>>2849401In AK the correct answer is always both. Environmental conditions can make bear spray ineffective. The tundra gets very windy.
It’s less socially acceptable to be packing a bear caliber sidearm in the lower 48 so up to you on if your comfortable getting some looks. If I’m in dense woods where it can’t get too windy, I’m totally comfortable with just bear spray. I’d say unless I’m in the Montana/Wyoming griz country area, I’m not going to bring a sidearm.
Bear bells are useless. Bears don’t necessarily register bells ringing as being indicative of humans nearby which is the whole point. They’re too similar in frequency to things like bird calls. You definitely don’t want to surprise a bear so talking loud and making noise is always good. Bells aren’t the right way to do it though.
