The Otterbox 8700 case is made out of a polycarbonate/ABS shell and has rubber overmolding for grip and drop protection. A protective rubber flap on the left side of the case conceals the sync/charge plug.

One of the more unique aspects of the Otterbox Blackberry 8700 case is that the case provides sealed access to the keypad, scroll wheel, escape button, power button, mute button, and the side "magic" button.

Using the scroll wheel with the Otterbox takes some getting used to. You can only scroll a few lines at a time with each push/swivel motion, so that does slow things down a bit.

The Otterbox case consists of two pieces. Once closed, an O-ring creates a waterproof seal.

Inserting the Blackberry into the Otterbox is easy and can be done in a matter of seconds.

A lockable latch on the back of the case secures the two pieces together. An optional belt-clip can also be attached to the back of the case.

Pros:

• Provides rock-solid waterproof, drop-proof protection for your Blackberry
• Access to all buttons/ports without opening the case
• Solid, quality construction
• Specifically designed for the Blackberry

Cons:

• Expensive
• Screen is dimmer in the case and can be difficult to see in bright sunlight
• Speaker/handset/ringer volume reduced slightly in the case
• Makes the phone somewhat bulky

Conclusion

Hold the Otterbox in your hand and you quickly realize this case is for seriously extreme protection. This is no leather carrying case; If you work in truly harsh conditions and rely on your Blackberry to do your job, then Otterbox's protection is unmatched. The 8700 case is custom made to allow all Blackberry functions from within the case, and the case feels almost bulletproof. Typing on the keypad is easy and didn't slow me down at all.

The scroll wheel mechanism does take some getting used to, and you'll notice the already-volume-challenged Blackberry 8700 is even less loud from within the bulky Otterbox. The screen can be a bit dim through the case's protective covering, and the Otterbox almost doubles the size of the 8700. Still, I've yet to see a more protective case for the Blackberry, and if you need serious protection this is the case for you.

The Blackberry 8700 case retails for $129 on Otterbox's website. The company also makes protective cases for a wide range of other devices, including iPods, phones, laptops, and more.