Plano 3540 Waterproof Stowaway

I bought this because I was putting together a camping/outdoor bag and didn't really know how I wanted to lay it out. I knew for sure that I wanted a few things (fire starting kit, a few camp supplies) to be waterproof, and I saw this box for a reasonable price so I bought it to try. I'm glad I did. In the past, gallon Ziploc bags have been my go-to for keeping things dry. They work well, they're inexpensive, and they're not rigid so you can tuck them into irregular little pockets of space inside a bag. They have their place. But for a fire starting kit, I wanted something really durable, buoyant in water, and rigid enough so that my equipment wouldn't get damaged by a tumble. Fire can quickly become critical if something goes wrong on a hike or camping trip so I needed my kit to be clean, dry and undamaged when the time came to use it. This kit holds a couple of boxes of matches, a butane lighter, a small Fresnel lens (way better than a magnifying glass for starting fires), a piece of fatwood, and a few cotton balls soaked in candle wax and sealed in small Ziploc bag. If I have this kit, I can get a fire going anywhere that there's fuel. (And yes, I keep a backup butane lighter in my pocket in case this kit gets lost, but I really hope it doesn't come to that.) I liked this box so much that I bought another and use it for a small last-ditch repair kit. It holds duct tape, 550 cord, a new single-edge razor blade, and a small, unopened tube of cyanoacrylate glue. The tape has been removed from its roll and wound around a small, flat plastic sheet so it will fit inside this box. The razor blade is taped to the lid so I can always find it. I may add a couple of sewing needles, some thread, and some fishing line to this kit as I still have some room in the case. I've also used this case to keep my cellphone and car keys dry when I wade in rivers and lakes. It works really well for that, though you have to be careful how you put the keys in so that they don't scratch your phone's screen. There's enough room to include my driver's license and credit card as well, but it's small enough that it will fit in a (large) pocket. Yeah, it feels bulky, but my keys, phone, and cards are my most critical gear (can't get home without them) and I like to keep them on my person instead of in my bag. The clasps on this box are somewhat hard to close. This is a requirement for keeping it waterproof-- all that pressure is needed to keep it tightly sealed-- but if you have small or weak hands (or if you're injured or in shock), you may find it difficult to use. On the other hand, it is VERY waterproof. I tested it by closing only the center clasp, leaving the other two undone, and dunking it underwater. Even with only the center clasp holding the lid shut, this box remained waterproof in a foot or so of water. It probably wouldn't work if the larger clasp came undone but I like that there's some redundancy built into the case. If you camp or hike, a box like this will probably have a dozen different uses. For the price, it's a good idea to pick one up and spend some time thinking about how to use it to keep some critical gear safe. This summer I'll be wading in some lakes and rivers, and I'll be using one of these boxes to keep my stuff dry.

Use Case: - I have a bad habit of losing things and ripping the house apart until I find them, resulting in a lot of cleanup. In an effort to appease my adhd I try to put everything in labeled containers. This particular item I bought for organizing small parts. I want to ensure they don't spill onto the floor or get lost. The Good: - It's a tough container. The plastic is thicker than most you'll find out there and it can take a beating without falling apart or cracking. - The latches are solid. 3 substantial latches clamp down tightly keeping the contents secure. They won't come undone at the worst moment or if you fumble the container and it takes a spill. Other containers have little plastic latches that aren't secure by any means and can pop open at the worst time. - Hinges are independently molded with the top and bottom halves and can also take a hit without breaking. There are many containers out there that don't have a real hinge and it's just creased plastic that will eventually split with repeated use. Others have tiny plastic hinges that can crack and snap off easily. - Waterproof is a nice plus. Inner seal keeps your items dry or it also keeps oils and dirt in. If you have something like oiled metal parts, you don't have to worry about a leak that might stain furniture, clothes, backpack, etc. - It floats. Because it's air tight if you drop it in the water it will float and you won't lose your items. - Single compartment. I like that this has a single compartment. It seems like the majority of containers are divided which can make it difficult to find one for odd sized items. - See through. Know what's inside with a glance. The Bad: - Honestly there are none with this container that I've ever encountered. I've been using different sizes for years with no issues and I've never broken one. The Summary: - This is the go to container if you have something you want to keep safe, secure and dry. Whether that is small parts, small electronics like a power bank or portable hard drive, or just a random item you need to be able to easily find and don't want to lose at the bottom of a bag. On the go or stacked on a shelf, these are a great choice.

Compact, good box to throw some essentials in and closes and seals perfectly. Easy open and can use for many types of fishing with the divider options. Won't beat a small box for the price.

The good. These are well made. They have a rubber ring that seals them and makes them water tight. They have removable dividers that make them flexible for storing all types of lures and tackles (though most of these types of boxes have this, so it is nothing special). They have excellent latches that close them tightly. What is unique about these boxes is the rubber ring which gives the water tight seal and the 3 latches which close them better than the majority of these types of boxes. These close very securely and they are NOT going to accidentally open. The latches also seem made such that, unless you abuse them, they probably are not going to break. The bad. The only negative on these boxes is that they are not as big as other 3700 size boxes in terms of interior storage space. That is because of the unique latch design. Being designed to have a water-tight seal, these have bigger, more secure latches. The latches take space. The overall length and width of the boxes (including latches) needs to be within a certain specification to be a "3700" size so they can fit in bags that are made for 3700 series boxes. Because of the latches, the interior space is a bit smaller than your standard (typically cheaper) boxes. It is noticeable. So you give up some internal storage space for the water tight seal and very secure latches. I bought these to replace the standard (some would say cheap, but they really weren't that bad) 3700 series boxes which came with my Plano Guide Series Tackle Bag. These are definitely better made and seal much better. However, they do not hold as much as the boxes that came with the bag.

This Plano 3700 Stowaway is a must-have for anyone serious about keeping their gear organized and protected. The waterproof O-ring seal is the real deal — I’ve used it on rainy days and near the water with zero moisture getting inside. The cam-action latches are strong and lock tightly, giving me peace of mind that everything will stay secure, even when tossed in the back of the truck or boat. The clear lid makes it easy to see contents at a glance, and the adjustable dividers let me customize the layout depending on what I’m storing — whether it’s lures, hooks, or even tools. It’s sturdy, reliable, and the perfect size for stacking with other Plano boxes. Highly recommend for fishing, hardware, or even hobby storage — it holds up in tough conditions!

Great bit of kit. Seals like a vault. Super light weight....but, sturdy plastic with lots of ridges to keep it strong. Water proof as long as you put lube on the seal from time to time. The lube will keep the seal plyable and more water proof. Using the case to store my radio, batteries and charging cord. Radios don't like water...so, this is the perfect travel pack. Highly rated and recommended for anyone who needs a safe and secure way to store something. Would also work great for medical supplies, fire starter kit, batteries, fishing equipment, camping/cooking, sewing suppliles and much more. Pictured...Reteckess V115 available here on amazon. Great radio. Also pictured...small swiss army knife and ruler. Edit...since the first one is fully occupied....I bought another two. Will find uses for them very soon. Added another set of pics of the empty ones.

I bought 4 of these small Plano cases over 7 years ago. I just bought 4 more. 3 of the 4 still work 100% and have kept my cellphones and a small solar cellphone charger dry on many camping trips and rainy days outside over those 7 years. One case has been abused, not merely used. That case stays in the door of my truck gets dropped regularly, opened and closed regularly and has traveled on adventures through at least 30 US states. It keeps my essential small medical stuff dry. Between bee sting meds, butterfly sutures & superglue, bandaids, gauze and tape, this very abused little Plano "cellphone box" has saved many vacations, range visits, and day trips, plus helped so many normal days stay on track. After all of the abuse from 7 years, 3 trucks, and 30 states, while I was driving last weekend, I asked my wife to get me the antibiotic so that when we got to church, I could put some on a small nick l hadn't noticed on my hand. As she opened the last working clasp of the original three and removed a small dog-eared piece of strapping tape that helped that surviving clasp keep things clean and dry, I realized that it was time to retire that well-traveled, well-used little Plano case. That's what I got for my $5 after over 7 years ago with a tiny Plano case. That's why I just bought 4 more cases from Plano. (I'm not posting a pick of the case that I abused, because someone might just look at review pictures and misunderstand the point of my picture, and not realize what I did to beat that case to death.)

I have no complaints about this case. They're great! I own multiple. I was hoping that the rubber gasket was going to be black as pictured in the listing images. The others I previously own have red gaskets. These arrived with a blue gasket as pictured in some of the user uploaded pics. Just be aware that the gasket color may be chosen randomly.

L'ho acquistata per per portarmi il cellulare quando vado a mare. Perfetto. Non entra una goccia d'acqua.

Uso esta caja para guardar mis swimbaits y caben perfectamente, tiene divisiones que puedes acomodar a tu preferencia, muy buenos materiales.

Great little tub to store herbs in. No smell 😉

Es compacto y comodo en mi caso lo usare para tuercas y tornillos los plásticos se ven de buena calidad la etiqueta y tiene estampado made in usa pero otra etiqueta dice hecho en China

Su media interns es 8.5 x 16 x 2 CM apenas y entra un celular de 5.5 pulgadas, el material con el que está hecho es grueso, el empaque de color rojo es muy grueso, las pestañas negras para cerrar el empaque si hay que hacer fuerza para que cierre lo que hablaría que tardaría en entrarle el agua. Pensé que era más grande pero me sirve para el fin común de echar el celular y tal vez la cartera o baterías. Me gustaría que fuera el doble del volumen actual. Agrego las medidas externas 18.73 x 11.43 x 4.45 cm