Pelican Marine Waterproof Phone Pouch (2-Pack) Review: Reliable Float-Ready Protection for Canadian Adventures

The Case for a Floating Phone Pouch

Dropping your phone off a dock, a kayak, or a cruise ship railing is the kind of accident that happens once and haunts you forever. Pelican — a brand long trusted for hard-case protection in military, industrial, and outdoor markets — has brought that same serious-minded engineering to an affordable soft pouch format. The Pelican Marine Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-Pack is built around an IP68 waterproof rating, meaning it's tested to withstand submersion beyond one metre for extended periods. That's meaningful real-world protection for a kayaking trip on Georgian Bay, a day at Wasaga Beach, or a week-long Caribbean cruise.

The pouch uses a roll-top, triple-sealed closure system — no complicated latches, no fiddly clips. You roll the top down three times, press the closure, and you're sealed. It's the kind of intuitive design that's easy to do with wet hands, which matters more than it sounds when you're bobbing around in a lake. The bright Hi-Vis Yellow colouring on the trim isn't just aesthetic; it helps you spot the pouch quickly in water, which pairs nicely with the floating capability. If it goes overboard, it won't sink.

Touchscreen usability through the pouch is genuinely workable. The clear TPU window is thin enough to register taps and swipes without excessive effort, though fine precision tasks like typing long messages remain a bit clunky — true of virtually every pouch-style case on the market. The camera lens area is also clear, so you can shoot photos and videos without removing your phone. Image quality does take a minor hit through the plastic, but for social media snaps and vacation videos, it's more than acceptable.

The detachable lanyard is a thoughtful inclusion. You can wear the pouch around your neck, attach it to a bag, or clip it to a life jacket. The lanyard hardware feels sturdy rather than flimsy, which is reassuring when you're relying on it to keep your phone from going overboard. The pouch fits all phones, including larger flagship models — though unusually thick cases may need to be removed before sealing.

Comparing to Alternatives

In the waterproof pouch category, you'll find a range of options from no-name brands selling single pouches for a few dollars to branded options from companies like JOTO or LifeProof. The generic alternatives are often adequate for casual pool use but lack the IP68 certification and the floating design that make Pelican's pouch genuinely useful in open-water scenarios. Getting two in a pack at Pelican's price point is a strong value proposition — it essentially matches or undercuts the per-unit price of many single-pack competitors while offering more credible brand accountability and better documented waterproof specs.

Who it's for

This pouch is ideal for paddlers, beach-goers, cruise travellers, snorkellers, and anyone who spends meaningful time near water and doesn't want to invest in a dedicated rugged phone. It's also a great buy for parents with kids at splash pads or waterparks, or for festival-goers dealing with rain. The 2-pack format specifically suits couples or families heading on a trip together.

Who should skip it

If you're a serious diver or underwater photographer, you'll want a hard-shell dive housing rated for much greater depths. If your phone already has IP68 certification built in and you're only looking for surface splash protection in everyday urban life, the pouch may be more than you need — and less convenient to use daily. People who find roll-top closures fiddly or who regularly need Face ID or fingerprint access while the phone is stored may also find the workflow frustrating.

For anyone headed near Canadian waters this summer — or really any water at all — check the current price on Amazon.ca to see if this 2-pack fits your budget before your next trip.