Bear Country Food Storage Planner
Work out how much food and scent volume your group carries, then choose the right hard-sided canister, Ursack or hang for the parks you visit.
Size your bear-proof storage
Typical backpacking food runs ~1.5–2 L per person per day. Add toiletries and trash as extra scent volume.
Results
Storage method comparison
| Method | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Counterbalance hang | Unlimited (rope) | Tree-dependent; banned in many alpine areas where no trees grow. |
| Mini canister | ~8 L | 1–2 days solo. Fits small UL packs. |
| Standard canister | ~11.5 L | BearVault BV500 style; accepted in nearly all NPS parks. |
| Large canister | ~13 L+ | Heavier; good for 3–4 days / pairs. |
| Ursack (soft sack) | ~10 L | Lighter; NOT approved in Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings Canyon & parts of the Rockies. |
How is this calculated?
Total scent volume is food carried plus group scent items: total = hikers × nights × L/person/day + extra_scent. The recommendation picks the smallest accepted hard-sided canister that fits: ≤8 L → mini, ≤11.5 L → standard, ≤13 L → large, otherwise round up to ceil(total / 11.5) standard canisters per group.
Sources: NPS bear-safe food storage guidance; Leave No Trace; canister capacities per manufacturer (BV450/BV500, Garcia, Ursack). Rules differ by park — always confirm the exact requirement at the ranger station before your trip.