Bear tested & hiker approved! See here for $80.95
My Take
Let's face it, none of us get excited about adding an extra 2+ lbs to our packs, not to mention the inconvenience of getting a hard, non bendable item into the body of your pack as you squish everything else around this.
But the fact is that they work, and aside from that, they are mandatory in the following parks (or areas of the parks):
Yosemite National Park (entire backcountry except a few sites where food lockers are in place)
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks (selected areas; food boxes in place in numerous locations)
Grand Teton National Park (entire backcountry except where food lockers are in place)
Rocky Mountain National Park (all backcountry campsites below treeline)
North Cascades National Park (selected areas)
Olympic National Park (selected areas)
Denali National Park (selected units)
Glacier Bay National Park (all treeless areas)
Gates of the Arctic National Park (most areas)
Inyo National Forest, eastern and central Sierra Nevada, California (selected areas)
Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Area, Adirondack Mountains, New York (between April 1 and Nov. 30, all areas)
At time of writing, effective July 18 2022, they are also required in Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe.
These "bear cannisters" are rentable from many outdoor specialists if you need one for a once off at about $5.00 a day, but if you feel you will need one more frequently, it's probably worth it to just splash out and buy one. If buying one, weight, capacity and price will likely be your biggest concerns.
For me, the BV 450 with a 440 cubic inch capacity and a weight of 33 ounces was my best bet - based on weight and price, but also falling into the 2-4 day supply range that most of my hikes fall into. But be warned, it requires really good food planning to cram in 4 days worth of food, and forget about having an "emergency day" supply. That said - with good planning as I mentioned, this is perfect.
I have not yet written a food planning article or bear safety article, but will in the near future. In the meantime, trust me that this BV 450 will get you through a weekend warrior hike.
Some people complain about the lid latching system, especially with gloves or cold hands, but for me a credit card or knife make this an easy system. One of the main advantages of this product versus translucent or solid competitors is that you can see the food you are digging around for (versus digging around or emptying your cannister each time you want to find something.
If you are looking to go more than 4 days, this product will not suffice for most people unless you have really dialed in a food plan that is low density and gives you the calories you need. For me personally, I like bulkier luxury items like fresh fruit and vegetables.
Specifications
Dimensions: 440 cubic inches, 7.2 liters, 8.7 x 8.3 inches.
Weight: 2 lb 1.6 oz.
Materials: Polycarbonate
Price: $80.95
Pros and Cons
Pros: Compact, reasonably light, see through.
Cons: Bulky shape.
The Final Score
9/10 - It does it's job well despite its circular shape.