Coghlan'sBear Bell w/Silencer

There is at least one comment on the red/yellow/blue version of this product that recommends a gun over this product, but I would recommend this in addition to your chosen method of last resort - I carry a gun almost constantly, and carry a bigger one in the wilderness, but just like the gun is an effective tool in some situations, so is the bell. In a group, where others may object to the bell, the sound of your 'discussion' of the merits of bells vs. human voices will likely alert the animals to your presence - it may even help to convince them that your meat is tainted by mad-cow or something equally unpalatable. However, if you are hiking solo, whether by choice or accident - say perhaps a shoving match breaks out over the bell vs. human voices thing and your hiking partner 'stumbles' over a cliff - the bell is an effective tool to reduce the likelihood of surprising most solo predators. Of *course* it is not going to help you if the predator is sick, feels threatened, or otherwise intends you harm, but that is where the sidearm comes in - to deter or stop the ones that are intent on harming you. Leave the bear spray at home, or carry it when a gun is not permissible as it may be enough to allow you to get away if that is the only option left to you. Stories of bear bells in scat or of predators being attracted to bells are apocryphal at best. To be sure, you will not see Bambi or Thumper or hear the bluebird of paradise while using this product, but I can assure you that in solo situations all the way from walking a less-used suburban trail in an area bordering on habitat all the way up to hiking in real wilderness on your own you want one of these - *and* a gun.If you want to muffle the bell while it is dangling, purchase this one instead of one of the red/yellow/blue ones as the muffler is a different type that will work better while the bell is attached to your pack or whatever.

I purchased this bell because I’ve gotten other products from this brand, and been happy with them. I also like the sturdy attachment strap with Velcro. I attached to the back of my bike, so it wouldn’t jingle in my ear while riding on a gravel path.Sorry to say it jingled maybe three times in 40 minutes. I loosened the strap for my next ride, and that did not seem to allow the bell to jingle anymore. I’d return if the window wasn’t closed.

after 10 years of hiking I encountered my first bear over the summer and was a little scared to return to the woods so I ordered this bell. Annoying, sure, but there were a few other folks on the trail with 1 or 2 on their packs as well. This was what I needed to ease my mind and enjoy my time in the woods. The silencer works pretty decently as well.

I wanted to have a bell on my full suspension mountain bike but not one that you typically think of when you think "bike bell". With a bear bell I can leave it on my bike to jingle all the time from the bumpy single tracks I ride so hikers, slower bikers, etc move over and/or more importantly hear me coming so I don't sneak up on them.If I am on a smoother section or they are not hearing the jingle I just give the bell a few extra whacks with my hand it it works perfectly. If they have headphones in, most times they still hear me as well, unless they are really rocking out and have the volume up to 11.Then If I am in an area that I don't need the bell for a while and would rather not listen to it I simply pull the netting case around it, the built in magnet stops the jingling and all is quiet.Not necessarily what the product is intended for I don't think, but works outstanding none-the-less.

Maybe it's coincidence, maybe it's because I bought it as a gift for someone else, maybe it's because where I leave there are no bears, but since I've bought this bell I've never been eaten by a bear. Not sure what else a person could ask for. 10/10 would recommend.

I have admit we used it only a couple of times so not sure how well it workes as intended (but we didn't encounter any black bears in the California wildreness). I love the neat idea of silencing the belll with a magnet when in a holster (the magnet is part of the holster). I also like we can use this bell on our dog, so we know where the dog is in the dark or when at large. Hikers who were coming toward us all turned their heads in the direction of the bell, wondering what is there. So it is loud enough at some 50 yards away.

Writing a review for this is kind of a double negative ... If we didn't see any bears, was it because the bell scared them away or because there were no bears around? In any case, the bells add a certain level of comfort when hiking in "bear country" and the grandkids loved them (plus we knew where they were at all times). And we really appreciated the fact that these bells come with a silencer which is very nice when six people are walking through the parking lot and you don't want to sound like a Handbell Choir.

I bought this to go for walks with my dogs I walk early in mornings and tend to see a lot of bears out! This nice bell straps right to your leash and also has a silencer so if don’t went to hear the bell ringing just put in the little bag and won’t hear it and when need it pop it back out! All attached so nice and easy to use! Keeps the bears away and aware your there! Everyone’s safe and happy!