Of the pvc pipe containers that I have found, I’d say they’re a bit on the unreliable side for sealing and opening. Cinemaboxers have at least 2. I know I struggled with the threads on both.

My first multiple cache creation “Valley of Oz TB Zoo” had smaller cachers (that I called zoo bars) that were made out of PVC pipe … smaller pipe, 1.5″ diameter by about 6″ long that slide into a slightly bigger diameter PVC … all they hid were part of the coordinates to the final, plus a log sheet. I actually cable tied them to trees … there were sprayed gray … just trying to blend in as an extension to the branch of the trees.

I was fine with them from about a year or so … then I started getting the creeps that some person would thing they’re some kind of pipe bomb … so I retired the series (it was time to release the space to other cachers any way). So I’m not a big fan of them, personally … especially if they’re camo’d … it might be another thing if the hiding location allows you to leave them white.

We have found them hard to open in the freezing weather and many times very wet inside.
Timberline Echoes

Whatever you decide, just make sure to clearly mark the outside of the container with “Official Geocache” or something similar. Then, it’s not so striking to the Police or unsuspecting non-cacher.

Most all of my caches that I can fit any writing on say “Official Geocache”. I have also added “www.geocaching.com” to the outside, and on occasion even my own e-mail address. Most pipe-bombers would probably not go through the trouble. 😉

Ours makes no attempt to be, well.. hidden. Its a white PVC that looks like something the city put there, and has its big orange Geocaching label on it! LOL

We keep a baggie over the top to make it watertight. Seems to be low tech, but definitely works.

We likely wont do more like this though. Too many other fun container options! We have a few to plant now!

@seekers8711 wrote:

Just to get some discussion on “cache containers” going, IMHO, any type of AMMO CAN, unless completely painted to cover the military wording, “AND” having Geocaching decals, should not be approved.

While I don’t disagree with your sentiment, the approval process does not include a review of container, hide type, labeling, cache contents, environmental “appropriateness”, common sense, or any other item other than the specific physical location(s) of the cache. They are lucky if they can screen out caches in SNAs, caches too close to each other, and caches where the description specifically mentions violating the rules.

I suppose the approvers could ask each person if their hide meets GC.com guidelines, but we all have to check that box when we submit a cache anyway.

Strangely enough, the ammo cans don’t seem to draw any more police attention than other types of containers. Of the four issues I have heard of, 2 involved PVC pipe, 1 involved an ammo can, and 1 involved a 5 gallon bucket. I can’t imagine anyone building a pipe bomb would actually use PVC, but that doesn’t stop people from worrying about it.

I tried to open a PVC container about 2 weeks ago and finally gave up after two visits….Next time I will travel with a pipe wrench.