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Dog & Bone Wetsuit: A Waterproof iPhone Never Looked Better

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I’ve used a lot of waterproof iPhone cases in my day, but despite the protection they offer, every single one of them ends up stuffed in a desk drawer after a few days. Why? Because being waterproof means a sealed case, including a thin plastic screen or membrane that covers the iPhone’s display. 

Those things drive me crazy. Sometimes the film interferes with the touch responsiveness, sometimes it dulls the display or adds a hint of granularity and sometimes there is an obvious and ugly separation between the iPhone display and the protecting cover. Often, all of these issues are in play.

The Dog & Bone Wetsuit for iPhone 6/6S offers a unique, and initially disconcerting solution: ditch the screen cover altogether and leave the iPhone’s display exposed. Or “topless” as Dog & Bone describes it.

Dog & Bone Wetsuit, a "topless" waterproof iPhone case (Credit: Dog & Bone)

At first, I didn’t get how this would work. What is the point of a waterproof case if almost the entire front of the iPhone is completely uncovered. How can you call that waterproof?

Here’s the secret. The iPhone’s display is made of glass and glass is impermeable to water. The trick is to prevent water from entering anywhere else. The Dog & Bone Wetsuit uses a watertight membrane around the perimeter of the front face, effectively sealing the iPhone display. You can get water on the display itself and it can’t leak under the edges of the case to seep into the electronics. The edges are raised enough to protect the display itself from drops --although there is nothing to prevent the glass from getting scratched if you jam the phone in a pocket with some keys.

The fit is so precise, Dog & Bone even included a paper thin insert that needs to be added when using with an iPhone 6 instead of a 6S. And to test it all --something the company strongly encourages you to do in the instructions (yes, you should read the instructions)-- a hard plastic iPhone 6 mockup is included in the package. Install the case on the fake iPhone, toss it in some water and you can verify with your own eyes (and without risk) that the Wetsuit lives up to the claims.

There's no annoying film between you and your iPhone's Retina display (Credit: Brad Moon)

The remainder of the case is more familiar. Rubber gaskets cover the ports and a thin membrane covers the Home button (it did not impact Touch ID functionality whatsoever). The resulting case is IP68 Waterproof and Dust-proof, as well as meeting Military standard 810G to withstand drops to 6.6 feet.

It accomplishes this level of protection while minimizing bulk and eliminating what is probably the most frustrating aspect of any waterproof iPhone case: your display looks and works as it did before, because nothing interferes with it. The Dog & Bone Wetsuit weighs in at 1.6 ounces and the thickness of my iPhone 6 went from 0.27-inch to just 0.47-inch, which is very slim given the degree of protection offered.

I installed the Wetsuit on my iPhone for a camping trip that involved long hikes through rocky and sometimes swampy territory, days on the beach and some torrential downpours. The case itself made it much easier to grip the phone for shooting photos, it still felt slim and light in my pocket and the iPhone’s display was not in any way compromised. Speaking of photos, I shot a lot using the iPhone and the lens cover on the case did not impact photo quality.

It stood up to rain and the occasional splash with no issue. I did not submerge my iPhone (Forbes doesn’t pay for this thing if I destroy it), but based on the performance with the fake iPhone I’m confident the Wetsuit would hold up.

The big vote of approval on this case is not the fact that I used it on a trip where my iPhone would be subjected to wet conditions and possible drops onto rock. The reason I would recommend it is that a week after returning from camping, I still have the Wetsuit installed on my iPhone instead of stuffed in that drawer.

After all, a case can only protect your phone if it's on it...

Dog & Bone Wetsuit is not only waterproof, it's rugged as well (Credit: Brad Moon)

There are a still a few compromises you’ll have to live with when using the Wetsuit. A standard headphone jack won’t fit (an extension cable is included). I have large fingers and virtually no nails, so I can’t open the gasket covering the Lightning port without using a pen or knife to pop it (or asking my wife for help), but those are minor quibbles.

If you don't trust the topless approach and want a full-on, fully enclosed waterproof case, Dog & Bone makes those too. The Wetsuit Impact looks almost identical, but adds a layer of flexible glass impact protection for the display. I’ve tried this one as well and that screen cover is better than most, but I still prefer going topless.

The Dog & Bone Wetsuit is priced at $79.95 and available in three different color combinations. Cases are also offered for other smartphone models.

Disclosure: Dog & Bone provided a Wetsuit for review purposes