If you’re looking for a rugged and waterproof case for your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, it’s best to invest in a case you actually trust. The case market has exploded with low-quality cases that will fit poorly or outright fail, and if you want a waterproof case for your iPhone 6, you probably want it to work. That’s why there’s only a handful of waterproof cases that I’m willing to recommend to friends and family.

I personally used and tested the iPhone 5/5s versions of these cases last summer. I took the LifeProof frē fishing for trout. And I took the Incipio Atlas ID rafting down a river. I took the OtterBox Preserver to the top of Mount St. Helens in the middle of rain, fog, snow, and sleet. All three visited the local water park.

Unfortunately, it appears that OtterBox won’t be making a waterproof Preserver for the iPhone 6 (but Otterbox acquired LifeProof, so the company still technically has a waterproof case offering).

Still, even if you have some sort of insurance on your iPhone, there’s a bigger risk at play here: What if you capture a bunch of great video and photos of your vacation . . . only to lose them all on the last day because your cheap case failed? When it comes to waterproof cases, stick with the brands who have a stake in their own reputation.

With Otterbox out of the running for the top 3 waterproof cases, another case from Catalyst Lifestyle rises to the challenge — while I haven’t yet been able to take it on a serious adventure, my initial review finds excellent fit and finish overall. Definitely trustworthy.

So how far can a waterproof iPhone 6 case take you?

While I wouldn’t trust any waterproof case by going swimming or snorkeling for more than a few minutes and only at depths less than three feet, I do trust them to get great photos and video from wet perspectives while you’re standing in the river, the lake, or pool. And if the kids are playing in the sprinkler on a hot summer day, you can get right in the middle of the action to capture all the flying droplets of water without worry.

Same goes for walking or running in the rain.

And if you’re prone to texting while drunk at a bar anywhere near pitchers of beer, margaritas, or bathrooms, you’ll want a waterproof case, too. Just saying.

Right now, the LifeProof frē for iPhone 6 is now available — read my review here.

In addition, the Catalyst Lifestyle Waterproof Case for iPhone 6 is available — read my review here.

(If you’re still unsure about waterproof cases, you can grab a FRIEQ waterproof case bag. It’s not elegant, but it’ll get you through.)

Here’s the best, most trustworthy waterproof cases for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus:

LifeProof frē — The slimmest waterproof case around.

Catalyst Waterproof Case — Claim to fame? Waterproof down to 16.4 feet.

Incipio Atlas ID — Slim construction with a glass screen protector. If you register your case through Incipio’s app, you can qualify for warranty protection for your iPhone in addition to the case, too. Note: Incipio has not yet released an Atlas ID for the iPhone 6.

 

 

 

About the author

Chris Maxcer

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I've been writing about the tech industry since the birth of the email newsletter, and I still remember the clacking Mac keyboards from high school -- Apple's seed-planting strategy at work. I'm a big fan of elegant gear and great tech, but there's something to be said for turning it all off -- or most of it -- to go outside. Online I like to call out cool stuff on Wicked Cool Bite and blog with my buddies at Man Makes Fire. To catch me, take a "firstnamelastname" guess at the url of this site.