I聽destroyed two iPhones this year. They died not of trauma, but of drowning.聽The first iPhone 6 shorted out after聽plunging聽into a rest-stop toilet聽in Ohio. The second iPhone 6 met its maker thanks to a spilled聽glass of red wine. Vowing to keep my third phone聽safe, I tracked down the top-rated LifeProof FRE聽case and spent the rest of the season putting it through its paces. I chose the FRE because of the waterproof rating, durability, and slim build.聽Here鈥檚 how it fared.
The Test
To start, I knocked five glasses of water onto the phone. Then I took it on a rainy mountain-bike ride and two rainy runs. I also threw it into the toilet, where I let it soak for a full聽minute. Then, to really challenge the thing,聽I brought it along for two kayaking trips:聽one in the ocean聽and one in a river, where the phone lived in my vest except for a few intentional dunks. Several pro kayakers tested the same case聽on the Green River Narrows in North Carolina, where they聽ran it through Class V rapids for hours.聽
The Results
Every time we opened the case, the phone was bone-dry. But a warning: I nearly ruined the phone in the ocean because I didn鈥檛 fully seal the case. If you plan to submerge聽this thing,聽double-check the perimeter to ensure it鈥檚 completely snapped shut. Also, pay attention to the screw that allows you to open and close the headphone jack. Make sure it鈥檚 ratcheted down or water will leak into the case.聽In terms of functionality, I was able to take photos when the case was wet聽but had a hard time typing if it was dripping water. Dried off, however, it鈥檚 easy to use.
Bottom Line
The 聽case is totally waterproof, but what really sold me was its sleek design. At only 12聽millimeters聽thick, it offered complete water protection for my phone, but I didn鈥檛 have to carry around a plastic brick.
Other Waterproof Cases We Like
Mophie H2Pro ($130)
This case keeps your phone but will also charge your battery back to 100 percent.
Hitcase Pro ($100)
We like this case because it鈥檚 , which is useful if your phone really takes a swim. It鈥檒l also save the phone from a six-foot fall.
Pelican C02040聽 ($80)
Our photographers regularly use Pelican cases to transport expensive camera gear, and the company brings the 聽to its iPhone case, which is made from waterproof and shock-absorbing materials.