Rugged smartphone for outdoor use

[Rokwiia]

Slimline is not important to me in the woods. Thick and protective is. Would you say the LifeProof is the best foolproof case, slimline or otherwise, on the market that you've tried?

 

[sandhillhunter]

Slimline is not important to me in the woods. Thick and protective is. Would you say the LifeProof is the best foolproof case, slimline or otherwise, on the market that you've tried?

I would say the Otterbox would be more protective. I’ve used both and never had a phone damaged in either, but the Otterbox is thicker so I assume it is more protective.


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[Theringworm]

That I have tried, yes. But I haven’t tried many. (I have tried the Otterbox of which I had two warranty claims with. While it’s functional it definitely did not provide any additional protection over the Lifeproof and is unnecessarily bulky and cracked twice. Once I found Lifeproof I’ll never go back to the Otterbox.). IMO if it is URBAN foolproof it will more than exceed “in the woods” foolproof. It has been urban foolproof for me as I described. Aside from dropping it onto a rock, it’s mainly falling in the dirt in the woods. Urban use, 99% of the time it’s falling on concrete or tile floors. Only ”in the woods” scenario that is different than Urban would be an increased risk of getting wet but not necessarily if it’s use and storage is well planned.

 

[Rokwiia]

I went to Walmart and the salesperson showed me the LifeProof Fre case and took it out of the package. Maybe it does an excellent job protecting the phone inside but I couldn't get past the feeling of how flimsy it felt in my hand.

I believe the woods environment offers a far greater opportunity to imperil the phone. Almost no walking is done on flat smooth surfaces. You can trip on things, you can slip on things, your hand can be moist or wet, dirt is everywhere just waiting to scratch the phone's screen. Things are thrown around more with the cell phone in it. Your chest pack, your backpack, your day pack. and you're in and out of those with your phone more often than you are at home, at least I am.

If I had the right chest pack, I'd think about getting the molle-phone system/holder made by Juggernaut for their phones. The phone would attach to it which is attached to the chest pack and would be more secure for the way I use a phone in the backcountry. It would be hands free and visible while bushwhacking. I ordered the Juggernaut IMPCT case (not the Juggernaut military case), which will fit in the molle-phone holder, and eagerly awaiting its arrival.