sswartzl

I recently started a new job where I will occasionally be on call 24 hours/day. During those times, whenever I'm called or paged I am required to respond within 15 minutes. When I'm commuting to/from work, I therefore need to have my phone in a position where I can hear it ring. I don't have to answer a call, I just need to know that it arrived so I can pull over and respond as necessary.

The problem is rain and snow. I'm currently carrying my phone in a small holder outside my messenger bag, basically so I can get at it quickly in case of emergency, but it's not waterproof at all and I put it in the bag when it's raining.

I did some looking online and found a couple possibilities. I'm wondering if anyone has any direct experience with either these products or others that can perform the same function. Any positive/negative comments or other ideas would be appreciated.

Cell Safe Cell Phone Carrier
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/....cfm?SKU=5385#

Aquapak Small Phone Case, Voyageur Dry Flex Case, SealLine Electronics Case 2:
https://www.rei.com/online/store/Sear...=phone&x=0&y=0

bhchdh 

Can't comment on the products you name, but I find a zip-lock sandwich bag does the trick in a pinch. If you have the non-folding type of phone, you can use it with out removing it from the bag.

dobber

Yeah, the baggie thing works pretty good. The slightly heavier (not weight weenie wise but thickness wise) freezier bag with the zipper doo-hickey works even better.

sswartzl

That's a fine idea, bhchdh. I just grabbed one of those food storage bags with a plastic sliding closure, closed it and submerged it in a sink for a couple minutes. After removing it from the water, the inside of the bag was bone-dry. I put my phone it it and put it in my current case. It fit fine, and I could still hear it ring. I think I'll just start carrying the storage bag with me in case of bad weather.

Thanks very much. That'll save some cash. For some reason I never think of the home-grown solutions.

simon@skingphot

Hello, just to let you know i needed a holder for my mobile so I can run the sat nav form the handle bars and I ended up buying a ortlieb boxit. Crud name but it is a 100% waterproof box that you can buy an add on handle bar attachment. Hope this helps Simon

GP

You can go to a boating or personal watercraft store and ask for a waterproof radio holder. They're like a really heavy duty sandwich bag, like this https://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...001/11851/64/3

ken cummings

Really basic? Try one of the clear or really translucent condoms. They also work on bike computers. Lot more fun when asked about too

oboeguy

Put it on vibrate in a (protected) pocket?

slvoid

Believe it or not, condoms actaully work and they're thin enough to allow you to still use the phone (assuming it's a candy bar type, not the flip phones). Get the unlubed versions or at least was them out before you use them.

531phile 

Allrighty, Condoms on vibrating phones. Problem solved!

gear

Why does phone sex come to mind?

geeklpc1985

https://ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lang=en&produkt=safe-it



I love Ortlieb, all the things they make is great! Only thing I don't like about this is it can't go under water.

Super Geek

CommuterRun

Another vote for the Zip-Lock Freezer Bag. I use them for all kinds of stuff I want to keep dry on the bike or in the canoe.

ken cummings

The spouse suggested the reservoir tip Trojan Enz for phone with antennae.

slvoid

If you're afraid it'll slip in the rain, use the ribbed version for extra grip.

Severian

condom jokes aside (use the "dual pleasure" models that have that large bulb at the end if you have a flipphone ) I have the aquapak mentioned in the initial post, it's worked VERY well for a while except now the seams on the edges are tearing apart. Not too happy but *shrugs*

slvoid

Actually if you buy a magnum XXL condom, you can probably wrap it around the flip phone while it's open, then close it. They should be stretchy enough.
Plus it'll actually give you an excuse to walk up to the cute cashier when you pay for the XXL condoms.

Severian

*snerk* I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything just then....

michaelnel

I just put mine on "vibrate before ring" and put it in a front pants pocket. If I get excited, I know it rang.

.:Jimbo:.

vibrators, condom variations, my, this can't possibly be a commuter thread!

jackoh

Not sure if they have a waterproof model, but they have a range of decent looking options that are made specifically for bikes : https://www.ibera.info/products/handheld/handheld.htm

fietsbob

condoms are never sold in Small sizes to help the buyers Ego.

jputnam

Personally, my cell phone stays inside my Pelican case pannier, and I wear a Bluetooth headset while commuting. I can hear and answer calls while riding while the phone stays safe and dry. I've even moderated nation-wide conference calls that way while riding on a quiet trail.

I use the Motorola S9 HD stereo headset in all the rain and wind Seattle has to throw at me on my way to work, it holds up just fine.

aley

Wow, I didn't even think they'd invented cell phones five years ago when this thread was started!

sswartzl

Interestingly, though, I was still subscribed to the thread from way way back

I ended up using the accessory case available from Timbuk2. It's not really sealed or anything, but I've gone through heavy rains and snows with it with no other protection on the phone and it's still been dry at the end of the commute.