know
There is a very small section on the at that has the requirement, The pct has the sierra section where the bear can is required mostly from kennedy meadows south to kennedy meadows north is the norm, but possibly that could change for Washington in future too as they migrate more grizzlys in and around the cascades regions through the next couple years.
You forgot to mention the added benefit of the Bear Vault doubling as a stool/table/foot rest! It's a shame that NP's can't trust visitors to properly secure their food to begin with. I never minded bringing my Bear Vault along though. What are your thoughts on Ursacks? I have one and have used it where allowed, with the sometimes-mandatory aluminum liner to help prevent crushing, and like that they have a little more pliability to them. Though bear vaults are idiot proof and I feel like that's what these regulations are aiming for.
Never used an ursack before, are they nice?
@BackpackingTV I used it in Glacier National Park, which had no specific bear can policies at the time, and Rocky Mountain NP, which required you to have a sheet of aluminum to go inside the Sack as added protection.
Without the aluminum liner, the ursack is great and let's you position your food in ways that may fit better (i.e. stack your food in a tall and narrow fashion if you needed to work around other gear). If the aluminum liner is required, you've essentially got a bear can that's less protective. So for parks that require the liner, I say just take a bear can.
If you end up ever checking them out, it'd be great to see even a short video with your opinions.
@@BackpackingTV They have worked for friends, but having your food crushed to death by a curious bear really ruins a hike they told me and they got a bear vault after that hike. Sure the bear didn’t get in, but your food is now crushed and possibly mixed together..yuck! lol
enjoyed the unedited video and Mike's delivery is clear and great, but I'm watching on my phone so the wide/long shot makes it hard to see the actual canister in question. I mean I know what they look like but still,
Heh maybe I should have brought the longer lens
I've started using one most of the time, it's just easier to deal with.
You just slipped that song lyric in there, smooth as silk.
I’ve been carrying a bear vault on backpacking trips for many years. Not a big deal. The bear vault keeps other critters out of your food besides bears.
Unedited please. Stream of consciousness always more entertaining and realistic .
Personally, the convenience of not having to find an appropriqte tree the right distance away from camp outweighs the inconvenience of the bucket in ylur pack. You get used to it, like all things.
Good to watch shorter videos too
They are so much easier to use though! ❤ as a bear vault person in the Rockies, I stash it when I go for my final potty and pick it back up in the morning, hanging takes FOREVER TO DO! Click click and I’m in my food, it’s safe, I’m safe, and bears are safe! Once you have a few sizes for different hike lengths, you’re good to go! My 450 is used the most, the 425 is great for overnights.