• Samsung Galaxy Active Pro: Certified and tested to be military standard (MIL-STD-810G) for drops, shocks, vibration, rain, dirt, mud, sand, water, altitude, freeze & thaw, temperature range, temperature shock, and humidity
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2: Similar to the Pro, less expensive
• WinBridge S933L which runs Android and its rated at IP68 (this guarantees protection in water up to 1.5 meter deep for 30 minutes. It also ensures dust and shock resistance)
• Vanquisher 8″ tablet, which runs Windows and is IP67 rated (protection in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. It also ensures dust and shock resistance)

The Details: The Best Waterproof Tablet

Samsung’s Galaxy Active Pro is a ruggedized version the flagship Galaxy tablet. It is protected by protective silicone edging and a sturdy internal frame. It has an impressive IP67 rating, which means it has complete protection against contact from dust and is safe in up to 1m of water immersion.

I has some other ruggedized features:

• Water-resistant touch screen
• Glove mode for winter use
• Includes IP68-Certified Samsung S Pen
• Facial recognition for unlocking while wearing gloves

The Galaxy Active Pro is available on Amazon for around $745.

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The best portable water filters available today are:

• The Sawyer Products Complete 4-Liter Filtration System. Filters down to 0.1 microns. This includes almost all pathogens, except certain viruses. It costs about $180.
• The Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter. Filters down to 0.2 microns. It costs about $340.

Another reliable method of killing all pathogens in water is using chlorine dioxide tablets, such as Katadyn Micropur Purification Tablets.

The Details

Portable filters are designed primarily to remove pathogens from outdoor water. Some units also include carbon filters to reduce VOCs and toxic metals in the water.

These are the three type of pathogens you want to remove from wilderness water:

Protozoan Cysts (Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia)

Size: 1 – 20 microns

Type of filtration needed to remove: Micro-filtration, ozonation or reverse osmosis, UV (ultraviolet light)

Bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia entercolitica, Leptospira interrogans, etc.)

Size: 0.1 – 10 microns

Type of filtration needed to remove: Micro-filtration needed, ozonation or reverse osmosis, UV (ultraviolet light)

Viruses (hepatitis A, rotavirus, enterovirus, norovirus, Norwalk virus)

Size: 0.025 – 0.1 microns (25 nanometers to 100 nanometers)

Type of filtration needed to remove: Ultra-filtration needed – ozonation or reverse osmosis, UV (ultraviolet light)

Notes On Pathogens

• Pesticides, herbicides and other toxins and pollutants associated with agriculture and urban development do not normally impact water sources found deep in wilderness areas
• Viruses are rarely encountered in North American wilderness waters
• Bacteria (including beneficial bacteria) is naturally present in surface water
• Protozoan cysts and viruses are found in water contaminated by animal or human waste (principally feces)

The Best Portable Water Filter: Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter

The Katadyn is a dependable filter which has been used by back country hikers for many years. The filtration member is rated at 0.2 microns.  The silver-impregnated ceramic element is effective against bacteria and protozoa, and it will filter 50,000 liters (13,000 gallons) before a replacement is needed.

The Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter is available from Amazon for about $340.

Another Alternative: Sawyer Products Complete 4-Liter Filtration System

The Sawyer Filtration System is an excellent kit, that filters down to 0.02 microns, using a hollow fiber membrane. That’s almost on par with the Lifesaver, with it’s 0.015 micron filtration. Thus, the Sawyer can filter out most pathogen, including viruses.

What’s great about this system is that it almost never needs a replacement filter. The manufacturer has a guarantee that it will filter one million gallons before replacement. However, long-time users report the water reservoir bags need replacing after a couple of years.

The Sawyer System is gravity-fed, and allows you to purify 4 liters of water in about 10 minutes.

The Sawyer Products Complete 4-Liter Filtration System is available from Amazon for about $180.

Chlorine Dioxide Tablets

Chlorine dioxide tablets are a good choice for water purification. They will destroy all pathogen in water. Also, they leave no taste in the water (unlike iodine tablets). Like all water treatment tablets, these take 15 minutes to destroy viruses and bacteria, 30 minutes to destroy Giardia, and 4 hours to destroy Cryptosporidium.

I recommend the Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets. This is only tablets registered with the EPA.

Boiling Water

You can boil water for one minute to destroy all pathogens. It is a foolproof treatment method. Only one minute of boiling is required. The most heat-resistant pathogen out there is the virus hepatitis A. Even hepatitis is believed to die in less than one minute in water heated to 98°C/208°F. It is because of hepatitis A (or maybe just tradition) that some health organizations and wilderness rangers persist in recommending at least 1 minute of boiling time to purify water, and 3 minutes at higher elevations.

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The world’s thinnest tablet in the “mini” category, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, runs Android 5.0 (Lollipop) OS and has a 2048 x 1536 screen resolution. Its Quad 1.9GHz Intel processor and 32 GB Flash Memory makes it a capable machine for browsing the internet and for running apps from the Google Play Store.

The AMOLED display delivers the vibrant, lifelike colors with deep contrast and rich display that consumers have come to expect from Samsung’s flagship line of portable electronics. The Galaxy S2’s rear-facing 8-megapixel camera takes reasonably good pictures, although your phone likely has a better camera. Its battery life also leaves something to be desired. The battery lasts six hours on average.

The Galaxy’s most attractive feature is, of course, its svelte figure. At .22,” it is even thinner than the iPad Air 2. Other perks such as Samsung’s exclusive Smart Switch software and fingerprint scanning round out the tablet.

Samsung also offers a 9.7” edition of the Galaxy Tab S2.

The Thinnest Tablet Running Windows: Toshiba dynaPad

While the Android OS is fine for entertainment purposes, you will want a tablet with Windows OS if you intend to do serious work on your tablet. Think of the Galaxy Tab as an over-sized smartphone and of the dynaPad as an undersized laptop.

The dynaPad packs much more impressive hardware in its extra .05” of thickness. It runs the powerful Intel Atom CPU and has 4GB of RAM and 65GB of internal storage. Engadget writes:

“The 1.28-pound tablet feels at once luxuriously light and reassuringly well-built. The secret ingredient is a carbon fiber frame that’s coated in a soft, rubbery paint that makes the device easier to grip than a big-screen tablet ought to be. It also helps that the device has a mix of rounded corners and flat, slightly chamfered edges.”

It has Gorilla glass screen, which is resistant to scratches and cracks, and a sturdy carbon-fiber frame. The dynaPad’s durability is a great asset for an ultrathin tablet, because it doesn’t require a bulky case for protection.

The dynaPad is now available for pre-order and will be sold online and in Windows stores later this month.

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The Details

Even die-hard traditional book readers have to admit that an e-reader has advantages over analog books in certain situations. Nothing quite replicates the feel and smell of an old paper book while curled up at home on a rainy autumn day. But try reading a cumbersome door-stopper like Infinite Jest while sitting poolside without your arms withering and the pages flapping in the wind. Or if you are going on a backpacking trip for a few months you can bring thousands of books with you instead of just two or three.

The latest iteration of e-readers replicate the look of a book. Unlike backlit tablets they are easy on the eyes and perfect for reading outdoors. Online marketplaces have gotten much better over the years, giving you access to millions of choices anywhere there is wifi. They are also lightweight and comfortable to hold, easy to keep in hand on long plane rides or days at the beach.

There are a few important factors to weigh when choosing which E-Reader is right for you. Backpackers and travelers want to opt for options with the longest battery life, as they will last the longest in between charges. Beach bums want a model that is waterproof and can stand up to the brightest sun. Read below to find out the best e-readers you should go for.

Best Overall E-Reader: Kindle Voyage

The Kindle Voyage tops the list in all of the categories that make up a great E-Reader. First, there’s the lightweight design, weighing in at a breezy .4lbs. Then there is the screen, a 6″ display using E-Ink Carta to replicate the look of a printed book page in an impressive 300-ppi display. It doesn’t strain the eyes in the way an LED or LCD tablet will, which means that you can stay up late in to the night trying to power through the final chapters in your A Song Of Ice And Fire marathon.

What sets the Voyage apart from other high-end competitors is an adaptive brightness that automatically adjusts to ambient light. So whether you are reading in a dim coffee shop or out by the pool, your Kindle’s screen will adapt to make the experience as easy on the eyes as possible. This is thanks to a built-in lighting system that uses 6 bulbs as opposed to the 4 used in many other e-readers.

The design is also lightweight and thin. It features a thin bezel and sleek look, with a feature called Page Press that lets you change pages without even lifting your finger. You really can’t ask for much more than that.

Finally, the Kindle Voyage comes with 4GB memory which is perfect to store you entire digital collection of books and more. Amazon’s reading collection is the broadest and subscription services give you access to more books than anything else on the market.

Best Water Proof E-Reader: Kobo Aura H20

For a durable Reactual-approved e-reader that can survive the elements, go for the Kobo Aura H20. As the name suggests, this is a waterproof and dustproof device that can be taken with whether you are heading out on a cruise or to the desert. It even has an IP67 certified rating, meaning it is resistant to splashes and small-particle ingress.

It has a large 6.8″ screen, one of the largest of any e-reader, and it reads just like the printed page of a book, thanks to ClarityScreen+ technology. The screen is a beautiful high-definition that presents your books in wonderful quality. At 265dpi, the resolution is a bit worse than that of competitors like Nook and Kindle, but most readers would not even be able to notice the difference.

There is a great deal of customization and fun features in the interface. The ComfortLight feature redirects light away from your eyes and on to the screen, reducing glare and giving you enough light to read. Other nice features include 24 font sizes and the ability to highlight and save, as well an integrated dictionary.

The device has 4GB of storage and can offers a great deal of variety in terms of formatting. It plays files including Epub, PDF, Mobi, and CBZ, which is an advantage over Kindle and its proprietary restrictions.

One more huge advantage of the H20 is a 2 month battery life that far exceeds its competition. One great weakness is a lackluster online store with a clunky UI that causes headaches when looking for appropriate titles.

Best Value E-Reader: Kindle Paperwhite

Get an 8 hour battery life and a HD resolution screen for an affordable price with the Kindle Paperwhite.

Previous iterations of the Kindle Paperwhite were a bit lacking in resolution and crispness, but the latest one sports an impressive 300ppi, which matches the flagship model the Voyage. It also has a vibrant and pronounced differences between black and white which leads to a satisfying reading experience. The screen is bright enough to to eliminate glare in direct sunlight and there are 4 LED lights for night reading.

There are less features than on the Voyage like microSD slots, and the device is heavier than others on the market. At the lowest price point it does show you advertising, which is a major turn-off for some readers. An upgrade can take the ads off entirely, which lets you enjoy the Amazon bookstore through WiFi.

The relatively plain Kindle Paperwhite can’t compete with the more expensive Kindle Voyage’s design. At nearly half a pound, it is a little on the heavy side, and like other Kindles there’s no microSD slot. However, with 4GB of internal storage there’s enough space to store thousands of books, making this one of the best e-readers around.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]

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The Details

Portable electronics are only as useful as their battery life. If you get caught away from a power outlet with a low charge and no external power source then it doesn’t much matter what other specs your device has. But an answer is out there. Portable chargers are an inexpensive and convenient answer to one of the modern world’s little frustrations. They are ideal for vacationers, business travelers, and just about anyone who is worried that their cell phone or tablet might not make it through a full day of extensive use.

But what should you look for in a portable charger? It depends on what you need. If that need is to simultaneously charge multiple devices, veer toward high capacity chargers.

The capacity of a battery is expressed in milliampere-hour (mAh), a unit of electric charge  that measures power delivered over discharge interval. The higher the mAh, the larger the charging capacity. A 3000 mAh portable charger will charge an iPhone 6 once. A 20000 mAh charger will fill the phone 7 times.

Lower mAh batteries will recharge a device quicker than their high capacity competitors, so go with them if you prize speed over quantity. They also are smaller and lighter because they have less cells.

Ruggedized and waterproof options are also available for those who need to recharge their phone or tablets on the beach.

Ultimately, try and strike a balance between value, portability, durability, capacity and speed.

Best Overall Portable Charger: Intocircuit External Battery

Durable, compact, easy-to-use and lighting fast, Intocircuit’s portable charger is the best all around external power source on the market. It has Samsung Grade A Lithium-ion cells that supply over 1000 lifetime charges.

This is the best balance between charge capacity and speed. It is rated at 15000mAh, which is enough to charge an iPhone 5S 7 times. The 4.8 dual USB output is 2.4A per port, as well as a respectably fast input of 5V/2A.

We also appreciate the brushed metal exterior, which provides the lithium ion battery cells with better protection. Since it uses a material that is more durable than the standard thick plastic, it has increased portability.

The Intocircuit also has smart technology that automatically detects what device charges at and adapts to maximum speed, so you don’t need to worry about cross-referencing your device with the correct USB charger. LED lights also indicate how much charge is left in the battery, eliminating some of the annoying guess work.

The Intocircuit External Battery is available on Amazon for around $37.

Best High Capacity Charger: MMSA Power Bank

MMSA Power Bank has 20,000mAh of charge, which is enough to refill an iPhone 6 7 times and a Samsung Galaxy S5 5 times. It has a 5V/1A input and an impressive four USB outputs, enough to charge the whole family’s portable electronics at once.

This is also quite a bit lighter than other 20k batteries on the market. High capacity chargers tend to run on the heavy side, because they house larger batteries than their smaller counterparts. High capacity chargers also are slower, but this is one of the faster ones on the market. Still expect it to take a 5-10 hours before you get a full charge on most phones and tablets.

The MMSA Power Bank is available on Amazon for around $35.

Best Hyperspeed Charger: Patriot Fuel

If want one device charged fast, use a hyperspeed charger. Look at a charger’s output to determine how fast it can charge your portable device. A 1A (5W) charger is the slowest, 2A (10W) cuts the charge rate in half and a 2.5A (12.5W) charge is one of the fasted currently available. Recharge speeds also depend on the cord. Newer Apple devices are outfitted with lightning charging cords and some Android devices work with Turbo chargers.

The Patriot Fuel is outfitted with a 2.5A USB output for hyperspeed charging. It has a 9000mAh capacity and two USB ports (1A and a 2.5A). It has a built in self-monitoring system to prevent under or over charging and to optimize charging efficiency. It can get smartphones back to full charge in around 1 hour. It also comes with a 2 year warranty.

The Patriot Fuel charger is available on Amazon for around $25.

Best Waterproof Charger: Unifun Waterproof External Battery

This dustproof, waterproof and rugged charger is perfect for use in the great outdoors. It is IP66 waterproof rated, which means it is totally dust-proof and protected against string water jets and waves. The 10,400mAh lithium polymer core provides up to 1,000 lifetime charges, and each charge will refill an iPhone 4 times. It has 2 USB outputs.

Rechare your iPhone 6 Plus 5S, 5C 4 4S, iPad Air/iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy S5 S4 S3, Google Nexus 7, cameras, and tablets at the ski lodge, on the beach, poolside, camping, at a construction site, or in the desert with this durable and waterproof portable charger.

The Unifun Waterproof External Battery is available on Amazon for around $17.

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The IP Code is an international standard that rates a product’s protection against intrusions by water and foreign particles.

The chart below gives a detailed breakdown for each individual IP Code numeric rating. The solid particle protection is always the first number and the moisture protection is always the second. To illustrate, a product rated IP57 would be dust resistant and waterproof up to 1 meter. A product rated IP68 is completely dustproof and waterproof.

IP Code Basics

Consumers on the hunt for waterproof or dust proof electronics will want to familiarize themselves with the IP Code. An IP ranking provides much-needed clarity in a market saturated with meaningless jargon and misleading advertising. While an IP ranking is not a guarantor of a product’s overall quality, it adds transparency by assessing what level of protection a product offers. A variety of consumer products, ranging from earphones to tablets, now display an IP ranking to advertise durability. Those who are familiar with the IP code have a powerful tool with which to make informed purchases of ruggedized electronics.

IP stands for International Protection Marking, or Ingress Protection. It is an international standard used to define the levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusions by substances like dirt, water and tools. In other words, it tells you what a product’s casing will keep out.

An IP classification is determined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization formed in 1906 and headquartered in Switzerland. Composed of a coalition of electrical engineers, academics and industry experts, the IEC is the world’s leading organization dedicated to “electrotechnology” standards, a broad catchall term for electronic technology. They establish world-wide quality standards for electrotechnologies. Currently, 82 countries participate in their program.

An IP code rates the degree of protection a product has against dust, accidental contact and water. The code is displayed as IP followed by two numbers, such as IP67. If either numeral is represented by an “X,” it means the product has not been tested in that category. It does not equate to a ranking of 0, but it does not guarantee any protection.

Solid Particle Protection

The first number in the IP rating signifies a product’s level of protection against access to hazardous parts and ingress (access or entrance) of solid foreign objects. Solid protection is ranked on a scale of 0 to 6. A ranking of “0” means the product has no protection against solid objects, nor way to prevent them from entering.

Rankings 1-4 represent how resistant an object is to entry by foreign tools, ranging from fingers to fine tools. This is an important safety ranking that assesses protection against accidental contact with charged electricity. An IP3X is the minimum ranking you would want if you have children or pets around, and an IP4X protects against foreign contact for grain-sized and larger objects.

A rating of a IP5X or IP6X assesses a product’s protection against hazardous dust or other fine particles like sand. These are the two most common Single Particle Protection rankings, and they tell you how well a product keeps dust out of electronic components.

IP5X means a product is protected against dust. Dust entry is not entirely prevented, but significant protection of dust assures the product can operate in sandy conditions. A ranking of 5 is sufficient for most consumer-grade uses.

A rating of IP6X means the product is completely dust tight and there is no ingress of dust. Contractors and those traveling to extremely dirty or dusty locations prefer products with an IP6X rating.

Liquid Ingress Protection

The second digit in an IP code indicates moisture protection. It can range from 0 (no protection) to 8 (completely waterproof in depths over 1m).

Many products advertised as waterproof are not intended to be submerged in water for any prolonged period of time. A ranking of 1-4 means that a product will operate if exposed to water (from splashing or dripping), but will not work under water. This is common for shower radios, outdoor speakers and kitchen appliances.

IPX7 and IPX8 indicate a product will operate while fully submersed in water for an extended period of time. These electronics are rated for depths of less than and greater than 1 meter, respectively. The manufacturer should specify exactly what distance this safety is assured to, so it is important to double check before taking your electronic underwater.

An IPX5 and IPX6 mean that the product can resist jets of pressurized water. It is important to note that a product rated to be fully submersed in water cannot necessarily survive pressurized water jet.

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The Details

The  Unifun Waterproof External Battery is great to have on hand for your outdoor excursions. It goes where standard portable chargers can’t: poolside, camping, skiing and just about anywhere there’s a chance of dust or precipitation. That’s why its trusted by first responders as well as vacationers.

The battery takes around 5-7 hours to charge after it expends all 10,400mAh. When it is charged up, the Unifun can fully charge about four empty smartphones. It is compatible with a wide range of gadgets, including the iPhone 6 Plus 5S, 5C 4 4S, iPad Air/iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy S5 S4 S3, Google Nexus 7, cameras, and tablets. It does automatically power down when it is not in use, which helps keep it going for longer. Unifun claims that the lithium polymer core has a long lifespan and can give up to 1,000 lifetime charges, which is above industry standard.

We also like the battery’s durable casing. It is IP66 waterproof rated, which means it is totally dust-proof and protected against string water jets and waves. One caveat: don’t expect a quick charge with the Unifun. It charges about 1% every five minutes, so it will take a device a while to get back to life if you let it completely expire.

Another Option

The Limefuel Rugged L104XR is another durable waterproof portable charger option. As its name suggests, the Limefuel Rugged can take a beating and has an IP66 rating. It has 2 universally compatible outlets equipped with 5V/2A input.

The Limefuel charges devices faster than the Unifun and both are 10400mAh, but the Limefuel has a shorter lifespan than its competition. It is good for 500 cycles, about half as many as the Unifun.

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