protection for iphone

Baggies are only good for slight dampness.  I learned the hard way that ziplock baggies leak when submerged and I wouldn’t trust them if my pack was going to be soaking wet from continuous rain.

I used a Lifeproof case for a while but didn’t like it and now use an e-series case.

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/e-case/eseries/eseries-9/product

Keith,

What do you mean by protection? A light drizzle where it might get a few drops if you take a picture, water seeping into your pack, or you might drop it in a river?

A  heavy ZipLock bag with one of those sliding closures should be more than adequate for ‘casual’ use.

I use an OPSAK to protect my iPhone from water/rain. Works great, much better than a Ziploc.

My iPhone is also in a Loksak. It also sits in my hipbelt-pockets. I’ve been in 3 days of continuous rain and my phone functioned perfectly.

It functioned a lot better then me after 3 days of wetness… :)

+1 LokSak/OpSak

If you are not looking for something heavy duty like the Lifeproof case, THESE work well for pocket cameras and phones for water and getting bumped around, you can find them a lot of places for cheap and they come in different sizes.

What model do you have? The latest, 6S, has been tested to be very water resistant, but not a feature Apple is advertising. I wouldn’t worry about it getting wet in use, only worry would be submersion.

I have one of the Seal Line pockets that is fine operationally, but I’ve never cared for any of the bags with heavy zip-lock style zippers— I never feel like I can trust the seal to be 100%. Same issue with zipper style water bladders. The waterproof bags with a clamp have a more trustworthy seal, but add complexity and weight.

For quick and dirty, TWO quart size freezer grade ziplock style bags gives good protection. Reverse the openings too. We have been doing this for weekend bike trips with zero issues.

If you want bomb-proof, I was fiddling around with some bottles and flasks and tried my iPhone 5 in a Stanley eCycle flask, which has a flip top and a silicone seal. You can’t see the screen or hear it ring, but it makes a sturdy waterproof carry case. It also weighs the same as my iPhone 5 with cover at 4.6oz.

I also like the sealed food containers from Lack-n-Lock, Systema and others. They have a silicone seal and locking tabs and come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. I have used them for camera gear for decades with no disasters. Add a little bubble wrap as needed for the bumps.

Left to right: Lock-n-Lock container, SealLine bag, Stanley eCycle flask, and Aquapac bag

Thanks for the good input.  I was concerned mostly about the unlikely possibility of slipping in water crossings or dropping in water crossings and possible rain.  I do most of my Sierra hiking in August and September, not often in July,  so the risks are not significant.  Again,  thanks for the good insights and experiences.   Oh,  I have the iPhone 6s Plus, which might affect some of the possibilities.

Thanks again

I use 1-2 ziplocks out of laziness. Can confirm after a week in the pocket the bags usually have several micro holes. Sometimes even a large hole in a corner seam. I rely on my ziplock to deter light precipitation.

When I as in the Florida keys, snorkelers were using some waterproof bags similar to the purple one in Dales photos. They were able to take their iphones snorkeling, underwater in the ocean and take photos of fish underwater. I was pretty impressed. Though I don’t know if I would have tried it. I’m sorry I don’t know the brand but it was a clear case (so you could take pictures) and you might be able to find it on snorkeling websites. It would probably survive your stream crossing assuming you don’t smash it on a rock (no impact protection).

1 pint freezer ziplock has always worked for me.

Get a proper waterproof case especially as you wont have to pull it out of ziplocks to use it … Not to mention ziplocks can leak espeically of they get old or under immersion

dont be like my favorite climbing partner on 2 days ago and do the most expensive day hiker ever by soaking her iphone

saving a few grams or dollars whilr risking a 500+ phone is the very definition of “stupid light”

such stupidity will send u to da “genius bar”

;)

“Get a proper waterproof case especially as you wont have to pull it out of ziplocks to use it”

Depends on how you want to use it. Using my Opsak, I can still unlock it, launch programs, etc. without opening the bag at all. Fingerprint sensor doesn’t work, but I don’t need it to. Since I use wireless ear buds, I can listen to music/watch movies/listen to audiobooks without removing it from the bag as well.

About the only thing I wouldn’t want to do with it in an Opsak is take pictures. Everything else works fine.

Edit to add: All will work with a Ziploc as well, of course, but I agree with you about not trusting them, they’re too easy to puncture and the seal breaks too easily. I haven’t found that to be true with Opsaks though.

And there is the 100% guaranteed way to never, ever damage an iPhone on the trail, but that isn’t popular here.

Have the Opsaks improved over they years. The ones I bought a long, long time ago would some times open while in my pack, which is why I changed to the heavy duty ZipLocks with a zipper doohickey that I sometimes keep my camera in.

So much more than just a phone Nick. Some people really like to have them along. People’s values differ. Leaving it the car or behind need not be the option.

Invest in a real case for the best peace of mind.

Ok, Ken I forgot the smiley, it was just a little humor.

Anyway, anyone know if my early Opsak problem was due to something that has been improved since?

Heads up, I just had my iPhone 6 speaker fail, and the likely cause is from moisture. While stair training I was sticking the phone into my waistband with the face inwards towards my body.

I have a minimal bumper case for drops, with a thin glass screen protector as well. But with all the photos I take I have not been good about water protection when hiking on dry days, which is almost always.

“Anyway, anyone know if my early Opsak problem was due to something that has been improved since?”

Don’t remember what your earlier issue was, but they have, over the last couple of years, upgraded them. They now have a double zipper instead of a single zipper, and it’s easier to seal. I’ve had no issues with mine.

I know Nick :). Was my sarcasm showing?

4-mil 3×5″ zip plastic bags from Amazon work great for me.  Pack of 100 is affordable.  Much tougher than regular zip lock freezer bags.  The touch screen still works through the plastic, but kinda hard to see the details on the screen.

Correction!  4×6.  Not 3×5.