Hardcore cases for your BlackBerry

While it’s nice to travel lightly, sometimes we need to go heavy duty. Last week we covered silicone cases for your BlackBerry, and this week we’re going in the exact opposite direction. No matter how bulky they make your smartphone, some people just need a big tough case. They might not fit in your pocket any longer, at least comfortably, but with a heavy duty case you can be sure that your BlackBerry is protected at all times. Here are a few of our favorites. OtterBox Defender We’re clearly partial to OtterBox here at BBGeeks. That’s because we’ve tried their cases on multiple occasions and have come away nothing but impressed. The very first OtterBox case I tried was the Defender series for my 8830. The thing was massive — it looked more like a package scanner than a smartphone. But it made me feel as though my BlackBerry were invincible. True to form, I never had any durability issues when using the case. Every time RIM releases a new BlackBerry model, OtterBox isn’t far behind with a Defender series case. If your work environment exposes your BlackBerry to physical danger, or if you’re just generally clumsy, you won’t find many better cases. Just a warning, though: this one probably won’t fit in your pocket. Guys might need a belt clip to accommodate the massive case. This nifty Amazon search should help you find the Defender case for your device. Ballistic Shell Before this past week, I’d never heard of Ballistic Shell cases. I’m not sure why. But then I read this review on CrackBerry and I was won over. Imagine: a protective case that can actually fit in your pocket. It sounds like something that would appeal to a wide range of people. I only wish I had a chance to actually try it. The most prominent feature of the Ballistic Shell case is the rubber bumper that surrounds the case. That can absorb plenty of shock, which means your BlackBerry takes less of a beating when dropped or otherwise bumped. It’s not that thick, either — not nearly as thick as the Defender case — so you can tote it around as you would with any other case. The only downside, it seems is that the rubber bumpers can make it tough to slide in and out of your pocket. Boo to that. There is apparently no compatible holster with this. Again, hit up this Amazon search to find the Ballistic Shell case that fits your device. Seidio Active series Last on our list is a brand familiar to most BlackBerry users. Seidio cases have been around for what feels like forever. Like OtterBox, they have a variety of styles that fit many BlackBerry users’ needs. While most people I know choose the Surface series, because it combines protection and size, the Active case provides plenty more protection. The only issue with it is that it’s similar in size to the OtterBox case. It does have a holster, which is a plus, since it’s tougher to fit in your pocket. But it does get the job done. I wouldn’t be afraid if I were to drop a BlackBerry encased in a Seidio Active case. It combines a hard plastic shell with a rubber coating to provide that dual-level protection that any heavy duty BlackBerry user needs. As before, use this Amazon search to find the Seidio Active case that fits your device.

About the Author

Joe Pawlikowski is the Senior Editor at MobileMoo.com and has been covering the mobile industry full time since 2007. When he's not writing about the tech scene, he can be found discussing his personal love - baseball (and more specifically the New York Yankees) as well as writing on his personal blog.