As demonstrated by our recent article, Backcountry Cell Phone Land Navigation, a smartphone is an incredibly valuable resource. It provides communications, maps, a compass, a camera, a flashlight, and much more — even if the grid goes down and there's no cellular connection, many of these tools are still usable if you plan ahead.

However, if your phone runs out of battery, gets smashed on a rock, or gets dropped into a creek, it'll suddenly become an expensive paperweight. Therefore, it's important to protect your phone with a sturdy case, and consider portable sources of backup power.

The SLX case for iPhone 7 was released in January 2017.

The SnowLizard SLXtreme case provides solutions to each of these issues, with a waterproof rugged exterior, a built-in auxiliary battery pack, and a large solar panel. The SLX case is already available for iPhone 6/6S and 7 models, but the company recently announced a model will soon be available for the iPhone 7 Plus.

The new iPhone 7 Plus case will be available in Black or Mossy Oak camouflage.

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This SLX iPhone 7 Plus case offers the following key features:

• IP-68 protection against dust, dirt, and water (up to 6.6 feet immersion for 30 minutes)
• MIL-STD 810G rated against shocks, vibrations, and falls from up to 6.6 feet
• Integrated 4,000mAh battery with Lightning connector and micro-USB charging port
• 20% efficient mono-crystalline solar panel — 1 hour sun exposure equals approximately 10 minutes additional call time
• QuickLatch system for easy phone removal; dual latch locks and integrated lanyard loop

The company also states that the iPhone 7 Plus case offers several improvements on the previous designs: more shock-absorbing material, a more efficient solar panel, and a new light intensity indicator so you can ensure it's receiving maximum solar energy.

The new SnowLizard SLXtreme iPhone 7 Plus case will be available in black or Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camouflage. Once it's released, you'll be able to find it on SnowLizard.com and Amazon at an MSRP of $150.

Written by Patrick McCarthy