First Look: Vaultek RS Slider Safe

By Clayton Walker

Posted in
#Gear

In the past, a safe could tell you just as much about a gun owner as the firearms inside of it. Gargantuan safes were normally for the kinds of people who never wanted to limit themselves to one kind of excursion or experience. Conversely, safes hardly bigger than a breadbox often signaled one was in the presence of a beginning or intermediate gun owner — or, less commonly, a minimalist who had everything he needed and little else.

The Vaultek RS Slider Safe fits easily under most beds and deploys a secure drawer when you need quick access. Internal LED lighting helps you clearly see your firearms and gear, even in low light.

Since then, I think we’ve become a little more nuanced when it comes to security. It’s less common to encounter someone who has “just the one” safe. Instead, I find that most avid shooters have gravitated to having multiple types of storage solutions in various shapes, sizes, and functions — and often across a variety of rooms in their house. Before, a lot of folks spent time worrying about purchasing a safe they might one day “outgrow.” Now, I find shooters are more apt to “add on” to their existing solutions and more carefully consider how to effectively utilize available space.

If you’ve ever shopped for a safe over the last several years, either for your first or your fifth, you’ve likely come across the name Vaultek. I encountered them first at my local range. In that retail context, Vaultek’s biometric storage solutions, including the Barikade and Lifepod series, were immensely popular among new handgunners. In the years since they were established, Vaultek has quietly and consistently added onto their product mix with downright neat safes of various shapes and sizes.

In this image, a Vaultek RS Slider Safe sits horizontally under a standard bed, with its main drawer slid open toward the camera. Inside the drawer, several home defense firearms — such as a compact AR and other accessories — are neatly stored and lit by built-in LEDs. The steel safe appears compact and is fully concealed beneath the bed aside from the drawer opening. The integrated touchpad and fingerprint sensor on the face of the safe are visible, highlighting the quick-access feature. This under-bed storage offers a secure but fast way to access firearms in a home defense scenario. The setup is suitable for anyone considering a slim rifle safe for tight spaces. The image reinforces the safe’s blend of security and convenience in personal gun storage. — With the RS Slider positioned beneath a standard bed frame, the open drawer reveals a selection of personal defense firearms stored inside.

By the time you read this, Vaultek will have just released their new RS Slider safe, which I think will appeal to a multitude of shooters. Let’s dig into what I think makes it special so you can evaluate whether it might be right for you.

At a Glance

Vaultek’s RS Slider (the RS stands for “rifle safe”) will provide users with an internal storage capacity of 36.22” by 13.19” by 4.13” for a total of 1,973 cubic inches. According to Vaultek, that should be enough space to fit just about any bullpup (including the Hellion), a PDW, or just about any 16” barrel AR with a collapsible stock — along with several accessories, of course.

Naturally, the RS Slider offers a number of expected features that you’d well, expect, from a safe. Vaultek builds the RS Slider from 14-gauge steel, and there are holes pre-drilled so the user can hardmount the unit and/or tether it with the included steel security cable. The latch system is pry-resistant and anti-impact, and the safe also features an alarm that will sound (and can be tuned for sensitivity) if the RS Slider is struck or otherwise tampered with.

A man’s hand is shown pressing numbers on the electronic keypad of a Vaultek RS Slider Safe in this photo. The keypad is illuminated and clearly labeled, making access simple even in low light. The safe itself has a slim, steel housing and its drawer is closed, about to be opened by the entered code. You can also see the fingerprint scanner next to the keypad, showing that multiple unlocking methods are available. This setup illustrates how the RS Slider offers fast entry for authorized users, combining security with convenience. The moment captured demonstrates real-world, practical use by an owner seeking immediate firearm access. This ALT text is suitable for those researching quick-access gun safes and looking for electronic lock operation visuals. — The electronic keypad on the Vaultek RS Slider Safe enables fast, easy access with a user-set code or a biometric reader. This practical setup keeps firearms secure, but ready the moment you need them.

The safe is operated via a standard power adapter (i.e., the kind you plug into a wall outlet) but also has back-up power provided by four AAA batteries. And, if absolutely no electricity is available, there’s also a key that provides manual entry. (Clearly, they thought of belt-and-suspender types like me.) Most users will open the safe through either a biometric reader or a numerical keypad — both of which are included on the RS Slider.

Versatility is the name of the game here, as the RS Slider can be set up in either a horizontal or vertical configuration. Lying flat, it can easily fit under a bed frame and would also be a good choice for a mid-sized SUV trunk. Positioned vertically, it can fit in between bookshelves or can piggyback off the side of an existing safe for more rapid access. Note that if users wish to use the safe in the vertical format, they’ll need to purchase additional accessories that slot into the pegboard drawer, from mag and pistol holders to spring-loaded AR mounts.

What’s neat about the RS Slider is the way the safe opens automatically once unlocked. The drawer rides on rails powered by a pretty impressive system of hydraulic gears, so deployment is quick, smooth and quiet. Once the safe opens, there are also internal LED lights that illuminate the contents. It looks very much like the kind of futuristic storage solution you’d see in a John Wick film.

Tech-Loaded

“Smart” is a word that causes many an eyebrow to raise when it comes to guns and accessories, but in my mind Vaultek is a great example of a company that implements tech the right way. Across their product line, you’ll find a lot of well-considered features integrated in ways that simplify things for a shooter rather than introducing a series of headaches.

A person is shown retrieving a Springfield Armory XD-M Elite pistol from the open drawer of a Vaultek RS Slider Safe mounted inside the cargo area of an SUV. The safe is positioned for easy access, securely fastened to the vehicle’s interior. The RS Slider’s hydraulic drawer extends smoothly, revealing the handgun and other gear stored inside, all illuminated by internal LED lights. This setup highlights the safe’s flexibility as both a home and vehicle storage solution for firearms. The user’s hand reaches in to grip the XD-M Elite, emphasizing the safe’s role in providing quick, secure access even in a mobile environment. The SUV’s interior surrounds the scene, showing how the safe fits within a typical trunk or cargo space. This ALT text targets readers interested in vehicle gun safes, quick-access firearm storage, and secure transportation for handguns and rifles. — With the RS Slider mounted securely in an SUV, retrieving a Springfield Armory XD-M Elite is fast and straightforward.

First and foremost, the RS Slider is equipped with ViSN — short for the Vaultek Intelligent Safe Network. Each ViSN-enabled safe connects to WiFi in order to notify you when the door opens, either by fingerprint or by access code, and when the safe detects someone trying to tamper with it. The ViSN system also keeps a history of the last several times it has been opened, along with timestamps of any changes to the safe’s settings or programming. If you want to know what’s going on with your stuff when you’re out and about, these are all features that result in peace of mind.

Beyond that, the ViSN software allows you to also monitor what’s going on with the safe itself and the conditions inside of it, including humidity levels, interior temperature and battery backup power. All of this data can be accessed either through a web dashboard or a smartphone app. You can even set the configurations up to issue a warning alarm if the backup batteries drop below 20% power.

This image shows a Vaultek RS Slider Safe mounted in a vertical orientation inside a home workshop. The safe is installed against the wall near a workbench, surrounded by various woodworking and tool storage units. The vertical configuration has the drawer extending outward, providing clear access without taking up much floor space. The safe’s steel construction and electronic keypad are visible on the front panel. Nearby pegboards and tools reinforce the setting as a hobby or work area. This setup demonstrates how the RS Slider can be adapted for placement in unconventional locations outside the bedroom or closet. It's suited for people interested in versatile gun safe solutions for personal workshops or garages. — The RS Slider’s vertical mounting option works well in a workshop, taking up minimal floor space while keeping firearms secure. Here, it’s attached alongside a storage cabinet.

Of course, if you want to take the RS Slider to even more James Bond levels of cool, you can pair it with the (included) Nano Key 3.0. The device is a remote button powered by a CR2033 battery and will open the safe if it’s somewhere within about six to twelve feet of the unit. If you’ve ever wanted to reach under your desk and push a button that gives you instant access to your defensive kit, the RS Slider is definitely for you. (A biometric Nano Key can also be purchased if additional security is wanted.) The same deal in your car with the button located under your steering wheel.

The Wrap-Up

I’ve seen too many products in the secure storage space that offer lots of tech, but come up short where strength and durability are concerned. By the same token, I think a lot of safe companies are content to offer consumers a big metal box and consider it a job well done.

This image shows the Vaultek RS Slider Safe mounted in the cargo area of an SUV, with its drawer fully extended and containing a Springfield Armory Hellion rifle. The drawer’s internal LED lighting clearly illuminates the rifle, making the firearm and accessories easy to see and access. The safe fits neatly within the rear compartment and is secured in place, demonstrating how the RS Slider can be used for secure rifle transport in a vehicle. The spacious drawer provides a stable area for the rifle, along with room for additional gear or magazines. The vehicle interior is visible around the safe, confirming the automotive context. The Springfield Hellion’s bullpup design emphasizes the safe’s compatibility with a variety of tactical firearms. This photo is ideal for readers comparing vehicle gun safes and seeking secure ways to store AR-style rifles while traveling. — The RS Slider safe is shown installed in an SUV with its drawer open, securely holding a Springfield Armory Hellion rifle.

With the RS Slider, Vaultek has designed a really good safe that can fit in a lot of different and useful spaces. Then, on top of that, there are a host of great features that allow the user to verify — at any time they please, and miles away from home — that their guns are doing just fine. The tech is far from fluff: the ViSN system provides the exact data I’d be interested in as a collector, and its utility as a quick-access system for a defensive long gun is undeniable.

If you’re interested in the RS Slider safe, it’s available either direct from Vaultek, or can be purchased in person through one of the many authorized Vaultek dealers in the US. The Slider RS retails for $1,399.99, and the vertical accessory kit is $219.99.

Editor’s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!