Friday, June 28, 2013

Fit Friday: LifeProof Case/Armband Review

When I upgraded to an iPhone, I knew I would need a case that would protect it from literally every element in my life.  My main concerns were my own clumsiness, a two year old, and weather while running.  So, my requirements were a case that is drop-proof, waterproof, and fits into a decent armband for running.  I found all of these things in the LifeProof case.  So, even though paying $80 for a phone case seemed overboard, I bit the bullet and thought of it as an investment/insurance.

And I must say, the investment was well worth it.  The LifeProof case is lightweight and doesn't add as much bulk to the phone as the OtterBox case does.  It also comes in some great colors.  (Mine is teal and I love it!).  The LifeProof armband is comfortable and has a "lock" feature so that the phone can't wiggle its way out or be grabbed by a hooligan while you're running.  The case itself is extremely waterproof, although I don't push it to the limits.  I performed the "water test" prior to putting my phone inside, and feel confident that my phone is adequately protected in the case of an accident or sudden rainstorm.

Here's a quick pro/con for the case, in my experience:


Also, the LifeProof Armband is well worth the cost as well.  The band is comfortable and only pinches if I put it on too tight.  It is also a very reliable piece of equipment that has held up well to its first few months or vigorous use.  Doesn't seem like it would fall apart anytime soon.  Additionally, you can place you ID, a credit card, and some cash behind the phone when you lock it into place.  I like running with these things "just in case", and this armband makes it easy!

Oh, and just be forewarned that if you buy from Amazon.com and have an issue with your case, LifeProof customer service will not help you.  Even though they are listed as an authorized reseller on the LifeProof site, they will not honor any warranty claim.  (I still bought through Amazon, because they have top-notch customer service.  In fact, when my first case ended up with a hole in it, Amazon accepted a return for a full refund; even credited my account the full refund prior to returning the defective case so I could purchse a new one immediately).  Also, don't buy one from ebay.  Those are not real.  If you are not paying with $15 of full retail price you are probably getting a counterfeit.