Cache Container Help

[bugcachers]

I am still pretty new to caching and I'm sure this subjet has been addressed before but I can't find it.

My husband and I used a plastic coffee can to hide a cache. Rcently we were notified that the contents were wet. The person said that the lid was on securly. We retrieved the cache and had to discard most of the contents. Is there a problem with moisture building up in the coffee can or do you think someone may have gotten it wet while caching? We have had quite a lot of heavy rain recently but the cache is hidden in a tree out of the elements.

Also, what makes the best cache container?

Thanks for your help

[+Bill & Tammy]

We are really liking the Lock & Lock containers available from our local Wal-Mart for less than $3 a pop.

 

It seems like almost any container without some type of seal will eventually get wet, Murpy's law of caching I guess.

 

Other than the possibility of an animal gnawing on them I think they are a pretty safe bet.

Edited November 1, 2005 by Bill & Tammy

[+DJ the Not So Ordinary]

Lots of people use tupperware.

 

Personally, I like when people use fishing tackle boxes (that are camo color). They generally are big enough to hold lots of items and they seal very tightly. If you get one that is dark brown, black or camo, it also helps with hiding it.

 

DJ

[+briansnat]

The best regular sized containers are, in order:

1. Ammo boxes – Pros: watertight, durable, animal proof, inexpensive (usually under $4) and paintable so they can be camouflaged to fit a variety of surroundings. Cons: Size makes them unsuitable for hiding in some places. Some places do not allow them.

2. Lock ' Locks – Pros: watertight, inexpensive (50 cents to $4 depending on size), come a variety of sizes and shapes. Cons: Not real easy to camouflage, but people have had good results using camo tape and special paints. If tab breaks off (and they do) they are useless.

3. Nalgene Straight Jars - Pros: watertight, inexpensive (under $3), come in several sizes, clear for those areas that require clear containers. Fairly easy to camo using tape or special spraypaints. Cons: Rim on lid holds water. Can leak if not firmly tightened.

4. Rubbermaid Seal 'n Savers (Blue rim on lid) – Pros: Watertight, come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Cons: Not easy to camouflage. Odd shape makes using tape difficult. Fairly expensive unless found on sale. Lids can pop off during extreme temp changes.

5. Nalgene Wide Mouth Bottles. - Watertight, easy to camouflage (using tape). Shape makes them easy to hide. Cons: Hard getting logbook and items in and out of the not so wide mouth.

 

Containers with mixed results:

1. PVC pipe - Pros: Easy to hide, make them any size you want, easily camoflaged, paintable. Inexpensive if you have the parts around. Cons: Leak if not tightened firmly. Hard to open if tightened firmly. Look like pipe bombs and can cause public alarm if accidently discovered. Can be very expensive if you have to buy all the parts.

2. Tupperware - Pros: Watertight at first Cons: Expensive, leaks after a while in the elements.

3. Rubbermaid Serve 'n Savers- See Tupperware.

 

Unsuitable containers:

Gladware - Leak and are not durable. Lids come off easily.

Coffee cans (metal) - rust, leak and lids split easily after a short while.

Coffe containers (plastic) - leak and lids split easily after a short while. Container is designed to degrade.

Tackle/tool boxes - leak

Sterlite containers - leak

Deli/Chinese food containers - Lids split easily. Not durable.

Dollar store plastic containers - Leak. Warp easily.

 

Of course you should always consider the area where your cache will be hidden. If it will not be exposed to the weather, nearly any contianer will do, including ones listed under "unsuitable". You are also dependent on the finders to close the lids properly. Believe it or not, they don't always do this.

Edited November 1, 2005 by briansnat

[+Jamie Z]

I've found a handful of caches in the plastic coffee containers. Yeah... they leak.

 

It's a great mystery among geocachers how water gets inside some containers. Like you said, the lid is on tight, its at the base of a tree where wind and rain are minimized, yet water gets in somehow. Plastic coffee containers are not the only victim of this phenomenon.

 

My recommendation is to change the container to something mentioned by briansnat. You'll have better luck with one of those containers.

 

Jamie

[+Thrak]

I'd add Decon containers to the list of good containers. They are watertight and durable. I think the only time you will find a wet cache in a decon container is if the lid isn't put back on properly - which will happen with any container. For a "small" cache they are hard to beat and they are cheap.

 

I've also seen caches in military first aid kits that were nice and dry. These had 4 latches - 2 on each side.

Edited November 1, 2005 by Thrak

[+briansnat]

I'd add Decon containers to the list of good containers. They are watertight and durable. I think the only time you will find a wet cache in a decon container is if the lid isn't put back on properly - which will happen with any container. For a "small" cache they are hard to beat and they are cheap.

 

I limited my list to regular sized caches, but had I included decon boxes I would have put them in the "mixed results" section. I used them extensively at one point and most have had leakage problems sometime in their life. Its not always because people don't put the lid on correctly. I noticed the snugness of the lid varies widely.

 

Still they are pretty good containers for some applications.

[+DJ the Not So Ordinary]

I disagree with Briansnat's review of cache containers with regards to tackle boxes. Of course some tackleboxes are not going to seal well.

 

There are, however, very nice ones that are waterproof and are EXCELLENT caching. For example, this waterproof tackle box is only $9.99 Fishingonly.com. A large one is only $12.99 and can be viewed here.

 

Pelcin also makes a great line of high-end waterproof boxes that range in size from micro to suitcase and range in price from $8-$250+. You can see their product line here. While Pelcin boxes are often used for electronics, they can be ordered without the foam padding and thus are great boxes for fishing gear (I keep my fishing gear in one in the back of my truck all the time).

 

Of course a cheapo tackle box from wal-mart is not likely going to keep the contents dry, but there are very good ones that do.

 

DJ

Edited November 1, 2005 by djnso

[+Crew 153]

I work in an area where we install equipment in outdoor enclosures and we are constantly surprised with the amount of water which can be found in completely sealed metal containers. It appears that the moisture comes from condensation from the air within in the container.

 

The containers have a rating of IP65 which is waterproof in driving rain but not in submersed conditions.

 

During the day as the container heats up the air expands and is forced out through the seals under pressure. At night, as the container cools, air is sucked in through the seal and the moisture in this air condenses on the cool metal surface. After repeated cycles the volume of water can be appreciable.

 

The best solution is to place the container in a location where the temperature variation between day and night is not significant enough to change the air pressure enough to force the air through the seal.

 

For geocaching I have found that even the best sealed containers can have a small amount of moisture inside. Bags of Silica gel will absorb the small amount in these cases and keep the logbook dry.

Edited November 2, 2005 by Crew 153

[+Harry Dolphin]

I looked at my Folger's plastic coffee container and though: Hmm...

I filled up the sink and tossed it in. Half hour later, it definitely was wet inside. Discarded the container, and the thought. Oh, well. They are not waterproof.

Lock 'N Locks seem to be great!

Found a great type of micro. Diabetic test strip containers. The are 1" x 2", black, and waterproof! I hid one recently, and have several geocachers cursing me! Hee hee hee.

[+briansnat]

Found a great type of micro. Diabetic test strip containers. The are 1" x 2", black, and waterproof! I hid one recently, and have several geocachers cursing me! Hee hee hee.

 

I'm glad you don't live in my area.

[+Thot]

I began using the round Rubbermaid canisters at Walmart and they seem to do pretty well if kept upright, but if they lie down and get rained on or, god forbid, have water rise on them they leak. The container comes clear with a white lid -- this one has been painted black to camo it.

 

 

I have replaced those that cannot remain upright with these

.

A cache with this one gets submerged during rainstorms and does not leak.

 

I got them a Bed Bath & Beyond. They're a little pricey -- I used a coupon. They snap securely shut on a generous rubblerlike seal. This container also comes clear with white lids, and has been painted black to camo it.

Edited November 7, 2005 by Thot

[+NevaP]

Best micro containers? Listed by water resistance and durability, not by diabolical qualities, IMHO.

 

Very good:

Bison tubes: I don't think they leak at all if the lid is tightened properly

Diabetic test stripe containers. These really are great. The lid is attached and fits tightly.

 

OK to so-so, depending on where they are placed:

Magnetic key holders.

Altoid tins

Breath strip tins

film canisters

All of these will leak and the metal ones will rust but if they are secured by magnets or Velcro in a protected placed they hold up well. I've found some that were placed in a plastic bag and then hidden. At least this made them very easy to find.

 

Plastic pill bottles. I think most of them leak. Need to test beforehand. Again it depends on where it is being put.

 

I'm not fond of micros but everytime I finally find one I get this urge to hide one in retaliation

[+srt4guy]

ammo cans are the way to go if they suit your needs. i've got one 6' under a lake and had no problems, other than the water now being to cold for anyone to swim to get the cache.

Tim

[+LOSt OSOS]

Try this site http://www.viewtainer.com/

 

have not tried one yet but they look promising. Have seen them a Home Depot

[+Thot]

Try this site http://www.viewtainer.com/

 

have not tried one yet but they look promising. Have seen them a Home Depot

They don't say anything about being water tight.

[gps_gurl]

I love the idea of dropping the silica gel packs into a container! How many of those things do we throw away a year! They are in everything!

 

I've had great luck with anything with a screw cap (like old Tang or Country Time powdered mix containers)

 

-Jen

[+briansnat]

Try this site http://www.viewtainer.com/

 

have not tried one yet but they look promising.  Have seen them a Home Depot

They don't say anything about being water tight.

I have something similar and I tested it for waterproofness and it was quite good.

 

When I saw them at Home Depot it piqued my interest until I saw the price. They were something like 6 bucks each .

Edited November 9, 2005 by briansnat

[+lilbluyze]

Yes, moisture does build up inside the coffee cans. I have used several and one in particular is frequently found with water in it. The contents are in a zip-lock, so they're okay.

 

I had some cans setting outside in our yard during several rains and they kept getting water in them. I couldn't find a leak, my husband said it must be condensation. So I put some on the porch that is covered and let them set through several weeks of extreme temperature changes and guess what? I discovered that he was right. They had water in them, and it hadn't rained and they were protected from rain if it had.

 

Lilbluyze

[+PairOfGeeks]

I think pelican cases would make great cache containers since they are waterproof and crush proof. You can buy them at outdoor stores like REI. We just started geocaching and when we're ready to hide our first cache, it will be in one of these cases. (They have a micro line wich would be perfect.)

 

Pelican Cases Website

[+maggieszoo]

How 'bout those big cat litter buckets? We have cats, so I've always got a couple of them around. They seem like they'd hold up pretty well. And they would hold so much swag!