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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Jay Peak, VT on 5/15/2008
Great product for keeping the bears out of your food. I went with the large model, the 400 because I was in the High Sierra backcountry for a week plus. It is a bit bulky but then again, so is packing food for a week to ten days. The clear can makes it real easy to find what you are looking for without taking everything out and can be used as a seat as well. We saw some bears but they never attempted to get into our food. Make sure to keep a good distance from campsite and they most likely wont bother you either. Also, make sure to keep toothpaste and sunscreen as well as anything else with a scent in here as the bears aren't only attracted to food smells.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from New England on 5/15/2008
The BV400 has been superseded by the BV500, which has the same volume and weight, but the lid design has been changed (again) to deal with some intelligent bears int the Adirondacks (or so I'm told).
It seems products that do not rely on a screw type fastener system (e.g. BV350/400 or Ursack) go through regular design iterations. I have a smaller BV300, purchased 4 years ago that is now unacceptable for use in many National Parks.
Bottom line, make sure that at a minimum you're buying the latest BV500 version and be prepared to upgrade the next time a few bears figure out how to break in to it.
My group used two of these while backpacking in the High Peaks Region of the ADK's. They were effective in keeping our food safe. But it was also effective in adding time to meal preparation. They were tricky to open when wet and in the dark.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Burlington, VT on 9/22/2007
I spent 3 nights in the High Peaks region of the ADK's with one of these barrels. The first 2 nights, I believe we were remote enough that bears didn't find us, and we were happy to have the barrel to ward off some pretty crafty chipmunks and squirrels. The last night, however, sleeping in a more populated area, a bear was able to bust it open and eat all of our remaining food. Rangers at the park said this was becoming more common with these types of barrels as the bears are figuring out where to push in on the top to make it pop off. (So smart!) They recommended the ones that are a bit heavier and smaller, but require tools or coins to open.
from New England on 7/31/2007
I don't understand how something so simple can cost so much but, this one is a little bigger, a little lighter, and easier to get in/out of then the Garcia. I like the wide opening. It doesn't seem as sturdy when using it as a seat but works OK. The latch seems like it might be a little weak and may wear out over time? But you don't have to put it upside down to keep the rain out like some. So, despite the cost, this appears to be the best value among the available options when you have to use a bear canister.
from Prescott, AZ on 7/29/2007
Just returned from 8 days in Yosemite with the Bearvault. We had bears in the camp almost every night and they totally ignored the Bearvaults. The only disadvantage I found is that it was a bit hard to open on cold mornings. I had to grasp the base withg my feet and the top with my hands. I doubt that a black bear can do this so I guess it isn't a big issue. I was able to fit a weeks worth of food with a bit of work.
from Highland Park, NJ on 5/2/2007
The product was good. The only problem I had was the cost: though it is probably worth what I paid, it went on sale less than 5 days later!! Frustrating.
from DE, but canoe in BWCA in northern MN on 11/1/2006
This is gr8...no ropes, no pulleys and no lost time hanging your foodpacks that is normal in the BWCA in northern MN. We needed 3 BV400s for 4 of us on a weeklong canoe trip, but we did bring some fresh apples & bagels to add to our freeze dried food. Only buy the newer models (BV400 vs BV300 and solo BV350 vs BV250) since they have made a significant change to strength of lid...[...]Item performed as expected although we did not have a bear test the strength...and hoping we never do. It certainly kept the smell inside the containers or we would have had some visitors. Gr8 insurance policy...
from Michigan on 10/1/2006
This product did it's job well on a recent hike in Utah's Uinta mountains. It hold's enough food for a 5-6 day trip plus a few bulkier items like bug spray or other scented stuff. We got rained and hailed on and no water got in my food. Being able to leave it on the ground was a plus as there were no bear poles to use and the trees were mostly evergreens. It also stops mice, which can climb some pole types. The vault doubles nicely as a seat. As for cons, it's a little big to put fit easily in an external pack, which I chose to do. The inside lip on the top of the vault had a sharp edge that gouged my hand on day one. I sanded it down after the trip and it seems ok now. It was also a little hard to open at times when threaded down tight as I couldn't get enough grip with my feet or knees to keep the bottom from spinning. This did start to get better after I had used it for a few days. It's an extra couple pounds if you're a minimalist.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Saratoga Springs, NY on 9/28/2006
Ribs on outside keep canister in place on top of pack. Have not had a bear try to break in. Maybe the bears are just intimated and walk away! Weight is annoying and container is clumsy but it keeps the food from the bears.
Canister can also be used to take water away from stream for cleaning up. I have also filled it half way with drinking water when hiking in limited water areas, although the lid does not seal tight. It makes a nice seat in camp. One more.. at the end of a long hike it makes a nice ice chest to cool off the soda.