So, trying to carry a bear canister…. This is probably the biggest gripe I have when it comes bear canisters… I mean I love the idea of the bear canister and the convenience it provides when I get to Camp, but trying to carry it is such a hassle.
I’m sure you can relate.
So in order to solve this problem, I did some research and it was quite eye-opening. Thought it would be best I share with you!
How To Carry A Bear Canister On Your Backpacking Trip
As Carrying a bear canister can definitely be a struggle at times… Where Is the best place to put it? Most Carry there bear canister on or in their backpack, ideally, it is best to carry the bear canister on your backpack rather than inside. This will save a lot more space inside your pack for other gear.
What I found in the process of doing research on the topic is that the best way to carry a bear canister is by either purchasing a few straps and creating yourself a harness by simply intertwining the straps together and looping them through the straps on your pack, or by purchasing an already made harness or canister carry case.
you see either of these 3 options will make attaching your bear canister to your backpack a lot easier, plus you will be saving space inside your pack for other items you may need to take with you.
Carrying The Canister Outside Your Backpack
This is how I prefer to carry my canister, the pros outweigh the cons in my opinion. this does not mean you have to do the same.
It is much simpler and easier to carry your canister on the outside of your pack rather than the inside because it makes your food much more accessible. and requires Les organization skills when compared to packing the canister inside your pack, which is something I don’t really have… Maybe you can relate?
Advantages Of Carrying The Canister Outside Your Pack
- Saves space inside your pack
- Easily accessible
- More options for mounting locations
- Better comfort – unless you have a rigid backliner in your pack you likely will be able to feel the shape of the bear canister in your backpack on your back.
- Simple
- Makes accessing items inside your pack easier
- Easier to adjust the weight of your pack – If the top of your pack feels heavy, simply relocate your canister to the middle – bottom sections of your pack (That is assuming your canister is on top of your pack)
Where On Your Pack Should You Mount Your Canister
Most carry their bear canisters in the center of their backpack, likely because this is where the most straps are available for uses to strap the canister too. However, this should more dependent upon the weight distribution.
if your pack is heavy nearer the bottom to the midsection, it may be a better idea to mount the Bear canister to the top of your pack instead, this way it balances out the weight.
truly it is best to keep the weight nearer to you. the farther out you have the weight the more of a strain it will put on your back and overall body.
for this reason, I recommend you put your canister on the top or bottom of your pack rather than directly behind. this way you keep the weight closer to your body rather than extended behind you, but this will all depend on the weight of your canister and the weight distribution of your pack.
if you have a top-heavy Pack put your canister underneath, near the bottom of your pack. if you have a bottom heavy pack mount your canister on top of your pack to even out the weight a little bit. hiking with a bottom heavy or a top-heavy pack will throw off your balance and cause strain on your back. do your best to even out the weight
How To Attach Your Bear Canister To Your Backpack
There are a few options you could use here. you could simply create your own bear canister harness by simply purchasing a few straps with buckles, and come up with a creative way to intertwine the canister in the straps, and then attach to your backpack using the buckles.
There is a company out there that manufactures a harnesses for the bearikade bear canister, but that is product-specific and may not work for you. Possibly try doing a Google search for harnesses made for your exact make and model of bear canister, you may come across something that will work???
If you are renting a bear canister, ask and see if they also provide a harness or pack bag the canister could go in and attached to your pack using straps, or rope / paracord.
The final option available is using a Canister carry case, this option is also product-specific because not all canister manufacturers have this option available.
if you by chance or in the research phase to get yourself a bear canister, I recommend you include whether or not that bear canister you may are looking to purchase has any carry options available out there in the marketplace??
However, if you already have your bear canister and you are unable to find a premade harness or carry case for your bear canister I recommend you simply create your own. a few straps and a small sewing kit you could probably come up with a creative harness that will work well for you
Carrying The Canister Inside Your Pack
This is an easy and simple option, but it requires a little bit of forward-thinking. You have to organize the way you pack your bag otherwise you will run into problems of things not fitting.
kind of like putting together a puzzle, you need all the pieces to fit in order for the puzzle to come together. Same sort of thing, But in our case we are packing the equipment we will need to survive off of over the next so many days…
So yes, you must have some organization skills otherwise this could be Troublesome for you. but if you have the skills use them cuz this is a great way to carry a canister as well. that is if you can make it fit with all the other gear you may be required to take.
Advantages To Storing The Canister In Your Pack
- Condenses the amount of space your pack takes up – this is great for those tight situations so to say. when you are working your way through a tight wooded area.
- Cheaper – you don’t have the added cost about harness
- will likely stay cooler – the canister won’t be exposed to the Sun, and elements ( if you have chocolate in your canister it has less of a chance of melting)
- Keeps the weight closer to you – making hiking easier on your back / body.
- No worries of your bear canister falling on the grown as you hike.
Ways To Pack A Bear Canister Inside Your Pack
I’d recommend you lay out the items you plan to put inside your pack organized from what will go in the bottom of the pack (start). building up to what will be on top of the pack.
try to organize based on what items you may need first for example: if you will need a jacket early on as you begin to hike, place your jacket in the pack after the canister ( on top of the bear canister) this way you don’t have to go digging through everything in order to get what you need.
next in line be sure that you place your canister in a good location in your pack, since it will likely be what if they have your items in your pack I recommend you places right around in the center of your pack this will give you a good weight balance.
Nonetheless, if you have a lot of other heavy items moving the canister up higher in the pack or down lower in the pack May suit your needs better. the goal here is to keep the heaviest items nearest to you and in the center of the pack, ideally, this will keep you from back problems / bodily injury as you hike.
Creative Ways to Carry Your Canister
I heard of this one a while back and thought it deserves a spot here. it may require a little more effort to do, however, you get the best of both worlds in this case, sort of.
So what you do is simple, you will put all of your food inside your pack, not including the canister. Yes, you will be dumping all of your food out, inside of your pack. Then you will be tying your empty canister to the outside of your pack. doing this will put the weight of your food inside your pack closer to your body which is obviously what we want so you don’t strain your back. but also will allow you more space inside your pack due to the fact that we don’t have the rigid canister inside.
Group Carry Option
So, above we have listed options for you to carry your canister personally, but what if you go with a group? or a loved one such as a spouse, or child?
here are some other carry options that you could use when in a group:
Group: If you have a group of 6 people or greater this option may be good for you. divide your group up in two groups of three maybe four people, and per each subgroup you could designate one person that will carry the subgroups food. and simply divide that person’s equipment up between the other two or three hikers.
for example: Say we have a group of 8 people, we will divide the group up into two subgroups of 4 people. each subgroup will have one man that will carry the food of the entire subgroup, that man’s responsibility is to Simply carry the large canister / Barrel full of food on his back.
The other three hikers in the subgroup will be responsible for carrying the food guys equipment. Now this does not mean you cant take turns switching packs. Giving everyone in your subgroup a turn with the Canister / Barrel
This is also a great option for you and your spouse, or child, or boyfriend / girlfriend…
using this method you will be able to save space that would otherwise be taken up by the added canisters if everybody took their own. You see, it is much easier to pack clothing and other gear alike together in a pack, rather than try to pack clothing and your other gear along with a bear canister….
a bear canister is just such awkward of a shape to work with when it comes to packing inside your pack, now when it comes to packing it on the outside of the pack this could differ based on preference
Conclusion:
Ideally, you should do what Best Suits You. me personally I preferred out of my canister on the outside of my pack it just makes things easier for me. but that does not mean it’s right for you. Do what suits you best and enjoy your adventure!
In ending, be creative. try to think outside the box in terms of carrying your canister. You may just think of the next best way to carry it!
Help this provided you some value, Good Luck!