Today I had one of those shopping experiences where you go into the store to buy one thing and leave much happier with something different. I have been looking for a suitable waterproof case for my new Amazon Kindle Touch 3G for some time now and with summer just around the corner (last week it seemed like summer in New England anyway) so I decided to make the trip to REI and buy one.
My online research had left me smitten by the Seal Line e-case series. These cases come in an assortment of sizes that lead you to believe that there must be a case out there for every piece of hand-held electronic imaginable. The flashy colors (orange, green, blue, or black) and the streamlined design of the waterproof zipper also caught my eye. I totally would have bought one online had I been more impulsive. However, after handling one at REI I was very happy to not have waited. First, the sizes were completely off. The inside dimensions of the e Series 13 case should have allowed ample room to fit my Kindle Touch 3G without an issue. The problem was that the flashy zipper wouldn’t open far enough to get the Kindle into the pouch. This forced me to step up to the e Series 14 case which was more money and left my Kindle “swimming” inside much too large a case. Second, I had the sense to test the functionality of the touch screen through the case and found that it didn’t even kind-of work. This was no good and back to the shelf went the e Series case.
I was slightly discouraged by this turn of events but REI’s great selection took care of that pretty quickly! Next up was the Seattle Sports Dry Doc 7 inch case. I really liked this case for its simple design with a single top-zipper that opened wide enough to access the entire volume of the pouch. It comes in three colors: entirely clear, black with a clear front or aquamarine with a clear front. The price was also enticing at about 50% of the Seal Line e-case. However, the Dry Doc case also failed my touch screen test. Arguably, I could have lived with the Dry Doc but there were more cases to explore.
The case that I settled on was the Sea-to-Summit TPU Guide Accessory Case size large. This case fit my Kindle Touch 3G very nicely; not so tightly that I had to struggle to get it in nor too loosely such that my Kindle was “swimming” inside. The TPU Guide case sports a traditional “fold to seal” closure thus lacking the waterproof zippers seen on the previous two cases. I’m happy with this design as it was never my intention to immerse my Kindle (all of these waterproof cases are not guaranteed to keep things dry when completely immersed anyway). The thing that really sold me on this case was that the touch screen worked through the plastic pouch! Finally, a case that would both keep the water off of my Kindle while paddling and sand-free while reading on the beach! With that I left my vision of a flashy, waterproof Kindle case behind and was very content to leave REI with a case that would do its job well!
Happy Paddling!
-Kayak Dave
***Note the case sizes above reflect what I deem to be a “good fit” for the Amazon Kindle Touch 3G. Each of these cases comes in a multitude of sizes which may better fit other makes and models of electronics. Make sure to bring your electronics to the store with you when choosing a case in order to select the proper size.
Seal Line E-Series Cases:
Pros:
- Best construction
- Widest range of sizes
Cons:
- Small zipper opening limits “useable” case size requiring a larger than necessary case.
- Touch screen does not work through case
- Highest price point
Kayak Dave Rating:
Seattle Sports Dry Dock Cases:
Pros:
- Simple design
- Zipper allows for full access to case
Cons:
- Touch screen does not work through case
Kayak Dave Rating:
Sea to Summit TPU Guide Accessory Cases:
Pros:
- Fits true to size
- Touch screen works though case
Cons:
- Thin plastic makes me question longevity
Kayak Dave Rating:
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