FAQ
Why can’t a thief just unscrew the Shady Safe and walk away with everything?
- There are a couple of reasons the Shady Safe is an effective deterrent. First of all, the umbrella can’t be removed from the unit when it is locked. If you tighten the thumb screw on the umbrella shaft and lock the lids, someone would have to try and walk off with the umbrella sticking out of the top. Secondly, if you secure a cooler, chair, or other larger item, it is very difficult to even unscrew the Shady Safe, much less drag way everything at once.
Can’t someone just break into the Shady Safe with a screwdriver or hammer?
- Probably, but that is not the way things are stolen at the beach. People looking to take your valuables are looking for a few second window to “grab and run” with your stuff. They watch carefully, wait for an opportunity, grab your stuff and are gone before you know it. The Shady Safe eliminates this type of theft. It is a powerful deterrent because it is just easier to move along to the next, less secure, opportunity. Most anything can be broken into by a determined thief with enough time, tools, and privacy.
- The Shady Safe is designed for use on sandy beaches. It is not appropriate for use in dirt or in rocky terrain.
Is the Shady Safe easy to turn into the sand?
- Yes, there are built-in handles with comfortable grips. You simply apply steady downward pressure while holding the Shady Safe vertical, turn the unit clockwise, and feel the auger bite into the sand. The whole process takes less than a minute.
Will the Shady Safe work with any umbrella?
- Yes, as long as the umbrella shaft is less than 1.5" in diameter, (which most metal and wooden beach umbrella are) and has no built-in sand anchor.
Can you use the Shady Safe without an umbrella?
- Yes, but.. You can certainly use the Shady Safe by itself, it is just less secure. When there is an umbrella installed, and some larger items such as chairs or coolers attached by the cable system, your valuables are much safer because it is too cumbersome to try and walk off with your stuff.
What about fly-away umbrellas?
- The chance for a fly-away umbrella with the Shady Safe is very low. Once you tighten the thumb screw on the umbrella shaft, the wind would have to pull the umbrella out of the sand with the weight of the Shady Safe itself (4.2 pounds) plus the weight of your valuables inside, plus any larger items attached with the cable system, and overcome the significant grip of the Shady Safe's sand auger.
- As long as the hasp is less than 3/8" in diameter, which most small combination and padlocks are, then yes.
Why does the Shady Safe not come with a lock?
- In our research over the years we discovered that people are devoted to different types of locks. There are key locks and combination locks that come in a large variety of styles. Locks are very inexpensive and we felt most people would prefer to choose their favorite type of lock for themselves.
Are security cables included?
- Yes. The Shady Safe comes with one medium length cable. You can use up to four cables, which is why we have an add-on option (the Cable 3-Pack) that includes a long, medium, and short cable.
How do I use the security cables?
- There are four slots designed specifically for the security cables located near the hinges. There are also two slots located centrally under the handles which are designed to accept accessories like boogie board lanyards or surfboard ankle straps. Thread the security cable through the valuable item and put the cable in the appropriate slot, then close and lock the lids.
- The Shady Safe is made of a couple of different kinds of plastics. The auger and shaft is made of nylon with 30% glass fibers, an extremely tough material that can hold up to the stress of digging into the sand and to exposure to salt water. The locking chamber and lids are made of a polyamide that has been enhanced with UV protection, a very sturdy material that will hold up to the sun’s rays.
Is the Shady Safe recyclable?
- Yes, the Shady Safe is made of recyclable material. Furthermore, we are pledging 5% of our profits to organizations that do beach and ocean cleanup for the life of the product.
Does the Shady safe come in a variety of colors?
- No. For now the Shady Safe will only be available in the Teal color.
Is it easy to store the Shady Safe?
- Yes, just give it a rinse after you are done, let it dry, and you are good to go. You can even easily disassemble the Shady Safe so that it takes up less space on your shelves. All you do is unscrew the wing nuts and the auger, internal shaft, and locking chamber come apart.
Will things inside the Shady Safe get hot if left in the sun?
- Yes, if left in the direct sun for long periods of time. That is why we suggest throwing a towel over the Shady Safe and using a beach umbrella. This will keep the Shady Safe “discrete and out of the heat”.
Is the Shady Safe waterproof?
- No. We recommend installing the Shady Safe well above the high tide line.
How do I assemble the Shady Safe?
- Click here for video instructions.
Who invented this thing?
- A biochemist with a lifelong love for beach life created the Shady Safe over 20 years of development, finally manufacturing and releasing it in 2024. Inspired by his own limited options for protecting his belongings at the beach and amused by the idea that thieves could be thwarted by putting wallets and watches inside shoes or diapers, he focused his scientific talents on solving the problem for his own family. And now you and your family can enjoy the fruits of his obsession.