Harbor Freight "Ammo" boxes for food storage?

[Lloyd]

Hi All,

I'm planning a canoe trip in a few weeks. I see that there are new food storage requirements. Let me say that I fully understand and support this decision, but the guidance so far is ambiguous at best. The park website gives a list of approved containers, but then says "Containers not on this list are not guaranteed to be in food storage compliance". That leaves a lot of room for interpretation. In fact, the BearVault pictured on the NPS website appears nowhere on the approved list.

Anyway, by far the cheapest option on the approved list is a steel ammunition can - modified to lock with a bolt & nut. That would be too bulky for backpacking, but just fine for canoeing. Has anyone else used this option? Did you tun into any issues?

[Ingo]

50 Caliber Ammo Box is on the list under "Missoula Technical Development Center". But I wouldn't want to portage very far.
It's curious that the BearVault doesn't appear on the IGBC list, as it has been for years. Wonder if something recently changed, or it's an error in document (not NPS and has a date of 5/27/2025).