Power: We recently climbed the 13,000 ft Vestal Peak in the rugged San Juan Mountains of Colorado. On this trip, we were in the backcountry for five days and had a 10-hour technical rock climb to the summit. I had the iPhone powered on during most of the day on all five days. With the extended battery life created by the ToughCase, I was able to use the iPhone daily for GPS navigation, and still had a little power left at the end of the trip.
Ruggedness: While climbing Vestal Peak, I wore the ToughCase on the outside of my jacket. On several occasions, it was bounced around on the rock as I was making technical moves on the route. At the end of the day, I was forced to dive into a ditch to avoid rock fall. My forearm was lacerated but the iPhone was not damaged. I also managed to drop it several times during the Vestal Peak trip and a Colorado hiking trip several weeks later. My iPhone still functions normally, just like it did on day one.
GPS Enhancement: The thing I noticed the most when using the GPS of the iPhone with the ToughCase was the unit’s ability to more quickly get a GPS signal. I used the AccuTerra mapping/navigation application on the iPhone. This is a great mapping/navigation application because the topographic maps are downloaded directly to the unit and is a necessary feature when no data cellular signal is available (as is required by other navigation map applications). With the AccuTerra TOPO maps and the enhanced GPS signal, I noticed a significant difference in the speed which I could acquire a GPS signal. Plus, the navigation, waypoints, tracks, and routes were spot-on accurate.
Overall, I am impressed with the ToughCase. The ToughCase’s features and abilities exactly fit my adventure lifestyle and protected my iPhone during all my outdoor activities. The unit’s ability to extend the battery life is a necessary feature when in the
backcountry for several days. While the ToughCase is somewhat more expensive than other waterproof cases, I feel the additional features and abilities of the unit justify the price.
So if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, the ToughCase may just be the protection your iPhone needs for your next adventure.
Related – SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger
* Published by JPFreek Jeep Adventure Magazine – The leader in Jeep and adventure enthusiast publications.