WHAT IS YOUR BEST MULTI USE TOOL FOR OPENING WILD IDEAS BEAR CANISTER

I use a penny or a dime. I carry two, one in each front pocket.

–B.G.–

Penny.

And a spare one in my FAK.

Drill small hole near top edge and put on a loop of cord to keep from losing if necessary.

a penny with one side filed flat.

drill a hole in the center for a keeper cord you can attach some place where it won't get lost.

then have a backup penny stored some place in case you forget to attach the keeper cord from your primary.

I use my spoon handle, or my Swiss Army Classic.

Penny attached to 12" of cord taped to top of Bearikade. Always there when needed.
Another bear canister trick: reflective tape on top and sides. Way easier to find in the dark.

reflective tape – great idea

but no to attaching the penny to outside of the can … just in case a bear does decide to play with it.

piece of aluminum metal about 3/4" x 3/4" x 1/16"
duct tape to lid

billy

Niteze mini biner.

A Canadian nickel fits the slot perfectly. just fyi

"but no to attaching the penny to outside of the can … just in case a bear does decide to play with it."

There is a section of the AT where this method is not allowed, otherwise you are good to go-

I used My ice axe spike through the Sierras. I used the spike of my microspike sometimes too.

I use the top lip of an MSR Blizzard stake. In addition to opening my bear can, it is also serves as my trowel.

And from time to time, when ground conditions aren't amenable to my 4 shepherds hooks or 4 nail stakes, I get to put it to use as stake as well.

…

Metal washer, quarter sized but with a big hole in the center to run a string through. I use mason line, bright yellow, so I don't lose it. But it isn't terribly multi use.

"but no to attaching the penny to outside of the can … just in case a bear does decide to play with it."

"There is a section of the AT where this method is not allowed, otherwise you are good to go-"

Really? Where is that?

A quarter. (More posh than a penny.) And I duct tape one on top of the canister; never had to use it however. finally, the back edge of a Spyderco knife. It weighs less than an oz., cuts first aid tape great-and anything else–and folds down nice and safe.

"There is a section of the AT where this method is not allowed, otherwise you are good to go-"
"Really? Where is that?"

Just yoking Ken, referencing Yellow-Yellow:

"in one corner of the Adirondacks, campers started to notice that the BearVault, a popular canister designed to keep food and other necessities safe, was being compromised.""wildlife officials say that Yellow-Yellow, a 125-pound bear named for two yellow ear tags that help wildlife officials keep tabs on her, has managed to systematically decipher a complex locking system that confounds even some campers."

Read about it here:
Bear-Proof Can Is Pop-Top Picnic for a Crafty Thief
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I use the striker on my Light My Fire fire steel. Works perfectly.

Come on people… this is bpl… someone should have suggested:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-washers/=77rvswj1c1i4n0x7m8

Ben, we can't use a standard titanium washer because the McMaster Carr page does not list the weight of each one.

–B.G.–

Use the Force. It's the most powerful of multi-use tools.

In case the bear can is compromised, you can use it to convince the bears those are not the snacks they're looking for.

In case you haven't mastered the Force, try a nylon washer.

The back edge of someone else's knife blade….

The emergency credit card. The end of a pot support on a certain kind of stove. The side of a titanium spork handle.

I usually use the snow stake that I bring as a trowel, but also use my spoon if it's not already in the canister.

I never hit the trail without this set of tools in my pocket and attached via the lanyard looped through a belt loop on my pants/shorts. With age I've developed a propensity for losing things which has resulted in acquiring Still Lookin' as a trail name. The canister opener I a dog tag that happens to have my phone number on it. I could use the knife but having forgotten to close the blade a few times and put it back in my pocket has stopped me from that practice.

"but also use my spoon if it's not already in the canister."

If the spoon is already in the canister, then how did you get the canister closed?

–B.G.–