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Diversion safes are becoming increasingly more popular as we go along! They offer out of sight options for hiding cash, valuables and even firearms. They build on this by also being something that you are able to quickly access, as they can be “hidden in plain sight” in areas that you are normally in already like family rooms, kitchens, and your office.
Of course, there are downsides to diversion safes, so make sure to read through until the end to talk through those aspects as well!
| Our Favorites | The Product | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Small Safe | Gunbox 2.0 | 5 / 5 |
| Fits into any home | TW Diversion Clock | 4.5 / 5 |
| Most Secure | Browning Six Panel Door | 5 / 5 |
| Least Expensive | Barska Dictionary | 3 / 5 |
| Best Gift | Issue Box | 3.5 / 5 |
1. The Issue Box by Tactical Walls
If you are on the hunt for a fun gift, or even something for yourself to keep on your coffee table, nightstand, desk or likewise, this is a really cool option!
I have had some extensive experience with these, and can say that while they may not be the highest quality product in the world, they are a great value and most definitely effective in what they were meant to do.
Essentially, this is everything you would expect a normal tissue box to be, however you utilize a half-size tissue box, and the other half is a foam cutout that you can custom fit anything you want to have in there.
While most people will likely use this for firearms, it can also be used for more fun purposes like knives, remote controls, a bit of cash or anything you can think of that is of a smaller size.
These would make an awesome Christmas gift, as it is definitely within the quality, usefulness and budget of a great gift.
I think the biggest downside to this unit, is the fact it doesn’t lock, and is something that people physically touch (to get a tissue). Generally speaking, I would want to keep my valuables out of reach, even if they are hidden.
Pros
Cons
2. Wall Clock 1410 by Tactical Walls
I think safes that look like clocks are some of my favorite options on the market today, they are spacious, look cool, and are quick access!
That said, this 1410 Wall Clock from Tactical Walls is one of the best of the best. Yes, this is the same brand that made the Issue Box above, and they will be mentioned again, as they are one of the companies that make a variety of high quality diversion specific products.
This wall clock in particular comes in 3 different face styles, meaning you can choose the one that fits the room that it is in, in the best way possible. Making a wall clock fit into the room makes it that much less conspicuous.
Sure, this wall clock looks awesome, but it also is incredibly functional as well! You can easily access the large space behind the face of the clock by pushing on the edge of the face, where it will then tilt forward and give you access to the inside. If you need more access, you can also fully remove the face with no issues either.
One of my other favorite features of this wall clock, is that you don’t have to modify your home at all to use it, and can hang it anywhere you want, making this a great option for people that move a lot or rent their home.
Pros
Cons
3. Diversion Shelving by Tactical Walls
If you are someone that wants a diversion safe that is a bit more usable for other items than the rest, then a diversion shelf might be for you! These shelves not only hide your valuables or firearms, but they can also double as an actual shelf, keeping picture frames, keepsakes and more for people to see.
There isn’t a better company to get your diversion shelf from than Tactical Walls (yes, I know, again).
Some of Tactical Wall’s most well known products are their shelves. These come in the form of both 1242 Full Length, 825 Double Pistol, and 812 Single Pistol shelves. Each one is a different length of shelves, meant for a range of rifles, pistols, and other valuables.
You can also choose from top locking, and bottom locking magnetic style locks. Which basically means you put a provided magnet on a specific place over a metal pin and it unlocks the shelf.
You can choose from 9 different wood finishes, 2 trims, and two different magnet styles.
These are such a cool idea, and fit into any type of home, and can generally be installed into rentals, as they don’t require much for installation.
Pros
Cons
4. Mirrors by Tactical Walls
Mirror safes are also an awesome option for really any home! Tactical Walls offers some really cool options ranging from smaller mirrors for entry ways, bathrooms and more, or you can opt for a longer length mirror for bedrooms and more.
This of course means that they offer these diversion mirrors in 50″, 40″ and even 20″ with a wide range of options for the interior of the mirrors to be laid out.
These (like many other diversion safes) are not technically locked, and instead utilize a magnet that pulls a pin to allow the mirror to slide over. However you can option your diversion safe to come with a wall safe installed into the mirror, making this not only a diversion safe, but also a wall safe as well.
If you like the idea of this mirror, with its sliding design, but don’t want a mirror, they also offer version with pictures instead of the mirror, making it fit into any space rather well.
That said, these are also some of the most expensive options in this article as well! However you get what you pay for, as they are high quality, and really are a great option.
Pros
Cons
5. Gunbox 2.0 and Echo
Look at this incredible box that does it ALL! How about unlocking the gun box and keeping your guns well protected using just a fingerprint, button pad, or RFID card?
Fingerprint technology works by registering your print to the lock for an instant match every time. The keypad is easy to use- you know how long numbers are hard to memorize anyways!
Plus they have made the die cast aluminum alloy even better with a solid steel construction providing ultimate durability so you can pass this on for generations if you want.
These safes come in two different version, the smaller Echo, and the large 2.0 version! You can actually find our full review of the 2.0 in this article right here.
Sure, they aren’t the most diversion(y) of gun safes out there, however they are something that people might look over when placed on a nightstand.
Pros
Cons
6. Barska AX11680 Hidden Dictionary Book Safe
It’s hard to find the right words to describe the Barska AX11680! That may be because there aren’t actually words in this dictionary (see what I did there?).
This hidden dictionary book safe is pretty much your standard book safe, however it does actually have a lock on the inside! Most of these types of diversion books tend to open right up to the contents, however with the lock on this one, it is one of the better book safes on the market today.
Pros
Cons
7. San Tan Woodworks Flags
If you have been anywhere on the internet, you probably have seen those wooden American Flags, and have more than likely wanted one yourself! However did you know you can buy one of those wooden American Flags that is also a diversion safe?
This smaller flag offers a foam interior that is 11.25″ by 21.5″ and can be custom cut to fit whatever you would like (within those dimension of course).
Much like many other options on this list, it uses a magnetic open, that way it is locked unless you know to use a magnet for opening.
If you are someone who is patriotic, wants one of those flags anyways, and likes to keep things hidden, this is a great option for you!
Pros
Cons
8. Browning Six Panel Door
If you are someone that has far too much stuff to hide in a standard diversion safe, why not just turn a whole room into a diversion room instead?
Browning creates this 10 gauge steel, 20 chrome bolt and fire resistant vault door that looks just like a normal interior door in a home.
This would be perfect for people that want to create a panic room, or for someone that wants to keep all of their valuables in one place!
One thing to think about though, is that you will want to make sure the walls surrounding the door are also reinforced, as anyone can easily break through normal drywall if they discover this door is not what it seems.
That said, this door, in conjunction with its S&G Locking mechanism is an awesome all around choice if you can afford it.
These doors do come in right hand swing only, and are 83″ high and 36″ wide. They are also equipped with an internal release, just in case you get stuck inside of the room.
Pros
Cons
So what do I look for when shopping for a diversion safe?
Shopping for a diversion safe is a bit different than a full size safe, as you don’t get nearly the security features that a normal safe will have. Instead I look for these things when I am shopping for a diversion safe.
Quality of the build
One of the big issues with most diversion safes out there, is that they are made cheaply! Not only is buying a cheap product a bummer, but it also results in making your house look cheap as well. Diversion safes tend to be furniture, decorations or the like, and no one likes to have something that looks cheap decorating their house.
It also is a big deal, because it will be (generally) hiding high value items, which is worth investing a bit of funds into!
How much does it look like what it is meant to?
After mentioning the quality of the build, it is important to make sure that what you are buying actually looks like what you are wanting it to look like! For example, the Issue Box that is at the top of this article, actually looks like a Tissue Box! This means that people are less likely to have their eye drawn to that item, and think that it is something that it is not.
Another great example is the clocks that you found in the list above, they actually look like real clocks, yet they carry your valuables.
Is it something that people won’t touch?
One big downside of some of the diversion safes that you find, is that fact that people are touching them! You generally speaking want to find a diversion safe that not only fits into its surroundings, but that is also something that people won’t regularly touch (visitors anyways).
This is why things like the shelfs, clocks, and mirrors are so great. They are things that fit into their surroundings, are usable, but also something that people won’t regularly touch and find out what it also is.
Is it quick access?
This is definitely an important factor to keep an eye on! If you can’t quickly get to your items, or firearms, then the diversion safe isn’t doing its job, otherwise you should be looking for an actual safe.
What is your budget?
I always recommend that everyone comes up with a budget for your diversion safe before you ever start the hunt for one! That way, when you find a safe that is well out of your budget, you can easily walk away from it and move on.
There are plenty of awesome diversion safes out there at any budget, and you should be able to find one within what you want to pay.
What is the downside of a diversion safe?
The biggest concern about a diversion safe is also one of the upsides! The fact that these safes are generally within sight of visitors, thieves, and even family members can be a huge drawback. The likelihood of someone discovering your hiding spot is quite high, especially if it is someone that is regularly in your home.
Once this happens, that items is no longer nearly as effective as it once was, as that secret is out. This can result in that person telling friends (well meaning of course), and it getting out that you have this cool hiding spot where you keep your most valued possessions.
This is also compounded by the fact that most of these safes don’t truly lock, rather depending on their hiding spot as their “lock.
If you want to get a diversion safe for yourself, you need to make sure you think through this! Otherwise I would highly recommend getting something like a full size gun safe like these, or even a handgun safe like these ones.
Conclusion
Buying a diversion safe can be a lot of fun! There are so many different options, and so many different ways to make your items more accessible and more hidden!
These safes may be a great option for those in apartments (or any of these safes as well), as most apartments don’t allow for people to have gun safes that are bolted to the floor.
Can’t bolt a safe down? Hide your stuff instead.
