Find a bear-proof solution that actually works.

"Bear-proof" and "bear-resistant" aren't regulated words, so a label alone proves nothing. The verifiable claim is a certification number: the product passed a live-bear test run by the IGBC (grizzly bears) or WMI/SEAFWA (black bears). In the IGBC test, a live grizzly gets 60 minutes with food inside. Every product on this site has a real certification number from one of those two lists.

Certification is pass/fail, so every certified can here passed the same test. The best one is the one that fits your household size, your hauler's trucks, and your budget. We list 17 certified trash carts from 10 manufacturers with sizes and certification numbers, and our guide walks through nine picks and the reason for each.

People use all of these words for the same idea: a container built so a bear can't open it. Trash can, garbage can, trash cart, bin, and receptacle describe the same kind of product, and "receptacle" is common in park and municipal specifications. Whatever you call it, look for a certification number.

Yes. We track 10 certified coolers and 8 backcountry food canisters on the IGBC list, from brands including YETI, RTIC, BearVault, Garcia, and Bare Boxer. A certification applies to the specific model listed, so match the exact model on our coolers page before you buy.

Sometimes. Retrofit locks and covers certified under the WMI/SEAFWA black-bear program exist, but each certification applies only to the specific cart it was tested on, not to any cart. Our locks page shows which carts each one covers.

Both programs appear on this site. The IGBC tests against grizzly bears and WMI/SEAFWA tests against black bears. A few products carry both certifications, and each product page shows which one applies.