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Otterbox GPS Case Review
I was at a quandary when I went shopping for a Bluetooth GPS. There were excellent inexpensive models available, but they were not waterproof like my old GPS. I use my GPS outdoors, on the water and in the mountains, so this was a problem for me. I remembered a line from the Otterbox website FAQ. The question was, “Why should I buy an Otterbox PDA case instead of a rugged PDA?” I realized that the same answer applied to my GPS purchase.
Otterbox sells a small case (model 1600) specifically for a Bluetooth GPS, but I found a case that could do double duty. The model 2000 is larger, just large enough to hold my GPS, my cell phone and a spare battery for my Axim. This meets my outdoor needs perfectly.
Examining the 2000 side-by-side with the 2600, it quickly becomes apparent that the 2600 is really a 2000 with a hand strap and a gasketed membrane face. In other words, the two boxes are the same size. My first impression of my yellow 2600 was that it resembled a miniature submarine. This is an even more fitting image for the 2000. Since the 2000 does not have the membrane window, it is rated to be waterproof far below the three foot rating of the 2600. It is warranted, in fact, to be waterproof to a depth of 100 feet. I doubt that I’ll ever get my GPS to work that far underwater (I am a scuba diver, though) but it’s nice to know it will be well protected in my backpack during a torrential downpour on a mountainside hours from shelter.
What makes the Otterbox design so watertight is the O-ring type gasket. Improving on the O-ring design, Otterbox puts a tab on the mating part of the cover and a corresponding groove down the middle of the gasket. What makes the Otterbox so crush resistant is the fiberglass reinforced ABS plastic. If you’re wondering what is so wonderful about ABS plastic, check out the entry on Wikipedia for a good explanation. Beyond those two, the padding protects the contents against damage due to impact.
I liked the idea of getting a case with a clear cover so I could see the status lights of the GPS to know that it was working properly. I was concerned that the clear cover wouldn’t be as strong as a solid cover. I spoke to Otterbox about this and was reassured the clear parts are every bit as strong as the solid parts.
When I was shopping for my cases, I made a delightful discovery on their website. There is a section labeled Clearance Sale. Here you can find various older or discontinued models of Otterboxes at significant discounts. Taking a quick look, I found the 2000 on sale. You do get what you pay for, though. While these boxes are warranted to perform for a lifetime just as well as their full price brethren, the color choices are limited. The cases may or may not come with foam padding and some may have logos printed on them. For almost a fifty percent discount, I decided I could live with these conditions. The sale items are not returnable so if you order it, you own it. There were two options with clear covers on sale for the 2000. I took the lesser of the two evils, opting for a purple base instead of pink.
My purple and clear 2000 arrived without a logo or foam padding. I had two pieces left over from fitting my Axim inside my 2600 and they fit the 2000 perfectly, giving a bottom and a top pad. Due to the cutouts in the foam, I could position the contents so the lights on the GPS are easily visible through the clear cover.
If you’ve been to the Otterbox website, you’ve seen the pictures of people and even vehicles standing atop their products. While not that adventurous with my own electronics, I did submerge my case (it’s watertight) and stand on top of it (I’m nowhere near as heavy as an SUV, but I didn’t damage the case). My case did come with a lanyard. Since I plan to keep this case in the top compartment of my backpack, I transferred the lanyard to the same shape tab on my 2600.
Whether you opt for the discount version ($11.50) or buy your color choice at full price ($17.95), be aware that the shipping cost is rather hefty. Ground shipping is around $6 for each case and they ship out of California. You can take a very short survey on the website and get a ten percent discount on your order, though, to lessen the blow. Either way, you’re going to get a very durable case that is guaranteed to last a lifetime. It’s light and doesn’t appear to be as tough as it is, but it really is pretty much indestructible. If you’re just looking to protect a Bluetooth GPS, you might want to go with the smaller 1000 or even their 1600 GPS case. The website gives internal and external dimensions to help you decide which one will meet your requirements. Keep in mind that the internal thickness dimension will be partially consumed by the padding. Otterboxes can sometimes be found for sale on ebay at significant discounts, as was pointed out today by someone who read my 2600 review.
After my tests, I feel very confident locking my GPS away inside and not worrying about damage. True to their claim, the case is RF transparent so the GPS will function inside with the lid securely closed. This product has truly ruggedized my GPS.
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