The most essential iPhone accessory isn’t a silicone case, extra battery, or Bluetooth headset. It’s not even a votive candle with a picture of Steve Jobs on it. This “necessory” costs just six bucks for a three-pack and it is…a hyperstrong, waterproof, ziplock uber-baggie called aLoksak.

Don’t snicker, I’m serious. Nothing will protect your precious hunk of gizmolove better than the aLoksak–made of recycled polyethylene and treated with medical-grade protective film, it’s the cheapest, lightest, strongest iPhone insurance you can buy. Ask the Navy Experimental Diving Unit: They’ve certified it waterproof to 200 feet. There are even odor-proof versions that let you carry food through bear country with relative impunity or protect items with RFID chips (like your passport) from electronic eavesdropping. You could actually take your phone scuba diving with this sucker (um, but maybe you shouldn’t).

Much like cats, iPhones don’t like water or moisture, so I slip mine into the aLoksak when I’m skiing, heading to the beach, going kayaking. I actually ruined the screen of a Nokia N95 from condensation in my ski jacket. Now when I stuff the iPhone into my bike jersey back pocket and start sweating, the phone’s protected. Same for rainy days or when I’m heading to dusty places. You can even still operate the touchscreen through the plastic.

The aLoksak comes in a variety of shapes and sizes–whether stashing maps, food, or any other phone or electronics, it’s indispensable for outdoor stuff–and obviously you can use it for any phone or anything. But for the iPhone, the 4.5×7 inch ($6.50/3) is most perfectly suited. The 4×5 ($6.39/3), seen in the fishbowl, makes for a tighter, neater fit, which is better for a small pocket, but it can be tougher to get the phone in and out. Either one’s a good choice, though, and for my money, essential.

Tagged as: apple, iphone