Review: Juggernaut Case Smartphone Ecosystem

Whereas there’s one thing to be stated in regards to the means to outlive a disaster with none help from digital gadgets, the fact is that most individuals is not going to instantly default to bushcraft or primitive survival strategies when catastrophe strikes. Fortunately, whether or not it’s provide shortages, rolling blackouts, riots, or pure disasters, only a few trendy disasters embrace an absolute shutdown of mobile, Wi-Fi, or energy grid infrastructure. In previous articles, we’ve highlighted apps and methods that will let you use a smartphone for all the pieces from safe communication to navigation to a beacon for assist. However, similar to taking pictures, emergency smartphone use requires two-prong planning that covers each software program and {hardware} options. One of the vital comprehensive hardware solutions we’ve come throughout for this function is Juggernaut Case.

Juggernaut has a protracted historical past of offering case and mounting options to navy and first responders. Organizations starting from Tier 1 Particular Operations models to Federal regulation enforcement and municipal first responders depend on Juggernaut to not solely shield the telephones themselves — typically known as EUDs or end-user gadgets in navy parlance — but in addition to combine that immense processing energy into different techniques, from automobiles to physique armor. This permits everybody from EMTs to Navy SEALs to remain related even underneath probably the most demanding, most austere circumstances.

Above: The Juggernaut Case IMPCT (left) is designed to be extra smooth and EDC-friendly than the rugged military-spec SLEEV (proper). Each are made within the USA.

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Happily, their merchandise are additionally out there to civilians who can leverage Juggernaut’s know-how, which is actually battlefield-tested, to maximise our telephones’ utility into a big selection of preparedness purposes. We have been in a position to take a look at and experiment with quite a lot of instances and mounts for this text, and what we discovered was a cohesive, near-seamless ecosystem of phone-mounting {hardware}.

Juggernaut Instances and Capabilities

Above: Juggernaut presents a number of case choices that may combine with their line of cable adapters and mounts.

We examined two of Juggernaut’s instances: the SLEEV and the IMPCT. The shape issue and design ideas have been related for each instances, however the SLEEV is the beefier of the 2, with hinged ports on both finish. The highest port, used to load and unload the cellphone from the case, snaps closed with a molded-in clamp. The underside port, used to entry your charging/knowledge port, truly screws closed to utterly seal the underside of the cellphone. The IMPCT has two small bumpers that may be totally eliminated. The IMPCT can also be top-loading, and the underside rubber bumper might be utterly eliminated. For every day carry, we left this piece off for simple entry to our charging/knowledge port all through the day, however some customers might choose to maintain it in place for additional safety from mud and particles.

It needs to be famous that each one Juggernaut instances are open-faced. There’s no glass or polymer display protector constructed into the case. The open-face design additionally ensures most use of touchscreen features. However the instances are designed to suit very snugly, so in case you use a peel-and-stick display protector, you will have to take away it simply to slip your cellphone into the case. Each case fashions are totally suitable with the complete spectrum of mounting choices, which we’ll cowl beneath.

Juggernaut presents instances for a variety of cellphone makes/fashions; they provide a number of sizes of case. Their webstore presents an easy-to-follow sizing chart on virtually each particular person product web page, in addition to a shop-by-model filter perform. We used a Samsung S21 for the whole thing of this text, which makes use of a medium-sized case and medium sized mounts. All the in-mount images seen right here have been taken with the IMPCT case, because it’s the smaller of the 2 instances and the more than likely to be chosen for every day use and pocket carry.

We additionally had the chance to check Juggernaut’s IMPCT Cable, which is a substitute backside bumper than features a hard-wired USB cable and gasketed USB-C port for connection to the cellphone. Merely take away the tender rubber bumper that comes with the IMPCT case and exchange it with the IMPCT Cable. Because the cable is mounted to the bumper, this piece isn’t one thing you’d go away in your cellphone on a regular basis. However in case you plan to connect the cellphone to a car mount for lengthy journeys, a battery pack for prolonged charging, or a USB photo voltaic charging panel, it’s a nice-to-have addition. The SLEEV additionally has a line of screw-in cables that may be ordered for that case, do you have to be utilizing it. Each variations might be ordered with USB or 6-pin “Mighty Mouse” adapters on the lengthy finish, or “unterminated” to hard-wire the cable right into a car or different platform for everlasting attachment.

Belt Clip

Accessible in each vertical and horizontal carry configurations, the belt Clip Mount is precisely what you’d count on — a molded-plastic clip, with built-in bracket, that may be hooked onto your belt, seatbelt, or different straps for true EDC. This makes your Juggernaut case simply as handy for every day use as it’s for catastrophe use. Whereas it might appear to be the handfuls of different belt-clip cellphone holsters you should buy off Amazon, that is solely the casual-carry element of a complete hard-use mount ecosystem.

Tek-Lok Belt Mount

That is the following step up from the belt clip, consisting of a devoted cellphone bracket hooked up to a Tek-Lok mount. Whereas this Belt Mount is completely viable in an on a regular basis use function, we discover it just a little overbuilt for that process. So, we added it to our Arbor Arms SALT battle belt. Whether or not you employ a battle belt for vary coaching, lessons, or a waist-mounted bugout rig, the Juggernaut Tek-Lok, with it’s included spacers, might be match to virtually any bigger belt system like 1.75- or 2-inch rigger’s belts. Since many battle belts now embrace cutout channels to weave the inside belt by way of a padded MOLLE sleeve, you don’t have to fret about hard-attaching this mount to MOLLE channels. If you happen to’re OK with the additional bulk, this makes the Tek-Lok Belt Mount excellent for bouncing between a every day put on belt and a battle belt as circumstances require.

Above: The Tek- Lok Belt Mount works nice for bigger, thicker battle belts like this Arbor Arms SALT belt system.

Forearm Mount

The Forearm Mount lets you use your smartphone like a digital “chief’s board.” First made fashionable by skilled soccer gamers, who used them to maintain a cheat sheet of performs proper on their arm, these elastic sleeves have been quickly “weaponized” by navy and regulation enforcement tactical groups who used them to maintain all the pieces from radio frequencies to maps of the battlefield inside literal arms’ attain. Juggernaut’s resolution is a bit more elegant, that includes an armband manufactured from Cordura, nylon webbing, and efficiency material that cinches down by use of the Boa “click on” system, which sizes to suit after which locks down on the desired snugness. The sleeve is provided with the now-familiar cellphone bracket to maintain your cellphone seen and accessible all instances. If you happen to don’t have a PALS-equipped plate service or chest rig to mount your cellphone to, this can be a good fallback resolution that additionally works if you don’t want or need different tactical gear in your particular person. If you happen to don’t thoughts carrying the additional bulk in your arm, this mount can stand in for the PALS mount, Pack Adapter, or belt mounts mentioned elsewhere on this article. Mixed together with your favourite ballistic calculator app, this setup works properly as a digital, adaptable model of the normal sniper’s armband.

PALS Mount

Above: PALS mount on an Arbor Arms CAS Plate Service.

The PALS Mount was particularly designed for navy use on MOLLE or PALS plate carriers. This permits Particular Operations Forces to maintain their cellphone accessible for hands-free use of navigation or situational consciousness software program like ATAK. It additionally permits your smartphone to be built-in into a “dual-comms” radio system, like these provided by Silynx or Safariland. We hooked up it to an Arbor Arms CAS, or Communicator Armor System. This can be a full-blown “assaulter’s” plate service with particular options built-in to accommodate the in depth integration of the aforementioned military-style communications gear.

There’s additionally a model of the PALS mount (not proven right here) that features inductive-charging functionality. If you happen to put on an armor system as a part of your job and want auxiliary energy to maintain your cellphone operating, you possibly can put on a battery pack mounted in your plate service and hook the included cable instantly into your powered PALS mount for prolonged mission use.

PALS Pack Platform

That is truly a two-part system that requires the PALS mount mentioned above in addition to the Pack Platform adapter. For this setup, Juggernaut teamed up with Thriller Ranch to create a nylon panel-and-strap system that allows you to use a PALS mount with a mountaineering pack for mountaineering and backpacking use the place armor isn’t required. We hooked up it to a Stone Glacier Avail pack, the creator’s go-to weekend mountaineering pack. The Pack Adapter makes use of split-buckle sliders to connect to a pack’s shoulder straps and features very like a sternum strap generally discovered on many trendy mountaineering packs. Similar to with a PALS mount hooked up to a plate service, the Pack Adapter retains your cellphone mounted excessive on the chest for utilizing navigation packages like OnX or CivTAK. In a less-urgent use case, we use the Pack Platform to have the ability to scroll by way of our Amazon Music or Spotify playlists on lengthy street marches for bodily conditioning.

Automobile Mount

Net Editor Patrick McCarthy lined the Automobile Mount in-depth as a part of his DIY overlanding truck build sequence in Concern 52. In case you missed that, the Vehicle Mount works along side a RAM ball mount, so you possibly can swivel and modify your display place. Whether or not you’re navigating with OnX Off Highway, Google Maps, or simply making hands-free cellphone calls, the car mount is a handy approach to make use of your Juggernaut ecosystem on the street. Simply unclip your cellphone out of your belt, pack, or plate service, and snap it into the car mount earlier than you get behind the wheel.

Just like the PALS mount, there’s a powered model of the Automobile Mount (pictured right here) with a built-in USB cable that enables induction charging when plugged into your car’s on-board USB port.

Multi-Mount

Above: The Multi Mount is a flexible mounting resolution restricted solely by your creativeness.

Because the identify implies, the Multi-Mount is a general-purpose mount whose use case is restricted solely by your creativeness. Consisting of a molded plastic cellphone bracket with a protracted Velcro strap, the Multi-Mount might be wrapped round something that’ll maintain the burden of your cellphone. Branches, roll cages, PVC pipe, and something of comparable dimension is all honest sport. The reverse facet of the Velcro strap is coated with a grippy, semi-sticky coating that’ll adhere to itself in addition to no matter you’re attaching to. Want to make use of your cellphone’s flashlight whereas fixing a pipe underneath the sink? Need to connect your cellphone to a tent pole for hands-free use at a campsite or hasty rally level? What about simply wrapping it round a tree department to movie a fast bushcraft video for social media? These sorts of miscellaneous makes use of are the place the Multi-Mount thrives and, in case you’re going to spend money on Juggernaut’s mount system, we advocate selecting considered one of these up and maintaining it useful for conditions not lined by the extra purpose-driven mounts we’ve already lined.

Above: The Multi Mount is able to every kind of unconventional use instances, comparable to organising an impromptu path cam.

Conclusion

Whereas we’ve lined many of the out there mount choices, this record isn’t complete. There are different area of interest mounts for all the pieces from mountain bike handlebars to skydiving and Army Free Fall parachute rigs. By the point you learn this, Juggernaut will already be transport their subsequent era line of cellphone instances, which incorporates three fashions — the ENDVR, ADVNTR, and OPRTR — scaled for a way extreme your dwelling/working circumstances will likely be. We’ve been assured by Juggernaut that the brand new line of instances is not going to solely embrace a wider array of cellphone fashions but in addition be backward-compatible with the present mounting footprint. So, if you have already got a number of of the mounts listed right here, they’ll nonetheless be usable with the brand new instances, sizing however in case you change gadgets. Additionally they have a line of pill instances, with some corresponding mount choices.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for case and mounting options to your moveable digital system that can stand as much as every day wear-and-tear in addition to in extremis survival conditions, we’d be hard-pressed to advocate a greater start line than Juggernaut Instances.

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Written by Tom Marshall