Pelican may not be one of the first names you think of when it comes to rugged iPhone cases — but it really should be. The company has a long and solid history of making rugged and protective equipment cases that are used in everything from field photojournalism to military and law enforcement, but many people may not realize that the company also makes a line of iPhone cases that bring the same quality and durability the company is known for to your mobile devices. Pelican’s Shield for iPhone XS Max is the company’s flagship example of this — it’s a five-layer case that’s goes well beyond the “military grade” drop protection that most companies advertise, promising to be up to three times strong than the MIL-STD 810G spec.
The Shield combines Kevlar fibers, hard polymers, and soft rubber for a case that’s both protective and solid without being overly bulky, with a shock absorbing interior shell, reinforced corners, and of course not only full button coverage, but also protection for the Lighting port at the bottom. The iPhone secures into the case using a two-piece design with three latches that hold the front frame solidly in place while still being easy to open when you want to remove the iPhone, and an included holster provides an easy way to clip your iPhone onto your belt in any orientation while still keeping it easily accessible. On top of this, the case is backed by Pelican’s lifetime guarantee, offering free replacement if the case itself breaks. Shield is available in black and white for the iPhone X, XR, XS, and XS Max, plus a gray version for the iPhone XR.
