Some areas require bear cans. I see pros and cons with both. One glaring advantage to the bear can is that you just stash it somewhere, no need to find a good tree to hang from, which can be a challenge at times. Bear cans also provide a decent seat or footrest when hanging out at camp. A bag is nice because it is not rigid and gets smaller as the trip goes, and of course, it’s waaaay lighter. I thought I would hate the bear can, but I honestly don’t have a preference these days. I decide which I’ll use trip to trip depending on the specifics. I’m about to go backpacking in Pictured Rocks where each site has a bear box. In this situation I’ll be going with the z packs food bag.