Introduction

The best camera is the one that you have. So when you're playing in the surf, spending a weekend at the slopes, or going on any kind of rugged adventure, you want a camera that can face up to the elements with you. A waterproof, rugged camera is the way to go.

With more waterproof cameras to choose from than ever before, picking the right one can seem daunting. We're here to help. We took a long, hard look at the top-billed tough cams of the year, measuring how they perform outdoors, underwater, and in dim lighting; how tough they are and how tough they really need to be; and how they'll work once they're in your hands. Read on to see how they fared.