Cool Tech Tools You Can Actually Get Wet

Ahh summer, a time for lemonade, water gun battles, and relaxing poolside. But a sunny day can quickly lose its luster when you accidentally spill that frosty drink on your camera, drop a cordless speaker into the pool, or forget you have your phone in your pocket when someone pulls out a Super Soaker.

Beat these summertime bummers by stocking up on some helpful waterproof or weatherproof products. We haven’t tested all of these yet, but we’re excited to get our hands on them.

Pool Party-Friendly Bluetooth Speakers
These speakers connect to your phone or tablet wirelessly, and can operate 60 to 100 feet from your device — so you can play music by the pool (but leave your phone at a dry distance). But some speakers are waterproof, which means they can stand immersion for 30 minutes in 1 meter of water, and others are just weatherproof (read: they should be okay if left out in the rain for a little while). If the package says the speaker is IPX7, then it’s waterproof; anything lower, like IPX4, is just weatherproof. The Ecorox from Ecoxgear ($87) is a top waterproof option — it has good sound quality, and even floats!

Keeping Devices Dry
A waterproof case can help keep your third arm safe. We like the Otterbox Preserver Series ($90) for the iPhone 5 and 5S, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5. Lifeproof, another major player in waterproof cases, carries one for every iPhone ($80), the iPad (from $110), and the Samsung Galaxy series (from $80). Another case we’ve used (but haven't fully tested) is the Dry Case ($40). It fits most cell phones, given it's a big pouch, and has been tested in 100 feet of water for 1 hour. Bonus: It has a jack for your headphones.

Tech That’s Already Waterproof
If you’re shopping for a new device, you can look for one with the waterproofing built-in. The new Samsung Galaxy S5 is rated IPX7, as is Sony’s new Xperia Z2 Android phone (coming July 17) and 10” tablet ($500 for 16GB). The Logitech K310 ($59) washable keyboard makes cleaning crummy crevices a lot easier. And the Surge Mini Waterproof Sport headphones ($50) might be helpful on beach days.

Add a Water-Resistant Coating
New companies like Liquipel and P2i can apply a liquid coating to your phone or tablet that will repel water (prices start around $60, and you need to ship your device to them). Just remember that these coatings will not make your device waterproof, just water-resistant. So, check your pockets before you dive into the deep end.

Source:popularmechanics.com