[Review] Seidio Innocase Rugged

[pingpongboss]

Edit: I've been told by Seidio that the "Active-Like Thing" actually has a name. It's called the Rugged Skin. Also, they assured me that they are "working to make the tabs strong and easier to remove."

Seidio Innocase Rugged Holster Combo

YouTube - Seidio Innocase Rugged Holster Combo for HTC Evo 4G

Innocase Rugged Holster Combo For use with HTC EVO 4G

The newest case in Seidio's line for the HTC Evo 4G, the Innocase Rugged will not disappointed those who are seeking a case that offers more protection with minimal sacrifice in thickness and weight gain. The best thing about this case is, you choose when you want to add more protection, and when to go for lightweight and style.

If you haven't seen my reviews for the Innocase II Surface and Innocase Active yet, go check them out. I will be referring to them quite a lot, since the Innocase Rugged is at its heart, a combination of the two.

There are 4 separate pieces to the Innocase Rugged, which is an incredible bang for your buck. You are essentially buying a screen protector, a holster, and 2 separate cases for around $50. The pieces are engineered to fit together perfectly, and best of all, it is made by Seidio, a company that is hugely concerned about its consumers. You won't see another company like Seidio who spends a lot of time and effort answering questions on these forums. They've taken advice and criticisms on all their past products, and iterated new generations that fix the most pressing issues. I am truly impressed with their dedication to their consumers.

The Innocase Active was widely considered to be their most successful case (especially the Limited Edition), so lets see how this new case compares.

Full disclosure: I was given a review unit from Seidio. However, you'll find that I strive to be uninfluenced by that, and will be fully honest when it comes to weaknesses.

Raison d'

 

[pingpongboss]

Sneak Peeks

Did I just take some pictures of the Innocase Surface, Active Limited Edition, and a holster? Nope, what you're seeing is the newest case to come out of Seidio's labs, the Innocase Rugged.

 

[htc.EVOlution]

nice review unit. too bad i didn't get a chance to do one this time

 

[Danduhman.ds]

Thank you pingpongboss for another great review.Never knew the holster locked, but i knew that the cam flap opens into hole on back!

 

[htc.EVOlution]

nice just read your review. btw, thanks for the credit!

 

[HTCRALEIGHFAN]

awesome vid and review!! thank you!

mine is on order on amazon....as the cust srvc online and by ph with seidio was meh!!!

 

[UrbanMuppet]

No longer a contributing member. Account pending for deletion.

 

[pingpongboss]

nice just read your review. btw, thanks for the credit!

credit where credit is due

Nice review.

Just a suggestion, prepare a bit before reviews. Clean the unit, etc to make it more professional. Also, what is this guy doing in this pic?

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NEvPcXQofAU/TDufKLNfV-I/AAAAAAAAo8M/HFbmk7ya7Vg/s1280/IMGP2467.JPG

I try the best I can in my crappy university apartment and LOL that's my roommate scratching his ass or something.

 

[htc.EVOlution]

That pics with the pant is indeed pretty funny

nice just read your review. btw, thanks for the credit!

credit where credit is due

Nice review.

Just a suggestion, prepare a bit before reviews. Clean the unit, etc to make it more professional. Also, what is this guy doing in th

I try the best I can in my crappy university apartment and LOL that's my roommate scratching his ass or something.

-Sent from my Sprint HTC Evo 4G. The true iphone4 killer!!!

 

[Complex757]

Nice review. I received mine a couple of days ago. I don't think it's that hard to get on/off. I mainly got it for use at the gym, to make sure I don't damage it. I wonder about the flaps eventually ripping off also.

I'm very satisfied with the value for the price.

 

[UrbanMuppet]

No longer a contributing member. Account pending for deletion.

 

[pingpongboss]

I was thinking about the rugged, but I don't want both cases. May wait for an otterbox. Got my Active LE and Holster for now.

lol I have a feeling we're gonna wait forever for these guys

 

[UrbanMuppet]

No longer a contributing member. Account pending for deletion.

 

[jlbattagli]

I bought the Rugged Combo Kit - the only difference being the addition of a holster for use with just the Innocase. I do industrial maintenance for a living, so I get into every kind of nasty, dirty, dusty, greasy, hot/cold, humid environment you can imagine. Haven't tried out the Rugged part under actual work conditions yet as I'm on vacation until next week, but so far I'm very pleased with the rest of the the case(s). I usually just slip the phone into my pocket, but do occasionally use the holster if I'm wearing skinny jeans or such. For work I usually keep the phone in my breast pocket, where it has a tendency to collect dust and grime - hoping the port covers will help with that. I expect to occasionally clip the phone to my toolbelt or safety harness, so a locking clip should be a big plus. I'll update if I run across any serious issues under actual work conditions.

 

[jlbattagli]

BTW, it's a lot easier to get the phone in and out of the rubber "rugged" case and skeleton if you do it as two separate pieces, rather than both at once.

 

[italianwjt]

nm, i seen someone already commented on it.

 

[jlbattagli]

Ok, I'm back at work, and my boss has been sending me to some of the nastiest places we have, so I'be been able to give the rugged case a pretty good acid test (been in a stripping/de-rusting plant and a die cast factory - both really grungy). I've carried the phone both in the holster and in my shirt pocket - the rubber case does an excellent job of protecting the phone from being banged up. More importantly, it keeps all the grime and grit from messing up the phone; and the rubber cleans up easily. Keeping it in the holster helps to protect the phone's face, though I expect to go through screen protectors pretty quickly. So far, I'm very pleased with this combo, and would recommend it to anyone looking to carry their phone in a rough environment.

 

[lembowski]

With the Otterbox being a not that far out I wouldn't buy this case. Just buy something cheaper that will "work" for the short wait and be careful. No sense in buying this $50 case and buying the what I am sure will be a better Otterbox defender.

 

[pingpongboss]

With the Otterbox being a not that far out I wouldn't buy this case. Just buy something cheaper that will "work" for the short wait and be careful. No sense in buying this $50 case and buying the what I am sure will be a better Otterbox defender.

I'd love to see what they can come up with but why do you believe that one, it will be out soon, and two, that it will be better?

Not saying it wont happen, but people have been waiting forever for otterbox to come out with an Evo case.

 

[lembowski]

I'd love to see what they can come up with but why do you believe that one, it will be out soon, and two, that it will be better?

Not saying it wont happen, but people have been waiting forever for otterbox to come out with an Evo case.

1) I say soon as in 1 to 2 months from now. Thats reasonable and when I was ordering my ipad case the sales person told me they are hoping it will come out in the next 2 to 3 weeks. But I'm happy with a 1 to 2 month time frame.

2) Have you ever owned an Otterbox Defender case before? If you have and you currently have the Seidio Rugged then I'm sure you already know the answer. Just the feel of the materials used is much better. There is a reason people solely use Otterbox products.

And by waiting forever how long is that? The phone hasn't been out for 2 months yet? Weeks is not forever! I fully expect them to have it out before the end of August.

 

[pingpongboss]

1) I say soon as in 1 to 2 months from now. Thats reasonable and when I was ordering my ipad case the sales person told me they are hoping it will come out in the next 2 to 3 weeks. But I'm happy with a 1 to 2 month time frame.

2) Have you ever owned an Otterbox Defender case before? If you have and you currently have the Seidio Rugged then I'm sure you already know the answer. Just the feel of the materials used is much better. There is a reason people solely use Otterbox products.

And by waiting forever how long is that? The phone hasn't been out for 2 months yet? Weeks is not forever! I fully expect them to have it out before the end of August.

I had the Otterbox case for the Droid. It did the job, but it wasn't as incredible as you make them out to be. Ptterbox may have made amazing cases, but they definitely screwed up with the Evo. And yes I think most people would consider months a long time.

 

[lembowski]

I had the Otterbox case for the Droid. It did the job, but it wasn't as incredible as you make them out to be. Ptterbox may have made amazing cases, but they definitely screwed up with the Evo. And yes I think most people would consider months a long time.

Is a couple of months a long time? Maybe for some, but I'm fine when the product works as expected.

Otterbox may not be perfect but the are normally the closest to it when it comes to cellphone cases. The feel of their silicon and plastics just have a different texture and feel that says quality. Now I'm not sure what your mileage is with only using a Commuter case and not the Defender.

Seidio and others may be faster at getting cases out, but at what cost? I've owned 5 Seidio cases for the EVO so far and 4 of them had issues and I returned them. I've owned many Seidio cases in the past and never had this issue. But in my opinion Seidio rushed EVO products to sell and didn't do the due diligence needed to ensure the cases were ready, The Seidio Active case I have now is a good case in my opinion, but it's nowhere near the quality I'm also used to from Otterbox.

I don't have to own the Rugged case to know it feels like the Active. Its essentially a combination of 2 cases that I have already had issues with.

 

[pingpongboss]

Maybe you're right. I don't own any Otterbox Defender cases, so I can't speak for them. But the fact remains that Seidio has a whole line of cases out for the Evo, while Otterbox is still preparing theirs. And I might just try the Defender when it comes out, just to see what the big deal is, if I'm still using my Evo by then.

 

[lembowski]

Definitely won't argue that they are taking their sweet time, however all their cases seem to take quite some time to put out. Just the nature of Otterbox's beast.

Hopefully the Defender performs up to their normally high standards. The Commuter looks really nice to (assuming it looks similar to the HD2 Commuter).