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Consumer Reports Tests Protective Bags For Beachgoers

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Are you heading the beach this summer? Chances are you may bring along your smartphone, camera or i-Pod.

So, what's the best way to protect those gadgets from water, sand and sun?

Consumer reports checked out bags designed to keep you connected and protected.

The Georgiadis family thought for sure they'd come back to Pittsburgh with plenty of pictures to show off their trip to Florida.

However, some melted candy in the beach bag and their picture taking came to an end.

"What happened is the candy got stuck inside the lens right here. And the lens doesn't come out so you can't take pictures and it's broke," Christopher Georgiadis said.

It was a beach bummer for the Georgiadis family, but it can happen to the best of us. If you want your gadgets on the go, even if it means dealing with sand and water, there are bags you can buy to protect your stuff from the elements.

Consumer Reports tested several, ranging in price from $15 to $40.

The first challenge was dropping each one into water.

"We really didn't want to risk real electronics in the water so we used objects that were similar in size and weight like paperback books and post it notes," Carol Mangis from Consumer Reports said.

All the bags kept the contents dry as a bone.

The next challenge involved the sand.

This time the bags were dropped in sand and partially covered. The bags got the job done in that test as well.

The best of the bunch was The Dry Case Bags. They also provided the most secure fit and you'll pay $38 for the large one and $29 for the small.

"We decided we'd also try out a regular grocery style bag with sealable top to see if that protected devices just as well," Mangis said.

As it turns out, the Hefty One-Zip gallon sized bag protected against water and it did a fine job with the sand.

As for the Georgiadis family, they're going to do things differently with their gadgets the next time they head to the beach.

"I think we were a little careless not to put it and protect it. From now on, we'll put it in a plastic bag or a cover to protect it," Leslie Georgiadis said.

As for that Hefty bag which did a good job, that will only run you $0.10 a bag.

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