Help with where to pack a bear canister

I always carry my heaviest things by volume at the top of my pack. so the canister would be at the top.

Same here.  High and close to your back as possible.  Can you strap it on top?

What kind of canister is it?  I pack a Bear Vault Solo with the lid to my back.  You should be able to do the same with a Bearikade Scout.  With other canisters such as a Bear Vault BV500, Bearikade Weekender, or the gigantic Bearikade Expedition, they pretty much have to be packed vertically, and yes it sucks and is awkward but it is just something you have to deal with above tree line.  I generally pack mine near the bottom of my pack with the food needed until dinner in a gallon ziplock packed on near the top of my pack.

Lots of options, but you’ll have to figure out what works best for your pack and your can.

1. The Garcia cans are really hard to pack sideways—you pretty much need to pack them vertically.

2.  I put my sleeping bag in the bottom of my pack, then put the bearvault vertically in the pack stuffing other stuff on either side to keep it centered.  Then top off with whatever is left.

3.  I’ve seen people put the bearvault in cross-wise, either on top or in the bottom of the pack.

4.  You can also strap your bear can on the outside of your pack, either on top or below.

Like I said, lots of options.

Didn’t even cross my mind to put the lid towards my back, Duh! Thanks I have some experimenting to do.

In my ULA CDT pack, I use a GG Torso Pad against the back.  A Garcia bear can will just fit inside vertically with the pad.  I start by putting my sleeping bag on the bottom so that is what my bottom feels.  The bear can goes on top of that.  Anything stuffed down the side of the bear can has to go along the corners along the torso pad side only.  Due to the tight fit, I cannot put anything on the corners of the bear can on the side with the front mesh pocket or it will cause the back of the pack to round too much which puts too much strain on the shoulders.  Anything else goes on top of the bear can or in the outside pockets.  No room for a hydration bladder unless it goes on the outside.  Also, as the contents of the Bear Can decrease, I start putting more and more stuff inside.  Having the bear can actually really stiffens up my frameless pack making the hipbelt functional.

I often go to the Sierra in summer and I find this works for my gear.  May not work for you, so I suggest you experiment with different packing strategies at home and do some day hikes with it to see how it feels.  I’ve seen guys who can’t fit a bear can inside their packs strap them on top, but that looks really top heavy and awkward to hike with.

I have a ULA ohm. I use a folded thermarest z-lite as a back pad. I place my bear vault vertically. I have no issues with it causing an uncomfortable shape. There is some empty space around the canister which I fill by stuffing my camp/sleeping clothes around it.

When I carried a BV 500 in an Exodus I wrapped my small prolite pad like a burrito, stuffing my sleeping bag down first (in a trash compactor bag) along with some extra clothes, followed by the bear can. Once everything was in the bag, I puffed up the sleeping pad a little – did a great job at filling up extra space in the pack and carried decently. Well, as well as a frameless pack can carry 35lbs..