Dimensions: 4.5″ x 8.5″ x 0.17″
This Pelican pouch is the clear standout, largely for its ability to float, and it’s the one I’ve packed most frequently in the years since I started testing waterproof pouches. While the point of the lanyard is to keep your phone from dunking into the water without you, accidents happen, and knowing this bag will stay afloat offers peace of mind. It’s also cushioned, protecting your phone from drops on a hard surface, too. Other pros: The lanyard is detachable in case you want to swap out the lime green one it comes with, and it was easy enough to still use my phone while inside the case to take photos. Per Pelican, which puts its pouches through even more rigorous testing, the case is proven to stay dry in one meter of water (3.3 feet) for 60 minutes.
This size is a little tight for my phone, and the cushion (which is what allows it to float) meant typing is just a bit more annoying—I have to press down harder than normal—than with the thinner ones. Also worth noting: With all of these pouches, FaceID can be a bit finicky, so be prepared to enter your lock code in manually.
Since I first reviewed this pouch, I’ve brought it on several more trips, and have been happy to have it with me on a cruise to the Caribbean, kayaking outings in my home state of Florida, and on a waterfall excursion in Puerto Rico. Of all the ones I’ve tested, this is the one I recommend most to friends and family.