Weatherproof Digital Toys?

Scott Anguish asks: "I've been trying to find gear designed for the consumer market that is able to withstand exposure to water, dirt, etc. Kodak's DC5000 Digital Camera is a nice enough unit, but still misses the mark on price ($699) and performance (2 Megapixels, no irDA). Cell phone wise: Ericsson had talked about releasing their R250d model in the U.S., but that seems to have been a no show. Their new R310s looks promising, but seems only to be available overseas. Are there any other options for use in the U.S.? (most cell providers don't seem to know much beyond the cheap phones, or the 'stylish' phones). And what of a PDA? I want something that can be tossed in pack with my eTrex GPS and not worry about the conditions. What are the options out there?"

Comments

PDA protection

[ptomblin]

If you look on PalmGear you can find a variety of rugged Palm PDA cases, including titanium ones from RhinoSkin and neoprene ones from other companies. I've seen hard plastic ones that look like they'd be excellent for canoe trips as well, but they're not listed there.

However, if I might be presumptuous, might I suggest that you leave all that digital junk behind (except the camera) when you're going into the woods? I find losing the distractions of home (computers, telephones, schedules, etc) an essential part of the experience, whether it's a 2 hour mountain bike or a 2 week canoe trip.