Opening BV450

I have found that mine have become easier to open over time. I think the plastic has a bit more give than when i bought them 4+ years ago. I use my knife to create a "ramp" over the tab… helps a lot. Any flat thin object will work.

As far as the top being slick, i've never found it to be a problem, but my brother did and put some duct tape on his. Works for him.

There's a trick to opening it which makes it so easy you probably don't need extra grip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyEbLfL_lSU

As Andy said – Basically you insert a thin bit of card between the clips and spin,

The problem I had was that repeated use of a card or knife to open the can resulted in the lid eventually failing to catch. The lid would spin right off. Fortunately the maker was willing to send me a replacement lid. Test the can prior to each trip so you aren't stuck with a can that opens too easily….

how long did it take for your lid to get to that point lori? I always assumed i was putting the same amount of pressure on the tab that i would with my finger. I'd hate to wind up with a non-functional canister mid trip!

I've found the easiest way is by pushing on the tab with the end of a pen or a pen-sized pointed stick. You push in and toward the direction that you need to loosen the lid (counterclockwise). The lid only has to rotate 1/4" or so and the tab slides right past the "lock", enabling you to easily unscrew the lid from there.

After dozens of painful openings by pushing on the tab with cold fingers, I was surprised at how quickly and easy this works.

I wish I could say it was years, but I had it for about six months. Probably used it a couple times a month, but most trips it did get pretty cold at night. The lexan body responds to cold differently than the lid, which is just regular old plastic. After a few more months of hating the lid I ordered a Bare Boxer and started using it for weekend trips, and using the BV as a loaner. It didn't see much use after that so the problem hasn't cropped up again.

One additional pointer. If you carry olive oil inside the BV450, make sure that the bottle has hard sides that will not be affected by pressure change. If the olive oil leaks inside the BV450, then that is bad enough. Then when you get it open, you end up with olive oil all over your hands. From then on, it becomes very difficult to open the damned thing. Don't ask my how I know this. I almost spend a few days going hungry, but then I remembered the trick with the card at the tab. From then on, I never screwed the lid on completely tight.

–B.G.–

Drop it first. In cold weather the lid tends to stick a bit to the body. Dropping it will usually shock it loose. Then I set it between my feet, press and turn a little. This clears the tab. Then it spins right off. I started this after overloading it with food for two people. Dropping it cleared any internal jam, but it also loosens the lid.

Also, the BV needs a screw in the lid if you ever go into NY's High Peaks. I haven't run into Yellow-Yellow's cubs, but she apparently passed on her skill at biting the lock, and twisting with her head. The screw prevents this. Drill and tap, or, melt one in.

I wonder if it makes much difference using something soft like card rather than hard like a knife? I hope so anyway.

I have been using a card or knife blade on my bear vault for 3 years of pretty steady use. No failure yet.

Trying to hold the tab in while turning the lid with one hand sounds complicated.

I use two hands to turn the lid until the tab hits the stop.

With the tab against the stop, I use one hand to press the end of the tab that moves. Both ends don't move. If you need a stick, try changing where you are putting the force. You only need to move the end of the tab that is against the stop, and it only needs to move a tiny amount.

Now, having pressed the tab, it doesn't need to be held in. I go back to using two hands to remove the lid, paying no attention at all to the tab.

>“Has anyone tried a small strip of skateboard grip tape, right where your hand would rest while pushing tabs with the other?”

As a former skateboarder, I’d be concerned grip tape would be too abrasive and no good when wet. Might also start to wear on inside of your pack; in the way it destroyed countless pairs of pants of mine just carrying a skateboard.

I haven’t used a Bearvault in a few years, but I use to just spin it open. Takes a little bit of finesse and practice, but once you get it, very easy and works on brand new ones with no more extra effort. However, on a cold morning at altitude with no energy, just poking right behind the tabs with the end of a tiny stick seems like less work. Also, I usually didn’t push in the tabs themselves, but pushed down right behind them.

Little video I just shot, in case you try it and think it must be impossible to do:

https://vid.me/L95b

I noticed the same thing as ANDY E (maybe it's unique to BearVault owners called "E"?)… over time, the tab seems to have become much looser. Not sure why, because I've only used the credit card trick once (I had to try it, doncha' know!).