LifeProof FRE for iPhone 6 Two cell phones (flip style), Leatherman multi-tool (not mine), Gerber knife (mine), sunglasses, and $500 fishing rod and reel: all overboard, never to be seen again, except for the fishing rod, and that’s only because it was sitting in five feet of gin-clear water. These are the high-end items PropTalk’s fishing editor has seen slip into the salty drink over many years on the water. We’re pretty sure you have a similar list. Some incidents were avoidable; others just the cost of a career in the outdoors. So when it was time to upgrade to a new smart phone—a necessary yet expensive investment—our intrepid editor took the smart step to protect this smart technology against the mishaps that occasionally befall its operator. Enter the LifeProof FRĒ case for iPhone 6 ($79.99). The company also makes similar cases for Samsung, LG, and Motorola smartphones. Made to meet the U.S. Military Standard for drop and shock protection, it’s also waterproof up to 6.6 feet for one hour. The case is built using a combination of materials, principally polycarbonate, synthetic rubber, and silicone. LifeProof certifies that it water-tests all of its products and conducts an additional inspection, including a second water test, on random units. Cases that leak don’t make the cut. LifeProof LifeJacket Knowing that a high-tech case may not provide enough protection, Dollar paired it with LifeProof’s LifeJacket, a safety orange, foam flotation device that keeps his smartphone afloat while adding even more shock protection should he bounce it off the deck of a boat. It slips on and off easily, and since the FRĒ case allows all key features to remain in play, he’s free to snap photos, shoot videos, and deliver on-the-water fishing reports without fear of a costly fumble. by Captain Chris D. Dollar