Protecting a cell phone while working outdoors
July 18, 2013 7:32 PM Subscribe
What is the best way to protect a cell phone while working an outdoor job?
My wife recently took a job with a landscaping firm that keeps her outside most of each day. She carries her cell phone with her in her front hip pocket (HQ may need to call her at any time), and we are noticing that the ZAGG brand screen protector isn't holding up too well. Like as not, no adhesive-style screen protector would be able to take the punishment.
We need to find a way for her to carry the phone in a safe and secure manner that doesn't put it in her pants pocket (she is generally soaked with sweat by day's end) and also doesn't put the phone in great danger of being lost or smashed by a wayward landscaping tool. This might be a case, an armband, a belt holster, or something I know nothing about.
Any suggestions?
My wife recently took a job with a landscaping firm that keeps her outside most of each day. She carries her cell phone with her in her front hip pocket (HQ may need to call her at any time), and we are noticing that the ZAGG brand screen protector isn't holding up too well. Like as not, no adhesive-style screen protector would be able to take the punishment.
We need to find a way for her to carry the phone in a safe and secure manner that doesn't put it in her pants pocket (she is generally soaked with sweat by day's end) and also doesn't put the phone in great danger of being lost or smashed by a wayward landscaping tool. This might be a case, an armband, a belt holster, or something I know nothing about.
Any suggestions?
When I am outside doing something strenuous, I usually keep my phone in a DryPak waterproof bag/case thing. I got mine on amazon, there are many similar products. I am able to take/make calls through it, and I don't have to worry about sweating it to death. I can either wear it around my neck or clip it to my belt or even put it in my pocket (the fastener bit will stick out though). My dad has the same case and tucks it in his shirt so it doesn't swing around. He'll also feel the vibration in case he's using noisy tools.
posted by HermitDog at 7:43 PM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by HermitDog at 7:43 PM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Either an Otterbox Defender or a Lifeproof case, depending on which phone and how rugged you want it to be.
posted by deezil at 7:44 PM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by deezil at 7:44 PM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
My brother used to be a groundskeeper. Outside all day, working in all kinds of rough conditions. He kept his iphone in an otterbox and the phone itself is still pristine.
posted by phunniemee at 7:45 PM on July 18, 2013
posted by phunniemee at 7:45 PM on July 18, 2013
I should add, he also used his phone all day long, too, and it stayed clipped to his belt otherwise.
posted by phunniemee at 7:46 PM on July 18, 2013
posted by phunniemee at 7:46 PM on July 18, 2013
What kind of phone does she have?
I had a LifeProof case for my iPhone because I was terrified of breaking it (not doing anything like your wife, I'm just klutzy). It was quite sleek and definitely waterproof, but it interfered with the microphone. This was over a year ago, I imagine they have made improvements.
I think the Otterboxes are total crap. Sure, they have a lot of rubber to protect from dropping, but they are not watertight and dirt/grime/gunk gets under the screen protector. I was on a dance troupe and did a lot of crafting and my iPhone had glitter embedded in it under the screen! A friend worked in construction had the same problem with construction dust/dirt.
If she doesn't need a smartphone, what about just a really rugged feature phone? Or get a bunch of cheap ones on eBay and don't worry about ruining them?
posted by radioamy at 7:57 PM on July 18, 2013
I had a LifeProof case for my iPhone because I was terrified of breaking it (not doing anything like your wife, I'm just klutzy). It was quite sleek and definitely waterproof, but it interfered with the microphone. This was over a year ago, I imagine they have made improvements.
I think the Otterboxes are total crap. Sure, they have a lot of rubber to protect from dropping, but they are not watertight and dirt/grime/gunk gets under the screen protector. I was on a dance troupe and did a lot of crafting and my iPhone had glitter embedded in it under the screen! A friend worked in construction had the same problem with construction dust/dirt.
If she doesn't need a smartphone, what about just a really rugged feature phone? Or get a bunch of cheap ones on eBay and don't worry about ruining them?
posted by radioamy at 7:57 PM on July 18, 2013
Either a belt clip or a rugged phone just for work. You can also get your phone "dipped" in a hydrophobic coating for $60 or so but I haven't tried that yet.
posted by fshgrl at 8:05 PM on July 18, 2013
posted by fshgrl at 8:05 PM on July 18, 2013
My husband (who destruction-tests everything he owns, whether he intends to or not) and I (who am much less hard on my belongings) are both quite satisfied with our Lifeproof cases.
posted by Lexica at 8:59 PM on July 18, 2013
posted by Lexica at 8:59 PM on July 18, 2013
regular rubber case + ziplock bag.
posted by Dashy at 3:53 AM on July 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Dashy at 3:53 AM on July 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Otterbox rocks for me, but I have also used the acessibility functions to make my phone flash its LED flash when I have a call; I'll see that when I don't hear or feel the phone (not down in a pocket, always, but sometimes)
posted by tilde at 6:21 AM on July 19, 2013
posted by tilde at 6:21 AM on July 19, 2013
Pelican is a company that makes hard-duty cases for all kinds of equipment. My job interacts with TV broadcasters all the time, and TV people abuse the crap of their gear, but it generally survives when put in the big Pelican cases.
Pelican makes smaller, smartphone-sized cases, many with headphone ports and such, which are transparent. Sizing is trickier, though, as they're not made to fit specific models of phones (well, maybe one or two are) as much as fit a general phone-sized object. If possible, shop this one in stores-- my local massive outdoor-activities store carries them, and so may yours.
I like Otterbox's "Commuter" case for my own phone, but I don't need their heavy-duty "Defender" as your wife might.
posted by Sunburnt at 6:34 AM on July 19, 2013
Pelican makes smaller, smartphone-sized cases, many with headphone ports and such, which are transparent. Sizing is trickier, though, as they're not made to fit specific models of phones (well, maybe one or two are) as much as fit a general phone-sized object. If possible, shop this one in stores-- my local massive outdoor-activities store carries them, and so may yours.
I like Otterbox's "Commuter" case for my own phone, but I don't need their heavy-duty "Defender" as your wife might.
posted by Sunburnt at 6:34 AM on July 19, 2013
I am very hard on everything. I have utterly destroyed two Otterbox cases one commuter and one defender... I recently got a PureGear Extreme. My phone recently survived a sliding 100 feet down the pavement in the rain and coming to rest in a puddle after a bicycling crash. It's an ugly case but it is strong.
posted by alfanut at 7:53 AM on July 19, 2013
posted by alfanut at 7:53 AM on July 19, 2013
I'm pretty hard on phones; my hobbies are offroad motorcycling and hiking/trail running with my dogs, both done in all weather. My LifeProof case has admirably protected my iPhone for over a year now; I even swim with it. Do note, though, that the LifeProof case makes a phone waterproof and mil-spec shockproof. It does NOT make a phone float.
posted by workerant at 9:05 AM on July 19, 2013
posted by workerant at 9:05 AM on July 19, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks to all who have answered thus far; keep 'em coming! You've given us a lot of good ideas to examine further.
My apologies for my carelessness in the original post. My wife's phone is an HTC Sensation 4G (vintage 2011).
posted by zainsubani at 10:31 AM on July 19, 2013
My apologies for my carelessness in the original post. My wife's phone is an HTC Sensation 4G (vintage 2011).
posted by zainsubani at 10:31 AM on July 19, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by iamabot at 7:37 PM on July 18, 2013 [2 favorites]