Best iPhone Case For Outdoors

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Rob Johnston

Editor & Article Writer for Outdoor Wilds

In this post I have included some of the best iPhone cases for outdoors in mid to late 2022.

All of the cases listed have been military standard [1] drop tested to various levels and provide excellent protection for an iPhone that is beyond most everyday use.

Some of the cases have a protective screen cover, however all the cases will help stop your screen from being damaged if you do happen to drop your iPhone onto a hard surface.

I’d still suggest a screen protector for those cases that don’t for added screen protection.

These iPhone cases are ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, rock climbing and other extreme sports.

Use the Table of Contents below to fast navigate to a particular iPhone case for quick reference.

Whichever case you decide to go for, a damaged iPhone will be a thing of the past with these top protective cases.

ZIZO Bolt Series iPhone Case

The ZIZO Bolt Series has 10 color variants. Seen here in orange and black. It comes with a belt clip, plus a tempered glass screen protector.

The case has a really nice rugged feel to it and takes seconds to fit onto your iPhone and remove for cleaning. The back of the case has plenty of grip points so it doesn’t fall out of your hand.

This case has been dropped tested from 12 feet and meets the Military Grade 810.1-G Compliancy drop test.

The kickstand is a nice feature to have that allows you to place your iPhone on a flat surface to watch movies.

Overall, the ZIZO Bolt Series has a really nice quality feel to it. The case has matte finish that doesn’t show fingerprints. The 0.33mm 9H hardness screen protector performs well in both clarity and touch sensitivity. It’s a rugged outdoor case definitely worth checking out if your an iPhone X and Xs 11 owner.

ZIZO Bolt Series iPhone X Case Military Grade Drop Tested with Screen Protector, Kickstand and Holster iPhone Xs Orange Black

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

URBAN ARMOR GEAR iPhone 12 / 13 Case

URBAN ARMOR GEAR UAG iPhone Xs/X
Plasma Feather-Light Rugged [Ice] Military Drop Tested iPhone Case

UAG make some of the most rugged cases available. This cases has 11 colors to choose from, including pink. This is a snap on style case thats every slim, making it ideal to slip into a pocket.

The design of the case is made to be extremely light and durable. The rear of the case does suffer from scratches over time.

As with all the case reviewed here, this case from UAG has been military drop tested to 4 feet.

This case doesn’t come with a screen protector, but it does have a raised rubber screen lip.

In summary, This particular case from UAG is not the most rugged, with a drop test of 4 feet.

It’s more suited to everyday use, to slip in an out of your pocket. If your planning on going rock climbing or other hardcore outdoor activities I’d suggest to look at other more durable cases with a higher drop test rating such as the UAG Monarch.

Last update on 2024-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

URBAN ARMOR GEAR iPhone XR Case

URBAN ARMOR GEAR UAG iPhone XR [6.1" Screen] Monarch Feather-Light Rugged [Crimson] Military Drop Tested iPhone Case

This is about the most rugged and durable outdoor iPhone case that you’ll find.

Real carbon fibre, with 5 layers of protection, plus military drop tested from over 12 feet. iPhone cases don’t come much tougher.

Of course there is a trade off with the extra protection. This case is big and chunky. It’s more suited for hiking, rock climbing, skiing and other extreme sports.

It does take a few minutes to assemble to case onto your iPhone. However once in place it feels rugged with plenty of honey comb patterning for extra grip.

My final summary of the UAG Monarch is that its hard to beat in terms of a rugged, durable iPhone case design.

This model is for the iPhone XR. Head on over to their Store to find cases for other iPhone models.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Poetic Affinity Protective iPhone 11 Case

iPhone 11 Case, Poetic Premium Hybrid Protective Clear Bumper Cover, Rugged Lightweight, Military Grade Drop Tested, Affinity Series, for Apple iPhone 11 (2019) 6.1 Inch, Citron Green

This is a more traditional case from the makers Poetic. The Affinity model offers basic protection to your iPhone with a simple snap on design.

There is no screen protector with this case. It relies on the raised rubber lip and corner bumpers to absorb any shock from being dropped.

The case has been military drop tested to MIL-STD 810G – 516.6 which is standard for a rugged outdoor phone case.

There’s no covers for any of the ports on the cutouts.

It’s a well built case, for more lower impact outdoor use. the lack of screen protector and the omission of port covers may be worth noting for more dusty environments.

The case featured here is specifically for the iPhone 11. take a look at the Poetic Store to see their full range.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Poetic Revolution Series iPhone 11 Pro Max Case

Poetic iPhone 11 Pro Max Rugged Case with Kickstand, Full-Body Dual-Layer Shockproof Protective Cover, Built-in-Screen Protector, Revolution Series, for Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max 6.5 Inch, Metallic Red

Here’s another iPhone case from Poetic. Unlike the Affinity model I looked at previously, this case does come with a screen protector.

The Revolution is a duel layer design that comes in 3 colors, red and black is shown here.

The case has a raised rubber lip on the front for extra protection of the screen.

The screen protector is scratch proof and doesn’t dull the screen of your phone. Touch sensitivity is very good too.

The Revolution does have a kickstand that revolves to allow placing the phone on flat surfaces in both horizontal and vertical positions, which is really neat.

In summary , this case is for more heavy duty outdoor use. The kickstand is a great addition for watching a movie while travelling in a train or plane.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

MOBOSI Vanguard Armor iPhone Pro Case

MOBOSI Vanguard Armor Designed for iPhone 11 Pro Case, Rugged Cell Phone Cases, Heavy Duty Military Grade Shockproof Drop Protection Cover for iPhone 11 Pro 5.8 Inch 2019, Midnight Green

iPhone Pro owners will love this case. It comes in 4 colors, green shown here.

It takes seconds to fit to your phone and also remove for cleaning.

It does not come with a screen protector. The case has been military grade protection for shock resistance.

There’s plenty of grip points to stop the case from slipping out of your hands. At the back the cover is recessed to stop your camera lens from being scratched.

The Mobosi Vanguard is a low cost basic rugged case that will offer a fair degree of protection. I’d suggest looking at a more rugged case for heavy duty outdoor use though. This is more of a hybrid case for general everyday carry.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Rokform Rugged - iPhone Magnetic Case

Rokform - iPhone SE (2nd generation)/8/7/6 Magnetic Case with Twist Lock, Military Grade Rugged iPhone Case Series (Black)

This is the most versatile case in this review. It comes with a magnetic mount with a 3M adhesive sticker for mounting to a car dash, mountain bike and so on.

The back of the case has a magnet built in so it’ll work with any magnetic mount system.

The case has a carbon fibre finish and plenty of grip points. Note that its not actually carbon fibre.

The case has been military drop tested and is made from standard polycarbonate with rubber sides. It does not have a screen protector!

The design is a snap on type which makes it very easy to fit to your phone and remove for cleaning.

The Rockford is an old favourite that doesn’t try to be anything other than a functional rugged protective case.

Its great to see the magnetic feature, which makes it ideal for attaching to a mountain bike with a suitable holder. The case comes in various sizes from the iPhone 8 and the 2nd generation SE models upto the iPhone 13.

Take a look at the Rokform Store if your interested in a mount for this case.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

URBAN ARMOR GEAR Monarch iPhone Case

URBAN ARMOR GEAR UAG Designed for iPhone SE (2020) Case [4.7-inch Screen] Monarch [Crimson] Rugged Shockproof Military Drop Tested Protective Cover

Another iPhone case from UAG. This case is for the iPhone 13. It comes in 2 colours only black and crimson.

The case offers 5 layers of protection, but there is no screen protector. It’s an easy to fit snap on design and there’s plenty of honeycomb grip on either side of the case.

The raised lip on the front does offer screen protection from dropping. The corners are reinforced for extra drop protection.

As with all UAG products, the Monarch for the iPhone 13 is top quality, it has 2 x military drop protection, which means it has had twice as many drops as a standard case when being tested from 4 feet.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Why Choose an Outdoor Case for Your iPhone?

There are some very good reasons for looking for this kind of case. The following list of benefits may be put into a different order depending upon your own needs.

Protect from drops. Your phone may suffer some difficult drops while you are out on your adventures. A case like this keeps it well-protected from damage.
Water-proofing. Not every iPhone case offers water-proofing but those that do let you go out in heavy rain or wade through rivers confidently.
Ease of use. A good case will still allow you to use your phone as you normally would.
Accessories. The right accessories will let you carry your phone more easily or else hang it onto your backpack for comfort.
Stylish yet robust look. These cases all differ in terms of whether they put the emphasis on style or on robustness.
Choose the right one for your needs and it will make using your phone outdoors even more of a pleasure.