Bear Canisters; which kind to buy?

[masshysteria]

Well, with all the talk of bear canister regulations, I think it's time to get serious about buying one. I'm not going to wait until summer to act, because I think there is going to be quite a run on them, and I don't want to get caught short. So the question is, what is the best kind to buy?
I'm wondering about ease of opening for myself, not the bear? What about sizes? is there enough room to fit food for 2 or 3 people for a few days? How about the ability to attach it securely to the OUTSIDE of a pack? Weight, strength, price, and the usual concerns?
Has anyone seen any regulations about whether a canister is needed for each person, or how many people can cram their food into a single canister?
From what I've heard, the Bear Vault might be the best purchase, but I'm a little leary of the ability to attach it securely to the outside of a pack. My thought on putting the canister on the outside is that if the DEC is going to be monitoring trailheads or trails for compliance with the canister rule, it would be alot easier to have it in plain view, instead of having to take the pack off and pull the can from the depths. What do you think?

Tom

[peak_bgr]

They make carry pouches for the canisters now to make it easier to attach them to the outside of a pack. I think a company called Bear Keg does this. Check them out.

[hillman1]

I attach mine on the outside with some webbing.

[Hikerdad]

Well since my wife got me a Backpacker's Cache cannister for Christmas I guess I'll use that one. It looks good....opens easily... I quess. I'll have to try the webbing idea for attaching it, that's sounds like a good idea. I'm just worried about the size...normally there's 4 of us for our two nighters...I certainly plan on hanging the dishes, cookset, garbage (i.e. nonfood stuff). I also think that the idea of putting brightly colored tape on it is also a good idea...