Topic
Pack friendly bear canister shape
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Pack friendly bear canister shape
- This topic has 13 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 5 years ago by Ken Thompson.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Mar 15, 2019 at 6:41 pm #3583707
Guys just had a thought, why don’t they make a pack friendly more rectangular bear vault shape. Like two cylinders joined together with two round screw top holes?
Mar 15, 2019 at 7:52 pm #3583722I’m no bear canister design expert, but two smaller cylinders joined in the middle would each have a smaller diameter than a normal bear canister. The smaller diameter would fit more easily into a bear’s mouth, likely increasing the likelihood that the canister could be crushed. Unless I’m mistaken, there’s a minimum diameter above which the canister will not fit well into the mouth of a grizzly where it can be crushed. Also, two smaller cylinders joined in the middle would have a higher weight to volume ratio than a single, larger cylinder. And if you were to use a stronger material to allow a smaller diameter that is bear jaw crush resistant, then the added weight of that stronger material would also increase the weight to volume ratio.
Mar 15, 2019 at 8:19 pm #35837289” min diameter..
There have been a few different ideas thrown around here through the years yet the simple canister remains.
Mar 15, 2019 at 8:20 pm #3583729Ok got it, minimum mouth diameter (8.5″ +?) makes sense. I guess it’s hard to get around that.
Mar 15, 2019 at 8:39 pm #3583738Well, there is this one: https://www.rei.com/product/135835/frontiersman-insider-bear-safe
The shape is pretty unique. I’ve seen it, dinked with it, and hefted it: not my cup of tea, but many of the reviews seem to be favorable. It might work for a group where someone is carrying a bigger pack. At least someone is innovating in this area.
Mar 15, 2019 at 9:53 pm #3583752Still 9” in diameter. Pretty mixed reviews as usual for REI.
Mar 15, 2019 at 11:11 pm #3583771The round shape also gives strength around the whole design, like an arch. If you’ve seen the videos of bear canister tests where a big grizzly puts its front paws on a bear canister and heaves its weight up and down on it, I would imagine that a rectangular shape would not hold up to that (or would need to be considerably heavier in order to hold up).
Mar 16, 2019 at 12:15 am #3583791I wonder if a semi-round shape would be strong enough if it had an internal bulkhead in the middle to prevent the flat sides from being crushed together? Such a reinforced shape may be rectangular enough to fit in a pack pretty well, but also round enough to resist bear jaw crushing because of the added support of the bulkhead. The flat part of one of the walls could be fitted with a flush lid with locking screws in it, similar to the lid on the Bear Boxer Contender canister. Minimum thickness would be 9″ to prevent easy bear jaw fit.
Mar 16, 2019 at 4:46 am #3583826It’s not enough to keep the bear from crushing it, you gotta keep him getting a hold on it and carrying it away where you can’t find it. No small diameters, no tight corners, no protrusions or loops, no notches or holes. Basically lots of big and round.
Mar 16, 2019 at 5:06 am #3583827they still have not been approved but they have been trying for quite a long time
Mar 17, 2019 at 3:51 pm #3583995“The shape is pretty unique.”
But it weighs 3 pounds.
Mar 17, 2019 at 5:50 pm #3584012I bought a pack that fits my canister. Done.
Mar 18, 2019 at 12:57 am #3584102Ken – that’s the kind of thinking that I can get behind. Nicely done.
Mar 18, 2019 at 2:36 am #3584121JCH, right tool for the job.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.