Coghlan's Magnetic Bear Bell with Silencer, Red – Outdoor Safety for Hiking, Camping, and Wildlife Protection – Noise Alert Deterrent for Bears and Other Wildlife

Have made several rides with this little bell and it does exactly what it's supposed to do.... Takes you 1 trip out to not focus on it anymore but it's only going crazy when you are.... Always down the rough decents, when you want to be sure those down ahead or around a corner can hear and know SOMETHING is coming, it's quiet on climbs and flat rides, sounding off on ruts and rock crossings, and always makes for a good laugh with your friends cause they all want one but hesitate to put a (Bell) on their bike...

I use this bell on my mountain bike to alert other bikers that I'm coming at them. It works beautifully and isn't annoying. You can quickly dampen the sound by flipping the magnetic flap that keeps it from dang-a-langing. A very inexpensive way to make yourself heard on the trails and beats screaming. Also, the red color is quite flashy and looks cool on my grey bike. Highly recommended. Not sure how well this would work on a backpack for bears, as it requires a good amount of movement to make a good deal of sound.

I got this for my wife almost as a joke but we did use it on a couple of long hikes in the Adirondack Mountains in New York State this summer. I guess it worked, because we were not harassed by any bears! In all seriousness though, bears would just assume stay clear of people, so the experts say that the best way to avoid an encounter is to let them know you are coming. This product certainly makes noise as you move around on a hike, and I believe that it is indeed effective. Be warned though, when you are half way up a high peak, and it's hot, and humid, and the black flies are biting, the incessant sound of Santa's sleigh maybe a little too much to bear (no pun intended). The magnetic silencer mostly works, but it's a little tricky. The metal ball inside the bell has to be right at the bottom of the bell for the magnet to immobilize it completely. Even then, it will break free once in while as you move around. The product performs exactly as well as I expected it to. I think it makes a charming little gift for the outdoors type person. For the price, it's worth it just for the fun of giving it to someone and having a good laugh.

I bought two of these for my kids' bikes, in lieu of more expensive Timber! bells. I can hear them riding around about 50-100' away. The sound is like a big Christmas jingle bell, a little clunky. There is a "silencer," and it works, but it's a little tricky. You have to catch the magnet in the nylon strap exactly on the striker ball rolling around when it's just at the very bottom of the bell, and then it works pretty well. If you need a bell that will stay completely silent, however, I would not recommend this. For kiddos shredding on the trails, though, it's great! I can easily recognize the sound of their bells vs other bikes, and the sound works well to alert pedestrians in the path of our approach. I cannot speak as to how frightening it is to bears, fortunately enough...SIDE NOTE: I bought myself a Timber! bell (TIMBER! Mountain Bike Bell - Quick Release Model) and it works MUCH better as a trail riding bell for an adult, with not quite such a dull sound.

A bear bell and other safety items were suggested by game and fish because I encountered a bear while hiking. This fits perfect on the front strap of my hiking backpack and it has strong Velcro that keeps it in place. There is a small magnetic piece you can place over the bell that works really well to keep the bell from ringing when not needed. I hope it lets the bears know I am headed their way! Has worked so far.

The bell creates a decent level of background sounds, as intended, but the magnetic silencer doesn't work very well. Moderate activity breaks the sounder inside loose and makes noise when you don't want it to.

bought this for our dog while camping so it would be easyer to hear where he was at. its ok it loud with out being annoyingly loud it matched our dogs shoes well and seems like a quality product. Would buy again for person or dog. The magnet that came with it worked aswell to keep it quiet when not in use.

It is not annoyingly loud, but it does make enough noise to let animals know you are coming. The silencer works well on the trail and in a suitcase.