I’ll be moving into my college dorm shortly and am hoping to find a decent safe to keep my valuables secure when I’m not around—things like my laptop, cash, and important documents.
I’m looking for something sturdy and reliable under $300. It doesn’t need to be huge, just compact enough for a dorm but big enough to hold my essentials. Any specific brands or features I should look for?
Cedar said:
A portable safe you can hide might work. Sentry has some options worth looking at.
Avoid Sentry! Most of their safes can be picked open with almost anything, like a paperclip. No special tools needed; they’re pretty useless security-wise.
For your needs, consider a big steel toolbox with a heavy-duty lock, like an Abus Discus, and a chain wrapped around something sturdy. College students are surprisingly good at picking cheap locks, so go for quality!
What specifically are you trying to store? You can find a small fire- and water-resistant safe that’s portable for about $100. If you just need it for documents, keys, or maybe a handgun, there are lots of decent options. No need for anything too fancy.