5 tough gadgets ready for the rough and tumble of adventure

YOUR gadgets should fit into your life, even when you’re up for an adventure. Here are five rugged gadgets up to the job.

The STM Dux will protect your iPad Pro 9.7-inch.

WHETHER you’re off on that great road trip or roughing it for a weekend of camping, your gadgets should be able to cope with the conditions.

Here are five gadgets designed for an adventure, from taking your Google Pixel XL for a swim in a LifeProof case to keeping your iPad Pro protected in a STM Dux case and finding the best off-road route with a Navman Myescape IV.

Lifeproof Fre for Google Pixel XL

Lifeproof / 4/5 / $125 / lifeproof.com

The Lifeproof Fre case for Google Pixel XL covers all ports, the screen, and the fingerprint sensor of the phone to protect it from water.

Not all phones require extra water protection now but Google’s smartphones are an exception. Lifeproof’s Fre case for the Pixel XL adds protection from drops up to 2m high, dunks in up to 2m of water, and exposure to dust, dirt, and sand. It does this by covering the phone entirely, from its headphone port to its charging connection, and even its screen and fingerprint scanner. Keeping everything plugged in and water-ready can be annoying, but it could also save this phone’s life, and the plugs remain attached to the case so you have no excuses to cover up.

Navman MYESCAPE IV

Navman / 3.5/5 / $399 / navman.com.au

Navman MYESCAPE IV GPS has a six-inch screen.

CAR GPS systems need to offer something extra to lure drivers away from making do with their smartphones. This unit with a six-inch screen does that with the option of displaying off-road routes and campgrounds, as well as providing routes for large vehicles. Other extras, such as Zomato’s restaurant guide and Lonely Planet tips, may be details most users would prefer to find on a smartphone. Hands-free speaker and traffic information make this a solid option for those seeking a stand-alone navigation tool.

Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket

Altec Lansing / 4/5 / $150 / anacondastores.com

The Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket is a rugged, waterproof speaker.

This tough little outdoor speaker is made for the outdoors, being waterproof, shockproof and sandproof, plus it floats. It has a 20m Bluetooth range so you can keep your smartphone tucked safely away, and a 16-hour battery life. The sound is loud and solid enough given the size of the unit, and it comes with a bracket so you can attach it to your bike handlebars. It also doubles as a battery pack to charge your devices.

Panasonic SC-ALL05

Panasonic / 3.5/5 / $439 / panasonic.com.au

The Panasonic SC-ALL05 is a wi-fi speaker that is waterproof.

It’s hard to bring something new to the wireless speaker market but Panasonic has with this speaker that is designed to survive a 30-minute dunking. You can easily connect a device with Bluetooth or, not so easily, set it up as part of a family of speakers connected to your wi-fi network. It has a six-hour battery life and, as long as you aren’t connected to mains and have the port cover secured, you can use this near the pool or on an exposed dining area, which is a big plus. On the downside, it doesn’t offer a lot of volume and is not waterproof when it’s plugged in, which is probably most of the time.

STM Dux for iPad Pro 9.7

SMT / 4/5 / $70 / stmgoods.com.au

The STM Dux rugged case for iPad Pro 9.7-inch works with the Apple Smart Cover and Keyboard and has a place to keep the Apple Pencil/

The trouble with a lot of tough cases is that it’s all or nothing. This tough case still lets you use the Apple Smart Cover and Keyboard while protecting your tablet with a clear, hard back and a rubberised edge. There’s also a slot at the top to keep your Apple Pencil in.