One of the first skills you gain when learning to backcountry camp is how to keep your food secure. It seems that every living creature just can’t wait to see what tasty treats you brought and they are VERY determined to gnaw their way into your cache. The standard rule of thumb for canoeists has been the bear-hang where you suspend your food barrel on a branch well out of harm’s way so that nosey bears can’t pilfer it. I’ve been using either this tried and true method or the alternative bear-proof sack, depending on the length of the trip or the amount of food I’m carrying. The trouble I find as a primarily solo tripper, is that the barrel is too big, and the food bag can be too restrictive. Then BearVault announced their brand new BV One, and I think I’ve found the best of both worlds.

The BearVault line of canisters are ultralight, bear-resistant and made from rugged transparent polycarbonate and high-performance nylon. There are four different sizes, but what makes the BV One so special is that it features a telescoping design allowing you to change its dimensions as you travel. Whether you are planning on an overnighter and only need a small amount of space, or want to compact the size of the container as you serve up a few meals along the journey, the BV One is up to the task. It has two hemispheres that screw together and lock with a satisfying click. I had zero issues ever trying to thread the two together and found the canister to be very well made. There is essentially no way to get back in without depressing the two buttons on the sides while simultaneously unscrewing the top, something a bear just simply can’t do without opposable thumbs. Each hemisphere is separated by a divider which is super handy to designate snacks and finer cooking ingredients to one side, and dehydrated foods to the other.

It has the capacity to carry about four days worth of food when it is fully expanded (8.3 L/505 cubic inches), or a day’s worth when fully compressed (4.65 L/282 cubic inches) and weighs 895 g/1.97 lbs. BearVault’s products are IGBC-certified, which means that the commercially-available product has met minimum standards related to the effort that must be expended by grizzly bears to access the container’s contents. These standards were established through consultation with North American human-bear conflict experts and bear biologists. This doesn’t mean that it is perfectly bear-proof, but gives you the peace of mind that your next meal has the best chance of survival if a bear decides it wants in.

It’s not just bears that can be a nuisance however, I’ve caught many chipmunks, squirrels and mice all trying to make their way into my soft sided bear-proof bag. If I accidentally left it open after cooking a meal, or didn’t tie the rope quite tight enough and found they had chewed their way through the internal zip-loc bag and enjoyed a quick meal. With the BV One, everything from small critters all the way to bears will be thwarted. When you take the chore out of hanging a food barrel, and embrace the simplicity of locking a BearVault back up again, it sure reduces any chance of loosing a meal or snack.

I’m pretty much convinced that new canoeists shy away from protecting their food properly because they don’t want to go through the effort of hanging food, or don’t know how to do it properly. This encourages a bear to become a nuisance bear over time as it learns how to find an easy meal. With the BV One, simply place it on flat ground at least 70 steps downwind from your sleeping and cooking areas with the large side up, and you’re all set for the night. No need for ropes, pullies, or spending an aggravating amount of time trying to thread the needle and successfully throw your rope over a branch. It’s also perfectly happy to sit out in the rain, but note that you shouldn’t submerge it underwater as it’s not waterproof.

Do yourself a favour whether you’re a new backcountry camper or seasoned veteran and check out the BV One. Having a container the exact size you need it to be at all times is very gratifying, and kudos to BearVault for coming up with the engineering to create the BV One.

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