Tis the season…to drop your phone off the lift, get it buried in snow, or soak it while trying to take a mountain pic. Whether you’re playing in the snow, or just out for a hike, chances are your phone is coming with you. The outdoors aren’t nice to electronics, so you better protect your mobile device. I had a chance to test two iPhone 4s cases designed to keep your lifeline from dying while you’re out playing, and now they are going head to head to find out which one you should use to keep your coveted Apple product safe from the elements.
Lifeproof iPhone case: With a sleek, non-bulky design, this little case will keep your iPhone safe from water, shock, and dust. Fully waterproof, the Lifeproof case does not limit your phone’s abilities. Charging is still possible with the phone in the case, and it has a port for a headphone jack. This means you’ll never be without tunes or juice while the phone is locked inside. The touchscreen works perfectly, and call quality was also solid. I protected my phone with the Lifeproof case while on a canyoneering trip in Escalante; plenty of mud, dust and sand made sure it was put to the test. I was very happy with the case’s performance in the desert, and it was more of the same in the mountains. I was able to listen to music, compose tweets and snap pictures all while my phone was safe from Mother Nature. Picture quality wasn’t as good as usual, but that is partly due to the case collecting debris in my pocket. The Lifeproof case retails for $69.99 and comes with a soft-cloth for cleaning the phone and unit, as well as a replacement headphone jack component. Bonus: the online instruction manual is narrated by a man with a soothing Australian accent (for whatever that is worth).
EK USA DriCAT iPhone case: This case is not low-profile, but is sure is bomber. The somewhat bulky build on the DriCAT case means your phone is protected from just about anything, especially water. Created with aquatic users in mind, the DriCAT also transitions seamlessly to other outdoor activities like hiking and snow sports. I liked the ease of use: simply pop the latches, place your phone inside, and lock it down. Simple as that. The touchscreen works like a charm when inside the case, and like its competitor, call quality was just fine. The DriCAT iPhone case also comes with lanyard attachment that can accept a carabiner clip or a neck sling. Clip it or let it hang, either way your phone will be close at hand, instead of buried in your pack or coat pockets. I took the DriCAT hiking in the Wasatch mountains and never thought twice as my bag bumped against trees and rocks. Even more impressive was the piece of mind I had while boarding: several times I took slams with the case in my pocket, and my phone wasn’t fazed a bit. Pictures and video looked normal when taken from inside the case. The only drawback was the lack of ports: you won’t be using headphones or charging your phone while it’s inside the DriCAT. The unit retails for $59.99 and comes with the carabiner lanyard attachment; you’ll have to pony up $24 if you want the neck lanyard. Bonus: designed and built right here in Utah!
The Winner: The no-bulk design and attachment ports tip this contest for the Lifeproof iPhone case. Both cases are waterproof and hold their own in the elements, but I have to have my music! Lifeproof has figured out a way to include headphone jack ports and still maintain the waterproofness of their case, and that is what won this shootout for them. If you need to protect your overpriced, high tech phone from the big bad elements, look no further than the Lifeproof iPhone case. And yes, for you fancy iPhone 5 folks out there, they have cases for you, too.