#194 ArchaeoTech: Liquipel 2.0

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That's it for the begging, on to the post.... 

Let’s start with a review from this year’s CES in Las Vegas:

What is it?

Simply, it’s a nano-coating of particles on every surface of your phone. The coating makes your device impervious to rain, splashes, and “brief shallow submersion”, which sounds like a toilet to me. The coating is on your screen, the case, and on all the components inside the phone. It’s a coating on literally every surface inside and out.

How do you get it?

Go to the Liquipel website, chose your device, and you’re done. Well, you have to mail them your device so they can put it in their pressure cooker and coat your phone. When they send it back you’ll be protected! The typical coating on an existing device costs $59.99.

You can also by devices from Liquipel that are already coated. They have a variety of devices to choose from.

Is it safe?

I don’t know. They are calling this “Liquipel 2.0” which should tell you something. Liquipel 1.0 wasn’t so good. I saw two reviews, not including the one above, where the reviewers said their phones were ruined after they had their devices coated and then dunked them in water. 

Even Liquipel says it’s for “brief shallow submersion”, not crazy tests by reviewers of tech gadgets. 

Should you do it?

If you work in an area that is very humid, gets a lot of rain, or a combination of the two then I’d suggest doing it. Especially if you have an expensive phone. If you paid a dollar for your phone then maybe not. However, the replacement cost of your phone could be well in excess of $200. 

I work in the Great Basin and we don’t get a lot of water out here. I’d really like to try this out but it just doesn’t make sense. If I still worked in the Carolinas then I would certainly do it. If you currently have your phone in a plastic bag in your field pack then this might be for you.

If you’ve tried this or think you might try it, leave a comment. If you think it’s a complete waste of money and couldn’t possibly live without your phone for the time it takes to get the coating put in, then, share your pain in the comments below.

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field!