Get a bear canister, not a lunch box

For hiking and camping, the best odor-resistant food container is a hard-sided bear canister like the BearVault — not a regular lunch box.

A normal lunch box is a raccoon buffet. It’s not smell-proof, it’s not bite-proof, and a raccoon will have it open in about four seconds. A hard-sided bear canister solves both problems: it locks closed with a lid that raccoons can’t work, and it does an excellent job of keeping odors contained. In many backcountry areas, it’s also required.

The BearVault is the most popular because it’s clear, so you can actually see your food, and it’s been proven for decades. If you’re just carrying a day hike lunch, the BV450 is enough. For multi-day food, go bigger. The tradeoff is weight and bulk — there’s no way around that if you want real protection.

If you want extra odor control on top of the canister, put your food in a smell-proof bag like an Opsak first. It’s not a replacement for the canister, but it helps keep your tent and pack from smelling like lunch.

A raccoon can open a cooler. It can’t open a properly closed BearVault. That’s where you want your money going.