Best phone for outdoor use? Durability, weather, etc.

[toadmeister]

No mobile phone haters please.

I'm on my 3rd Samsung S5 (warranty came in handy) but I know that for my next phone I want something more durable for the outdoors.

I just got home from a 3-day bike and camping trip (RAGBRAI in Iowa) and charger connection internal to phine crapped out on me. This is a known issue with the S5.

I have other issues too with screen protection or moisture exposure over time. I have never dropped my phone in the water but who knows, some day.

What says the hive on durable mobile phones?

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[Dromsky]

Lifeproof case, I've fumbled my phone PLENTY of times with it on and no problems.

 

[fngTony]

Like my s7 for waterproof to a point then pick a case. I never trusted the flaps covering ports on say an OtterBox case but trust them for drops. Tempered screen protector too.

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[Dinger]

Had a S7 since they came out. Been rained on and left in crappy conditions for days at a time.......still 100% with zero dust/H2O ingress.

No screen protector needed IME as the screens in them are harder than woodpecker lips....I run a small silicone bumper case to protect the corners from drops.

Takes great pictures for what it is, the GPS functions as expected and being Android isn't burdened by manufacturer interference for file management like Apple products tend to be.

Lives in the top elastic panel of my AGC harness when hunting.

I'll be upgrading to the S8 when my contract runs out.

 

[Slingshot]

Have the s6 currently. And i like it alott better than my s5 had this one for over a year. The screen is really tough no scratch marks and no cracks. I use a phone skope case 24/7 just leave it on there. Hate having big bulky cases where they wont slide in or out of pockets. The Only thing i dont like about the phone is on mine the camera sucks at auto focusing on anything real close.

The old lady also has a s7 and she loves it.

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[colonel00]

I have an S7 Edge. I'd recommend staying away from the edge, at least the S7. It serves no purpose and makes it harder to hold without always accidentally touching the screen (with no case). That said, it worked great when I first got it as I took it on a packraft trip in Alaska and it was subjected to the wet mess that lies up there. Since then, I've dropped it a couple times and the glass is cracked and chipped away in a few places on the front and back.

One of these day, I can only hope that a company will make a phone that you don't immediately need to buy a case for. Pipe dreams perhaps.

 

[Fatcamp]

I use a Kyocera Duraforce Pro. This far I haven't broke it. It has gotten wet and still functions.

The camera sucks. Probably operator error.

Does funny things in my pocket. They all do.

Been on a roll of killing phones. This one is ok. Have yet to use it's gps functions, but will probably start soon.

Toughest phone I have had, and I have had a bunch.

 

[gumbl3]

I use a Kyocera Duraforce Pro. This far I haven't broke it. It has gotten wet and still functions.

The camera sucks. Probably operator error.

Does funny things in my pocket. They all do.

Been on a roll of killing phones. This one is ok. Have yet to use it's gps functions, but will probably start soon.

Toughest phone I have had, and I have had a bunch.

x2, the downfall of this phone though is it's heavy. Probably twice the weight of the S3 I had before.

 

[Justin Crossley]

My Galaxy S5 Sport has been great. It's the only phone I've had that has lasted without a case on it. It's been dropped from about six feet from my truck onto concrete a few times and the screen is still perfect.