One of the long-time problems with bear canisters is that they’re bulky, take up a lot of pack space, and don’t compress. When you’re out in bear country for multiple days, the empty space inside your canister grows as your food supply diminishes. By the end of a backpacking trip, the canister is usually reduced to a fancy (and heavy) garbage can.
That’s why BearVault designed its BV One — a bear canister that expands, allows for compartmentalization, and compresses based on how much storage space you need. It’s a clever innovation in a gear category that doesn’t see much evolution.
On March 26, the brand launched the product on its website. For $120, the BV One offers two storage volumes. Expanded, it fits 8.3 L; compressed, it fits 4.65 L. The canister weighs just under 2 pounds, and it can fit 1 to 4 days’ worth of food, according to BearVault.
Easy-to-press soft-touch buttons release the locking pins, and a smooth threading system lets you adjust the volume between the canister’s two settings. A removable nylon lid separates the compartments (and also doubles as a pretty decent camp frisbee).
GearJunkie first saw the BV One at the Outdoor Media Alliance (OMA) gear show in early March 2026. We included it in our Best of Show round-up, but at the time, the product was still under embargo. So we just teased it as “Something Very Cool From BearVault.”
Now, the product is live, and we can share the exciting news with the world.
Previously, GearJunkie has tested other expandable bear canister designs. But the BV One takes the concept to a new level. After interfacing with the product, it’s much easier to adjust the volume than with competitors’ versions.
The threading system makes switching between volumes easy to do and seamless. It locks in place easily and doesn’t require carrying multiple pieces to expand the canister.
Of course, the BV One is IGBC-certified and made from extremely durable polycarbonate. While the soft-touch buttons make it easy for humans to open the canister, in BearVault’s testing, bears couldn’t quite figure them out.
If you’re looking for a bear canister for multiday backpacking trips, the BV One offers two bear canisters in one. It’s a great value for the price. You can compare it with BearVault’s other products here.
