Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods

Last month, we introduced you to the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Apple Watch, (read our review here). Apple’s Airpods are the perfect companion to your Apple Watch. If you are looking for the same protection for your Airpods, check out the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods.

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Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods – Overview

The Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods is one of those products you may not realize you need until you hear about it. The compact size of the Airpods case makes it easy to slip into your pocket, but that might not always be the best place for them. But it’s that same sleek design that makes it almost impossible to carry them anywhere else and still keep them readily available.

The Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods is a silicone sleeve that slips over the Airpods case. The top part of the case can be rolled back to allow for easy access to the Airpods. The lid can be opened and closed without removing the case and once you are done needing access, you just slip the top part of the case back up. Since the silicone covers the area where the Airpods lid meets the bottom of the case, it is now fully protected from penetration of water and dust.

The Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods is IP67 rated meaning it is protected in water up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) and meets the 810G military standard for drop protection up to 1.2 meters (4.0 feet).

There is a small silicone tab at the bottom of the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods that protects the Lightning connector. The case provides access to the Airpods case Lightning connector and that port has an additional silicone tab that covers it when not in use. Built into that tab is access for an included carabiner so you can clip your Airpods to a jacket, belt-loop, backpack, or just about anywhere.

When we reviewed the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Apple Watch, we were impressed with the fully illustrated instructions that were included. The Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods is not nearly as involved to set-up but Catalyst still included a nicely illustrated and detailed instruction sheet.

Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods – Review

The Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods is simple to use. We had no issues or concerns sliding our Airpods into the case. While it took a little bit of pressure to get the Airpods fully seated into the Catalyst case, we were actually surprised at how easy it was. It takes no effort to roll down the top part of the case to access the Airpods and the case adds practically no bulk to the Airpods case itself.

Charging the Airpods with the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods installed was no problem as long as you are using a Lightning cable. Even some of the heavier cables like Paracable (read our review here) which has a slightly larger tip was no an issue.

We sometimes use an iPhone charging stand to charge the Airpods case and because of the design of the stand, it would not fit with the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods installed. That is not a negative on the Catalyst case design but more of something to keep in mind. The reality is, the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods is intended to be used when you are out and about, and we doubt you would be taking a charging stand with you on an afternoon hike.

To that point, removing the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods was just about as easy as installing it so at the end of the day you could easily remove it if you wanted to.

We were pleasantly surprised to find a carabiner included in the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods. Truth be told, we did not see it at first and was disappointed that we had to look for a way to attach it to our belt. It was by accident that we found it tucker away in the plastic interior packaging but that just made the whole experience that much better.

The Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods comes in a variety of colors. Our sample was the blue and orange as seen below.

We liked the color combination as it makes the Airpods easy to find but if you want something more subdued, there are eight other choices on the Catalyst web site.

The Bottom Line

The Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods is a nice addition for any Airpods owner. The protection from water and dust and the military grade shock protection is great to have, even if you don’t intend to take your Airpods into a rough and rugged environment. The easy installation and included carabiner means that you can quickly add the protection the case provides but you’re not locked in to using it all the time.

The Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods has an MSRP of just $24.99 and is available in a variety of colors from Amazon and in the Audio section of the Apple Tech Talk Marketplace.

We would like to thank the folks at Catalyst for providing the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Airpods for our testing and review.

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