Imagine it’s your first day on a trip to one of the most secluded islands in the Caribbean. You’re snorkeling with your phone in a waterproof pouch, capturing video of swaying soft coral and schools of shimmering fish, and then you drop said phone and watch it float slowly, gracefully to the bottom of the ocean. This exact scenario happened to my friend off the coast of Dominica.

After sitting at least 15 feet underwater for several long, stressful minutes, the phone was retrieved by our boat captain, and to our surprise, it was dry. Now, I recommend these $10 phone pouches to anyone planning a beach or lake vacation.

Lamicall Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-pack

Amazon

The waterproof pouch comes in a pack of two—currently 29 percent off $14—and, believe me, they are worth every penny to keep our $1,000 devices safe on the water. Naysayers will claim that they’re happy to leave their phones back at the hotel while they go swimming, but what about taking pictures? Using navigation? Taking a video of the unbelievable view just below the surface of the water? This one affordable beach accessory takes all the risk out of it.

It’s big enough to hold even the largest iPhone ever made, the 16 Pro Max, as well as bank cards, cash, and other things you don’t want to get wet. With its flexible PVC enclosure and locking top, it has a waterproof rating of IPX8, meaning it can withstand being submerged for more than 30 minutes. It has a lanyard that you should keep around your neck always, 100 percent of the time, if you are daring enough to take it into the water. You can also use it to keep everything dry while hiking in wet environments, which we also did a lot of in the Caribbean.

Lamicall Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-pack

Amazon

The pouch is designed to be fully waterproof, but it’s a good idea to test it before you travel. Reviewers do this by putting a paper towel inside it and submerging it under water. If the paper towel comes out dry, then you can (probably) trust it.

Other travelers have had as much good fortune as I have with this little lifesaver. One reviewer wrote that while hiking across an Alaskan permafrost bog, “I found a ‘hole’ that sank me to my chest in a heartbeat. Thank goodness my phone was in this waterproof pouch,” they said. “It simply floated to the top of the ‘puddle’ safe and sound. I, on the other hand, had to be extracted from the bog by two young strapping fly fishing guides.” Another said that while they were on a rafting trip, their boat flipped and their group was in the water for several minutes, yet “not a single drop of water had gotten into the case nor damaged our phones.”

There are many other waterproof pouches like it at Amazon, but if you’re looking to shop around, we found five options with some of the best reviews, including one for $8 that has more than 100,000 ratings.

Shop More Waterproof Phone Pouches at Amazon:

Hiearcool Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-pack

Amazon

Rynapac Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-pack

Amazon

AiRunTech Waterproof Fanny Pack 2-pack

Amazon

Pelican Marine Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-pack

Amazon

Pedvsty Large-capacity Waterproof Phone Pouch

Amazon

At the time of publishing, the price started at $10.

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