|  Otterbox
has been around since 1996 and I recall first seeing their products at the Consumer
Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The OtterBox 3510 is a patented drybox designed
to protect your valuables from damage especially in places where moisture is a
problem. The OtterBox 3510 is waterproof (to 100 feet), crushproof, dustproof
and it even floats in most cases. This is a great "carry-all" case that
is perfect for protecting most things such as GPS units and cameras. The 3510
case is available in Clear, Yellow, Blue and Black.
 Inside
The
inside of the OtterBox 3510 is well padded and includes "Pick-N-Pluck"
foam (3/8" x 3/8" pieces) that can be formed into different shapes to
accommodate various sized items. The inside dimensions are 7.549" x 3.606"
x 3.326", large enough to accommodate wallets, portable cameras, GPS units,
small radios, keys, and other gear. Both sides of the case have belt loops to
fasten the case into place if needed.
Hinge
 Something
worth mentioning about is the way the lid attaches to the main body of the OtterBox
3510. Instead of a cheap hinge that only holds the lid on in two or three places,
the OtterBox design has continuous fingers across the entire length of the lid,
making it very strong and durable. This design also applies even force on the
O-ring to help prevent any moisture from seeping through the seal. It is not often
that this level of quality is seen in a product.  Seal
There
is an O-ring type seal in the lid of the container that sits in a groove. The
raised channel on the base fits inside of the groove making contact with the seal.
Pressure is then applied when the lid snaps into place creating the water tight
seal. The design is excellent and is very effective in keeping water out. I received
a sample OtterBox several years ago and it just so happens my wife's point-and-shoot
camera fits perfectly inside. We have been using it for years and it not only
protects the camera from physical damage, but it also keeps it dry when we take
it on vacation to places where water might damage it. I have always been impressed
with the design of this smaller case, so it was nice to see the larger designs
made by OtterBox.
Conclusion
The OtterBox 3510
is a great product with exceptional build quality, all for a reasonable price.
OtterBox has a complete line of protective cases for iPod, iPhone, BlackBerry,
Palm, HP handhelds, and others devices. The company stands behind their products
and offers a lifetime warranty against defects. I wish we had OtterBox cases for
all of our mobile equipment including my Canon 40D digital SLR. -
Kevin Nakano | 
