I’ve tried different ways to stash my phone in my tool pouch with varying degrees of success and durability.
Typically, hard plastic “holsters” have served me best. The phone clips into them and I can reach it if I’m able to take a call or accept my thousands of friend requests on Facebook. However, they break. They offer a non-ruggedized smart phone almost zero protection from rain, mud, pain, or even direct sun.
And, I’ve lost phones out of them (which have fallen surprising far and still work.) Still, they’ve been the easiest to use. I’ve also tried various Cordura nylon holders. They work better for protecting the device but the phone doesn’t always fit and the color scheme is a little dweeby when not at work. Plus, it only clips on the belt in one position: vertical. DeWalt has combined the features of both the plastic holster and the nylon holder in their DG5114 Smart Phone Holder, aided a bit now that phones (like the width of railroad tracks during the Industrial Revolution) have essentially standardized their size.
This a rugged nylon holder that envelops the entire device protecting it from just about everything besides a gushing rain. The sides flex to snug up thinner phones or fit phones with bigger batteries. On one side there’s a carabiner for your keys—I can’t believe I use this but I do—and on the other a slot for a pen.
Under the front flap is a sleeve where you can store small items like receipts. The belt clip operates like a plastic holster. It presses open—ideal for snugging around the leather lip of a tool pouch or thick belt. It also rotates which is nice for adjusting around seatbelts and stuff in the truck. The flat closure is hook-and-loop (Velcro) which I wish was a snap—scrrrrratch! Every time you open the phone—but it’s not that big a deal. And fashion-forward Theresa even thinks it looks not just a little cooler, but a LOT cooler than the hard plastic case.
Tough and stylish. Beat that.
