Protective gear for more fun and less stress
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Few things can ruin a vacation faster than hearing your phone plunk into a pool, puddle, or another liquid form of electronic doom. Luckily, there are now oodles of options for affordable waterproof pouches that keep your phone not only dry and protected but also afloat. We spent hours testing nine of the best waterproof phone pouches at our lab in Brooklyn. Before buying, consider the size, other features, and the waterproofing certification—a rainy street corner calls for different precautions than learning to use a stand-up paddleboard.
CaliCase claims to have the "world's best" floating waterproof phone pouches. Based on our tests, they definitely have a strong argument behind that lofty claim. The Universal Waterproof Floating Case, which employs two layers of PVC-based plastic, checked all the boxes we were looking for in a waterproof phone pouch. Not only did the waterproofing hold up against all testing, but it also allowed the phone to work perfectly when the case was both wet and dry. The testers loved how simple the seal was to open and close. One tester also noted that it was incredibly buoyant, even pushing back on them when they tried to hold it submerged in our testing fish aquarium. But with that buoyancy came the one nitpick our testers had: The case was so padded that it was one of the bulkiest tested.
Still, the CaliCase pouch is solid and comes with some nice perks, like a size that fits basically all phones, 15 different color patterns, an adjustable lanyard, a carabiner, and a cleaning cloth.
Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.1 inches | Weight: 2.4 ounces | Accessories Included: Lanyard, carabiner, microfiber cloth
No leaks during our tests
Our budget pick is the JOTO Universal Waterproof Pouch, which is available in 14 different colors, fits most phones, and claims to be not only waterproof but snowproof, dustproof, and scratch-resistant. Our testers liked that it comes with an adjustable, detachable lanyard. They also liked how easy the phone was to use whether the pouch was wet or dry; however, the phone did not work while submerged. While having the double clasps to seal the pouch brings peace of mind, it did not bring ease of opening and closing, as our testers said this was one of the tougher cases to open and close. The pouch also did not float on top of the water.
Dimensions: 6.69 x 3.35 inches | Weight: 1.76 ounces | Accessories Included: Lanyard
With a capacity to hold phones up to 7 inches diagonally measured, the Universal Waterproof Phone Case made it particularly easy to remove larger phones like many Samsung models. Hiearcool's phone case has a waterproof certification to 100 feet below the surface, and while we could not sink it that far, we were impressed with its waterproofness while fully submerging it. Testers also liked that it comes with an adjustable, detachable lanyard and how easy it was to slide phones into the pouch and latch the top closed. Hiearcool's pouch did not float on the water's surface, but our testers noted it was straightforward to use the phone inside the pouch.
Dimensions: 8.27 x 4.33 inches | Weight: 3.81 ounces | Accessories Included: Lanyard
Hard to find in open water
Let's be honest with ourselves. Having a waterproof phone pouch for sitting poolside or even canoeing through a calm harbor is one thing. It's entirely different from having a waterproof phone pouch for whitewater rafting, kayaking, or tubing. Simply put, the latter needs a bit more protection and float than the former. For those planning on taking their phones on adventurous—and potentially treacherous—water outings, we recommend the AquaVault Waterproof Floating Phone Case.
Our testers were impressed with this case's two layers of protection, including a Velcro fold-over top and Ziploc-style closure rolled down over itself. When we submerged it, the phone stayed totally dry and floated back to the top of the water, albeit only vertically (we couldn't get it to lie flat on the surface). Testers also loved how well the phone worked inside the case, whether dry or wet.
Dimensions: 7.25 x 4.25 inches | Weight: 4.1 ounces | Accessories Included: Lanyard
Works for all iPhone models
At first, we were skeptical of the Universal Phone Case from ProCase. It feels flimsy. But the case held up across all tests, and we were impressed with its lightness and waterproofing. Along with the certified waterproofing to a depth of 100 feet, ProCase says its phone case is also snow- and dirtproof. Our testers liked how easy it was to use a phone inside the case when it was wet and dry. And while it didn't float to the top, our testers appreciated the prong-style closure. We're always down for an adjustable and detachable lanyard, which this phone case includes.
Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 inches | Weight: 1.8 ounces | Accessories Included: Lanyard
Durable, buoyant, and easy to use both wet and dry, the CaliCase Universal Waterproof Case passed our tests with flying colors and is a worthy purchase to protect your phone. We also recommend Joto's Universal Waterproof Pouch, coming in at an even more affordable price while still delivering solid protection and ease of use.
TripSavvy editors and writers selected products in this roundup after thorough and thoughtful research. We selected some of the most reviewed and purchased phone cases on Amazon. We also tried to select and test products with different styles and price points. It's worth noting that the waterproof phone pouch game doesn't have a ton of players, and we tried to cover most of the major ones.
All products were tested in Dotdash Meredith's testing lab in Brooklyn, New York. Multiple TripSavvy editors placed test phones into phone pouches and tested the functionality when dry. Phones and cases were then submerged in a fish aquarium to test how well they performed. We also tested how well the phone cases floated in the tank. Then phone cases were removed from the water, and before removing the phones, we tested how well the touchscreens worked while the cases were wet. We then removed the phones from the cases to see if any water made it to the phones. Phone cases were scored on waterproofing, ease of use, phone usability, and durability.
MoKo Floating Waterproof Phone Pouch: While this pouch is okay, it performed slightly less impressively than the others we tested. It works fine if you use it carefully and correctly, but if you use it carelessly, you might have an issue.
Be sure to check the size of the case before you commit—and not just the dimensions. Each of these cases has thousands of reviews on Amazon. Get into those reviews a bit and make sure your phone will not only fit but fit comfortably. While most of these cases are inexpensive and it's relatively easy to return products on Amazon, save yourself the time and headache and do the upfront research.
The primary feature of these cases is waterproofing. But other things to consider are whether or not both sides are clear and if the case floats. The latter is significant because a waterproof case won't do much good if you can't find your phone after it falls overboard. We also appreciate having detachable and adjustable lanyards.
The key here is to look for a product that's waterproof, not simply water-resistant. The former means that it can withstand continuous submersion, so you can rest easy knowing that it can handle a full day of water activities. And you shouldn't go wrong with a waterproof certification that goes down to 100 feet beneath the surface of the water, which most of these cases in the roundup have.
Waterproof phones can withstand splashes of water or being dropped in a puddle but are not made for plunges into the water, especially for long periods. A waterproof pouch can help protect your phone from water damage. Many pouches also have floating capabilities, so if you drop your phone into a lake or pool, it will not sink.
Most waterproof pouches are made with a transparent, heavy-duty polythermal plastic that allows you to see your phone's screen and to use its touch screen function. While most functions will still work in the pouch, there are some functions, like fingerprint locks, that you will not be able to use. We've noted how each phone case included in this roundup performs when dry, wet, and submerged.
While most cases in this list will protect your phone in the event of an accidental drop in open water or throughout a day's worth of splashing, they are not designed to fully protect your device from being submerged in water for extended periods. Snap a couple of cool underwater pictures or partially submerged portraits, but we recommend leaving your phone on dry land when you want to take a few laps.
Nathan Allen is the outdoor gear editor for TripSavvy. While he still misses flip phones, he appreciates the evolution of smartphones. Nathan went through a three-month span in his mid-20s when he dropped three different phones in various forms of water (yes, one was a toilet), ruining each phone. He's tested waterproof phone cases while rafting Rocky Mountain rivers and paddleboarding High Sierra alpine lakes. He's now had the same iPhone for more than two years—a record for him—and is concerned he's now jinxed himself.
Author Justine Harrington covers travel, food & drink, lifestyle, culture, social advocacy, and the outdoors. Justine has been writing about all things Texas for TripSavvy since August 2018.
Jamie Hergenrader, Editorial Director, Travel Commerce, went to our Brooklyn lab and conducted multiple rounds of waterproof phone pouch testing.
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