Rethinking my digital toys at the mo, taking in consideration the increasing price and fragility of phones. it seems silly to me to bring a state of the art piece of tech on the road/trails/kayaking/mountain running.

So I am rethinking my entire digital lifestyle equipment, which consist of a work laptop (recent macbook), home computer (older macbook) used for surfing and streaming mostly, and antiquated iPhone 3G, mostly used by the daughter for games. I have no reception at work and do not need to use it there. 90% of my use of it is texting. Would take photos if it took decent ones.

I am thinking my aging macbook could be replaced by a tablet, which my daughter could use for games. I’d like a rugged phone with good battery but the offerings in that market are pretty poor TBH. Thinking cheap as chinese phone could a way to go as they are cheap enough to be replaced if anything goes wrong.

Anybody out there having the same type of requirement or experience with similar solutions?

Not sure if spam or just a really sad thread…

So you need a tablet and a basic phone with a good camera?

FWIW I know plenty of people that live very rugged lifestyles and their iphones seem to stand up to it fine.

Otter box…

Nice phone in an otter box type thing?

Crosscall website

These guys are a French company who specialise in outdoor and waterproof phones.
They are available through Decathlon. The Explorer model even comes with a dynamo charger 8)

glupton1976 – Member

Not sure if spam or just a really sad thread…

Whereas with your threads, there’s never any doubt as to the intention.

Really sad thread I’m afraid glup. Not the post of the year I agree.

Good one ajantom. That looks promising, thanks

I use a Samsung Immerse.
Shockproof, waterproof, I can even make calls on it.
I think it cost me £50 new on Amazon.
Not sure about the camera as I have never used it.

don’t motorola do an IP rated android phone?

iPhone does fine.

I’ve had various iphones since the first one, mountain biking, skiing, hill walking, manual job.

Never without my phone with me.

Never broken one yet.

Can’t see how you would really.

Motorola Defy Mini looks good, cheap, basic camera, IP67, long battery life.

Neal, you’re probably right, but I have no real need for an iPhone, and I have managed to break the glass on the one I have. combined with the fact that I don’t want to lock myself into a contract (may move country in not so distant future). My team partner also managed to turn his iPhone in a paperweight at the last adventure race. Did I mention battery life?

Samsung immerse battery life is also too short.

The Samsung Solid Extreme was my last phone and it had a great battery life (easily 7 days) and is very tough/reliable, but the camera is poor I guess (never used it). I lost it in the hills and it was found a week later, still working, with battery life!

I have a JCB Tough phone now and that’s also very tough and has a great battery life (7-10 days) but no camera. It’s yellow so hopefully easier to find if it does get dropped!

To add to the “i-phone is fine” debate, I know LOADS of people with i-phones that have cracked creens, and none of then are outdoors folk!

Look at Sonim for tough phones with very long battery life. I think they made some of the JCB phones. http://www.sonimtech.com/products/
Though they are rather expensive, and fairly basic – some models have cameras, but I doubt they are very good.

Or you could just get a basic Nokia for £20. They do have long battery life, and fairly tough. And cheap enough to replace if necessary.

The most adventurous phone I had was a Nokia e75 leapt from my camel back on the alp d’heuz glacier during mega practice. Never seen again…

If you don’t use the smart bits then a smartphone is pointless. Get a tough cheap phone and a nicer tough camera.

I’d suggest Otterbox for the iPhone.

although as has previously been mentioned … http://www.jcbtoughphone.com/

If you’re after a waterproof smartphone, then I think there are offerings from Samsung, Panasonic and Sony. Such as Sony Xperia Acro HD.