iPhone Case With Lanyard: Ditch the Point and Shoot when Hiking, Climbing, and Backpacking

My days of hiking and climbing with a small digital camera are over. Now that the camera on the iPhone 5 and most other smartphones is pretty good, it's all I need.

The pros and cons of ditching the Point and Shoot or SLR Digital Camera

Con
You get better images with most point and shoot cameras (but often not by much if the lighting is good and you are not zooming way in).

Pro
When you carry your phone everywhere already, it is always at hand for photos. When taking a point and shoot or SLR camera climbing, hiking and backpacking, I just don't take as many photos. A camera is heavier and often burried in the pack or in the back of the car. More importantly, after the trip is over, sharing photos becomes a chore and is often procrastinated away. Lastly, I like to travel light. I already bring my smartphone on most hikes and climbs, so I save pack weight by axing the camera.

For me, the pros of just taking a smartphone/iphone far outweigh the cons. I think most people will agree. Only prosumers and amateur photographers are going to find a big value of bringing a point and shoot or SLR.

So once you commit to your smartphone as your outdoor camera, the key question is how to securely and conveniently carry it. If the camera is not super accessible and you don't feel secure using it, then you'll miss the best shots.

So here is the five part system for carrying an iphone securely. All the links below go to the actual stuff I bought.


1) iphone 5 ($$$$)
2) iphone case ($5) that can be threaded with a
3) shoe lace or 3mm cord (free, scrounge around your house)
4) snug case/holster with belt loop and velcro closure. ($6)
5) locking carabiner. Current favorite is the Petzl Attache $12 because it is so light and still not too small.

Getting the fit between the iphone in a gel case and the holster case is the tricky party. It comes down to personal preference: if your phone fits in your holster case loosely, then it is easy to get in and out with one hand. However, that also means it can easily fall out. I prefer a more snug fit because I'm usually using this system while climbing and I've already dropped one phone 2000 feet. It didn't make it.


>> Here are some photos I took using this system on Zodiac, El Capitan

Warning: the connection between the lanyard/shoelace and the gel case is not the most bomber. You can drop the phone and the lanyard will catch it. However you can't pull at the lanyard to remove the iPhone out of the holster or you will rip the plastic case apart.



For an iPhone 4 and other smartphones, you will have to shop around to find the right fit between your holster and the phone case.

Tip: remember to keep your phone fully charged or bring a portable solar panel with battery. If you are caught without a headlamp or flashlight, your smartphone works as a flashlight (just turn the brightness up and find a screen with a mostly white background). I used this technique two weeks ago when desending El Capitan at night when my headlamp batteries died.