Taking e-books to the beach - share your tips

Alexander Turcic · 07-30-2013, 08:28 AM

A sunny day at the beach with sand in between your toes, the salty smell of the sea lingering in the air, and, of course, a good e-book in your hands. Heaven. Except... the beach and your e-book reader don't really make good partners.

What are some of your tips for enjoying e-books at the beach without the worry of sea water, sand or weather damage?

mgmueller · 07-30-2013, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

A sunny day at the beach with sand in between your toes, the salty smell of the sea lingering in the air, and, of course, a good e-book in your hands. Heaven. Except... the beach and your e-book reader don't really make good partners.

What are some of your tips for enjoying e-books at the beach without the worry of sea water, sand or weather damage?

For some time now, PocketBook 360 has been my favorite for that.
With the "wrist turning" tune-up, you can turn pages with a slight movement of your wrist single-handedly.
I put it in a Zip-Lock bag for protection. Not perfect, but given the small screen not too much of a hassle either. As I don't have to press any buttons for turning pages, the bag isn't too much of a bother.

medard · 07-30-2013, 08:54 AM

With my second Sony that's not really a problem. You just switch the prepared Micro SD card, and that's it. If something happens to this Reader it wouln't matter much. I think it's a good idea to have a second Reader as a backup just in case. They are not that expensive anymore.

meeera · 07-30-2013, 09:09 AM

Ah, you folks who still have a working ozone layer (or very tough skin) amuse me sometimes... I can't think of anything worse than sitting in the sun reading for more than about ten minutes! Yowch.

Enjoy your northern summer.

Rbneader · 07-30-2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Ah, you folks who still have a working ozone layer (or very tough skin) amuse me sometimes... I can't think of anything worse than sitting in the sun reading for more than about ten minutes! Yowch.

Enjoy your northern summer.

Typically, the actual sitting and reading is done under an umbrella or beach shelter.

OT: I just brought my ereader along. Had it it's usual case for transport. It's sturdy enough and cheap enough that I wasn't worried about anything but the water, and I just didn't bring it down near the surf.

grooks · 07-30-2013, 10:37 AM

I have typically used a ziplock bag or an older M-Edge Leisure case for sitting on the beach or around the pool

Synamon · 07-30-2013, 10:47 AM

I read at the beach or on the dock all summer. My Kindle Keyboard is in a leather case, that's all the protection I've used for 3 years, so far so good. I do try and put it in the shade when I'm not using it since it gets pretty hot in direct sun.

tubemonkey · 07-30-2013, 10:59 AM

Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite ($219)

WillAdams · 07-30-2013, 11:20 AM

Zip Loc baggie here as well --- I try to remember to load some visual reference material for making sand sculptures.

I prefer taking the ereader to printed books or magazines, since I can just replace the baggie if it gets worn.

mgmueller · 07-30-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite ($219)

Nice!
But personally, I'm not really worried about water.
I'm more anxious about sun lotion or sweat or sand or dirt in general.
I'm not really worried about damaging the unit, but smearing all over it in a unique mixture of sand, sweat and oil.

DreamWriter · 07-30-2013, 12:04 PM

At the beach, I use the M-Edge Leisure Jacket with my Kindle Keyboard. Dual zippers make it easy to access the on/off switch, and there's a zippered pouch in the back.

twowheels · 07-30-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite ($219)

That's nifty, and makes me wonder why more cell phones and other devices aren't made more water resistant... I was just thinking yesterday about how nice it'd be to have a cell phone with no external ports that used wifi/3g/4g/bluetooth for syncing peripherals and had inductive charging. Such a device could be make completely sealed with no place for water or dust ingress and easily meet IPX8 standards.

medard · 07-30-2013, 01:03 PM

Because most people don't need a phone while beeing underwater, maybe.

Xanthe · 07-30-2013, 01:35 PM

I usually take either one of my Sonys or the Aluratek to the beach. I transport it in its purchased case within a zip-lock bag to keep it dry in my tote bag. I take it out of the plastic bag to read, which is usually done sitting in a beach chair far enough away from the ocean's edge to avoid any splashes from either it or from passing wet bodies. I've been doing that for years.

ApK · 07-30-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medard

Because most people don't need a phone while beeing underwater, maybe.

Not sure what your tone was there, but just in case you were sincere:

It would great if a phone could resist rain showers, and be kept conveniently and safely on your person on boat rides, jet skis, while vising water parks, and doing all those other outdoorsy things that keep us away from land lines in the first place. Heck maybe even while in the hot tub, etc.

That water proof Kindle is interesting...got to pay a premium for durability it seems.

07-30-2013, 08:28 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Taking e-books to the beach - share your tips A sunny day at the beach with sand in between your toes, the salty smell of the sea lingering in the air, and, of course, a good e-book in your hands. Heaven. Except... the beach and your e-book reader don't really make good partners. What are some of your tips for enjoying e-books at the beach without the worry of sea water, sand or weather damage?

07-30-2013, 10:59 AM	#8
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite ($219) Review & Video MobileRead thread

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07-30-2013, 08:54 AM	#3
medard Wizard Posts: 1,014 Karma: 5595784 Join Date: May 2012 Device: Electronic Paper	With my second Sony that's not really a problem. You just switch the prepared Micro SD card, and that's it. If something happens to this Reader it wouln't matter much. I think it's a good idea to have a second Reader as a backup just in case. They are not that expensive anymore.

07-30-2013, 09:09 AM	#4
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,659 Karma: 66420972 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Ah, you folks who still have a working ozone layer (or very tough skin) amuse me sometimes... I can't think of anything worse than sitting in the sun reading for more than about ten minutes! Yowch. Enjoy your northern summer.

07-30-2013, 10:37 AM	#6
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	I have typically used a ziplock bag or an older M-Edge Leisure case for sitting on the beach or around the pool

07-30-2013, 10:47 AM	#7
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	I read at the beach or on the dock all summer. My Kindle Keyboard is in a leather case, that's all the protection I've used for 3 years, so far so good. I do try and put it in the shade when I'm not using it since it gets pretty hot in direct sun.

07-30-2013, 11:20 AM	#9
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	Zip Loc baggie here as well --- I try to remember to load some visual reference material for making sand sculptures. I prefer taking the ereader to printed books or magazines, since I can just replace the baggie if it gets worn.

07-30-2013, 12:04 PM	#11
DreamWriter Books are brain food. Posts: 2,950 Karma: 4836916 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: U.S. Device: Paperwhite · Fire HD6/HD8/HD10 · Galaxy Tab A7	At the beach, I use the M-Edge Leisure Jacket with my Kindle Keyboard. Dual zippers make it easy to access the on/off switch, and there's a zippered pouch in the back.

07-30-2013, 01:03 PM	#13
medard Wizard Posts: 1,014 Karma: 5595784 Join Date: May 2012 Device: Electronic Paper	Because most people don't need a phone while beeing underwater, maybe.

07-30-2013, 01:35 PM	#14
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	I usually take either one of my Sonys or the Aluratek to the beach. I transport it in its purchased case within a zip-lock bag to keep it dry in my tote bag. I take it out of the plastic bag to read, which is usually done sitting in a beach chair far enough away from the ocean's edge to avoid any splashes from either it or from passing wet bodies. I've been doing that for years.