Smartphones: Convenient and Portable

Nowadays, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does not bring at least one or several mobile devices, like iPhones, smart phones and digital cameras, wherever they go. Some even take it as far as having their gadgets with them while they sleep, or bringing their phones with them even when they go to the beach to take a dip in the water. 

Taking the mobile devices to enjoy outdoor activities has also become the norm. Whether it is to be able to enjoy their favorite music as they run up a hill or take photos during their latest island adventure, most people have their mobile gadgets with them. Unfortunately, the outdoors can prove to be more hazardous to gadgets than the home, office, or shopping center. There can be snow, water, sand, soil, and so many other elements that can ruin the gadget. It can be easier to lose the gadget as well when you’re outdoors. 

Despite having advanced features, smartphones and other mobile devices simply aren’t designed to endure the rugged outdoors. Thankfully, this has long been acknowledged by avid outdoorsmen, who in turn work with different manufacturers to design and develop packs and containers that are durable and provide adequate storage and protection, yet are lightweight and easy to use. These include simple devices such as a waterproof iPhone cases that can help a person enjoy his outdoor trip and activities, without having to worry about his phone or digicam being lost or damaged.

Drinking up while out on a winter run

Winter is a good time to go out and experience the outdoors. It is even better when you are out in the mountains where you are closer to nature to soak up the sights and sounds. However, the more adventurous side of you can take this opportunity to go running outdoors in near subzero conditions. When you do go out for a run, keep in mind that you need to keep hydrated as the body’s efforts to generate more heat will cause you to sweat more. You can avoid this from happening by following some simple steps.

Plan how many miles you intend to run in any given day and prepare to stock as much fluids as you can possibly carry. Take note that cold temperatures increase the blood’s viscosity which adds more pressure for the heart to pump blood to your body. Wear comfortable but light winter apparel, especially those designed to trap moisture in. It can be hard to gauge your level of sweating amidst all the clothes, so you need to weigh yourself before and after the run and replenish yourself with 16 ounces of fluid for every pound you shed.

Some running experts state that you need to drink fluids even when not in critical points of the run. This helps replenish the electrolytes. A hydration pack close to your body and covered with the clothes will help keep you hydrated throughout the run.

Protect Your iPhone with a Waterproof Case

As much as you need to use it every day, you cannot overwork your iPhone. This is especially true in cold weather, when the frigid temperatures can have negative effects on your gadget.

This is where protective accessories like waterproof iPhone cases can come in handy because they’re usually durable enough to withstand temperature extremes. Of course, their primary purpose is still to protect the devices from more harmful elements, such as water exposure.

Water, for instance, can corrode a cellphone’s circuit board or introduce contaminants to the user’s ear (which is far worse). Despite being careful when using their smartphones, it’s still fairly common for cellphone users to drop their devices in toilets, puddles, rivers or other bodies of water.

In the absence of a protective case, an iPhone that gets wet stands a good chance of requiring extensive repairs. If you’re unfortunate as to have your device drenched in water, see to it that your cellphone is dried from the inside and out using absorbent cloth or by placing it in a bag of uncooked rice.

You may need to disassemble your device and dry each component in the same way, although this assumes that you must also know how to put them back together. After waiting for a few hours, only then can you activate your phone again. Since this is obviously such a hassle, it’s better for you to purchase a waterproof iPhone case instead.

Things to Remember Regarding Proper Hydration

People who constantly do strenuous activities need to understand certain things, particularly myths regarding proper hydration. Drinking too much water leads to hyponatremia (low blood sodium) which is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. On the other hand, severe dehydration, if not addressed immediately, can actually lead to more serious complications like brain damage and kidney failure.

Thus, proper hydration needs to be observed by everyone, especially those who spend much of their time outdoors. For example, fluid intake needs to be higher than average when a person is at a higher altitude. Since lugging around a bottle or two of water can be quite awkward and uncomfortable, a number of companies produced various compact hydration systems to help people stay hydrated wherever they may be.

While hydration systems can hold all kinds of liquids and beverages, at least in theory, water is still touted as the fluid of choice. Not only does it contain all the essential nutrients that the body needs, it also reacts well with different temperatures as opposed to other beverages, like fruit juices, which tend to go bad when exposed to extreme heat or cold.

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts would also benefit from hydration packs, but they should remember to take a sip every now and then to normalize the body’s fluid intake rather than chug down on a water bottle after a training or exercise session.