I bought this because I was putting together a camping/outdoor bag and didn't really know how I wanted to lay it out. I knew for sure that I wanted a few things (fire starting kit, a few camp supplies) to be waterproof, and I saw this box for a reasonable price so I bought it to try. I'm glad I did.
In the past, gallon Ziploc bags have been my go-to for keeping things dry. They work well, they're inexpensive, and they're not rigid so you can tuck them into irregular little pockets of space inside a bag. They have their place.
But for a fire starting kit, I wanted something really durable, buoyant in water, and rigid enough so that my equipment wouldn't get damaged by a tumble. Fire can quickly become critical if something goes wrong on a hike or camping trip so I needed my kit to be clean, dry and undamaged when the time came to use it.
This kit holds a couple of boxes of matches, a butane lighter, a small Fresnel lens (way better than a magnifying glass for starting fires), a piece of fatwood, and a few cotton balls soaked in candle wax and sealed in small Ziploc bag. If I have this kit, I can get a fire going anywhere that there's fuel. (And yes, I keep a backup butane lighter in my pocket in case this kit gets lost, but I really hope it doesn't come to that.)
I liked this box so much that I bought another and use it for a small last-ditch repair kit. It holds duct tape, 550 cord, a new single-edge razor blade, and a small, unopened tube of cyanoacrylate glue. The tape has been removed from its roll and wound around a small, flat plastic sheet so it will fit inside this box. The razor blade is taped to the lid so I can always find it. I may add a couple of sewing needles, some thread, and some fishing line to this kit as I still have some room in the case.
I've also used this case to keep my cellphone and car keys dry when I wade in rivers and lakes. It works really well for that, though you have to be careful how you put the keys in so that they don't scratch your phone's screen. There's enough room to include my driver's license and credit card as well, but it's small enough that it will fit in a (large) pocket. Yeah, it feels bulky, but my keys, phone, and cards are my most critical gear (can't get home without them) and I like to keep them on my person instead of in my bag.
The clasps on this box are somewhat hard to close. This is a requirement for keeping it waterproof-- all that pressure is needed to keep it tightly sealed-- but if you have small or weak hands (or if you're injured or in shock), you may find it difficult to use. On the other hand, it is VERY waterproof. I tested it by closing only the center clasp, leaving the other two undone, and dunking it underwater. Even with only the center clasp holding the lid shut, this box remained waterproof in a foot or so of water. It probably wouldn't work if the larger clasp came undone but I like that there's some redundancy built into the case.
If you camp or hike, a box like this will probably have a dozen different uses. For the price, it's a good idea to pick one up and spend some time thinking about how to use it to keep some critical gear safe. This summer I'll be wading in some lakes and rivers, and I'll be using one of these boxes to keep my stuff dry.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 7.09 x 4.41 x 1.85 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.15 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 7.38 x 4.5 x 1.75 inches |
| Item Weight | 0.01 Ounces |
| Brand Name | Plano |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Warranty Description | Warranty |
| Model Name | 344010 |
| Color | Multi |
| Material | Plastic |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Plano |
| Part Number | 344010 |
| Style | 3400 |
| Included Components | Great Product |
| Size | 3400 |
| Sport Type | Fishing |
