UAG (Urban Armor Gear) cases have been a personal go-to for many years when it comes to iPhone cases for hiking. Options like UAG’s Monarch and Pathfinder series have been been among my favorites because they combine tactical-influenced styling with heavy duty protection and come in a range of interesting colors. However, that style can seem a little over the top to some people. So I was happy to give something a little more subdued a try when the company offered up a Civilian series case to try out–along with a pair of Apple Watch bands.
UAG Civilian Case
Although it remains unmistakably a UAG case–including prominent branding and some sculpting on the back–the Civilian case offers a relatively subdued look. There are no rivets or simulated armor plates, for example. The Mallard blue color of my sample (for an iPhone 14 Pro Max) with its matte black edging and buttons is eye catching.
In terms of protection (the primary job of a phone case), the UAG Civilian is outstanding. It’s engineered with UAG’s HyperCush technology, with two layers of shock absorbent materials applied in a hexagonal pattern. Screen and camera edges are shielded by raised lips. The sides and over-sized button covers are made of a grippy material that reduces the chances of slipping. There are holes cut for an optional lanyard. And if you do manage to drop it, the Civilian case is rated for 20-foot drop protection.
The grippy material on the edges works very well. I went out on a speedboat and was the guy snapping pictures of a friend who was following closely behind on a Sea-Doo, wake jumping. It was jarring and wet, but I kept my grip on my iPhone, which was in the UAG Civilian case at the time. In retrospect, a lanyard would have been the smart move there, just in case…
Despite its capabilities, this case doesn’t add a great deal of bulk or weight. In fact, I’ve been slapping it on because it looks so good, with the extreme protection being just an added bonus. It does support wireless charging, but not MagSafe.
The UAG Civilian case is offered for a wide range of iPhone and Galaxy smart phone models. At time of publication, the version for my iPhone 14 Pro Max carried a $37.95 price tag.
UAG Rip Curl Trestles and Scout Apple Watch Bands
UAG also makes some very attractive and reasonably priced Apple Watch bands if you’re looking for something outside of Apple’s own offerings. I tried out the Scout and Rip Curl Trestle for my 45mm Apple Watch series 4. Both bands are made with soft touch silicone and stainless steel hardware, with prominent buckles. I far prefer that buckle to the metal stud that Apple uses on its Sport Bands–I find a buckle is more secure and I like the traditional look.
I loved the blue silicon of the Rip Curl Trestles I was sent. It complemented the Civilian case perfectly. The hardware was solid and the look made the band one that could go from hiking or swimming to wearing out for dinner. I ran into one issue, though. I had to use the last stop on the band and it was still just a little too snug on my wrist (which is just over 8-inches in circumference). It still fit–technically–but I was always aware of its presence and if I was hiking any distance, blood swelling in my hands would take that from snug to uncomfortably tight. So keep that in mind if you also have large wrists.
The Scout strap also required me to use the final stop, but is nowhere near as tight and fits quite comfortably. If you’re looking for an Apple Watch band that combines the comfort and sweatproof/waterproof properties of soft touch silicone with a sleek design and contrasting stainless steel hardware, you should add UAG to your list of candidates.
Disclosure: UAG provided products for evaluation purposes but had no input into this review.
