Note that a Weekender costs $225 and weighs 1 pound 15 ounces (about a pound less than a Garcia - 2 pounds 13 ounces) It is 9 inch diameter, and 10 inch long 650 cubic inches. The "Expedition" is 900 ci and $275 (14 inch long), 2 lb 5 oz, There is a small job called a "Scout" (8 inch long, 500 ci, $195, 1.75 pounds). Wild Ideas sells and rents these.

The Weekender can be rented online for $5 per day for the first 3 days, then $2.50 per day, plus $10 shipping. (i.e for a 6 day trip, 15 + 7.5 + 10 = $32.50)

The Ursack costs $65, holds 650 ci, and weighs less than 8 ounces. The aluminum liner adds 10.8 ounces, with little benefit other than placating authorities.

The following post was made 5/25/2009 on backpackinglight (forumid=21062) by Rick Sutton. He posted his food list to put 9 days of foood into a Bearikade Weekender and averaging 22 ounces of food per day. I couldn't bear to risk such valuable information being lost, so I shamelessly copied it here.

My personal guidline has been 1.6 pounds per day (25.6 ounces). By comparison, he would seem to be going a little light, but I am reevaluating that guideline and am now thinking that his 22 ounces (1.4 pounds per day) may be better. Also note that all ounces are not equal, it is calories that we really should be counting, and different foods have a different calorie density.

Here is a sample of a 9 day meal list. I have this and the ingredients list in Word documents, yet, didn't know how to do any type of attachment so I just wrote the meal list here.

If anyone wants an ingredients list for anything, just let me know. Most lunch meals include tortillas which fit very nicely into the bottom of my canister.

Getting all this is a canister takes a little work, practice, and effort, yet it can be done. The first several days are a bit tough as usually the canister is not packed in order of food needed (Day 1 on top, etc), rather I just pack it to get it all in. After a few days, the process gets easier as free space in the canister increases. I guess this is price I pay for taking so much food.

If I am spending the previous night near a bear box or if I'm starting day one after driving to the trailhead, I often put the "Day 1" food in my pack and outside of my canister and this way I can carry 10 days worth of food. If this is done around Yosemite or in major bear country, I'm always careful of where I leave my pack and usually keep a careful eye on it until I can keep all my food in the canister (after dinner on Day 1).

Day 1
Breakfast - Chocolate Protein Oatmeal - 575 4.9 oz
Lunch Pizza Wrap 590 5.3 oz
Dinner - Spaghetti with Meat Sauce - 690 5.6 oz
Snacks Cashews - 320 2.0 oz
Malted Milk Balls 360 1.6 oz
Brownie - 290 2.2 oz

2875 calories, 21.6 oz

Day 2
Breakfast Protein Powder / Water 785 5.8 oz
& Morning Potatoes -
Lunch - Bacon, Cheese, & Tomato Roll Up - 600 5.8 oz
Dinner Beef Jerky & Garlic Potatoes 665 4.8 oz
Snacks Garlic Sticks 320 2.0 oz
PB Pretzels 278 2.0 oz
Malted Milk Balls 360 1.6 oz

3008 calories, 22.0 oz

Day 3
Breakfast - Ramen Pad Thai - 628 5.1 oz
Lunch - Chicken Jerky & 2 brownies 760 6.2 oz
Dinner Pizza Wrap - 590 5.3 oz
Snacks - Peanut Butter & Chocolate squares 330 2.3 oz
Garlic Sticks 320 2.0 oz
Honey Roasted Peanuts 320 2.0 oz

2948 calories, 22.9 oz

Day 4
Breakfast Protein Powder / Water 785 5.8 oz
& Morning Potatoes -
Lunch - Peanut Butter & Jelly Roll Up - 630 5.6 oz
Dinner - Ramen Pad Thai - 628 5.1 oz
Snacks Snickers 280 2.3 oz
PB Pretzels 278 2.0 oz
Brownie 290 2.2 oz

2891 calories, 23.0 oz

Day 5
Breakfast - Chocolate Protein Oatmeal - 575 4.9 oz
Lunch Pizza Wrap 590 5.3 oz
Dinner - Spaghetti with Meat Sauce - 690 5.6 oz
Snacks Garlic Sticks 320 2.0 oz
Cashews - 320 2.0 oz
Malted Milk Balls 360 1.6 oz

2855 calories, 21.4 oz

Day 6
Breakfast - Protein Powder / Water 785 5.8 oz
& Morning Potatoes
Lunch - Bacon, Cheese, & Tomato Roll Up - 600 5.8 oz
Dinner - Ramen Pad Thai - 628 5.1 oz
Snacks Snickers 280 2.3 oz
Peanut Butter & Chocolate squares 330 2.3 oz
PB Pretzels 278 2.0 oz

2901 calories, 23.3 oz

Day 7
Breakfast - Chocolate Protein Oatmeal - 575 4.9 oz
Lunch - Peanut Butter & Jelly Roll Up - 630 5.6 oz
Dinner Beef Jerky & Garlic Potatoes 665 4.8 oz
Snacks Garlic Sticks 320 2.0 oz
Malted Milk Balls 360 1.6 oz
Brownie 290 2.2 oz

2940 calories, 21.1 oz

Day 8
Breakfast Protein Powder / Water 785 5.8 oz
& Morning Potatoes -
Lunch 2 Cliff Bars (Chocolate Brownie) - 480 5.0 oz
Dinner Beef Jerk / Garlic Potatoes - 665 4.8 oz
Snacks Garlic Sticks 320 2.0 oz
PB Pretzels 278 2.0 oz
Cashews - 320 2.0 oz

2848 calories, 21.6 oz

Day 9
Breakfast - Stinger Bar - 350 2.8 oz
Lunch - Chicken Jerky & 2 brownies 760 6.2 oz
Dinner - Ramen Pad Thai - 628 5.1 oz
Snacks - Malted Milk Balls 360 1.6 oz
PB Pretzels 278 2.0 oz
Honey Roasted Peanuts 320 2.0 oz

2696 calories, 19.7 oz

GRAND TOTALS 25,962 196.6 oz (12.3 pounds)

Average calories per day: 2,884

Average weight per day: 21.9 oz

Average for food: 132.0 calories per ounce