Safe Review: SnapSafe® 2-Gun Keypad Vault

*disclosure: I was not gifted this product to review. I am not compensated for this review in any way*

Quick background: Read this first. If you don’t have a good understanding of the philosophy of a quick access safe, then my pros & cons won’t make sense.

One Line Review:

Usable, but can use some improvement.

In Depth Review:

Why Did I Get This?

I got this safe last summer in a giveaway of all things! I never win anything (like most of you), but I won a QASafe that time. This, admittedly, isn’t the QASafe that I would have purchased with my own money, but it’s not far from it.

Description & Features

It’s a big product. At 12.7″ x 9.0″ x 8.8″, and shipping just shy of 13 lbs, this is one of the larger options for this type of options currently on the market. It has enough internal volume to warrant the usage of the included shelf. I do like that it’s removable, if you wanted to put something awful big in there, but I’ve found the space to be better used with the self installed. I keep my two CCW guns in there in their individual holsters, one one each shelf. You could put any number of things in there, and in any number of configurations. That’s the great thing about all the space this box has: it gives you a ton of options.

The locking mechanism is operated by an electric motor and unlocked via pushbuttons on the top. It has no bluetooth, biometrics, or anything else. It’s either you enter the right combination or you use the bypass key. There are also three LED indicator lights on top, by which you can asertain the status of the code being entered, battery life, sounds, etc.

The door is under constant spring pressure.

There are also mounting holes on the bottom of the safe for mounting.

Initial Impressions

I’ve had this product for almost a year, so my initial impressions have faded. I can tell you that I was surprised at the size of it (TWSS), but as I was very new to this kind of product, I was pretty much a blank slate.

Pros

Size. The sheer amount of internal volume allows me to put both my CCW guns inside, one on each shelf. If I have something else I want to keep safe, or at least in a place I know I can find it, I can jam it in there too. The SnapSafe Vault has yet to ever feel ‘crowded’, which is a good thing. Gun in holster? Check. Spare mag? Check. NPE gun + holster? Check. The size of this little QASafe really does turn it into a small vault.

Another big upside (for me, anyway) is the lack of biometrics, RFID, and bluetooth. That stuff just makes it more expensive, and frankly less secure in my mind. The only way to get in is to know the correct button combo. Even with only four buttons, the fact that the combo can be 4, 5, or 6 characters long means that there are sixty (by my calculation) possible combinations. That’s not in the thousands, but it’s going to take more than just 5 minutes alone to open it by systematically trying each combo. Also, it will lock you out for a few minutes after a certain number of failed attempts.

The power source is a pro. The unit is powered by one 9v battery, only changable from the inside. If the power goes out, your 2-gun keypad vault will operate like normal. You don’t have to worry about having an outlet near where you want it, nor unsightly cords running all over your room. You can put it up high in a closet, or behind a door. You can even keep it in your car! If the battery dies, just a quick swap and you’re back in business. The battery life is also excellent. I put the first battery in when I received the safe, about mid-July, and it’s only on its second battery.

The mounting holes are obvious in there use, and the ability to hard mount it to a surface is necessary for this type of product. Though the box is big & heavy for what it is, it’s not so big nor so heavy as to be uncarriable. If a person wanted to make this product more than an Easter egg for bad guys, it really does need to be bolted down.

The spring on the door is constantly putting outward pressure on the door. This means that when the latch mechanism is released by the motor, the door opens quickly and reliably. You don’t have to worry about the door opening or not in the dark. Once that latch lets go, it flies open.

Cons

Size. This not-so-little guy can’t just fit anywhere. While the internal dimensions gives you more options, the external dimensions remove some. It can fit in lots of places, but it can’t live in a drawer or under your car seat. Since it is more likely to be left visible, it is more in need of being bolted down.

The electronics. I like that they are so simple and lack any of the nonsense become more & more prevalent of QASafes, but they are still more fragile and likely to fail than a comparable mechanical/simplex lock. I’m not worried about EMPs so much as solder connections made for the equivalent of $2.25/hour.

The noise. The button press’s “beep” can be muted, but the buttons themselves are surprisingly loud. They clack louder than a computer keyboard! It’s not an issue if you’re gaining access to a gun at 2am because someone’s in your house. It is an issue if your spouse is sleeping and you’re putting on/taking off your gun and trying not to wake them up. I can assure you that the latter has happened much more than the former. Not only are the buttons loud, but the latching mechanism is louder still! I guess it is due to some gear reduction inside the safe allowing a little electric motor to operate the latch mechanism. When the motor whines to life while you’re trying not to wake your spouse, you seriously consider just not locking up your gun at night. That is an extremely dangerous thought to have.

Current Opinion

It works as advertised, though it’s just a little too loud for nightstand duty. I’m looking to replace it eventually, but I’m not going out of my way to do so.

I’ll keep it because its internal volume makes it very useful and very convenient, and it still works as good as the day it arrived. I just need to find somewhere that the noise isn’t such an issue. This may become my new car safe.

Conclusion

Honestly, it’s a good option for most people in most situations. If the noise and size don’t seem like they’d be a deal breaker, then you’ll probably love it. If you put a high value on concealability or silence, or both, then you might want to look elsewhere. I’d honestly rate it 7 or 8 out of 10.

I’ve been eyeing the Stop Box for basically the exact reasons I outlined in the “Cons” section above. Much slimmer, purely mechanical, and super quiet, the Stop Box really seems like it would be perfect for putting on/in the nightstand. Plus, I can get the Stop Box in wolf gray to match my holster and EDC belt.