The latest? GearBox stash box.
What is it, dude? A hard-shell plastic case with padded lining. (Some people might call it a pistol case.)Okay, I'll get right to it and say what you're already thinking: The design of the GearBox is no different than any number of padded gun cases on the market. It's similar to boxes made by companies like Pelican, Vanguard and Plano and pretty much serves the same purpose in keeping your valuables safe.How much coin will it run me? $28 for the small box, $48 for the larger one.
Where can I get one? www.Gearboxes.com as well as several dispensaries: High Level Health, Riverside Wellness, Botanico, Kind Love, Kind Meds, Alameda Wellness, The Herbal Cure and Doctor's Orders.
But to us here at Stoner MacGyver, the GearBox has one advantage over those other companies: It's made right here in Colorado.
The company bills the boxes as a way to keep your meds secure in your own home. I don't have any kids, so I'm not really concerned with that issue -- yet. But one of the box's key functions is definitely to prevent the curious hands of children from grabbing pipes and herb. Holes near the latches on both boxes are big enough for a pad or key lock. The cases are also pretty damn heavy-duty feeling as well, with thick latches and considerable weight for such a small box.
Both are made of thick ABS plastic and lined with foam. The smaller one is about eight inches long by four inches thick and deep. It isn't thickly padded on the inside, and I wouldn't suggest putting fragile pipes inside and then shaking the GearBox around. But it's great for locking up your meds and a pipe for storage at home.
The larger box, on the other hand, is tornado-proof.
Page down for the rest of the review, more photos and a contest to win a GearBox of your own. This week's Completely Unscientific Test required us to remove chunks of the perforated foam on the inside, making a padded area for our one-hitter and then throwing it down the back stairs at the Westword office. Aside from scaring the shit out of our editorial assistant, the only damage to the box was a small scuff on the corner. Our pipe, with a relatively fragile marble on the side, remained unscathed.Cases like this are ideal for people who like to travel not only with meds but also with a nice piece of glass to smoke out of. Throwing your pipe in a case like this keeps it safe in the car and also prevents your ride from filling with bongwater stank. They aren't completely smell-proof, though; the manufacturers say the GearBox failed against a drug dog's nose in one experiment. But both cases are also waterproof, for you river rats looking for a way to keep your stash dry this rafting season.
Price-wise, you can find cheaper cases at sporting goods stores, but you get what you pay for. Although I have a large Plano case that was about half the price of the $48 GearBox, it's made of flimsy plastic that bends and can pop open with stress; it split apart after getting partially crunched under ski gear this winter.It's also possible to find top-quality boxes from Pelican -- arguably the only company to match GearBox's rugged construction -- for comparable prices online right now. But again, if I am going to be buying a case anyway, spending a few extra dollars for something made in Colorado that's made specifically for tokers like myself is worth it.
We've got an extra GearBox to give away this week for the best stash-spot story you've got. Tell us the most creative, stealthy or downright stupid hiding place you store your cannabis accoutrements in the comments below and you'll take home the small-size GearBox. We'll announce the winners next Friday.
We can't guarantee all products sent in will be reviewed here at Stoner MacGyver, but if you've got something you think is the greatest invention since sliced pot-bread, send us an e-mail at [email protected].
