Packing a Waterproof Phone Pouch for a Marsh Outing

However, the wet marsh will reveal even the weakest spots in what had seemed like very reasonable packing decisions. Keeping the phone dry for use to communicate, to navigate, to check the weather, or to document what you found quickly will make it a very useful tool for your time on the water. The useful question to consider in choosing a pouch to protect your phone will be how to best prepare it for the trip, where to put it, and when to open it up.

Start with the phone you actually carry

Make sure the whole package (phone, case, etc.) can fit in the pouch you choose and have a little extra room for folding the seal. This is best determined by trial before you go. Be aware of the bulk of your phone case, a wallet in a phone case, etc. as these could affect the choice of pouch.

While larger pouches may look safer, more space is not always better. Excess material can fold into the seal, or even get between the phone and the pouch when closed. In addition, extra material can create creases that make a screen difficult to use, or allow a phone to shift around within the pouch. The best pouches are snug but not restrictive.

Before every trip check the seal of every closure on every pouch, for every time a pouch is stored in a pack or equipment the flexible material can crease or wear, a stiff fold, cracked plastic or distorted gasket can develop.

Pack only what the pouch needs to protect

Keep the pouch interior simple and do not put hard objects (like loose keys, calls of shells, or other duck hunting tools) in the pouch with your phone. These types of objects can scratch your phone, interfere with seal closure, or even puncture your protective pouch when jostled about in the blind or boat.

Make sure your phone is charged, you have all the necessary numbers stored in it, and you have the necessary maps or other reference material for the trip that will work without a signal. Take a screenshot of any important information you may need to refer to later and save it in your phone in case you need to look at it later.

Small amounts of moisture in the form of condensation can be controlled with a small microfiber cloth which should be kept in the pocket to control such incidents. In cases where the phone gets wet prior to putting it in the protective pouch for the marsh, wipe off as much water as possible from the phone's external surfaces and from the inside of the pouch prior to sealing to prevent water from entering the phone's external ports.

Make the seal a routine check

Do not find out when you are in the boat that the phone that you have put in your waterproof cover cannot be operated because of the cover. Open and close up the waterproof pouch with your clean and dry hands before you go out on the water. Test all the ports on the phone, the screen, the camera, the speaker and the charging cable. Some touch screens do not work so well through waterproof layers. Some do not work at all when gloves are worn.

Check how the phone's touch screen, camera, speaker, etc. work after the phone has been placed in the protective cover when it is dry. After that test, place a dry paper towel in the pouch and seal it up. Then test the pouch for watertightness by leaving it in a controlled moisture environment for a period of time (as specified by the manufacturer's instructions for testing for leakage) and then check the paper towel for any moisture.

Opening up a waterproof phone pouch in the rain, in order to recharge your phone, is counterproductive. As an alternative, bringing along a separate portable battery in a dry and protected bag could provide the solution to your recharging problems. Just make sure to manage the cable and connections in a way to keep them dry, as well.

Choose access over convenience

So, the safest location is easily accessible and would not require you to get up and stand in the boat in order to retrieve the pouch. So, a zipped up chest pocket, a secure belt location, a dry compartment in your clothes or in your boat would all work well. Just make sure it is not on a hook or something that could be knocked off by a strap or something that you have hanging from the boat.

Ask your guide where to put personal electronics such as your phone, etc. They can advise you the best location for personal electronics as to not get in the way of running a safe and successful hunt. Keep the line short and be aware of possible snagging of lanyards on guns, blinds, boat motors, etc.

Make sure to attach the bag to something fixed in such a way that it won't get lost should you accidentally drop it. In terms of length, a short lanyard or cord is much better than a long one. Make sure that the end to which the pouch is attached does not become snagged on something, perhaps gets caught in a branch, or worse yet gets caught up in a firearm or control of the boat.

Protect the phone from more than water

It is also worth noting that in addition to water, other dangers to a phone include fine dust, mud, small particles of plant material, high temperatures, low temperatures and compression. As such, it is important to find a location to store the protective pouch which will not allow it to be subject to these forces. A dry bag is another layer of protection but it must not be used as a substitute for checking the interior of the pouch itself.

Remember to open up the pouch in a dry place and wipe off the phone and pouch with a clean, dry microfiber cloth after taking it out of the pouch. Do not use high heat in order to dry off your phone or pouch.

Even though you can replace a phone, you should not put yourself in harm's way to retrieve it. Instead, inform your guide of the situation and complete the rest of the day's activities as planned. Your guide will most likely have an established recovery procedure that you will need to follow.

Keep use responsible in the field

Although protected, your phone is still a distraction in the field. Only use your phone for matters of communication, to check your GPS and current weather, and to take pictures or record video that you have agreed to with your guide. Ensure that you are paying full attention to your surroundings, your footing, the movement of your boat, other people in the area and how you are handling all of your hunting equipment.

Be selective about pictures of your wildlife and farm. Do not disturb animals to get better pictures. Do not take pictures of locations, private access points and sensitive habitats for personal use. What you do not take pictures of is also part of responsible outdoor behavior. Local rules and the expectations of landowners with regard to photography of wildlife, access to areas and the treatment of harvested game need to be strictly followed. Consult the relevant official websites before your trip.

After your trip clean any mud off the outside of the pouch with clean water, according to the manufacturer's instructions and then dry it out. Store the pouch open or in the storage position recommended by the manufacturer. Give the pouch a good check before your next trip to ensure that all parts are working correctly, especially the closure.