Bear-proof bear bags and bear canisters are increasingly required throughout the United States, including areas where, in the past, simply hanging a bear bag was deemed sufficient to prevent bears from stealing food from backpackers and campers. The IGBC, which stands for Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, is the de facto organization that determines whether food storage bear bags, bear canisters, and other forms of storage are sufficient to prevent brown bears, including grizzly bears, from defeating them and getting a food reward.

While black bears, not brown bears, are present east of the Mississippi, IGBC-approved storage is now required in many eastern areas because more people are backpacking and camping than ever before, black bear populations have increased, and black bears have gotten better at stealing food from bear hangs. To see if a bear canister is required in the eastern US, check with the National or State Land Manager that oversees the area you plan to visit, to determine whether IGBC-approved food storage is required.

Smaller volume bear canisters are now available that are more convenient and packable for weekend backpacking trips.

IGBC-Approved Bear Canisters

While bear canisters are heavier than bear bags and can be awkward to pack in a backpack, they are also rodent-proof, and in many cases, more waterproof. Bear canisters have also become available in smaller sizes in recent years, making them easier to use for shorter-duration trips, including weekend backpacking trips by people who are not thru-hikers.

Ursack Bearproof Bag hanging from a tree. There’s no need to hang it 10 feet off the ground and 5 feet from a tree trunk because the bag is made out of super-strong bear-resistant fabric.

IGBC-Approved Bear Bags

While Bear Bags are significantly lighter than bear canisters and much easier to pack, they’re not waterproof, so water can leak inside or soak their exteriors. This is problematic if you have to pack them in your backpack, because they can make your gear wet. It’s often useful to carry an extra plastic bag to wrap around a bear bag before packing it into your pack.

Bear Bags are also more susceptible to rodent predation because they can’t be completely sealed shut like a bear canister. Their best use is in drier climates, where they can be hung or stored in containers that rodents can’t access. Unfortunately, the big metal bear boxes found at many campsite shelters are not rodent-proof. Still, bear bags can be a viable bear-proof option, particularly if tied to trees in areas that are not frequented by other campers and where rodents are less likely to be acclimated to human food.

How to Choose Between Them

Unfortunately, there are many instances where you still need to use a bear canister, despite the fact that a bear bag has been IGBC-approved. This occurs when local rules require a “bear canister” or “hard-sided bear-resistant container.” This is common in high-use national parks and popular backcountry corridors (for example, many parts of the Sierra, some areas in Rocky Mountain, Olympic, and Adirondack High Peaks). Even if a soft-sided bag is IGBC-approved, many of these places will not accept it as a substitute.

An IGBC-approved bear bag (like an Ursack or Adotec) is an option only where regulations allow it. That usually means the rules say something like “bear-resistant food storage required” without specifying hard-sided containers, and the local managers either mention your bag type by name or don’t prohibit it. Bear bags are lighter, more packable, and great for long-distance trips, but they require good anchor points (trees or big roots/rocks) and proper tying. Bears may crush the contents, and some models are less effective against rodents.

Canisters are heavier and bulkier but simpler and more reliably critter-proof: put food in, lock the lid, and place it 100–200 feet from camp. When in doubt or regulations are unclear, choose a hard-sided canister and confirm details with the relevant park or forest office.

Updated feb 16, 2026

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