IPhone Cases?

[Gunney]

Gents,
I was hoping to get your opinion on a case for my soon-to-be-coming Iphone. I was informed earlier that I would be getting one on account of switching providers, however it dawned on me that I should probably get a case for it considering that I am a grade-A clutz lol. I am generally hard on technology-- as a firefighter sometimes my phone comes with me under my turnouts, and whilst they make you look like the Michelin man, they really aren't too padded against bumps, and the ever present water-- not to mention I generally like to test that gravity is in effect by dropping my phone down the closest set of stairs... lol

Anyway, I was hoping a few of you gents with the same kind of relationship to tech might be able to advise me. I was thinking Otterbox Defender or Lifeproof. The latter is obviously a bit more expensive, but if it is a sure fire safe bet than I will. Any other suggestions will be taken under advisement too! Thanks.

 

[mretzloff]

The Otterbox is great if you are prone to dropping your iPhone. My sister's Otterbox has paid for itself. I do not have a case on my iPhone, though.

 

[Seraphim]

Otterbox Commuter is excellent.


EDIT:

Upon closer reading the Commuter wouldn't cut it for you...

 

[Doc226]

Lifeproof is water proof to 6 feet, it provides some drop protection too

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

The Otterbox is great

 

[Cobra0369]

Lifeproof. And if something goes wrong with the case, call the company, and they replace it!

 

[Graybeard57]

I have Otter Box Defender, and it is a sturdy case. Lifeproof is appealing due to its being waterproof, but I'm sticking to what I've got.

 

[shavious]

As much as I hate bulky cases, in your situation I'd have to recommend a Lifeproof or an Otterbox Defender. The Griffin Survivor would also be a good one, but may not be as easy to find.

 

[Amer]

I've got an Otterbox Defender, and while it works great from me, if your phone is ever in danger of water submersion, you'd have to get the Otterbox Armor or a Lifeproof case.

My defender has protected against drops of water or spilled drops from beverages, etc. but it does leave several areas exposed (cameras, speakers) all the time.

 

[Acmemfg]

Otterbox Defender all the way. It has saved my phone more than once.

 

[Gunney]

Still torn lol!

When people say the Otterbox is bulky, how bulky? I mean I am a rather large person, at 6'2" and about 200lbs (well... within a few stone of that! ) so my pockets are obviously bigger than someone who is barely 5' and 100lbs soaking wet!

The lifeproof looks to be the better of the offerings, but one thing that concerns me is it's ability to cushion the phone-- I mean there has to be a reason that the otter and survivor are more 'bulgy'...

 

[DiG3430]

For my iPhone 4S, I've used both the Otterbox Defender and Lifeproof. Here's my opinion on both:

Otterbox Defender: Bulky. I'm about your size (6'2", 215 lbs), and it felt like I was carrying a brick in my front pocket. If you don't mind carrying something that adds that much size and weight to your otherwise slim phone, this might be for you.

Lifeproof: I got this after dropping my phone in a pool. Lifeproof lives up to its name as a protective case, but I stopped using it after a few months. After one drop on concrete, the plastic case became scuffed right on a spot where my hand rests when I hold it. This made it somewhat sharp and uncomfortable to hold. Also, the waterproof piece over the ear speaker somehow ripped, thus making it no longer waterproof. There were also these annoying plastic strips on either side of the screen on the inside of the case, creating a gap between the screen protector and the screen itself. I couldn't get used to this and ended up using a pushpin to scrape these plastic strips off. And if you use headphones, you need to unscrew the tiny piece covering the plug and either use the specific buds that came with the phone or a special Lifeproof earphone connector. In the end, this case ended up being WAY more annoying than it was worth (for me, at least).

FWIW, I also used the Otterbox Commuter, which I loved until the plastic piece on the bottom (near the Home button) broke after a few months. I've had bad luck with cases, and the only thing on my phone now is a screen protector.

Also FWIW, Otterbox bought Lifeproof and offers an Otterbox Armor line of cases. From the looks of it, it seems about as bulky as the Defender while also being waterproof. It also looks like it has a flip/snap hatch over the ear phone port, so at least that part seems like an improvement over the old Lifeproof.

 

[blary54]

For my Iphone 4s I have 3 Magpul cases I use. They work great and are just $10 each. Dont think they make them for the Iphone 5 yet.

 

[Gunney]

Looks like I may just have to order the lifeproof-- It is the Iphone 4s.

 

[Eric83]

LIFEPROOF! Sometimes it's a hard to hear when your talking to somebody when you have a noisy background, but that phone case protects! With the cost of phones now days, my iPhone does not come out of that shock and waterproof case...

 

[ClintO]

I have to say I use an otterbox and I kind of hate it. The rubber gets so peely and it's annoying. The one for my 5 has been better than the one I had on my 4S but it still has gotten peely. I have been eyeing the Incipio Atlas. It's waterproof like the lifeproof but I think it looks a little slicker. Same price.