What is in the can
Bear spray is an animal deterrent. It produces a cloud that an approaching bear passes through. Personal pepper spray is a different product. Buy a can labeled for bears. In the US, look for an EPA registration number. NPS
Grand Teton National Park recommends EPA-registered bear spray with 1–2% capsaicin and related capsaicinoids. Its recommended minimum is a 25-foot range and six seconds of spray. Those are product specifications, not an instruction to wait until every bear is exactly 25 feet away. Grand Teton
Counter Assault, UDAP and Frontiersman sell bear deterrents. Compare the instructions on the actual can. Can size and range vary. UDAP lists ranges of 30 feet or more for its products and says wind and temperature affect the distance. A range printed on a label is not a guarantee in a crosswind. UDAP product FAQ
What about the Enchantments
Washington has black bears. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends carrying bear spray when recreating in bear country. That advice does not establish the chance of seeing a bear on a particular Enchantments hike. We do not have a route-specific encounter rate to give you. WDFW black bears, WDFW bear-country guidance
Bear spray does not replace food storage. Read the packing page and the Forest Service’s current permit-area instructions before leaving. Keep the food-storage rules separate from the spray instructions. NPS bear safety
Carry it where you can reach it
Use a holster on your belt or an accessible pack strap. Check that your pack’s hip belt does not cover it. Rehearse reaching the can with the pack on. Learn how its safety clip comes off. An inert practice can lets you rehearse spraying without discharging the deterrent. Follow the practice can’s instructions too. NPS
Keep the safety clip in place while carrying the can. Check the label’s storage temperature. Do not leave the can in a hot vehicle. NPS
Know the instructions before an encounter
Use the directions on your can and the land manager’s guidance. Different products have different ranges. Yellowstone’s guidance for a charging bear says to remove the safety clip, point slightly downward and account for crosswind. The aim is to put a cloud between you and the bear. Yellowstone bear guidance
Keep control of the can. Spraying directly into a headwind can bring the spray back toward you. After deploying it, leave the area as the agency guidance directs. Do not approach the bear to see whether it worked. NPS bear spray guidance
It is not something to put on your gear
Do not spray your skin or your tent before a hike. Bear spray is not a preventive coating. The residue can attract bears. Do not test a live can on your backpack. NPS
Check the expiration date before every trip. There is no single shelf life for every brand. UDAP gives its bear spray a three-year expiration period. Use the date on your own can and replace it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. UDAP
Check the trip and the flight
Do not assume every national park allows bear spray. The NPS tells visitors to check the rules for the park they will visit. Forest Service bear-country guidance recommends it, but that does not override a separate local restriction. NPS, Forest Service
Do not pack a normal hiking bear-spray can for a commercial flight. CBP says bear spray is not permitted on commercial aircraft. The FAA says most bear-spray cans exceed its four-ounce exception for certain checked self-defense sprays. Arrange to obtain it after you land. CBP, FAA
Buying and practicing
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Browse bear spray. Browse inert practice canisters.
These are category links. Choose a bear-labeled product with instructions you can follow and a holster you can reach.