Dear Wild Ideas Customer,
Thank you once again for purchasing a patented Bearikade® Bear resistant food storage container, the lightest Bear resistant food storage container on the market.

We were surprised to learn that some renters of our canisters in the National Parks have been using the Bearikade® canisters as "cooking pots". This misapplication of the product exposes the bonds to a high temperature well above its service range. As a result, the structural bonds are weakened and eventual separation of the metal part from the composite cylinder may occur.

If you have ever heated anything in your Bearikade® canister over a stove or campfire you must return your canister for repair as it may fail without notice. We will retrofit your canister for a nominal charge of $20 plus shipping.

Send your canister to:

Wild Ideas, LLC
"Heated Canister"
P.O. Box 1575
Santa Ynez, CA 93460

If you have not used your canister in this manner we ask that you perform a few simple tests.

First, Carefully examine the canister bondline that holds the endcap to the black cylinder, both inside and outside looking for any separation that you can slip your fingernail into. (this may be between the epoxy and the aluminum endcap or between the epoxy and the black cylinder). There should be no gaps that you can slide your fingernail in.

Next, find an empty one-quart plastic water bottle (don't use glass as it may break). Fill it to the top with water and put the cap on. It will weigh pretty close to two pounds. Hold the canister in your arms without supporting the bottom (hug it firmly but spread your feet far enough apart that it will not hit you in case you drop it). Have another person drop the plastic bottle of water from about 12 or 18 inches above the bottom of the canister (i.e. from about 6 inches above the opening).

Re-examine the canister. If the bottom stays on and there are no gaps between the endcap and the epoxy your canister is fine.

After the re-inspection, find a container that is at least 10 inches in diameter and at least 4 inches deep. A large pot or a bucket should work. Go outside to a place you do not mind getting wet and fill the container with about 2 or 3 inches of water. Place your canister in the water with the closed (bottom end) down. While making sure you keep the inside of the canister completely dry, place a weight inside the canister to keep the entire aluminum endcap submerged (a closed plastic bottle of water or soda will do). Make sure the entire aluminum endcap and bondline are under water. Leave the canister in the water for at least 2 hours. After that time has passed inspect the inside of the canister for any leakage of water into it.

You may repeat these tests at any time to make sure your canister is still strong enough to be Bear resistant.

When you have completed your tests please email us the results at:
service@wild-ideas.net
or
call us at 805-693-0550

If your canister fails any of the three tests above Wild Ideas, LLC will pay shipping and replacement costs to return the Bearikade to proper condition.We appreciate your business and we hope you understand that these tests are designed to ensure your canister is defect free.

Thank you for your participation.

Wild Ideas is pleased to announce the introduction of the next generation Bearikade food storage canisters-the Weekender MkII and
Expedition MkII. The original design has performed well over the past three years and no food has ever been lost to bears or other animals. Nevertheless, heavy rental usage within National Parks and Forests has identified several areas that could be improved.

Four design changes will provide the serious backpacker with an improved, lightweight solution to the problem of keeping food safe from bears and other animals in the wilderness:

1) Locking collar modified to trap the o-ring seal in a dovetail groove. This eliminates the spot bonding to hold the o-ring in place and insures a positive trapping of the seal.

2) Bead chain lanyard attachment to the hatch (removeable cover) is now secured with a threaded, one-way fastener instead of a bonded rivet.

3) A soft tubing cover has been added to the lanyard to eliminate rattling noise and chaffing of the lanyard against the locking collar.

4) The stamped metal endcap (non-removeable bottom cover) has been replaced with a CNC machined part with a groove to accept a support ring identical to that used at the top end of the canister.

The SIBBG granted "Conditional Approval" to these models July 11, 2002.

Gear Review: Bearikade Food Container
By Rick Booth November, 2001 

Visiting the backcountry has a variety of problems that must be dealt with.  In many cases permits are required.  In some areas it is becoming a requirement to pack out ones poop.  In many areas it is necessary to have a bear canister for food storage.  Sometimes they are just recommended but in other cases such as entering through Kings Canyon they are mandatory.  Are there more bears out there?  I don't know.  I do know that the bureaucrats that run the various agencies responsible for most of the public lands think there are more bears running around in the backcountry.  I personally have not seen any bears outside of the very populous campgrounds such as Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne campground and Sequoia campgrounds.  It seems to me that a smart bear would go where the concentration of dumb humans is highest and the pickings are easy, but then, I don't work as either a bureaucrat or bear.

So there you are.  The trip is ready to go and the permit has arrived and it says you must have a bear canister for food storage.  These canisters can be rented at many outdoor shops and at the trailhead in Kings Canyon.  After a while this can get to be a time consuming project in its own right.  There are two alternatives to renting the canister.  One is to go without one if you can get away with it, however, it really isn't in the bears' best interest to be running off with your food.  The other option is to buy one.

There are not a lot of easy options here.  The popular plastic container made by Garcia Machine is inexpensive but is heavy as lead (2 pounds 11 ounces).  It has other problems such as a too small access hole and is not watertight.  When Dee and I decided to buy a container we chose the Bearikade Weekender.  This particular container weighs 1 pound 13 ounces and saves almost a pound over the plastic container.  This container also has a great access hatch on top that essentially allows full access to the interior of the can.  The top has an o-ring seal and the claim is that this is waterproof although we have yet to test this feature.  The top attaches with three twist screws that can be turned with a coin.  A quarter works best but other coins and the back of a knife blade also work.  According to the Wild Ideas web site the container is constructed from carbon fiber composite and 6061 T-6 aluminum.  I have worked with the aluminum before and it is about as good a material as it gets.  The volume of the container is 650 cubic inches which is about the same as the plastic container.  In spite of the Weekender name it seems to be able to hold food for two for about three days of travel.  The Bearikade container isn't perfect because it does add extra weight to your pack, however, it appears to be the lightest and best made option available at this time.  The one downside is the cost.  This container is up there in the price department.  The Weekender version costs $195.

There are other uses for the container.  If you buy one and are resigned to using it then it is useful to think of other uses for it.  Tired of sitting on a rock and spending the weekend with a gargoyle shaped dent in your butt?  Park your buns on the top of the canister.  Better yet, cut out a chunk of blue foam and put it on top of the canister.  You will be smiling and your climbing buddy will be frowning.

Where do you get one?  They are not available in stores so you have to order them from Wild Ideas in Santa Barbara, California.  The phone number is 805-693-0550 or the canister can be ordered over the internet at www.wild-ideas.net.  If you are convinced you want a canister and can swing the cost the Bearikade canister should work.  There is a larger version available called the Expedition.

Original article athttp://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/pcs/articles/bearikade.asp

Two new links have been added to our Resources page. Snow Nymph and Wind Walker are both photographers and favorite clients of ours. Check out their websites for beautiful images of nature and backcountry fellowship taken during their extensive journeys.