Remember, while the food is outside the bear can, also to keep watch for smaller varmints such as mice, chipmunks, birds, etc., which will sneak in while your back is turned, or even as you watch! Or, on the Olympic National Park wilderness coast, aggressive raccoons (which have become far less aggressive since hard-sided canisters were required there).

I normally have used an Ursack, which of course doesn't double as a chair or washing machine, but is a lot lighter. Of course I haven't backpacked in California!, where the hard sided container is required. I also used the hard-sided canister on the Olympic coast.