Researching the various terms and electronics testing standards had me bouncing back and forth to wikipedia.org for days in an attempt to understand and condense this information and pass it on here. It really is frustrating shopping for phones and comparing the miriad of features that each one offers over the next. There are far too many variables when comparing all of a cell phone’s features in a heads up comparison and I lack both the capacity and the attention span to do so. My focus was to track down a few “tough phones” for our use on the water based on durability and basic features.

Most cell phone manufacturers are using a Military standard testing procedure called the (Mil-STD-810) defined by wikipedia.org as;  "Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests". “The military standard MIL-STD-810 test series addresses a broad range of environmental conditions that include: low pressure for altitude testing; exposure to high and low temperatures plus temperature shock (both operating and in storage); rain (including wind blown and freezing rain); humidity, fungus, salt fog for rust testing; sand and dust exposure; explosive atmosphere; leakage; acceleration; shock and transport shock (i.e., triangle/sine/square wave shocks); gunfire vibration; and random vibration.”

The way that I see it, a phone that can pass these tests should survive at least a year of the beating a kayak fishing enthusiast can bring down on it. With this in mind, I used these tests as a base for selecting the “tough phones” for this comparison. I’ll start with the Samsung Rugby as I have owned one for well over two years.

I have been using the Samsung Rugby (AT&T) and I haven’t been able to kill it yet. It’s been wet, submerged, dropped, kicked, drop kicked, crushed, and I haven’t had a problem. Recently, Samsung has upgraded the Rugby to the Rugby II. I have spent the last month with this latest version. I have to say that it appears to be just as solid a phone as its predecessor. It has also seen a few upgrades.

The second generation Samsung Rugby is a bit smaller, lighter and has had its software upgraded. This quad band phone is equipped with an advanced voice processing chip that delivers clear mobile calls by suppressing background noise(like wind), intermittent sounds (like a siren or nearby conversation), and echoes, allowing you to hear and be heard nearly anywhere. A feature that makes being heard while out on the water and in the elements no problem. Even in stiff winds, I can be heard clearly by the person that I am speaking with.

Samsung added voice commands for the GPS and dialing modes. There is a dedicated external button for taking self photos. This feature allows you to see the picture of you and your trophy catch in the screen as you take your picture. It’s perfect for sending payback shots of that trophy fish to your buddies that cancelled on you at the last minute. Feel free to take those shots while out on your kayak as water and slime won't effect this "tough phone". Also added were features such as extended video recording, live video sharing, music storage and playback, and even an FM radio feature.

When selecting a “tough phone” one might think that some of the bells and whistles will have to be sacrificed. That’s just not so. This phone is no “PDA”, but it comes with every feature that I need from a cell phone in the field and at home. I am very happy with the Rugby II. For those that are looking to purchase a “tough phone” for work or play, I highly recommend the Samsung Rugby II