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Palm Discovery gives A BIG THANKS to Kristin Golliher of Otterbox for providing the product for this review.

Pics of Otterbox 1000 waterproof, crushproof, airtight case

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Video of Otterbox 1000

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For those who love water sports, or camping at lake resorts or travel to destinations where you will encounter large bodies of water or other circumstances where you may be worried about your personal belongings coming into accidental contact with water, you may be interested in the variety of waterproof, crushproof and airtight cases offered by Otterbox.

Otterbox has been making waterproof and crushproof cases since 1996 and they keep coming out with new releases every so often to satisfy the overwhelming demand for support of newer electronic devices. I was fortunate enough not only to do a review of the Otterbox 1920 PDA Case which will fit the Treo 650, but also give it away to one lucky Palm Discovery reader. More info on that here. Okay, back to the Otterbox model 1000 case review.

Let’s take a moment to think about the cases we own for our mobile devices including cell phones, pagers, Palms, etc. Most of are NOT waterproof. They may provide protection against bumps and scrapes, even accidental drops and if you’re lucky, rigid enough to withstand some pressure and resist crushing but protection against water damage? Not a chance.

Unlike other waterproof cases, this is a hard case (practically an armor case) that not only stops water from getting in, but is also crushproof so that your valuables won’t easily get crushed should you accidentally run over the case with your car. Not that I’m saying most of us will encounter that though. Try that with other waterproof cases and see how well they’ll do! Er, maybe not.

The case has a very simple book style design. It has a hinge at one side and a heavy duty clip at the other side that snaps shut. This clip does take a bit of force to snap it open or shut. This means that water won’t easily be able to get in and that the clip won’t easily unsnap itself spilling out its contents. That is important, especially when you are dealing with water. You can’t allow the clasp or clip to easily be opened because for the most part, if we are dealing with water, we are likely dealing with the enormous strength of water. We aren’t simply submerging the case in water but rather subjecting it to however many pounds of water pressure when we’re water skiing, wind surfing. Well, you get the picture.

As I’ve demonstrated in my video, even after an hour submerged in water, the inside of the case remained dry, oblivious to its external environment during the time it was submerged. Quite impressive I must say. The durable and tough armor shell of this case combined with its waterproof capabilities really make this an excellent case for those who wish to have his valuables with him while participating in water sports. I am quite confident that Otterbox has made a quality waterproof case that provides excellent protection under as well as above water.

The case offers a small, thin handle at one end where the lanyard is strung through. You can opt to string or loop something else through the handle to secure it to something. As well, right next to the clip where you snap or unsnap to open or close the case, there’s a loop hole. You can use it to secure the case with a traveler’s combination or key lock, providing an extra layer of security.

Here are my observations and thoughts on the Otterbox 1000 case.

The case is rigid and durable enough to withstand crushing. The clip is quite strong. It does take a certain amount of strength to snap or unsnap the clip. Depending on your perspective, this may or may not be a good thing. A strong clip ensures that the case is airtight and will keep water out. That also means, on the other hand, that you will need to exert enough force to snap or unsnap it. If you are suffering from arthritis, you may encounter much difficulty with this case. The inner seal that wraps along the edge of the top cover works very well to keep the water out. The case isn’t heavy but it isn’t lightweight either. It weighs a bit more than most typical PDA hard cases. Depending on what you decide on storing inside the case, you may find it either too bulky or not big enough for your needs. Keep in mind that the 1000 model is slightly larger than the size of a credit card and/or business card. So that means, you won’t be able to fit a PDA or similar sized devices inside. If you have one of those tiny cell phones slightly larger than a credit card you may be able to fit it in. But, there are other models available that will hold your PDA plus other objects.

The lanyard or string, can extend up to 16 inches when unraveled but I do have a concern over the end of it where there’s an Otterbox clip that holds the string together. I have personally experienced that these clips, over time, may come off. You may want to ensure that the string is secure, especially if you are planning to use it when water skiing or other sports where it may come into contact with sudden bursts of water. I’d suggest at least creating an extra knot at the end to make sure that it will hold.

Keep in mind that this is simply, a waterproof box. Although you are able to keep the items inside dry, you won’t be able to have access to them until you are on dry land, or at least above water. That means, if your cell phone rings inside the case, you wont’ be able to answer it without opening the case up. Depending on the environment, you may not want to do so. Unlike other Otterbox cases specifically designed for PDAs and other portable devices, you are not able to “work” or access them while it’s in the case. But then, keep in mind that those PDA cases aren’t waterproof either so you have to balance between whether you want a case that will offer functionality and access or waterproof features. One last note is that although the case is crushproof, the case does not offer any cushioning. Notice that there is no neoprene lining found in most PDA cases. But mind you, this isn’t a PDA case either. You can however, easily provide cushioning for whatever you store in the case simply by stuffing your own cushioning material inside whether it be bubble wrap, cloth, foam or whatever else. This can be a cheap cushioning solution if you are holding something that is delicate to shocks.

The Otterbox 1000 is an overall quality, durable, waterproof and crushproof case. As I’ve demonstrated in the video, after an hour submerged underwater, the inside of the case remained dry. The combination of a heavy duty shell with a transparent top is quite appealing to me because it allows me to see its contents (ie. view the time on my watch without worrying about water getting in) when I’m underwater and of course, allow me to carry my valuables like wallet, credit cards with me. This is one case that works perfectly well under and above water because of its crushproof feature. Mind you that it may not be as functional as other PDA or mobile cases since you can’t access it until you open it, but it offers excellent protection. If you are going to be in an environment where protection against sand, water or even physical crushing, the Otterbox 1000 may be the case for you. Keep in mind that the 1000 model is suited to fit credit card sized items. Should you require a bigger sized case, you may wish to check out the various other models they offer. At a very reasonable price of $11.49, it’s a case that won’t break your piggybank.

Otterbox also offers the same quality features over its extensive line of products. You should be able to find the right sized case that will fit your devices and items ranging from cell phones, to PDA, laptops, iPods, digital cameras, etc.

Here’s more information on the Otterbox 1000 and an overview of their product lines from Otterbox’s website:

The OtterBox 1000

The only FAA approved case that allows you to take your Zippo lighter in your checked luggage.

Again, a BIG THANKS to Kristin Golliher for providing this product for the review. Please check out the Otterbox 1000 case at Otterbox. While you’re there, why not check out their other lines of quality cases as well?

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