Cooks Illustrated Rates Cache Containers

[+briansnat]

Got my latest issue of Cooks Illustrated and they tested and rated plastic food storage containers. Most geocachers will agree with their 4 lowest ranked containers. Gladware and Ziploc and the newer Sterilite and Rubbermaid locking containers. In fact the Rubbermaid Lock-it was rated lower than Gladware and Ziploc containers.

 

Their highest rated containers? Snapware Mods and Lock n Locks. I've never tried the former for geocaches but maybe I'll check them out.

 

Of course their tests included the ability to keep liquid in, so doesn't necessarily relate to their ability to keep water out.

 

An interesting observation. Lock n Locks and Snapware both sealed better after going through the dishwasher numerous times.

[+hukilaulau]

Got my latest issue of Cooks Illustrated and they tested and rated plastic food storage containers. Most geocachers will agree with their 4 lowest ranked containers. Gladware and Ziploc and the newer Sterilite and Rubbermaid locking containers. In fact the Rubbermaid Lock-it was rated lower than Gladware and Ziploc containers.

 

Their highest rated containers? Snapware Mods and Lock n Locks. I've never tried the former for geocaches but maybe I'll check them out.

 

Of course their tests included the ability to keep liquid in, so doesn't necessarily relate to their ability to keep water out.

 

An interesting observation. Lock n Locks and Snapware both sealed better after going through the dishwasher numerous times.

I have used Snapware purchased at Costco for several years with good results. A couple of weeks ago in an emergency I actually used a lock and lock for food storage (carrots with the greens still on) and after 5 days they were still as fresh and crisp as when I put them in, which is a little better than the Snapware does.

 

edit to add: I have used Snapware for geocaches for several years.

Edited April 7, 2010 by hukilaulau

[+Castle Mischief]

What, no mention of the King of Food Storage Devices, the ammo can?

[knowschad]

I have a few Snapware containers out, but they haven't been out long enough to really say how well they will hold up. I will say that they look to be very well made; very similar to Lock n Locks.

[+wimseyguy]

I'm just happy to see that someone else around here reads Cooks Illustrated. It's a great publication, and if you get caught reading it you can certainly say you only read it for the articles as it isn't full of glossy pics.

[4wheelin_fool]

What, no mention of the King of Food Storage Devices, the ammo can?

 

I've ran a few ammo cans through the dishwasher and they were fine.

[+L0ne.R]

I have used Snapware purchased at Costco for several years with good results.

How do the tabs hold up? Any of them come off?

[4wheelin_fool]

Got my latest issue of Cooks Illustrated and they tested and rated plastic food storage containers. Most geocachers will agree with their 4 lowest ranked containers. Gladware and Ziploc and the newer Sterilite and Rubbermaid locking containers. In fact the Rubbermaid Lock-it was rated lower than Gladware and Ziploc containers.

 

Their highest rated containers? Snapware Mods and Lock n Locks. I've never tried the former for geocaches but maybe I'll check them out.

 

Of course their tests included the ability to keep liquid in, so doesn't necessarily relate to their ability to keep water out.

 

An interesting observation. Lock n Locks and Snapware both sealed better after going through the dishwasher numerous times.

The Rubbermaid plastic is softer and more flexible than the Lock'n'locks. I would think that Ziplock would be the worst, as I havent found any dry ones.

[knowschad]

Love the catchy thread title, by the way!

[+briansnat]

I'm just happy to see that someone else around here reads Cooks Illustrated. It's a great publication, and if you get caught reading it you can certainly say you only read it for the articles as it isn't full of glossy pics.

 

Oh yeah? That photo of the mustard glazed, sauteed pork cutlets on page 10 is mighty enticing.

[Clan Riffster]

Food? People put food in these things?

Oh, the humanity! I thought that was against the guidelines!

[+42at42]

I store my leftovers in film canisters. Where do they rate?

[+Pax42]

I have a few Snapware containers out, but they haven't been out long enough to really say how well they will hold up. I will say that they look to be very well made; very similar to Lock n Locks.

The first cache I put out 3 years ago was in a Snapware Mod container and it's still in great shape. Didn't even paint that one although it doesn't get a lot of UV where it's hidden. Sometimes you can find pretty good deals for sets on ebay.

[+Chrysalides]

I store my leftovers in film canisters. Where do they rate?

I've been told the film cans stores food very well when kept in a lock-n-lock

 

/spoof

[+WatchDog2020]

I store my leftovers in film canisters. Where do they rate?

I've been told the film cans stores food very well when kept in a lock-n-lock

 

/spoof

and then placed in a 50cal Ammo Box

[+Don_J]

I have used Snapware purchased at Costco for several years with good results.

How do the tabs hold up? Any of them come off?

 

After about 50 finds and a summer in the Mojave Dessert, the snaps break off. I recently found about ten of them, and they were all broken.

[+Chrysalides]

I have used Snapware purchased at Costco for several years with good results.

How do the tabs hold up? Any of them come off?

After about 50 finds and a summer in the Mojave Dessert, the snaps break off. I recently found about ten of them, and they were all broken.

In the Mojave desert, would genuine Lock-n-Lock fare any better?

[knowschad]

I have used Snapware purchased at Costco for several years with good results.

How do the tabs hold up? Any of them come off?

After about 50 finds and a summer in the Mojave Dessert, the snaps break off. I recently found about ten of them, and they were all broken.

In the Mojave desert, would genuine Lock-n-Lock fare any better?

In the Mojave you don't even need a top except to keep scorpions out.

[+hukilaulau]

I have used Snapware purchased at Costco for several years with good results.

How do the tabs hold up? Any of them come off?

 

After about 50 finds and a summer in the Mojave Dessert, the snaps break off. I recently found about ten of them, and they were all broken.

for some of mine I camo tape the tabs. This probably helps prevent breakage, But I don't have the extreme heat here in Long Island.

[+power69]

What, no mention of the King of Food Storage Devices, the ammo can?

because of tomain poisoning. same reason you don't keep food in the can after its opened.

and ammo cans don't look very good in the fridge

[+power69]

I have used Snapware purchased at Costco for several years with good results.

How do the tabs hold up? Any of them come off?

After about 50 finds and a summer in the Mojave Dessert, the snaps break off. I recently found about ten of them, and they were all broken.

In the Mojave desert, would genuine Lock-n-Lock fare any better?

i know of a round LnL that has two of the four tabs broke off.

[+Don_J]

I have used Snapware purchased at Costco for several years with good results.

How do the tabs hold up? Any of them come off?

After about 50 finds and a summer in the Mojave Dessert, the snaps break off. I recently found about ten of them, and they were all broken.

In the Mojave desert, would genuine Lock-n-Lock fare any better?

 

(Sorry about the slow response)

I have found original "Lock in Locks" with the snaps broken. They had been in place for several years, however, so I can not say exactly when they broke. Last Thursday, I did find a Lock in Lock in the Mojave that had been in place for about 2 years and it was in pristine condition. Of course, it was hidden under about 100 little sandstone rocks. (The biggest "Suspicious Rock Pile" I have ever seen).

 

As far as water in the Mojave. It doesn't rain often, but when it does, it's a major event. My "Confluence N 35° x W 118° (Redux)" Is a waterproof military decontamination container that somehow seems to keep filling up with water. I had planned on replacing it on Thursday's trip, but I ended up rescuing a stranded couple that was standing on the side of the highway with a blown engine. 180 miles from home and they lived five miles away from me, so I had to play the hero and drive them home. I would have taken them Geocaching, but they had been out there for seven hours already.

[Clan Riffster]

...a waterproof military decontamination container

It's been my experience that, (for reasons utterly beyond my ken), many folks don't know you need to hear 4 audible snaps when closing decon kits, and if you don't hear all 4, your container is not even water resistant.

[+Chrysalides]

...a waterproof military decontamination container

It's been my experience that, (for reasons utterly beyond my ken), many folks don't know you need to hear 4 audible snaps when closing decon kits, and if you don't hear all 4, your container is not even water resistant.

That's because it is about as intuitive as mud is clear. I only learned about it from reading the forums. Before that, I would just press the heck out of it until it would not click any more, usually by pressing the top against a hard surface while pushing at the bottom of the base, cursing the design all the time. And the loop tends to get caught in the lid.