Below are all bear-resistant food containers approved by the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group.

Containers not listed below are not approved. This page will be updated whenever new containers are approved.

Last Updated July 25, 2008

Questions? Contact us.

Canisters:

Approved

• Backpacker Model 812
  Garcia Machine, 14097 Ave. 272, Visalia, CA 93292
  Phone: 559-732-3785
  Website: www.backpackerscache.com / Customer Service: backpackerscache@comcast.net
  

• BearVault 110b, 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400
  Visit www.bearvault.com for product details and contact information or call Tel / Fax 866-301-3442
• The BearVault 110b, 200, 250, and 300 are not allowed in the Rae Lakes area of Kings Canyon National Park until further notice. (The BV350 and 400 are allowed.) Check out the Rae Lakes Canister Swap Program, for info on how you can swap out your old Bear Vault for a newer model.
• See below for conditionally approved BearVaults

• Bearikade Weekender MKII (1766 and higher) and Expedition MKII (1766 and higher)

  Please contact the company for information on retrofitting canisters.
  Wild Ideas, LLC
  P.O. Box 1575
  Santa Ynez, CA 93460
  Phone: 805-693-0550
  Website: www.wild-ideas.net/ General Information: info@wild-ideas.net

• The Bear Keg
  Counter Assault, 120 Industry Court, Kalispell, MT 59901-7991
  Phone: 406-257-4740 or 800-695-3394
  FAX: 406-257-6674
  website: http://www.counterassault.com/

• The Bare Boxer Contender
  Golf City Products
  9614 Cozycroft Ave. Suite D
  Chatsworth, CA 91311
  Website: http://www.bareboxer.com/

• Purple Mountain Engineering, Inc "Tahoe"
  (This canister is no longer in production or available for purchase)

Conditionally Approved (what does this mean?)

• BearVault 450 and 500
  Visit www.bearvault.com for product details and contact information or call Tel / Fax 866-301-3442
  
  
• Bare Boxer 202
  Golf City Products
  9614 Cozycroft Ave. Suite D
  Chatsworth, CA 91311
  Website: http://www.bareboxer.com/

Panniers:

Approved

• DeCarteret Aluminum Stock Panniers
  
  
• Berner Bear Box
  Bruce Berner, Westfab Inc., 829 South Bonnie Lane, Watkins, CO 80137
  Phone: 303-343-1998
  
• Bear Aware Panniers
  Bear-Aware Bear Resistant Panniers [Jeff Berns]
  9145 Glenoaks Blvd., Sun Valley, CA 91352
  Phone (818) 504-3518 or (800) 568-8990, FAX (818) 504-3515
  www.bear-aware.com / JMBERNS@EARTHLINK.NET

Conditionally Approved

• Bear Country Camping
  Jerry Kawasaki
  406-763-4432 (phone)
  http://www.bearcountrycamping.com / info@bearcountrycamping.com
  406-763-4364 (fax)
  P.O. Box 38,
  Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730

Model SFO: for a sling load; front opening, hinged lid, one removable shelf in each pannier.

Model HFO: for a hanging load and top pack; front opening, hinged lid, one removable shelf and H-bracket strap holders for each pannier.

Also Permitted

Steel salvage drums with a security lid may be used until panniers are purchased.

• Dozier Equipment Company [Model K-1035, 8 gallon open head)
  Phone: 800-336-6608
  Website: www.dozierequip.com
• Lab Safety Supply Company (Model 9M-9117, 8 gallon open head)
  Phone: 800-356-2501
  Website: www.labsafety.com

Conditional approval is given to any container that has passed visual inspection, an impact test and a zoo test. Conditionally approved containers are approved for use.

Full approval is given to any container that has done the above and has been successful during three months of field-trials in the summer.

Either type of approval may be revoked due to unexpected problems in the field that either lead to failures, injuries, or resource damage.

• General food storage information
• Food storage approval Frequently Asked Questions

If a bear enters your camp, make noise and try to scare it away. However, if a bear does take possession of your food storage container, DO NOT try to take the container back from the bear, and please advise us on the outcome.