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10 great cases and covers for your electronics

Here are some of Gear Guy’s picks to help you protect your smartphone, GPS unit, tablet, camera or other electronic device — no matter where you go and what you do.

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ECOXGEAR ECOTERRA ($150, ecoxgear.com)

The EcoTerra is a durable, waterproof boombox — it protects your cellphone or MP3 player in a watertight, impact-resistant case while also playing your tunes through a pair of 3-inch speakers. Expect 25 hours of runtime on eight AA batteries. The EcoTerra is totally submersible (and it floats!), so it’s perfect for your next canoe or pool trip.

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PELICAN MICRO CASE ($18-$30, pelican.com)

These Micro Cases come in a variety of sizes, perfect for protecting all sorts of devices — from a GPS unit to a 3DS to a smartphone. The hard plastic case is crushproof, dustproof and watertight, capable of surviving 3 feet underwater for 30 minutes, and it has a built-in rubber liner that keeps your stuff from bouncing around inside.

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AQUAPAC MINI CAMERA CASE WITH HARD LENS ($55, aquapac.net)

Most camera cases are hard plastic and quite expensive. But this lightweight plastic waterproof bag protects your smaller point-and-shoot with a zoom lens, while still having a clear, hard acrylic lens for better photos. You can operate all the functions of your camera while it’s in the bag. Bonus: It floats.

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URBAN ARMOR GEAR SCOUT ($35, urbanarmorgear.com)

This lightweight, durable, slimline case gives you access to all your phone’s controls while meeting U.S. military drop-test standards. The design has a sort of cool robotic, modern military styling to it.

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E-CASE ($25-$30, cascadedesigns.com/e-case)

One of the simplest and most effective designs we tested, the E-Case is basically an overbuilt Ziploc plastic bag that keeps your cellphone or tablet protected from rain and water, while enabling you to use all its functions — from the phone to the camera — normally. The E-Case will even keep your device safe while submerged in 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Some cases come with a built-in audio jack so you can listen to music or answer calls with a headset.

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LIFEPROOF FRĒ POWER FOR IPHONE 6 CASE ($130, lifeproof.com)

I’ve been using a LifeProof case with my phone for years, and it has done a great job of keeping it safe and watertight. This new case steps it up a notch, adding a built-in battery charger for your iPhone. It’s still waterproof, snowproof, dustproof, etc., but the FRĒ Power also doubles your phone’s battery life. It’s a little heavy at about 4.4 ounces, but the extra juice when you need it is well worth the extra weight.

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PELICAN PROGEAR VAULT TABLET CASE ($70-$100, pelican.com)

This is the coolest case we’ve found for tablets. The Vault is made of hard plastic with a rubber-edged seal, protecting your tablet against rain and dust. It’s also impact-resistant and withstands military specs for surviving a 4-foot drop. At 16 ounces, the Vault isn’t exactly super-light, but the extra protection is worth it. Fits a variety of tablet sizes.

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OUTDOOR RESEARCH SENSOR DRY POCKET ARMBAND ($45, outdoorresearch.com)

This cool armband provides waterproof protection for a variety of cellphones. Your phone’s touchscreen is fully functional through the clear window, while a headphone port lets you enjoy your music on the trail. At just 1.3 oz., the armband is very lightweight and a good choice for day hiking or biking. Available this spring.

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STM DUX FOR IPHONE 6/6S ($30, stmbags.com)

While the LifeProof case is like a pair of burly waterproof hiking boots for your phone, this one is more like a pair of everyday sneakers. The case is simple and sleek and provides everyday protection for your phone in a slim design that never gets in your way.

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BIG AGNES ENTERTAINMENT CENTER LOFT ($50, bigagnes.com)

For those long, rainy days stuck in a tent with your buddies, there’s this. The Entertainment Center Loft turns your tent into an instant movie theater. Simply slide your tablet inside the water-resistant case and clip it into your tent’s gear loft loops. At 12″ x 8.5″ it fits most tablets. You can even set it up for an outdoor movie night.

3 Comments on 10 great cases and covers for your electronics

  1. I have a rally great Pelican Case

  2. Cool. I have the STM DUX for my iPad mini 4.

  3. jabba the what??? // August 18, 2016 at 1:16 pm // Reply

    cool stuff!

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