Waterproof Pouches

What a waterproof pouch is for

A waterproof pouch is a soft clear bag with a seal at the top that keeps water, sand and spray off a phone. It fits most phones whatever their own rating, goes on in seconds and folds into a pocket. It suits a day at the beach or the pool, a kayak, a paddleboard or a boat trip, and a walk in heavy rain. Apple lists swimming among the things to avoid with an iPhone, Samsung warns against pool and salt water, and both say a phone's water resistance fades with wear. A pouch does the job the phone's own seals were not made for.

The pouches in this range

The pouches here today are clear PVC, with a window you use the touch screen through. They differ in how they close and how they are carried:

• Seal lock pouches close with a lock across the top. One has a double air pocket that helps it float if dropped, and a cord for the neck.
• Three-layer seal pouches close in three layers, with a strap for the arm or the wrist.
• Dry bag pouches keep out sand and dust as well as water, with a clear front panel.

For pouches made to hang round the neck, see neck pouches.

How to choose and use one

Read what each pouch says about depth and time. A pouch rated IPX8 should state how deep and for how long, as the IP standard asks. Where no depth is given, keep it to the surface. Choose a pouch a little larger than the phone in its case, because it is easier to seal, and one with a clear back if you want to take photos through it.

Before the first trip, seal a folded paper towel in the empty pouch, hold it under water for as long as you expect to use it, then check the paper is dry. Do this again each season. Close the seal on a clean, dry edge: a grain of sand in the seal is the most common cause of a leak.

Questions people ask about waterproof pouches

Will the touch screen work through the pouch?

Usually, though less well than bare glass, and Samsung notes that a touch screen may not work properly in water. Face and fingerprint unlocking may not work through plastic, so know your passcode.

Do I need a pouch if my phone is IP68?

The rating is tested in still, fresh water on a new phone. Salt water, pool water, sun cream and waves are not part of the test, and the protection fades with wear. A pouch takes the risk instead.

A pouch, a case or a housing?

A pouch suits the occasional day by the water. Waterproof cases stay on every day. Diving housings are rigid and rated to a depth for photos under water. The guide to waterproof pouches, cases and IP ratings sets out the choice.

More to look at

• Neck pouches
• Waterproof cases
• Diving housings
• Running armbands
• Waist and belt pouches
• Guide: Waterproof phone pouches, cases and IP ratings explained
• Guide: Bike and motorbike phone mounts