Bought a $40 'bear-proof' food container that a raccoon opened in 30 seconds

I was camping in the Smoky Mountains last fall and saw this hard plastic container at the gear shop. The clerk swore it was certified bear-resistant. First night, I hear rustling and my headlamp catches a raccoon sitting on the lid, paws working the latches like a tiny safecracker. It popped open, ate my trail mix, and left the lid next to the fire pit. So much for that certification. Anyone have a food storage method that actually works against clever trash pandas?

4 comments

4 Comments

aaronsullivan3mo ago

Did the store clerk have any kind of refund policy for gear that fails its one job that badly?

wyatt1351mo ago

Bought my buddy an expensive sleeping bag once with the exact same problem and the store just shrugged at him.

granthunt3mo ago

That raccoon story makes @aaronsullivan's refund question seem pretty fair.

leo_black763mo ago

My cousin's tent zipper broke on a camping trip and a possum got into his beef jerky. The store gave him a ten dollar credit.