The people have spoken! We had initially planned on publishing this review in early January of next year, but given the vocal demand for more information on SureCan’s spill-free gas cans after being included in our 2016 Christmas Gift Guide last week, we decided to bump it up to today. As we alluded to in our snippet in the gift guide, the SureCan one of our favorite items on our list. It’s a little unusual to place a gas can in such high regard, but when you look at the ingenuity poured into the design of such an otherwise simple item, you’ll come to realize like we have, what an amazing piece this is.
There are two major factors needed to be considered when properly pouring fluids; the first being proper venting. As fluid escapes, air needs to fill the vacuum. Many cans simply let the spout do all the work, allowing air to try to travel back up the filler neck. This causes the all-too-familiar pulse or “gurgle” common with gas cans. Some companies have tried to finagle fancy return vents into the filler neck, but a rapid flow of fuel can quickly overpower these spouts. Other cans have small, pin-hole sized breather caps allowing a whisper of air to draw through into the can. This helps, but doesn’t allow for a fast, steady flow that won’t splash or slosh.
The second item is mitigating splashing. This comes from a few factors, the first being the above issue of fuel flow versus vacuum. When there’s not enough air coming in, you get cavitation, which slows the flow of fuel and is the cause of gas cans flexing or “breathing” as the pull of vacuum begins to suck the can’s sides in. Next is needing to tilt the can to pour fuel. This sloshing back and forth can cause the pourer to spill fuel on the ground or on the ski itself.
SureCan eliminates all of these problems through its intelligent design and features, all of which we’ve put to the test. First of all, the locking spring-loaded thumb trigger not only controls the flow of fuel via a plunger system at the articulated filler neck, but also incorporates a large diameter self-sealing vent in the trigger, allowing in as much incoming air as the rate of fuel escaping. Because the filler neck rotates on a low-mounted 180-degree pivot, the SureCan can be held steady and vertical the entire time, eliminating the need to tip the can to pour.
When closed, the sprung trigger system seals both the vent and spout (even without its locking “childproof” cap screwed on) eliminating spills and drips when not in use or being moved around. A large diameter fill cap also features a locking push tab so that no fuel can escape without you knowing it. The rotating spout also incorporates an according-like tube allowing you to access hard-to-reach spots on our lawn equipment or smaller engines. Best of all, particularly for us who carry extra gas cans on our PWC trailers or with us on long rides, the SureCan is molded from thick, durable EPA-compliant plastic that can take the harshest beating. No, really. Watch this.
Available in 2.5 and 5-gallon configurations and priced at $39.99 – $49.99, there are also cans for diesel and kerosene. Unfortunately, SureCans are not available in California due to the state’s unique environmental constraints over those of the Federal level. The SureCan is lightyears ahead of your old jerry cans and worth every penny. There’s a million little details in these cans, and we know you’ll love it as much as we do.
