My $40 'bear proof' food bag was a total joke

I bought this fancy bag with a metal liner for a trip in the Smokies, thinking it would keep my snacks safe. A raccoon ripped it open in about five minutes while it was hanging from a tree. I woke up to find my granola bars gone and the bag in shreds. What's a better way to keep food away from those little thieves?

3 comments

3 Comments

jake_dixon1mo ago

Man, that's such a bummer. Those raccoons in the Smokies are next-level smart and crazy strong. A hard canister is the only thing that's ever worked for me out there, even though it's a bulky pain to pack.

the_jake18d ago

Used to think hanging my food was good enough. Then I watched a Smokies raccoon untie a complicated knot on my buddy's bag like it was nothing. They worked together, one holding the line down while the other pulled loops loose. That was the moment I gave up and bought a canister. The extra weight in my pack is annoying, but it's way better than finding shredded gear and no breakfast.

the_stella1mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst feeling. Those metal liner bags are basically just for smell, not actual claws. In the Smokies, you really need a hard-sided bear canister. Rangers often require them anyway. It's a pain to carry, but nothing gets into those things. I use a BearVault brand one and just accept the extra weight. What kind of trips are you usually doing?