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www.lifeproof.com, 1.1 ounces
You’ve spent a veritable fortune on your new iPhone—only to have it ruined while you answer a call (or text or while taking photos) a snow or rainstorm. We’ve tried a dozen cases for iPhones and most seemed too bulky or provided insufficient protection, until we found the Lifeproof case, which delighted our testers with its sleek design. At only 13.3 mm wide, it’s barely larger than the phone itself. The snap-on, O-ring case has a slick plastic exterior that doesn’t catch on everything when you’re trying to slip it in and out of your pocket. But best of all, the case is 100-percent dirt-, water-, and snow-proof. The case is guaranteed to not leak in up to 6.5 feet of water, a fact that was corroborated by one tester who went for an impromptu swim in the Rio Grande after a hot hike in Big Bend National Park. The phone was completely submerged, with no leaks whatsoever. The case is also guaranteed to protect the phone for short drops on hard surfaces—nice if you have kids with no sense of value; Lifeproof guarantees the case will protect the phone for drops up to six feet—we can attest that the phone and case can fall out of a car onto hard pavement and survive. The touchscreen sensitivity is excellent, with no loss of function or distortion. Included in the package is a headphone adaptor that allows you to use waterproof buds for swimming, snow sports, or running in the rain. Our testers’ only complaint? Plugging the charger in is difficult, and it’s easy to lose the water-sealing screw that covers the cord jack. Boaters should invest in the Lifeproof Life Jacket ($40), a bright orange rubber case that holds the phone firmly and floats to the surface if dropped in the water.
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www.etoncorp.com, 3.75 pounds
Bluetooth-compatible speakers aren’t new, but we’d be amazed if you can find a system that’s as sleek and outdoor friendly. We first tested the Eton Rukus during a backyard barbeque—it works so well we brought it along to use as base camp audio source for a multi-day outing. The wireless speaker with any Bluetooth-enabled device—including most smart phones and tablets. Set the Rukus on a picnic table and head out to collect firewood—the device says it has a 30-foot radius, but we found it to be effective at more than 40 feet. If you want to change playlists, your phone or iPod is as close as your pocket. A nine-inch by five-inch solar panel bridges across the dual torpedo-styled 2.5-inch speakers. On a sunny day, you can play and charge while the sun’s out, then party late into the night with eight hours of reserve power. There’s also an AC adaptor to charge the device when the weather doesn’t cooperate and you’ve got access to a power line. Included in the package is a USB cable that will charge your other electronics—great for powering up while camping, tailgating, or on a picnic. An e-INK display keeps you up-to-date on the battery and solar charge status. There’s even a convenient elasticized pocket on the bottom to secure your phone or iPod when not in use.
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www.etoncorp.com, 3.9 ounces
We love all the features and apps of the iPhone, but bringing a phone or iPod into the backcountry can be a mixed blessing. Sure, you can tweet about your latest wildlife sighting, ask Siri to ID a snake, shoot off an Instagram of the fresh trout you caught, or post a summit photo via Facebook. But all those tasks drain your battery—and the fast-draining batteries of the iPhone is definitely something we don’t like. But with the Eton Mobius phone case, you always have the ability to recharge. A built-in solar panel gives you 25 minutes of talk time after one hour of charging (much longer if you’re only sending text messages or operating the phone in airplane mode). And a standby switch lets you turn off direct power transfer, so you only use the juice when you need it. A small green light indicates how much of your reserve power is left, so that you can regulate use to the essentials (we’ll let you interpret what you deem “essential”). Before our tester headed out on a day-long hike, she used the micro-USB cable to pre-charge the Mobius, giving her the equivalent of an extra battery as well as the solar capabilities.
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cascadedesigns.com/sealline, 1.3 ounces
We overheard the following while killing time in an airport bar. “I’ve had to replace my iPhone three times in the last year. I get it wet—just by walking in the rain or whatever—and it dies.” Had we not packed our SealLine iPhone Case in our checked luggage, we’d have interrupted this young woman’s lament by tossing the case over for her to investigate. Unlike some of the burlier cases out there, this one keeps it simple: the hefty zipper offers air-tight security against the elements, and the clear plastic lets you use the phone’s touch-screen without having to break the seal. On the back, there’s a smaller plastic window so that you can also use the camera (perfect for catching video of that raging monsoon), and an internal plug even gives you access to audio, video, or calls—just plug your headset into the external port after attaching the phone to the jack on the inside of the case. Two narrow slits at either end of the bag allow for a variety of attachments—we crafted a wrist strap out of a spare shoelace and took the thing snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez without incident; the case is rated to be waterproof down to one meter for up to 30 minutes. Taking photos with the case in the bright sun can be tricky—we used the phone’s volume control to trigger the lens while swimming, as it proved tricky to hit the camera icon on the touch screen, but nothing could help prevent the sun glare. Chances are, with practice, you could get the method dialed. It’s also the only way we’ll ever travel, hike, kayak, camp, or ride with our precious iPhone…because we can’t afford to replace it every other month.
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nikerunning.nike.com
I was looking for a way to track my runs, but not drop $100+ on the technology to do it, so after some recommendations from friends I got the Nike+ Sportsband. It is water (read: sweat) resistant, tracks my distance, pace, time, and calories, which was exactly what I wanted—AND it is easy to use! (It can also track heart rate if coupled with a Polar wearlink+ Heart Rate Transmitter.) I bought an after-market shoe pouch for the Apple sensor to go on my left shoe (since I didn’t have a shoe that was Nike+ compatible) and then put the sportsband on my wrist, pressed the start the button, and I was off on my run, getting real-time visual feedback via the wireless 2.4 GHz receiver. The sportsband is extremely lightweight and was not even noticeable on my wrist as I ran. After my runs, I snapped out the USB part of the sportsband and plugged it into my computer; it connects to the Nike+ online dashboard and shows my runs and breaks out my pace and times per a mile. I would suggest calibrating the sensor to your stride (do a mile run then a mile walk on a track), although Nike claims it’s 90% accurate right out of the box. I have used this band for everything from tracking my distance on leisurely walks to miles-long races and I would certainly recommend it to all runners looking for a cheaper and super-easy solution for tracking running or walking key metrics.
-Jennifer Seabolt
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