Protecting your outdoor Electronics

[Siskiyou]

The outdoors can be one or all the following wet, freezing, muddy, dusty, rough and tumble.  How does one protect his portable radio, gps, cellphone, and flashlight from damage.  I must admit the thing that got me going was the "leather carrying case" that came with my NOKIA cellphone.  That is the most useless item I have seen in a long time.  Now it may work if you carry your phone in a purse and you spend the day in a an office or at home.  But it offers no protection in the outdoors. Yesterday the wife and I made a trip to the big electronic store to buy another 512 MB for her computer.  I was all smiles because the real reason we made the trip was that I wanted a more protective carrying case for the cellphone.  

I spent the last week of deer hunting two years ago out in the rain, mud, and snow.  At night I had to pull everything out of my daypack and dry it. In my part of the world the best hunting comes with nasty weather.

At the big eletronic store they offered all kinds of items to carry cellphones or more likely show them off.  None offered any kind of protection.  My Nokia carrier was designed to drop and lose the phone.  I guess they sell more that way.  I found other holsters to carry cellphones,  but they were all open.  I then went over to the gps counter.  I found what I wanted.  A narrow zip carrying case for a Magellan gps.  It protects all the buttons, and contacts.  It is slightly padded.  There is enough room in the case to enclosed the cellphone in a zip lock bag.  With the phone protected by the zip lock bag I can still make phone calls without opening the bag, protecting the phone. Garmin had a similar carrying case but it was a little to big for my phone.

Cost: 512 MB RAM $80 minus $30 mail-in-rebate
         Lunch $20
         GAS   $20
         case    $9
Not a bad deal, the wife is happy with the RAM and if I lost or damaged the cellphone it would cost me around $200.

Siskiyou

[Slug-Gunner]

Siskiyou,
I guess I'm just a real cheapskate.... I simply use a small size freezer type ZipLok bag to keep my GPS, cell phone, Talkabout, and misc. other items in  during inclement weather or around water (all the time for TP and matches/lighter). In fact, I keep about a dozen spare ZipLok bags in my daypack at all times. They are extremely light and take up very little space, but have multitudes of uses in both hunting and survival needs. The "freezer" type ZipLok bags are much thicker, stronger, durable and last longer than the standard storage/sandwich ZipLok bags. The larger size ZipLok bags can also be used to keep extra clothing items DRY and CLEAN when hiking or camping too. They are also excellent for packing your foodstuff and cooking items in. Flour, sugar, rice, etc. can be used and resealed to minimize spoilage or insect predation. Just too many uses to list all of them here.  $9 will buy several different size boxes of them.

 :lol:  :-D  :wink:  

[Siskiyou]

Slug-Gunner:

I love those Zip lock bags.  I bought the gps carrying case for the phone because I do not think the factory case is very good.  I am always banging around and it does not protect the phone.  I have not tried a Zip lock bag with belt loops for going town.  Hmmmn

Siskiyou

[lilabner]

When I take the cellphone ocean fishing, it is strictly for emergencies. I generally use one of those seal a meal units to keep it from getting wet. Cut the seal and your contents are bone dry. Stuff that will be regularly used is more difficult. One solution is the "wet bags" used by whitewater river rafters. They are close to 100 percent watertight, and the outer bag can be inflated by mouth to provide effective padding. Available at places that sell river rafting or boating supplies, and in various sizes. Yeah, nobody wants to sell you something that will really protect their unit. Bad for business! I agree that a ziploc bag is probably all you need for an item that is supposed to be watertight, like most GPS units.

[Siskiyou]

I sure like the seal-o-meal idea!  I have been able to use my radio and cellphone in a ziplock bag without openning it.  I expect to be able to use them in the seal-o-meal bag.  Outstanding idea. ...

Yep, like that will try it.

Siskiyou

[freddogs]

I use those zip lock freezer bags too. They work pretty good. I also put my tiolet paper in one. I really hate for that stuff to get wet.  The camera also has to be in one. I guess I must be a bargain hunter. :roll:

[Siskiyou]

I like both, but the seal-o-meal idea works for me.  Had one of those machines on the top shelf in the kitchen for years.  Zip lock have just about put it out of busy, but I like the idea of protecting that equipment.  

Last deer season I was dry but the season before my gear was very wet.  Did not need toilet paper, it wash off nicely.

Siskiyou

[SteveH]

I've been looking at getting one of these these for my RINO while rafting.



It allows you to use the radio (via a remote ear bud and mic) while in the bag.  

-Steve

[Siskiyou]

SteveH:

In most years hard to beat that Western Oregon for rainfall.  I see that Motorola sells a waterproof bag for their radio's.  Thought on the pricy side.

[SteveH]

Siskiyou,

 Most years but not this year.  Rafting will also likely be bad.  30% of normal snow pack... :cry:

  But goin' on a float trip down the Rogue hunting for bear in the next few weeks!!  :lol:

  Take Care,

  -Steve

[Siskiyou]

The famous Rogue River.  I spent about a month near Gold Beach last summer.  It would have been a nice place to have had some radio communications with the guys nailing the salmon.  How about that 60+ pound salmon the guy caught from the bank.

Siskiyou

[coug2wolfs]

Siskiyou

Try Cabelas.  They have belt jobbies that have velcro fasteners and GPS or cell phones slide right in em.  As a rule I go that route or I have my GPS in my left breast pocket (inside coat).  If it's raining or foul I have appropriate clothing on, so the unit is protected.  The other reason I do that trick is the batteries last a lot longer at 98.6 than at -20 f which it ALWAYS is out here  :lol:

[Siskiyou]

-20 burrrrrr.  It was in the mid 60's here today.  I would give it up for four weeks of good rain and snow.  Nice to have enough water to flush the toilet come August.

I'll take a look at Cabelas.  I'll check out the vendors at a Big Gun Show in Reno in a couple of weeks.  Normally there are a number of vendors there selling all kinds of pouches.

Took a trip in to the valley today geocaching.  Found a cache but the posion oak is coming on full bore in this warm weather.  Keeps up I will need dust covers.

Siskiyou

[Crayfish]

When I bought my GPS several years ago, I stole my wife's zippered case from her compact camera.  It is the PERFECT size and is slightly padded.  I also have the quick reference instruction manual in there in case I screw something up!  Works great for me.

I've been using zip locks for years for my camera, TP, Gorp, lunch, extra socks, and I keep a large one in my pack for bringing out the heart.  They work great, but get a little noisy when it is really cold (especially the thicker freezer type).  I've started using the sandwich bags for snacks/lunch that I'm going to be getting into a lot just to keep the noisy rustling to a minimum!  I also unwrap candy bars I'm bringing with me ahead of time and throw them in with my Gorp so that I don't have to wrestle with noisy candy wrappers either.  They've got to be the worst for noise when the weather gets cold!!

... Crayfish