A Day On The Beach with Dry Case

A rainy day at the beach might ruin some peoples' hopes of catching a few waves and might even ruin a few phones.  Luckily, thanks to the products at GadgetAccessory, no rainstorm, no matter how strong could ruin any of my gadgets.  My favorite product at GadgetAccessory is the Dry Case Vacuum Seal Bag.

The rain started shortly after waking up while on vacation in Ocean City, NJ.  I love swimming in the rain as long as there is no lightning - so I get ready to swim.  Just before leaving the house I notice my Flip Video Camera and Dry Case Vacuum Seal Bag next to each other on the table and get what I feel is a brilliant idea:  put the Flip in the Dry Case to film in the ocean.  The official name of the Dry Case Vacuum Seal Bag is "Dry Case Cell Phone, Camera and Music Player Case (DC-13)", long name right?  But the name says it all - the Dry Case can hold my phone, my camera and my music player.


So, I seal up the bag and head to the beach in what your local meteorologist would classify as a downpour.  I reach the water, and to be honest, I hesitate.  Rain is one thing but ocean waves is another.  I take a deep breath and drop the video camera inside the Dry Case in the shallow water.  It Floats!  I film a few waves, a few boogies boarders, I film while I catch a few waves, and I film myself dropping the case by accident.  The  Dry Case kept the salt water out the whole time.  See the Dry Case perform for yourself.  Watch my video below.



This is not your average waterproof product demonstration video.  I put this product through a lot more then controlled tests in my kitchen sink like most demonstration videos you will find on YouTube.  Do they really convince you to trust the product?  This video is real.  No 2nd takes, no sink footage, and no cheesy stats.  Simply a real demonstration.  The Dry Case stood up against heavy rain, waves, and general clumsiness.  And thank goodness it floats if you do not vacuum the air out.  I truly love my Dry Case Vacuum Seal Bag and each week I find another use for it.  Enjoy taking baths? Put your phone in your Dry Case and watch your favorite shows, visit your favorite websites, and read your favorite books right there in the bath without worrying about getting your phone wet.

Get your Dry Case and other amazing waterproof bags and cases at GadgetAccessory.com

The Cheapest Waterproof Case for your iPad

With the advent and popularity of iPads (and other tablets), we are bound to want to use them when we are either outside exposed to the elements or sitting at the beach or pool. And why wouldn't we want to - we can read the newspaper, read a book, check emails or play Angry Birds...

So how do we keep the iPad safe and dry, which of course, is absolutely crucial. There are plenty of waterproof cases and bags available to choose from, and many of them have great features. For those that want no frills and a low price tag, there is the Dry Pak Multi-Purpose Case. The case I used and tested was clear in color and the size was 9" x 12" (SKU# C912). Just to mention some of the features, it has a clear heavy gauge vinyl, has 2 D-rings sewn to the corners, and has an airtight and waterproof seal (so it will float if dropped in the water).

It is a great multi-purpose case to at the pool or beach, but one of the greatest aspects of the case is that an iPad (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation) fits into it, and can be used through the case. So you can bring the iPad to the beach and pool with the peace of mind knowing that it stay safe and dry - and it even protects from sand!

With both sides of the case being clear, you can use both the front and rear facing cameras while in the bag and even use under water.

So how much would you pay for a waterproof case that enables you to use your iPad at the pool and beach and keeps is safe and dry??? Well, it retails for less than $15!!! Now that's a good deal.

Click here to learn more about the Dry Pak Multi-Purpose Case.

Running…and listening to Music…in the Rain

As the summer triathlon season approaches, I am trying to get in as many workouts as I can. The other day, I woke up knowing that I wanted to go for a morning run. It had rained the night before and was still cloudy. I’ve recently started to get into listening to audio books, so I try to listen to the books while I run – makes good use of my time and keeps me entertained during my workout. Like any other run, I took my Droid Bionic, armband and headphones out with me, and started listening to my book (my current book is “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” – we’ll see if it rubs off on me…).

So, I got about a mile and a half into my run and it started to rain. At first, it was a light rain, but within about a minute, it turned into a torrential downpour; the kind where you run from your car, through the parking lot and into the movie theater, and you’re soaking wet. My problem was that I had about a mile and a half run to get home. The armband is an open case and leaves my phone exposed to the elements. When the rain started coming down hard, I put my phone into my pocket to keep it safe and dry. But as I continued to run home through this monsoon, all my clothes, including my shoes, and my entire body became soaking wet. At this point, I am worried about my phone. I realize it’s definitely getting wet, but I’m worried about the water penetrating into the interior of the phone and ruining it (not the first time I’ve had water problems with a phone). To aid in the protection of the phone, I put my hand under the bottom of my shirt by my waist, and stretched it out over the pocket of my pants that contained the phone. I highly doubt it was doing anything to protect the phone or to prevent the phone from getting wet. But I felt I had to do something, and this was all I could come up with. At least I didn’t look completely awkward running through my neighborhood in a deluge of rain with my shirt stretched out over my pants pocket…

Finally, I made it home. The first thing I do is check my phone (which by the way kept playing my book during the entire run). It was damp on the outside, but I could tell that it was just light moisture on the exterior of the phone and did not penetrate to the interior. I quickly dried it off, and realized that I need a better solution. Enter the Aquapac MP3 Case. This is a fully waterproof, fully submersible case. You could go swimming with this case if you wanted. The dimensions of the case are 7.7” in height and 3.2” in width. The iPhone 3G/3GS and 4 will definitely fit into this case. My Droid Bionic fits into it snugly and it is a large smartphone. Its dimensions are 2.63” in width, 5.01” in height and .42” in depth. If that fits in, most smartphones will, but of course you will want to verify the dimensions first.



In addition to being a waterproof case, it has an armband and audio jack that allows you to connect headphones while still keeping the case completely waterproof. The case also allows you to operate the controls of your smartphone or MP3 player right through the case. This is the solution I need. I can run, bike, hike or whatever else I want to do outside while listening to music or books knowing that the weather does not matter…and I don’t even need to look awkward running through the neighborhood.

The case comes with the armband and a lanyard. If you don’t already have a pair of waterproof headphones, you can also get the case bundled with the Aquapac Waterproof Headphones.

Click here for more info on the Aquapac MP3 Case

Click here for info on the Aquapac MP3 Case and Waterproof Headphones Bundle

Go to www.audible.com to learn more about monthly subscriptions services for audio books.

Click here for info on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Testing out the Memory Foam Ear Plugs with H2O Audio Interval

So I got the chance to test out the memory foam ear plugs on the H2O Audio Interval. The memory foam ear plugs come with the H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit. I thought that these ear plugs would work well since memory foam would change shape to fit my ear well - almost like a custom fit. However, it did not work out quite as well as I thought. The ear plugs fit into my ears nicely - they were fairly easy to insert into my ears as opposed to some of the other ear plugs. But once I started swimming with ear plugs in, I found that water eventually penetrated my ears and the ear plugs ultimately fell out.

So even though it's not the results I was hoping for, I now know which plugs not to use. As stated in my previous posts, the H2O Audio Interval comes with 5 pairs of soft round ear plugs in sizes XS, S, M, L and XL. Once I found the right size, the ear plugs worked very well for me. The best overall fit and swimming experience I had was with the tree tip ear plugs that came with H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit. I highly recommend those ear plugs.

Hopefully this information helps those swimmers and triathletes looking for some entertainment as they swim lap after lap. Remember, triathlon season is right around the corner. Best of luck with your training!

If I try any other ear plug styles, I will be sure to let you know...

Click here for more info on the H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit.

Click here for more info on the H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System for the iPod Shuffle.

Click here to see more products from H2O Audio.

My Mother's Reaction to Her Aqua Box Series 100 Waterproof Phone Case

Hello.  My name is Dave and I gave my mother the Aqua Box Series 100 Waterproof Phone Case a few months back.  Not as a gift but just to see how she would use it.  Here is what she wrote about her Aqua Box:

"I love my new Aqua Box!  I'm at the gym 3 or 4 times a week.  I go swimming, take Yoga and Zumba classes, go in the sauna, and I never hesitate to bring my phone with me now.  I no longer need to hide it away in my locker.  I never worry about my phone getting wet, dirty or ruined.  I Can't wait to take my phone to the beach this summer!" - Marianne 2012

 A great benefit to waterproof bags and cases from GadgetAccessory.com is that the products are not only waterproof of course, they are also sand-proof.  No one wants sand in their phones.  Sand can ruin the charging and USB ports on a phone.  Don't let that happen and get the right case for your phone before the beach season arrives at GadgetAccessory.com.

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Testing out ear plugs from H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit with H2O Audio Interval

As I mentioned in a previous post, I tested the H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System with an earplug from the H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit. The H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit contains 9 pairs of ear plugs that will fit on all H2O Audio In-Ear Headphones. H2O Audio provides several waterproof cases for smartphones and music players as well as a number of waterproof headphones. The primary reason I wanted to test out some other ear plugs with the H2O Audio Interval is to see if I could get a better fit and waterproof seal using one of the plugs from the Pro Fit Kit.

Just for some background info, the H2O Audio Interval comes with 5 pairs of soft round ear plugs in sizes XS, S, M, L and XL. I used both the L and XL earplugs. I was able to get a good seal, yet there were times when the ear plug would come out of my ear while swimming. I was doing a swim workout with intervals so I was testing how well the earplugs would stay in through some aggressive swimming.

Selection of ear plugs (XL down to XS) that comes with H2O Audio Interval 

Enter the H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit. It has 5 different styles within the 9 pairs of ear plugs. The styles are tree tip (3 layered, longer ear plug), dual tip (2 layered plug, shorter than the tree tip), stepped (narrower at the tip that enters the ear and wider at the base of the plug), memory foam (cylinder shape and as the name implies, it will shape to your ear’s opening and retain the shape) and the soft round (which is more of a standard ear plug; the same style that comes with the H2O Audio Interval). See pictures below of each of the styles.

9 Pairs of Ear Plugs available in the H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit 

I just tried out the large tree tip ear plug the other day. Similar to the shape of a tree, it is narrow at the top for entry into the ear and then the next 2 layers are wider. You definitely get a deeper fit with this ear plug, although not too deep to cause any discomfort or harm to the ear. You should be careful in inserting any of the ear plugs, and if you feel any discomfort you should remove the plug and try another one. I recommend pulling the top of your ear upwards with one hand to extend the opening to your ear while inserting the ear plug with the other hand. With the tree tip, you can sort of turn it back and forth as you insert the plug into your ear. You want to twist and turn the plug into your ear until you feel you have snug and secure fit. Once you feel that, you should be good to go.

Tree Tip Ear Plugs from Pro Fit Kit on the H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System

The tree tip ear plug definitely provided a tighter and more secure waterproof seal into my ear. In the 30 to 40 minutes of my swim workout, one of the plugs came out once, and it was easily re-inserted. Sound quality and overall comfort and effectiveness of the entire H2O Audio Interval was still excellent, and still making a positive impact on my swim workouts!

I would recommend getting the H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit if you plan to use the H2O Audio Interval, and you could also consider the kit for any other use of headphones underwater. For example, H2O Audio has the Audio Amphibx Waterproof Armband Case and the Audio Amphibx Go Soft Case as well as at least 5 different styles of waterproof headphones to accompany those cases.

I may try out the memory foam plugs next, and if so, I’ll be providing an update.

More info on the H2O Audio Pro Fit Case can be found at http://www.gadgetaccessory.com/h2o-audio-pro-fit-kit-9-pairs-of-ear-plugs-h2o-ep9-pfk/.

More info on the H2O Audio Interval can be found at http://www.gadgetaccessory.com/h2o-audio-interval-waterproof-headphone-system-ipod-shuffle-int4-bk/.

More info on the H2O Audio product line can be found at: http://www.gadgetaccessory.com/brands/H2O-Audio.html.

H2O Audio Pro Fit Kit in crush proof plastic box with removable foam inserts. 

Tree Tip Plugs

Memory Foam Plugs

Dual Tip Plugs

Stepped Plugs

Soft Round Plugs

Still going strong with the h2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System

I have been using the h2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System with the iPod Shuffle for several weeks now. It has definitely brought about a whole new attitude towards my swim workouts. The one aspect of my running and biking workouts that I’ve always looked forward to is the ability to listen to music or listen to audio books while working out. It’s a great way to enjoy the workout; a great way to make the workout go quickly. Extending my enjoyment of music or audio books to swimming is incredibly valuable to me.

And for those training for Iron Mans or half Iron triathlons, the h2O Audio Interval can be a godsend. The lengthy and grueling workouts can become much shorter with the sound of music. For now, I focus mostly on sprints, but maybe someday I’ll push myself to that level….maybe….

Soon, I will be getting the h2O Audio Pro Fit Kit that contains 9 pairs of ear plugs. I would like to experiment to see what kind of fit I can get with additional choices and so that I can make recommendations for others. The right fit on the ear plug will make all the difference in the world. Stay tuned for more info as I plan to give some feedback on these ear plugs in my next post.

For more info on the h2O Audio Interval:

http://www.gadgetaccessory.com/h2o-audio-interval-waterproof-headphone-system-ipod-shuffle-int4-bk/

To see additional products from H2O Audio, visit http://www.gadgetaccessory.com/brands/H2O-Audio.html.

Swimming with Music - The h2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System

I have been competing in triathlons consistently for about 7 consecutive years. So, of course, I need to swim as part of my workout routine. I must say that swimming is my favorite of the 3 disciplines (swim, bike, run) involved in triathlons, but like anything that you continue to do over and over, and for long durations at a time, it can get a little boring or monotonous. So to spice things up, I decided to try out the h2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System, which is designed for the iPod Shuffle 4^th Gen.

I picked up the iPod Shuffle knowing that I was going to start using this headphone system. I have to say, the Shuffle is a slick little device. Amazing that something that tiny and simple can provide all that music and functionality. After getting the Shuffle and the headphone system, I was excited to use the two in tandem.

The h2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System is also a sexy little device. It’s a simple waterproof case that fits the Shuffle in perfectly, along with the iPod audio output connection. The case closes easily, yet you can sense the strength of the waterproof seal. On the outside of the case, 2 headphone cables, that are just the right length to reach your ears, but not too long, extend from either side. The front of the case has 5 buttons, which essentially mirror the functionality of the iPod Shuffle buttons – Play/Pause in the center; increase volume at the top; decrease volume at the bottom; previous song to the left; next song to the right - Simple.

The instructions do recommend to test the device by submerging in water (you can use a bucket) and see if any bubbles exit the case and then also check the inside of the case to see if any water penetrated it. Also, you should spend a few minutes testing out the different sizes of earplugs to ensure the best fit. H2O provides 5 different sizes of earplugs for the end of the headphones. Essentially, you want to find a size that can allow for a slight penetration into your ear (not going too far), but also enabling a strong seal between the earplug and the opening to your ear. You will thank yourself for spending this time once you’re in the pool. After it passed my water test and I found the right earplugs, it was time to test it out in the pool. By this point, I was excited to see how this would work.

Before getting to the pool, I put the Shuffle inside the case and turned the power on and in shuffle mode, but in a paused state. I also inserted my goggles’ strap inside the two small goggle strap arms to either side of the case. It is a simple process. Once in the pool, I put my goggles on with the back of the case on the back of my head. I also wrapped the headphone cord around my goggle straps a couple times to keep the straps out of the way and to help secure the fit into my ear. It may seem like this would be an awkward device to have connected to your head while swimming, however, it is small and light and you eventually barely notice it.

Now ready to go, I felt the device buttons with my hand (and it’s easy to locate the buttons by just feeling for them) and hit the play button. I had some Beastie Boys cued up and I tentatively submerged myself and pushed off the wall. It was somewhat of a surreal experience, hearing the music underwater as I began swimming. But as I got past the initial tentativeness, I gained comfort with the hearing the music while I swam. Of course, on my first flip turn, I was worried that something would fall off or pop out, but to my satisfaction, everything stayed intact and Sabotage continued to play. I must admit, I really liked having the music keep me company while in the water. It really worked well. As I swam more, and swam more aggressively, I really did not notice having it on my head, and it did not impede my stroke at all. Getting back to the earplugs, you definitely want to spend the time upfront trying to get the right fit, as this will most likely be your biggest challenge, although not a real tough challenge to overcome.

After the workout, and after I changed into dry clothes, I dried off the outside of the case and tentatively opened it hoping to see a dry iPod Shuffle. Sure enough, there it was: my green, sexy little, but dry, iPod Shuffle. I’m hooked. I can’t wait to go swimming again with my h2O Interval.

The only downside is having a tough time hearing the person in the next lane, trying to talk to you in between sets….that is, if you want to talk to the person in the next lane. And oh yeah, as I got into some Violent Femmes during my sets, what lap was I on???

For more information on the H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System, visit http://www.gadgetaccessory.com/h2o-audio-interval-waterproof-headphone-system-ipod-shuffle-int4-bk/.

For more information on H2O Audio products, visit  http://www.gadgetaccessory.com/brands/H2O-Audio.html.

H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System for iPod Shuffle - rear view with goggle strap

H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System for iPod Shuffle - front view with goggle strap looped through

H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System for iPod Shuffle - front view

H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System for iPod Shuffle - open case with iPod Shuffle connected

H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System for iPod Shuffle - with case open

H2O Audio Interval Waterproof Headphone System for iPod Shuffle - open case with ear plugs