BearVault BV ONE® Wins 2026 Cottage Gear Innovation Award
October 20, 2026
The world’s first adjustable bear canister earns recognition from Garage Grown Gear and Backpacking Light for rethinking how backpackers carry food on the trail.
LOUISVILLE, Colo. (October 20, 2026) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – BearVault’s BV ONE® Adjustable Bear Canister has been named a winner of the 2026 Cottage Gear Innovation Awards, presented by Garage Grown Gear and Backpacking Light. The awards recognize innovative backpacking products for their originality, performance, and benefits to people on the trail.
Chosen from hundreds of products nominated by the backpacking community, the BV ONE is one of only six winners this year. Judges praised its simple, easy-to-use adjustability. Backpackers can carry the canister collapsed during the day, expand it to secure food at camp, and save pack space on their trips.
“An adjustable bear canister design seemed both obvious and incredibly challenging,” said Mitch Frechette, product developer at BearVault. “To get there, we set aside what we thought was or wasn’t possible and went back to engineering fundamentals. Five years of development and refinement made adjustable volume possible without compromising strength, while also reducing weight and improving usability. We’re excited to see it embraced by the backpacking community.”
Traditional bear canisters have a fixed capacity, which means backpackers end up carrying unused space as their food supply shrinks. The BV ONE, the world’s first adjustable bear canister, takes a different approach with a telescoping design that adjusts to changing needs on the trail. Backpackers can start with the canister expanded and shrink it as they eat, or carry it collapsed to save space from the start. Easy-open buttons, center access, and transparent walls make it easier to open, reach items, and identify what’s inside.
“BearVault has always been about making an easy system for people to responsibly store their food in bear country,” said Tracy Twist, CEO and owner of BearVault. “The BV ONE builds on that mission by rethinking how a bear canister can work for backpackers throughout their trip. We’re proud to see that innovation recognized by Garage Grown Gear and Backpacking Light.”
Founded in 2001, BearVault® designs innovative bear-resistant food storage canisters trusted by backpackers, thru-hikers, and outdoor professionals across North America. Approved by land management agencies,and certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) and the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) , BearVault products help protect wildlife and support responsible recreation in bear country. Learn more atbearvault.com.
Media Contact
Meagan Osgood
Digital Marketing
BearVault
meagan@bearvault.com
866-301-3442 ext. 105
Interviews and Assets
Mitch Frechette, product developer of the BV ONE, is available for interviews. The full press release and product imagery are available here.
