Forget hiding your valuables under your towel or your car keys in your slippers. A startup company thinks it has found a unique and better way—and it involves a sand-filled bladder, some steel cable netting, and an ear-piercing alarm. Yes, really, we didn’t make this up.
The device is called Sandbox, and the idea recently landed in our inbox after we published an article about theft in Hawaii. The company’s founder contacted us directly, saying our coverage struck a chord. Now he’s hoping Hawaii visitors will consider a different kind of beach day security.
What is this thing, exactly?
The Sandbox is a portable beach safe that weighs almost nothing when empty. But once placed on the sand, it folds out into a reservoir designed to hold up to 60 pounds of sand. That weight, combined with an internal steel cable net and cut-resistant materials, makes it extremely difficult for a thief to steal it.
A combination lock and 100 dB shock sensor alarm round out the features. Theoretically, a would-be thief who tries to move or tamper with the device will get a sudden blast of noise rather than your iPhone.
It’s meant for phones, tablets, e-readers, wallets, and other valuables people tend to leave under their beach towels. The company claims you can safely swim without monitoring your belongings.
What problem does it solve in Hawaii?
If you’ve spent time on a Hawaii beach, you know the typical dilemma: Do you leave your phone and car keys hidden and risk theft, or take turns swimming while one person stays behind to watch the stuff?
Beach theft in Hawaii isn’t widespread, but it happens enough that visitors often write in asking for tips. Past Beat of Hawaii readers have shared stories of phones swiped from under towels, wallets lifted from beach bags, and car keys vanishing without a trace.
While locals tend to travel light and stay alert, visitors often bring more and stand out. That makes them more vulnerable, especially at popular visitor beaches where opportunistic theft can and occasionally does occur.
Is anyone actually using this?
Here’s the twist: as of now, no verified user reviews are available online. The company is still in the early stages of building awareness, and while the concept itself seems well developed, we couldn’t find product listings on Amazon or any other major retailers. So, at the moment, Sandbox is only available directly through their website, sandboxsafe.com.
That also means there are no verified buyer photos or independent product tests to reference. For now, everything comes straight from the manufacturer. They’re trying to get the word out, and Hawaii is on their short-list radar.
Quirky, yes—but could it work?
It’s hard not to be skeptical of this one. A 60-pound sand-filled bladder that doubles as a personal safe sounds more like something from a spy movie. But the concept is based on straightforward security principles: deterrence, resistance, and alarm.
The idea is that most thefts are opportunistic. Make the item hard enough to take, and many thieves won’t bother. And if it screams very loudly when tampered with? Even better.
Is it foolproof? No. But neither is stashing your valuables behind a log. This could be an option for those who want to fully unplug at the beach without worrying about their gear.
How much does it cost?
The Sandbox safe is currently priced at about $100. Shipping to the U.S. from where it’s made in the Netherlands is available, but the site does not currently offer a U.S. warehouse or distributor, so delivery times and shipping costs may vary.
We contacted the manufacturer to see if we might get our hands on one to try, so we can report back to you.
For now, there’s no app involved, no GPS tracking for your stuff, and no fancy tech integrations. What you get is a physical deterrent designed to be low-tech and secure. For some travelers, that might be precisely the point.
Should you try it?
We’ll leave that decision to you, or you can wait until we can test drive it. As we said, it’s new, untested in Hawaii, and only available from the company’s website. That said, it’s one of the more creative solutions we’ve seen aimed directly at a Hawaii travel problem that some have reported.
If you try one before we do, let us know. We’d love to hear how it holds up against sun, salt, and sand, and if it stops someone from swiping your stuff while you swim.
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I just wish car keys were simple keys again. No electronics.
Swim with your key secured in a zippered pocket and your goods left in your car.
Over in California I’ve bought older cars to make this happen. Unfortunately rental cars are fob fob fobs.
I think the Sandbox is a great idea! My one concern I had as I read through its features and watched the video, is the combination lock. We all know how invasive sand can be no matter how careful you attempt to be. If sand accidentally gets kicked or dropped onto/into the combo lock, isn’t it possible that the combination lock wheels could get jammed making it impossible for you to turn the wheels and unlock the box to retrieve your valuables? I would think the lock needs a cover which can slide over the number wheels to prevent infiltration of sand.
Yes! This 100%! Personally, when hiking at South Point on the Big Island about 15 years ago, just the blowing sand ended up ruining the video camera we used at the time. The sand got into the lens cover, power button, etc. and it was not able to be repaired. The darn beautiful sand we all love, also gets into everything and causes such headaches. I absolutely agree with your concern, as well as the suggested fix!