Bear Cannister selection

If you intend to do only long trips, then the larger one is the choice. If you intend to do only short trips, then the smaller one is the choice. I do both, so I got a big one, a small one, and a really small one.

First of all, outline what is a long trip or a short trip in terms of days between resupplies. Then outline what volume of food per day you expect. For example, do you use 100 cubic inches of food per day? Days times cubic inches should help you decide.

Some backpackers generate a lot of trash. You either have to carry that along or else try to dispose of it, but there aren't many ways of disposal. In some places, you can burn paper trash and bury the ashes. In other places, you can burn the paper trash and then carry out the ashes. Otherwise, trash goes into the canister as well.

–B.G.–

I have the weekender. It is enought for my wife and me for two nights with food and smelly stuff like soap and tooth paste,etc. I feel it will be a bit tight for more than that. I guess this is why it is called weekender. :)

I recently bought the weekender and stuffed 7 nights/8 days of food into it. The expedition wouldn't fit horizontally in my GG pack although maybe I shouldn't put the weekender horizontally either because it started to wear on the pack. The rounded top and bottom is something I like better about the BearVault.

I asked the same question to Wild Ideas, maker of the Bearicade and this was their response:

Most popular selection for the JMT is the Expedition because of the long section between Muir Ranch and Whitney Portal. PCTers go for the Weekender because they enjoy the comfort provided by support teams and trail angels about every 4-6 days.

With proper food selection and packing (repackage everything), you can get 9-10 days of food into a weekender. See http://tinyurl.com/bts4udm

I'm about ready to shell out for one myself after lugging the 2 lbs. 9 oz. BV500 around on the JMT and found myself continually fawning over the Bearikade's that other people were carrying. Not sure if it helps, but I personally saw more people carrying Weekenders on the JMT than the Expedition, and the weekender is what I'd 'want' for 6-to-8 day food supply.