Pack for Bearikade Expedition

My S-Sarc +1 has bear can straps under the lid. Can Dan make a new lid for you that has this feature?

He could but I hate the thought of carrying 20 of 35 pounds that high. I think that would make me unstable and I will be on a lot of talus and tussocks with a lot of side hilling. I really like my bear can (and all if its food weight) in the bottom of the pack as it makes my center of gravity lower.

On a side note I just noticed that the Paradox 4800 can carry a Bearikade Expedition Horizontally. I wonder if that pack would be way too big overall….

Maybe not what you want, but the Luxurylite pack carries a bear canister horizontally quite easily.

Bradford, the Unaweep cinches down real nicely, even with very small loads……….especially with the talon (even day pack size). Also, if the hipbelt is of primary concern, the UNaweep belt has been the best belt by far that I've ever used. I often have issues in this area because of my bony hips and small behind. It wraps around me and stays like no other belt with no irritation.

While carrying a Bearikade Expedition high on my pack (LBP36), to deal with the weight balance, I have actually carried my food lower in my pack and stuffed the Expedition with lighter gear. Once at camp I would move the food back into the Expedition. It created a little extra work but worked much better than being top heavy.

When I carry my expedition it is vertical in my homemade pack, with not much room around it, rather as you describe the fit in your McHale. What I have taken to doing is to shove various articles of clothing around it to fill the space, and that works fine for me. Shell jacket, warm layer, socks. The shell I want to have handy anyway, as with the warm layer if it's cool at lunchtime. I put sleeping bag on the bottom, clothes bag (with not much in it) and pot with stove in it on top of that. Neoair is folded and up against the front of the pack. Then canister goes in and shell, warm layer (usually light fleece for me) and socks around the canister. shelter is on top of that. This arrangement means I never take the canister out of the pack during the day – I just open the top of the canister to eat, which keeps things simple.

Could anyone with the 4800 confirm or deny that the Unaweep 4800 can carry a bearikade expedition (9×14.5) horizontally ? I read the website like it can but they didn't seem so sure on the phone.

The website says:

"The 4800 will accept all bear cans up to the Bearicade Expedition (9" X 14.5") either vertically or horizontally."

In order to carry a bear can that size horizontally, it seems you would need a pack with a minimum 47'' circumference. I doubt there are many packs that large. I don't recall my Unaweep 4800 being that large (sold it, so cannot measure it). I think my Lightning 60 is around 40'' circumference max

I know that is a tall order and may not be feasible for any internal-ish frame pack. I may have to go vertical but I am still not sure if that can will fit in my current 2850ci pack and leave me enough room for everything else.

On a side note: how would you compare the Unaweep to the Lightning?

Unless you are routinely carrying over 45lbs, or have very bulky loads, I think the Lightning 60 is the better choice for most backpackers. I've used my Lightning 60 for at least 150 miles now with loads from 10lbs (day-hike) to 36lbs (lots of water), and it's proving to be an awesome and versatile pack. For me, I think 40lbs in the pack would be fine. I've managed to trim my Lightning 60's weight down to 35.6oz, which I think is pretty darn light for what the pack is capable of. I like it's large diameter: it makes packing up faster, I can roll my dog's winter foam pad + my winter sleeping pad inside, and I can fit my egg-crate foam pad inside during the summer

I could not get a very comfortable carry with the Unaweep 4800 with heavier loads. And I wasn't sure why when I owned the pack. Hindsight (and reading posts from others) has recently lead me to the conclusion that the problem was the bottom straps that the pack hangs from were sewn too far apart on the hipbelt for my narrow waist. With the straps too far apart, I could not get a good wrap (and thus, could not get a good carry) at heavier loads. If your waist is bigger than 31'', I don't think it would be a problem.

I'm also planning a 2-week unsupported trip next year, and I don't know if my Lightning 60 can handle two weeks of food for my dog and I, so I am keeping the new Unaweep Divide 4200 in mind. I'd like to try the pack with the hipbelt straps sewn closer together, and maybe bolted to the frame closer together too

With a Luxury Lite frame, which really is light, you can carry any bear canister horizontally. Then just strap on any lightweight pack that you like to the frame. Or use their cylinders. This will ride on top of your canister.

I just found circumference info on the seek outside site and the 4800 will not fit a bearikade expedition horizontally. The circumference of the 4800 is 44" which will fit a bearikade weekender or bearvault but not the expedition.

The circumference of the Unaweep 3900 is 40"

Now I guess I need to decide if I can fit everything in my current pack or if I need something larger. Needless to say I guess I better get used to carrying the canister vertically.

I've used an 11 1/2" Bearikade with the straps in my LBP 36 on several trips to the Winds and Beartooths. The pack felt well balanced through off-trail sections with lots of scree and talus, and some scrambling. The 11 1/2" canister was adequate for 6-7 days.

My McHale Sarc has a bear can attachment that goes between the pack and lid, maybe speak to Dan about adding one to your LBP.

Edit: just spotted Michaels reply.

I have ordered the Bearikade Expedition and will see if I can fit it and all my other gear inside my LBP36. If not I will look at a bigger pack, but otherwise I think the pack will work well. I am going to try putting some clothes and sleeping pad in the bottom, then the canister surrounded by my insulating jacket and my quilt on top. If the Bearikade gets here in time I may try it on a six day trip I have the end of this month as a dry run.

Not a great match. I tried this and sent the Exped back–continually felt like I was being pulled over backwards despite every adjustment I could make (and that pack can be adjusted 16 ways to Sunday). Best I've found so far is the REI Flash, although I'm going to test the Elemental Horizon and Zpack Haul. ULA Catalyst was great, but I found the closed cell foam on my back too hot. YMMV.

Happy trails,
Jo Jo

I have the McHale and the luxurylite. Nothing beats the luxury life for the Bearikade expedition. Mines on it right now.