Mini Ursack?

I believe David Thomas has mentioned the use of cookie tins in the Grand Canyon to keep mice out. Maybe that could work?

That’s a great idea, thanks Matthew.  Turns out I already have one that weighs 3.5 oz.

Poking around I found rodent (but not bear) proof stainless steel mesh bags, Ratsack and Outsak from 4.5L to 41L but they don’t sell them up here so cookies it is.

1 liter Bot ? A cookie tin isn’t a bad idea. Especially if there’s cookies.

https://www.garagegrowngear.com/products/titanium-bot-bottle-bot-by-vargo-outdoors?variant=13605709185098&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOorMbh8Fc9mANItRJJSZZ5UMqCWYrTc5Dy56HoTtJmj-bJxUpe2fE5Y&com_cvv=8fb3d522dc163aeadb66e08cd7450cbbdddc64c6cf2e8891f6d48747c6d56d2c

Interesting idea.  for a 1 night trip, why not store your food in your cookware?  add a strap and you should be go to go?

Good idea. A pot/pan combination. I usually put food in mine. Coffee.  A little better use of space than putting a stove in it. More useful than a cookie tin, though I hardly use the pan.

Another option is offered by Ursack, the Minor.  It is not bear resistant, but is small critter resistant.  Mine weighs in at 4.6oz on my scale.  That, inside the camp’s bear locker, should be bomb proof and it provides a lot more volume than my cook pot (which is a great idea if it’s large enough).

Outsak or Rat Sack might save a few ounces over an Ursack. Specifically made for rodents and other minibears.

Matthew: Yup, that was me.

Versus a $110-150 Ursack that weighs 8 to 11 ounces, yeah, a cookie or popcorn tin keeps out the mice and ravens very well.   $1 at the thrift store or for free around the holidays when vendors leave popcorn and cookie assortments in the lunchroom at work.  Some are 8-9 in diameter and 10 inches tall (10 liters).   For my last GCNP trip (just two people, 2 nights), I found some that were smaller – about 7 inches tall and 6 inches wide.  Also $1 at the thrift store and also with holiday winter scenes on them.

In this particular case, where you know you have a bear box, is there enough room in your cooking pot for your food?  Or if you brought your largest cooking pot?  Then secure it in the bear box against one side and jam its lid closed with a stick of the right length.  If you fret about finding/breaking a stick to the perfect length, bring any 10-20 gram wood saw blade from a jigsaw or Sawzall.  Stealing from an old post:

Thanks for all the great suggestions!  Now you’re making me think.

The pot sounds ideal (dual use) so I checked and my Stash pot is too small and my PRD kit pot doesn’t have a good way to secure the lid.   The bear boxes at Pictured Rocks are communal and I wouldn’t trust it to not be tampered with inadvertently.   My other pots are non anodized aluminum from the old days so ornamental only now or are stainless, large and heavy for group canoe trips.

Everything is so expensive up here, especially if shipping from the US (GGG shipping alone is $$$).  The Ursack Minor, a new screw lid pot or stainless mesh bags while all great ideas would run close to $150 ea in Canadian pesos all said and done.

The cookie tin in the cellar is sounding like a winner!

The biggest difference between the ursack and outsak beyond that the ursack is bear certified is the cost!

Ursack starts at $109, outsak starts at $37.

Weights are fairly comparable.

Outsak offers free shipping in the US, ursack doesn’t

Have found that hanging the food, in a small Spectra bag from Ursack has kept away rodents.  The bag also rides in an odor proof Opsac on top of the pack while hiking.  But in bear country, like to hang well away from the campsite.  It is in the nature of wild animals to be attracted to food, so that is the only answer that has worked, short of a visit from two grizzlies in Canada while setting up, but fortunately had stored the food in a nearby cabin. In the USA, avoid camping in treeless areas or cowboy style; but have never needed to do same anywhere, including all over Colorado and the New England north woods.  And hanging and good site selection only take a few  minutes.  Were I to camp on the prairie, would carry a hard container; but carrying minimal weight precludes that.  The motto is: If they can smell it, they will come.