Pack friendly bear canister shape

I’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.

9” min diameter..

There have been a few different ideas thrown around here through the years yet the simple canister remains.

Ok got it, minimum mouth diameter (8.5″ +?) makes sense. I guess it’s hard to get around that.

Well, 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.

Still 9” in diameter. Pretty mixed reviews as usual for REI.

The 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).

I 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.

It’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.

they still have not been approved but they have been trying for quite a long time

The Bearier 700.

. Outdoor Retailer: Baffling bears with the Bearier 700 .

“The shape is pretty unique.”

But it weighs 3 pounds.

I bought a pack that fits my canister. Done.

Ken – that’s the kind of thinking that I can get behind. Nicely done.

JCH, right tool for the job.