The ToughCase is a new product from Magellan and features a heavy duty water and shock proof case for the iPhone or iPod Touch. Some of the interesting additional features include enhancement to the GPS accuracy and an increase in the battery life of the unit.
[Not a valid template]Over the last two months, I have had the opportunity to use the case in a variety of different environments, conditions, and adventures. As a new iPhone owner, I was excited to test this new product.
My first impression when opening the box was that of surprise. The ToughCase is somewhat larger and heavier than I had expected but the unit’s beefiness does not noticeably detract from function and considering what the ToughCase is designed to do, it is understandable why it was designed how it is.
The case comes with a sleeve for the iPod touch but is not needed for the iPhone. The iPhone slips easily into the case and communicates with the ToughCase via the phone’s charging port. When the iPhone is inside the case, the power from the case is transferred to the iPhone automatically which is a nice feature.
The case closes with two secure fasteners. Once the iPhone is secured in the case, ALL the iPhone functions can be used from the
outside of the case and the touch screen responds normally. The ToughCase also comes with a charging cord which plugs into a
waterproof port on the outside of the case. The case comes with its own charging cord because the ToughCase must be charged to get the extended power to the iPhone. It can be charged by itself, or you can also charge the case with the iPhone inside.
As previously mentioned, I took the ToughCase on several adventures over the last two months including a rainy fishing trip, a technical mountain climb, catamaran sailing, and hiking in Colorado. I used the ToughCase locally while fishing and sailing, and used the unit for GPS navigation while mountain climbing in Colorado.
Waterproofness: The waterproofness is one of the primary features of the ToughCase. This especially interested me since many of my activities are outdoors, and it is not unusual for my equipment to be exposed to the elements, especially water. Catamaran sailing is an extremely wet endeavor so the ToughCase seemed to fit the bill.
Additionally, bass fishing in the rain is another reason for wanting to protect my iPhone. During both activities, the ToughCase was exposed to both rain and boat spray, and the unit performed as billed with my iPhone performing as normally as it usually does.