Review: CS ideas, Inc. WAVES Combo

There really are only a very small number of options available for people wanting to listen to their iPods aquatically and the CS ideas, Inc. WAVES Combo is just the second that I’ve been able to look at.

Have no fear, though. With all the stuff included with the WAVES Combo, you’ll be able to start listening safely to your iPod while swimming, kayaking, caving, bathing, or almost any other activity that might involve you immersing yourself in water.

CS ideas took Aquapac‘s existing MP3 Player Case + ZipPac Combination, added their own waterproof headphones to it, and now offers it on their absolutely wonderful website, www.waterproofcases.net, as the WAVES Combo bundle.

On its own, without headphones, the Aquapac iPod bundle is an interesting but not entirely useful product. CS ideas’ addition of waterproof headphones completes it, and that is why I am reviewing their bundle here rather than just the Aquapac case alone.

At its simplest, Aquapac’s MP3 Player Case + ZipPac Combination goes for $80 and the CS ideas WAVES Combo sells for $99.95.

That’s $19.95 for a pair of waterproof headphones, an amazing deal!

Okay, then. Let’s look at the individual pieces of this bundle.

First part, the Aquapac case.

The Aquapac cases are all strongly protected from environmental effects, but because of their material and construction they do very little to protect your gear from physical damage. The softer material of their plastic pouches opens up the possibility of bag puncture, for example, or tearing. You’ll be using these cases to keep your electronics from getting wet and water-damaged but not as armour. It’s a small point, but you’ll have to be sure not to bump your stuff.

The Aquapac waterproof iPod case has a sealed pass-through cable for your iPod’s audio and there is full access to the screen and click-wheel through the plastic. I had no problems whatsoever using a bagged iPod, even through the screen of the belt holder as well. It all works fine.

My recently outmoded 60Gb Video iPod is, however, just about at the upper end of this case’s capability presently. The screen area is just a little bit narrow and the fit just a little bit snug. If Apple does come up with a fractionally larger iPod, Aquapac is going to have to redesign this.

The case, however, is rated to 5 meters, which is higher than the other solutions I’ve looked. Aquapac takes their quality control very seriously and even batch test all their cases to 10 meters. It’s nice to see a company as concerned about my electronics as I am.

Can you spot my iPod in the following picture?

Of course not! It’s sealed up in its Aquapac case and is strapped to a rock at the bottom of this cave pond.

The second part of the WAVES Combo is the Aquapac padded swim belt. It is a really good touch. This adjustable neoprene waist pouch straps on easily and securely and allows free access to the iPod’s front panel. It’s comfortable and it fits well, and that’s good enough for me.

The final part of the WAVES Combo is the headphones. They are just a pair of ear buds with no special look or feel to them, except for their being waterproof to 3 meters, no mean feat. The included in-ear sleeves seal into your ear canals, keeping the water out and the sound in. Once seated, they don’t fall out at all under normal usage. Pretty impressive considering problems I’ve had with other waterproof earphones falling off frequently and easily.

I’d give the CS ideas, Inc. WAVES Combo a strong 90%. A must buy for anyone wanting to listen to their iPod while getting wet.

Note: CS ideas, Inc sells the earphones on their own. If, for example, you bought another case/headphone combo and don’t like the headphones that shipped with them you can just buy these. At $34.99, it’s a worthwhile upgrade. They also carry all the other Aquapac products, not just their iPod offering. They have Aquapac cases for PDAs, GPSs, cell phones (even my RAZR phone), radios, cameras, and so on and so on. I suspect that once you begin using your new WAVES Combo, you’ll start thinking of other things you’d like to take with you into the wet. In no time at all you’ll find yourself with a collection of these intelligent and innovative cases.