I always like to remind folk, this is a wholly un-sponsored channel. I will disclose to you all that I was sent this unit as an evaluation piece, but Dirtyman had no editorial control over my thoughts and feedback here (as will become apparent with the insertion of nonsense like a Doctor Horrible joke and so forth) and they aren't paying me anything at all to do this. I even plan to offer to send them back the review unit once I'm done with this test.
With that out of the way, I think this item might potentially be useful for some folk. Yes, as I indicate toward the end of this video, you could make something similar yourself with enough time and effort. But if, like me, you are very busy and your time is valuable... having someone do the legwork of sourcing and fitting and sealing the parts and allowing you to purchase an all-in-one turnkey kit can be appealing.
Their site is pretty easy to find by googling, but in case you don't know how search engines work... dirtymansafe.com ...that's them on the internet. 😉
summerizer
Summary
The video introduces and reviews an unconventional type of safe known as the "Dirty Man Safe," which is a secure, steel canister designed to be buried underground for protecting valuables. Unlike traditional safes kept inside homes, this safe uses obscurity—being hidden underground—as a key element of security alongside its heavy-duty construction. The creator’s motivation partly stems from concerns about natural disasters like wildfires and floods that can destroy valuables stored in homes. The presenter explores the purpose, materials, and practicality of this buried safe, emphasizing its suitability for certain valuables such as cash, gold, jewels, alcohol, and tobacco rather than firearms, which may corrode underground.
The video discusses the setup and installation process, including the necessity of tools like an auger to dig the hole and special features like a retrieval line for quick access. The canister is designed to be weather-resistant but not completely waterproof, so it includes silica gel desiccants to reduce moisture. The presenter also tests the internal capacity and packing of the safe, finding some limitations regarding the size and types of items it can accommodate. While the idea is relatively low-tech and the product carries a modest price reflecting its materials and design, its value lies in providing a novel, hidden, and disaster-resilient storage option.
The review is tempered with cautious optimism, noting the need for a long-term test to assess performance over months, particularly regarding moisture protection. The presenter respects the innovative entrepreneurial spirit behind the product but refrains from full endorsement until results are observed. The video closes with a reminder about distributing valuables in diverse locations as a wise security practice.
Highlights
- 🛡️ The Dirty Man Safe is a steel underground canister designed for hidden secure storage.
- 🌍 Inspired by wildfire and disaster risks, it protects valuables from environmental destruction.
- 🔒 Obscurity and physical durability combine to enhance security beyond traditional safes.
- ⚠️ Not ideal for firearms due to moisture susceptibility; better for gold, cash, alcohol, and tobacco.
- 🛠️ Requires an auger for digging and features a retrieval cable for easy access.
- 💧 Includes silica gel desiccants to combat moisture ingress but is not fully waterproof.
- 💡 Affordable and simple design with potential, but long-term effectiveness remains to be proven.
Key Insights
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🔍 Obscurity as a Security Strategy: Traditional safes often rely on strong locks and robust construction, but the Dirty Man Safe elevates "security through obscurity" by hiding valuables underground. This capitalizes on the principle that difficult discovery reduces theft risk, augmenting physical security measures. For individuals who desire covert storage, this method introduces a compelling alternative or complement to home safes and offsite lockers.
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🌪️ Disaster-Resilience Motivation: The product’s concept is rooted in recent challenges posed by extreme weather events and wildfires, which have rendered many traditional home safes ineffective by physically destroying them or making valuables irrecoverable. By burying valuables underground, the safe claims to keep them away from fires and floods, offering an extra layer of protection amid increasing climate unpredictability.
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🔧 Material and Construction Choices: The safe uses ABS pipe with welded joints and screw-on caps sealed with Teflon tape. While ABS is durable and offers good welding compatibility, it is less weather resistant than PVC, raising questions about long-term impact from ground moisture and temperature fluctuations. The inclusion of white silica gel (as opposed to color-indicating variants) in the kit suggests some attention to moisture control, but the presenter wisely plans to supplement with his own desiccants to better monitor conditions over time.
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🚫 Limitations Regarding Firearms and Size: Although the safe can fit small items like cash, gold coins, cigars, or tiny liquor bottles, it is not intended as a gun safe. The materials inside may corrode firearms if left for extended periods underground due to moisture content that the safe cannot fully block. This emphasizes that user expectations must align with the safe’s design purpose: protection of certain valuables, not all types.
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🏗️ User Experience—Installation and Retrieval: A key innovation is the retrieval line system attached to a large cap on top, enabling someone familiar with the location to extract the safe quickly without digging extensively each time. This feature addresses a common inconvenience with buried containers but also depends heavily on knowing the exact burial spot. The presenter emphasizes the necessity of adequate digging tools like an auger for installation, as manual digging through hard soils would be impractical.
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💰 Economic Accessibility and Market Positioning: The product is priced in the low triple digits, roughly $170, which is reasonable for what it offers considering the cost of materials and manufacturing complexity. The ready-to-use package simplifies acquisition and installation compared to DIY solutions, adding value for customers unwilling or unable to source parts individually. It occupies a niche market suitable for enthusiasts, disaster preparedness communities, or those interested in alternative safe storage.
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🤔 The Importance of Diversification for Valuables: The presenter stresses the wisdom of distributing valuables among multiple safes or locations, including friends’ houses and different types of safes. The Dirty Man Safe fits into such a diversified strategy, adding hidden underground storage to reduce the risk of single-point loss scenarios in disasters or theft. This multifaceted approach exemplifies best practices in personal asset security.
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📆 Need for Long-Term Testing for Practical Use: As ingenious as it sounds, the ultimate test will be time passing—how well the safe keeps moisture out, how the materials respond to seasonal changes, and whether the retrieval mechanisms remain functional after months underground. The presenter’s commitment to revisit the safe in six months offers a realistic and responsible approach to product evaluation, highlighting prudent consumer caution when adopting new security technologies.
Overall Impression
The Dirty Man Safe is an inventive, low-tech approach that creatively harnesses concealment and underground durability for valuables storage, targeting a niche but valid problem, especially given growing climate-related risks. While it is not a universal or perfect solution—particularly for firearms or larger items—its design thoughtfully addresses retrieval convenience and moisture mitigation in ways that warrant further observation. For users willing to try less conventional security methods and incorporate buried safes into a diversified asset protection plan, this product offers a viable option at a reasonable price. The video effectively balances enthusiasm for innovation with a realistic appraisal of limitations and encourages patience to confirm its efficacy over time.
