Abstract: A bear-proof backpack and latching system. The bear-proof backpack and latching system has a hard shelled main body portion having perimeter sidewalls that define a main body portion cavity, a first open mouth at a first end of the main body portion, the first open mouth having a first rim. It further includes a first hard shelled lid that detachably attaches over the first open mouth, the first lid having a perimeter lip with a leading edge that fits over the first rim. The first lid is attached to the first open mouth by a primary latch system that has a first latch mechanism located on the main body portion and a second latch mechanism located on the first lid, which first and second latch mechanisms detachably lock the first lid to cover the first open mouth of the main body portion.