A legitimate question that is asked by a lot of people and believe it or not, we will actually answer this question for you. First, however, you have to consider the also very legitimate question of why do you want to buy bear spray? For most visitors, it just doesn’t make sense to purchase a can of bear spray and we will explain why in this article. We do, however, value dialog and feedback so if you disagree with us on anything or have a different view on this subject, please leave us a comment below. Let’s get started with mentioning some valid reasons to purchase bear spray…
The Argument To Purchase…
Yes, we are a rental company and we do rent bear spray. We, obviously, want people to rent bear spray from us but only when it makes sense; which we believe is in most cases. There are, however, some cases when it doesn’t make sense to rent and we fully acknowledge that. Some of these reasons would include:
You Live in Alaska
If you live in the state, or reside here for long periods, then you probably should own your can of bear spray and not rent it. It would be far cheaper and easier for you to just buy a can for each adult in your group and be done with it. This would allow you to always have a can available when you are heading out into areas where you might encounter an Alaskan bear.
You Are Driving Into Alaska for an Extended Visit
This is one of those where it could go either way (rent or buy) but if you are driving into Alaska then you do not have the same travel restrictions of someone who would be flying or sailing into the state. You are also likely to be covering a much wider area of the state as well as large portions of Canada that would also have bears. If that is the case, then you would probably want to purchase bear spray and carry it with you on your entire trip. It would be difficult to find a pickup and drop-off location that would accommodate your needs. There might, however, be an argument to be made to rent if you are only going to be stopping in one area and for a shorter period of time. You would have to make the call on this one and if you decide that you need to rent, we are happy to support you.
You Are Visiting but Staying With Relatives
This is another case that could go either way. It might make sense to purchase bear spray if you are going to be visiting the area and staying with relatives who could benefit from the ownership of the canister after you leave. Most Alaskans, however, will already own bear spray so it is not likely that this is going to be a common use-case (yes, Alaskans carry bear spray!). This is something to consider and you would have to check with the people you are staying with. If they already have bear spray then you might check if you could borrow it during your visit and then you would neither have to buy or rent it while you are here.
The Argument To Rent…
Hopefully I have made some reasonable and obvious arguments of why you would want to purchase bear spray when visiting Alaska. Yes, it doesn’t always make sense to rent. Renting, however, usually makes the most sense and here are some points to consider (which are also mentioned throughout our website):
Cost
The expense of buying bear spray is usually the most compelling argument to rent. Purchasing bear spay isn’t cheap; it usually costs $40-$50 per canister. If you have 2+ adults in your group this can quickly add up to a decent expense. Renting is much cheaper as our fees start at $12/day and go down as you add days (as low as $1/day). With Alaska Bear Spray Rental, you never pay more than $28 for your rental (up to 28 days).
Convenience
When renting, it is easier to acquire our rental cans as we make it available in more places for pickup or, for a small fee, you can have it delivered directly to wherever you are staying (Anchorage area). The real convenience, however, is when you are ready to leave Alaska as we have numerous drop-off locations or again, for a small fee, we can pick it up from you.
Better for the Environment
There are two things to consider when you purchase bear spray. The first is that you will need to deal with the packaging of the purchased can. Most things that are purchased have some type of packaging whether it is plastic or paper. This will need to be disposed of if you purchase but wouldn’t be present if you rent. The second item is the canister itself. If you fly or sail into the state then you will have to do something with the canister before you leave. You can’t take bear spray onto a plane or cruise ship. Most people, after figuring this out and not having any other options, just throw the canister away. With a rental, you avoid this issue as we pickup and reuse the canister. We also recycle them when they have expired.
The Guarantee of Acquiring Bear Spray
Another item to consider is that if you are buying bear spray, you have to buy inside Alaska (since you can’t fly or sail with it). There is no guarantee that you will be able to find bear spray when you arrive as it can sell-out of stores. When you rent with us, we guarantee that you will have a canister available when you arrive. We maintain a large stock of canisters and allocate one to you when you rent. You don’t have to worry about this with Alaska Bear Spray Rental as we have you covered.
Still Need to Purchase?
After reading the arguments laid out above you still feel like you need to purchase bear spray, we would recommend checking out the following location in the Anchorage area:
REI at 500 E Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503.
Typically they will have canisters available for about $48 per canister.
Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking at 2633 Spenard Rd, Anchorage, AK 99503
They offer a 2-pack for about $85.
6th Avenue Outfitters Co-op at 520 W 6th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
They offer canisters for about $65 per can.
Play It Safe!
However you acquire bear spray while you are visiting Alaska, be sure to play it safe and carry it while you are in bear country. Play it smart and rent it through Alaska Bear Spray Rental.
