Tough stuff - Off Duty, Technology - Air Force Times

Tough stuff

OtterBox Defender

If you’re even thinking of tossing your iPad or Galaxy Tab in your rucksack or seabag for your next deployment, you need to look into an OtterBox Defender case. It isn’t cheap, but the protection is superb. A cocoon of plastic and rubber encases your device, and the case can be used as a two-position stand. The Galaxy model comes with a built-in screen protector that works nicely and can be easily cleaned. Screen protection for the iPad is a sheet of plastic easily applied to the screen before the case is snapped shut. www.otterbox.com.

Price: $89.95 for iPad 2, $69.95 for Galaxy Tab

Griffin Survivor

Griffin Technology means business with its military-grade Survivor case — although covering such a sleek and slim iPhone with a polycarbonate frame and thick, shock-absorbing silicone feels like dressing Gisele Bündchen in body armor.

Looks aside, this case will protect your precious device from dust, rain and clumsy hands. To test it, Griffin committed several acts of violence against an iPhone such as 6-foot drops and driving rain. This case took it and asked for more.

While the Survivor makes your iPhone almost twice as thick, functionality remains the same. The crystal-clear integral display shield is barely noticeable and protects against wind-blown rain and scratches. Sound quality is nearly identical on both sides of the conversation, even with the partially obstructed microphone. The only annoying point, besides the added size, is having to fumble with all the flaps that seal the ports and buttons. www.griffintechnology.com.

Fits Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4

Price: $49.99