Any durable tablets?

[Rationale]

I'm planning on doing some camping and hiking in fairly demanding environments, and it would be useful to have access to some of my flora and tool reference apps during that time.

I don't think my Shield Tablet would survive any rain or impacts, as regardless of its amazing processing power, it is not known for having solid build quality. I'm looking for durable android tablets to serve as a replacement. I don't mind losing some speed, because I know I won't be able to get anything that really competes with the Tegra K1 in that regard.

I'm on a relatively limited budget, I would prefer to keep the cost around $400 if possible, though I'm aware that durability drives prices up.

My priorities in order from most important to least important.
1. Water resistant
2. Preferred 7-8 inch size
3. Impact resistant
4. 600p screen or higher
5. Screen fairly visible outdoors at max brightness

Right now the main candidate would be the Galaxy Tab Active, but that seems to cost $700, which is really too much considering the low specs and merely modest durability.

Anyone have ideas? I know it's a limited market.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Actually there is a fair selection for military grade tablet computers but the problem is going to be that they start at about 1500.00 and go up from there. Any lower echelon tablet is going to have issues with drops, spills, dirt and ambient moisture you are likely to encounter as well as, depending on where you are, the cold can be a killer on electronics.

 

[Xibyth]

Find a tablet for a reasonable price and get a rugged case for it, gumdrop cases, otterbox, etc. Unfortunately darkbreeze is right. Despite tending to be less powerful the amount of research put into rugged design hikes the price up.

 

[hang-the-9]

That ^ is the best solution, for anything rugged out of the box it's very pricy, but there are some pretty good cases out there for weatherproofing.

 

[Matty175rocks]

I would look at this page as they have four great durable tablets:
http://www.inc.com/magazine/201304/john-brandon/4-tough-tablets.html
Thanks and hope you make me the solution 😀

 

[Xibyth]

I would look at this page as they have four great durable tablets:
http://www.inc.com/magazine/201304/john-brandon/4-tough-tablets.html
Thanks and hope you make me the solution 😀

Even the cheapest of those overshoots his budget by $250, believe me when I say that just a durable case is enough to keep your tablet safe. The 10in" Tab 4 and this case from Griffon, http://store.griffintechnology.com/survivor-for-samsung-galaxy-tab4-10-1

This way you get some of the best performance in a very sturdy package. Yet it still costs less than a "rugged" tablet.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Thanks and hope you make me the solution 😀

Quit fishing. That's not supposed to be the point of the forum. Earning badges is a side effect of helping, not the other way around.

 

[ewok93]

Otterbox makes some really nice cases. I've seen phones tossed in the air to fall 8 feet down onto concrete and they were completely fine. I wouldn't suggest doing that, but without a case there is no way any phone or tablet could survive that. There are also some waterproofing services, though I haven't used any of them so I can't speak for how reliable or expensive they are.

 

[Matty175rocks]

Otterbox makes some really nice cases. I've seen phones tossed in the air to fall 8 feet down onto concrete and they were completely fine. I wouldn't suggest doing that, but without a case there is no way any phone or tablet could survive that. There are also some waterproofing services, though I haven't used any of them so I can't speak for how reliable or expensive they are.

The only problem is the otterbox aren't waterproof so their not as durable plus my school uses otterbox cases for our ipads and the cases are so easy to break. Otherwise I would get a griffin case but probably not a tab as I have had bad experiences with Samsung (i have a note 8.0 and galaxy s2 and s4) (Im still waiting on an upadate realeased months ago for my note 8.0)I would go a bit over and look at a better tablet as the new sony z3 tablet 8 inch (sony still taking suggestions and responses for tablet) just make sure you can find a case compatible with the tablet you but)

 

[Darkbreeze]

You guys do realize the OP has not responded since the initial post so this discussion is probably a waste of time.

 

[ewok93]

Useful for other people. Otterbox is not waterproof, that is correct, so you would need a waterproofing treatment in addition to the case. Those are both things you can do to a tablet you already have, so you don't end up spending money on a slower tablet that you don't like as much.