{"id":149676,"date":"2021-09-19T14:02:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T18:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=149676"},"modified":"2021-09-19T14:02:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T17:14:15","slug":"steelhead-outdoors-nomad-32-modular-gun-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/steelhead-outdoors-nomad-32-modular-gun-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Steelhead Outdoors’ Nomad 32: A Modular Gun Safe That Goes Anywhere You Want"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Steelhead
The American-made Nomad 32<\/a> from Steelhead Outdoors. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Over 40 million guns were sold in 2020.  Of those, five million were likely purchased by first-time gun buyers, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation<\/a>, the firearms industry trade association. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stands to reason that millions of people are looking for a place to safely store their newly purchased hardware.  Because as the Peter Parker principle remains us, “With great power, there must also come great responsibility\u201d or as comedians Key and Peele say, \u201cWith great power comes great responsitrilitrance<\/a>.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put bluntly, it is one\u2019s duty as a responsible gun owner to properly secure his or her firearms.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, there are plenty of options out there, everything from trigger locks to gun cases to strong boxes and cabinets to, of course, gun safes.  One\u2019s preferences, needs, and homelife will ultimately dictate which route one pursues.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, I recently decided it was time for a major upgrade.  Enter Steelhead Outdoors<\/a>, the Minnesota-based manufacturer of the Nomad series of modular, easy-to-assemble, AND<\/em> disassemble, gun safes.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Elephant in the Room <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Steelhead
The Nomad 32 is not a cheap safe. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Before we talk about the Nomad 32<\/a>, lemme go ahead and address the elephant in the room.  Price.  Steelhead Outdoors\u2019 gun safes cost a pretty penny. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Nomad 32, the medium-sized base model, runs $2,995 BEFORE<\/em> add-ons and any additional customization.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also figure in around $250-$450 for shipping costs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total package, again for the medium Nomad 32 (there is a smaller size available, the Nomad 26<\/a>, which is cheaper, and a larger one, the Nomad 38<\/a>, which is more expensive), is going to cost at the very least $3,250.  Not everyone has that kind of money to spend on a gun safe.  I understand that, which is why I\u2019m saying this at the outset.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Steelhead
New Springfield M1As. New York compliant! The overlords in this state have outlawed traditionally-featured modern sporting rifles. Though it sucks, I think these old-school substitutes will suffice.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

And yes, I know you can purchase a welded gun safe on Amazon with similar dimensions for about a third of the price (shipping not included).  You don\u2019t need to point that out in the comments section.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last word about sticker shock and then I’ll move on. You can’t talk about pricing in 2021 without talking about inflation. The cost of steel, along with just about everything else<\/a>, has spiked since the Wuhan virus hit our shores.  Steel is up 219 percent since Jan. 1, 2020, according to Forbes<\/em><\/a>. Buying anything these days, it seems, is going to be hard on the wallet. Steelhead told me they had to adjust their prices to remain profitable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nomad 32’s Modularity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Okay, now if you’re still reading this you probably want to know what you get for your money.  The short answer is a lot (see the feature list below).  But the key difference between the Nomad and the majority of safes on the market is, in a word, mobility.  As the name implies, the \u201cNomad\u201d can go anywhere! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I should note that this is not a novel concept. Other companies offer modular safes like the Snap Safe<\/a> Paul reviewed years back. But I’m not sure any of the competitors in the marketplace match Steelhead’s quality and aesthetic. Apart from being the real deal, they look awesome to boot! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Steelhead
The only tools you need to assemble the safe. Two hex keys. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why do you want a mobile safe?  Seems counterintuitive at first blush.  If it’s mobile in the literal sense, couldn\u2019t thieves just run off with it?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer to that question: Not when it\u2019s fully assembled as it weighs just as much as a conventional safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Steelhead
I brought the safe up these stairs, piece by piece. Except for the door, I was able to do it all by myself. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What makes the safe “mobile,” in a sense, is its modularity. Because you can take it apart and easily put it back together, you can place it anywhere in your house. I put mine in a spare bedroom on the second floor. Try that with a 500-pound welded safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, if you ever sell your house or move from your apartment, the same principle applies. Given that the average person moves about 11.7 times in their lifetime, according to 2007 U.S. Census Data<\/a>, it’s nice to have a safe that you can take with you with minimal effort. No need to hire professional movers or rent special equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Steelhead
The top and bottom of the safe. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Think of the money you might save. Quick story to illustrate this point. I thought I bought my “forever home” in 2017. It was a beautiful Cape Cod-style house with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in a nice quaint village in Western, NY. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But “forever” only lasted a few short years. My ex ended up with the house after our break-up and I’ve moved three times since then. Had I had invested in a traditional safe back in ’18, I would’ve had to pay who knows how much to move it over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Steelhead
After it was unloaded and assembled, I needed to have a bonfire to deal with the cardboard situation.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Features<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n