I've been carrying bear spray for years on the trail. Have encountered countless black bears, including mamas and cubs, and have never felt threatened so haven't used it. I now carry bear spray, on my backpack's hip belt, primarily for defense against humanity's two-legged savages.

I carry bear spray from REI (the red canister) and Cabela's. REI's requires buying a separate holster from them ($13 for the hip holster). Cabela's comes with a neoprene holster and fits perfectly on my mountain bike's handlebars so that's where it stays. If I were buying another today, I'd go with Cabela's because of the holster being included. Also, the Cabela's spray's black motif is less obvious on my black mountain bike and black hip belt.

If I were going to be in Grizzly country I'd know more about the composition of the sprays and real-life experiences with them. I'm sure either will deter my primary targets.

I really like the safety mechanism on both canisters. It's instinctive, secure yet easy to flick off for use. And they both glow in the dark (I also keep a canister on my night stand).

It'd be well worth reading the 22 customer reviews at this Cabela's link:


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...&hasJS=true

"This product saved my life in Sept. of 2002. I was 14 miles from a road when the Grizzly broke and mangled my leg. When I yelled out, my friend got up to his knees and took on the 400 lb mother griz with cubs. She got off of me and charged him. He stopped her cold at 5 ft with a can of UDAP pepper spray. She hit the spray like she hit a wall and we never saw her again. If you are going to be in bear country and plan to ever leave your car, BUY THIS PRODUCT and read the directions and bear advise booklet enclosed. I am a veterinarian and a shooter and a griz survivor and I can't stress this enough: I would take UDAP pepper spray over a gun any day. We probably won't need seat belts or insurance but you get and use them anyway. You probably won't need the pepper spray either but consider the consequences of not having it. This is especially true for those who travel with their wives and children. If you can't protect them, who can?? I can't say enough about UDAP pepper spray. Without it I wouldn't be here to say anything at all!!!!!!"