LifeProof frē iPhone Case - Review
The slim fre case is only marginally larger than the phone itself.
Going with Realtree camo might not be best if drop your phone while in the bush.
While a phone case isn't as exciting for us mountain bikers as a new wheelset or high-end suspension, the fact that so many of us don't leave home without our cellphone in our pocket or pack means that it's worthwhile taking a look at. After all, a new phone can cost as much as those fancy wheels that you've been saving up for, so why not protect it so you can buy the wheels instead of having to replace your phone? LifeProof says that their frē iPhone case is waterproof to two meters, drop proof from up to two meters, and impervious to both dirt and snow, which pretty much covers the gamut of possible scenarios when it comes to mountain biking, save for maybe a bear attack or lightning strike. The case consists of two main components - a front and back - with the front sporting a scratch proof screen cover that works with the iPhone's touchscreen and a Touch ID compatible home screen button cover. Rubberized buttons cover the volume controls, while a captured thread-in plug seals up the headphone jack. LifeProof includes a threaded headphone and auxiliary cord adapter that lets you listen to tunes without sacrificing any moisture protection, and waterproof sections cover the phone's two speaker ports that still allow sound out. The back half of the case is home to a rubber gasket that seals out water when it's closed up while still allowing the camera and flash functions to work, and there's also a hinged door that protects the charging port. The frē iPhone case pictured here is just one of the four different Realtree camo models, and you can also choose from a handful of different colours as well. MSRP $89.95 USD www.lifeproof.com
The hinged port for the charging cable is watertight thanks to the yellow rubber section.
A rubber gasket (the yellow shown at bottom) creates a waterproof seal.
The phone's buttons are covered but all still useable.
Pinkbike’s Take:
 | There are all sorts of arguments for leaving your cellphone at home or in the car, but, as someone who rides by myself quite often, I like the piece of mind that having my phone in my pocket brings. Not only can I call for help when I crash so hard that my shoes come off, I can also order a pizza to the lookout if I manage to bonk on the way up. I may or may not be joking. Anyways, being that my phone is with me 24/7, rain or shine, a burly case is a must, but I also don't want one that's the size of a cinderblock, as it needs to fit into the rather small zippered pockets of my favourite shorts. The LifeProof fre case doesn't drastically increase the overall package size compared to a naked iPhone 5, so there's no concerns when space is at a premium, and the plastic body doesn't stick to the inside of a pocket and pull it inside out like a case with rubber protective sections to it tends to. This is small beans overall, but after using a larger, rubberized case that dragged my pocket out every time I pulled the phone, I prefer the slipperier and slimmer LifeProof design. The case's screen protecter doesn't inhibit the phone's touchscreen, even with gloves on, and the Touch ID feature still works as intended, although moisture on the outside of the protector needs to be wiped off so as not to interfere. Glare is certainly more noticeable than when the phone's not in the case, but that's pretty much par for the course. My only real complaint when it comes to day to day function boils down to the pesky headphone adapter that threads into place. I realize that it's an important component in keeping the phone protected against moisture when using headphones, key if you're riding in the rain a lot like I am, but I found it super annoying to be constantly threading and unthreading it when switching the phone from using the auxiliary cord for my van's stereo or with my headphones to having it in my pocket. I also had the rubber seal for the charging port hatch fall out of place a number of times when it was flipped open - I'm not sure how I haven't lost it yet. I take my phone with me on almost every ride, rain or shine, and it's seen everything from being completely submerged underwater to me landing on it after an unplanned dismount (my shoes stayed on). My phone still looks as good as new after all this, which is impressive. That said, the LifeProof case itself has turned out to be far from life proof. The slim design of the case compared to other, burlier options out there is appreciated, but the cost is a marked difference in reliability. The case pictured here is actually the second in less than a year, with its predecessor managing to pretty much fall to pieces after six months of use. First, the hinged door that protects the charging port self destructed one day when I went to unlatch it, and then the yellow seal that runs around the perimeter of the face plate began to constantly come out of place when I took the case off. Finally, the screen protector separated from the faceplate, rendering the case useless. I'd usually recommend avoiding any product that gave me that amount of trouble, but I should note that the second LifeProof case that I picked up shortly after the first one failed has proven to be much more robust, with no signs of impending destruction. Regardless, I obviously wouldn't tell you to consider the LifeProof case if you're looking for the most protection possible. Also, maybe it's just me, but doesn't $89.95 USD seem like a bit too much for a piece of moulded plastic? - Mike Levy |
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I work on cars and have dropped it in buckets of coolant and then just rinse it off in the sink.
I feel like super obtrusive cases like this one reviewed make the phone less functional by making the screen less sensitive and make the ergo all messed up
Get it now?
Same thing happens with bikes
Create a market= let the money roll in
Not to mention most rugged smartphones I've seen are not worth buying. Before the S5 Active pretty much the only one available was the Rugby which is stuck on 2.3 and slow as molasses.
The first one was black and I lost it and the phone.
The second, I had the phone on the saddle of a bike while spinning the cranks (bike was in a stand). The phone fell facedown onto the pedal in the upstroke and flew across the room. The thin plastic front cover somehow saved my screen from cracking. Unfortunately a pedal pin pierced the cover just enough to no longer make it water proof.
Third is doing well.
Will probably end up on a fourth when I upgrade the phone.
Apple have a long way to go when it comes to durability etc...
all fones break!
www.sonimtech.com/pdf/Core_ds.pdf
Check out HITCASE. Weve got a 6 model dropping in a month. Everything about Hitcase is replaceable so if you break something it can be fixed without buying a while new unit. Were designed in Canada and made in the USA. Also allows you to mount etc. I should add that weve price reduced our iPhone 5/5s/5c stock to $99. If anyone is interested PM me and ill get you some free mounts on top of it.
I always am interested in a good case. Life proof in particular is nice when your kid hit the "throw stuff in the toilet" stage.
And besides, at least it is not an apple watch review. Now you can buy a watch that does everything the phone in your pocket already does. . .
So does strava not work for you when in the back hills?
Personally I would discourage anyone from purchasing, it's junk.
I've been through so many that I've lost track. My life proof fell apart in the same manner you described in less than a year. It lost waterproofing much earlier due to the volume knob tearing open.
I'm on an Otter Box Preserver case now and it works okay at the sacrifice of sound/call quality.
The Lifeproof case feels better but I don't trust them enough to try again. I've seen too many broken in the same ways.
If you sweat for hours on a ride and then jump into a pool to cool off under the assumption that your phone is protected by a waterproof case then it's generally very nice for that case to be, in fact, reliably waterproofed.
Need one of these if ur with Cameron XD
www.pongcase.com