Updated: August 06, 2020
Should you be in the middle class or lower class income groups, having a high quality safe is still extremely important and you should look at a few features to ensure that you get the right quality for your hard earned cash. We have set out to look for the most important things people need to determine before making a choice. Our reviews are based on the following 11 criteria which you need to look for selecting the best safes:#1 Safety Features
Safety is obviously the number one concern when buying a safe. Without safety anyone will be able to access the safe and even your children may put themselves in danger. You have to evaluate the best safes according to their safety features.
#2 Accessibility
Having a safe near you or in the part of the house that you are the most during the day, may not be sufficient. The safe should still be very accessible and easy to get into once any trouble arises. Struggling to get into your safe could mean the difference between life and death.
#3 Locking Mechanism
Gun safes have different and varying locking mechanisms. Some are better than others. Of course, the more secure the locking mechanism, the more expensive the safe, so we keep that in mind when coming to our decisions. You should choose between the fingerprint and coding system, whichever you find the fastest and easiest way to open.
Sometimes the fingerprint system may glitch and let you down and then the code system will be easier to open. But this should be a wisely taken decision as you cannot forget the code in times of need. You might be offered different types of safes with various locking options but you need to select the option which is best fitted with you. Below are the types of locking mechanisms found in the best safes today:
- Biometric Lock. Biometric safes are more popular due to its quick and easy access. This one works by use of your fingerprints that are saved into its system and when you place your hand on the safe, it unlocks. This type ensures that no one except you can access the safe.
- Electronic Lock. Most people consider this type to be the most secure and while not as easily accessible as the biometric locks, they are less expensive. Old is gold they say and these traditional methods have withstood a pretty rough history and still live on even today despite competition from cooler locks like the RFID and biometric systems.
- Combination Lock. It is a quick access locking mechanism that works by pressing simultaneous or sequential keys. It is a simple lock that is easy to access if you know and can remember the pattern you entered or the sequence you chose. It works better than the keypads which can be hacked easily if one knows what one is doing.
- Manual Lock. There are two types of manual locks and they are the more traditional key locks and dial locks. Key locks are straightforward. They work by use of keys to open the safe. Just like a padlock. Dial locks on the other hand are slower and do not provide easy access to your guns. They work by use of combinations of numbers that you switch to with precision or you will not get them right.
#4 Dimensions
If you have a lot of hunting rifles, you would obviously need a bigger safe. The bigger safe will generally be more expensive and heavier. But a bigger safe will keep your valuables safe and out of harm’s way.
For people with smaller items, the size won’t matter that much and they will need something more functional that can be placed in any location. The inside will be smaller and thus impact the weight more positively. If you only have a side firearm, you should consider something smaller, but still strong and durable.
#5 Weight
The weight is extremely important in case you are looking for something to sit on your counter. A heavier safe may sound better and stronger, but a lighter safe may provide you with better functionality and the ability to place the safe at a more easy to access location.
This is the same when it comes to walls, you cannot afford to have the safe drop out of the wall during the day when you are not at home and intruders should not be able to dislodge the safe easily.
#6 Fire Rating
We don’t like to keep in dark saying “This, this and this safe is absolutely fireproof”. Because you can’t find any safe in the market which is completely fireproof, but still there is something like “Fire Rating” which measures the capability of the safe to sustain and protect the guns or valuables for a certain period or temperature.
So obviously its important to look for the fire rating to ensure better safety of your valuables.
#7 Portability
If you are constantly travelling and you do not own rifles, having a portable gun safe may be better for your needs. The bigger and heavier safes are generally more expensive and you may not need to spend the extra money.
If you love hunting and collecting rifles, you will need a bigger safe. The advantages of a bigger safe are enormous and they not only offer more security, but will also offer you extra space to add more items like valuables.
#8 Location
Justice Departments usually make the burglary statistics publicly available and this will be a great indication on what you should focus on.
If you live in an area that is constantly filled with burglars and house break-ins, you will need to focus on buying a safe that is made specifically for this purpose and then the other additional features will be second in line. The key is to identify the main reason for having a safe and ensuring that the safe that you buy clearly meets that need.
#9 Price
You’d be wrong if you think that buying the cheapest safe will be the best, sometimes the more expensive gun safes tend to provide a lot more features and security to the user. These safes are usually heavier and take a lot of high quality materials to build, thus they may be more expensive, but they will definitely provide more safety in the long run.
The military spends tens of thousands of dollars on every safe, but you don’t need quite that level of security. We’re aiming to bring you reliable safes that are actually affordable, too.
#10 Past Customer Reviews
The most important part – how do owners like the safes? Do they open easily? Do they get stuck? Are they easy to crack? Only the past users can answer them well. We’ll cover all of this and more in every review.
#11 Additional Features
Some of the best safes offer unique additional features now a day. These will lead you to a more comfortable and easier life. For example, some safes come with backup keys, just in case you forget the combination.
These 11 features are extremely important when looking for the best safes, all of them needs to be considered before you buy and they will make a huge impact on the results you have with your new safe. These features may help you eliminate features that will cost you extra money.
