Bear Spray

[pulpwood007]

This may not be the best place on the forum to ask this question, but could anyone suggest a particular brand of bear spray. I have a trip to Yellowstone scheduled and would like to purchase a can before leaving home.

While we don't do remote hiking anymore, I would still feel better about having some kind of defense should a bear accidentally appear. I'm sure there are some brands better than others.

[Community Alumni]

pulpwood007 wrote:
Why buy local at Yellowstone? What's different about local vs. what's available on Amazon?

I would buy in the local area? Because I would be more assured that a local purchase would be in compliance with the area as far as EPA and local laws. Also I would assume that the spray would be fresh, not expired. Bottom line I would trust a local purchase more than an online purchase and I am willing to pay more.

When I camped between Cody and the East Gate the forest service came around and warned us about the Grizzly Bear problem that was there at that time. I purchased my Bear Spray in Cody and not sure but I think I got it at Walmart.

Also if you go into Canada some of the Bear Sprays are not allowed. Just an FYI

JimR

[JimK-NY]

In my experience, which is a lot of time in bear country, bear bells are close to useless. Most of them are not very loud. Second bears in Yellowstone, Glacier and other heavily visited areas become habituated to humans. They are not hunted and often just don't leave even if they hear you. Bears do not have especially good hearing.

[_1Flyboy]

Amazon

[pulpwood007]

Why buy local at Yellowstone? What's different about local vs. what's available on Amazon?

[Bobbo]

Buy it at the Yellowstone Visitor Center.

On a related note, when we were in Yellowstone, the rangers told us to talk loudly while hiking so the bears would hear us coming. When the wife finally get tired of talking, she told me to talk, so I started going "Here bear, bear bear. Here bear, bear, bear."

She was not amused. Majorly.

[rexlion]

I have a can of UDAP bear spray. Thankfully I have not had an occasion to test it on a bear. I should mention that it says to avoid storing it in temps above 120 degrees or in a hot vehicle or direct sunlight. I suspect other brands might have similar cautions. If exposed to too high a temp, the can might discharge spontaneously. Imagine trying to camp in an RV that stinks of bear spray! So I store my can in a fridge or cooler when traveling.

[NatParkJunkie]

just in case you're flying, you can't take bear spray on a plane. they will pull it out of your checked bag too. Getting bear spray in or near the park is convenient, but they charge more for it too. I had better luck stopping at a walmart to get bear spray there. Now I always carry it in the camper, even not in bear country as some additional human deterrent if I ever need it.

[PartyOf_Five]

x2 Bear Bells and buy local

[EYEMLOST]

Get and wear a bear bell.

Far better because they'll hear you and run away long before you see them.

Metallic sounds are unnatural in the wilderness and scares animals away.

[JimK-NY]

Counter Assault is the brand I have seen most often and seems to be the brand carried by park rangers. I doubt there is a whole lot of difference in brands. Just be sure to get one with a nylon holster.

[bobsallyh]

Pick up a can somewhere in West Yellowstone, YNP it's self, or a sporting goods store when get near YNP. They are priced fixed from what I have seen and when I bought a can. Forget branding. You can also rent in YNP.

[wing_zealot]

The only way someone could know if one is better then another is to have tried several kinds on several different wild bear attacks and have survived the one that didn’t work. Doubtful anyone has that kind of experiences.