There are two ways to keep your car key and phone safe while you're on the water, and they solve different problems. You can carry them, waterproofed — sealed in a dry case that comes out with you — or you can lock them on land, stashed in a combination safe on your car. Fidlock and Surflogic between them cover both, and this guide walks through every waterproof phone case, key case and key safe we stock, so you can pick the right approach for how you ride.
Carry it or lock it? Two approaches
Before comparing products, work out which problem you're solving:
- Carry it, waterproofed — a dry case for your phone or keys that you take out onto the water, hung round your neck, clipped to a harness or tucked in a wetsuit. Best when you want your phone accessible for photos, GPS or safety, or when there's genuinely nowhere safe to leave a key. This is where Fidlock's magnetic cases and Surflogic's IPX8 phone pouch come in.
- Lock it on land — a combination key safe bolted to your car so the key never comes near the water. Best for keeping your car key secure at a busy beach car park while you're out for an hour or two. This is Surflogic's key-lock range.
Plenty of riders end up with both: a key safe on the car and a phone case for the water. Here's everything we stock in each category.
Fidlock: magnetic self-sealing dry cases
Fidlock's whole pitch is the closure. Their patented Gooper magnetic self-sealing system locks watertight the instant you let go — no rolling a top down, no lining up a zip, no user error. That reliability is the single biggest reason to choose Fidlock: the most common way a "waterproof" case fails is the person closing it, and Fidlock designs that step out. Every Fidlock case is 100% waterproof, sandproof and dustproof, and none of them interfere with car key fobs, bank cards or electronics.
Fidlock Waterproof Phone Case — £27.95
The medium "Hermetic" dry bag is shaped for a standard smartphone, with full touchscreen use through the clear TPU window — take photos, answer calls, follow a route, all without opening it. It weighs 50g, comes with an adjustable lanyard for hands-free carrying, and is fully submersible. Available in Blue, Orange and Transparent.
Fidlock Waterproof Phone Case — £27.95
Shop now →Fidlock Waterproof Key Case — £19.99
The compact version of the same idea, sized (100 × 70mm) for keys, cards, jewellery and small electronics. It's the cheapest way into the Fidlock system and the one to reach for when you simply want to take your key onto the water sealed and dry. Crucially, it doesn't block electronic keys or smart fobs, so a modern car key works normally through it. Hang it inside your wetsuit, clip it to a harness or wear it on the included lanyard.
Fidlock Waterproof Key Case — £19.99
Shop now →Fidlock Waterproof Sling Bag & Bumbag — £49.99
When one case isn't enough — phone, keys, cards, cash and a charging cable all at once — the sling bag is the step up. It's a 100% waterproof bumbag and crossbody dry bag in one, worn across the chest or around the waist, with the same magnetic self-sealing closure plus a one-hand magnetic belt buckle. The transparent version keeps full touchscreen access to your phone without opening it. As good for a festival, a boat trip or a commute as it is for a SUP session.
Fidlock Waterproof Sling Bag & Bumbag — £49.99
Shop now →Surflogic Waterproof Phone Case — £25.95
Surflogic takes the traditional route: a high-frequency welded pouch with a high-density waterproof zip, rated IPX8 for full submersion. Where it differs from Fidlock is the detail for phone users specifically — clear touch panels on both front and back so you can shoot photos or video either way, Face ID compatibility, and the ability to make and take calls without removing the phone. It's PVC-free TPU, comes with a removable neck lanyard, and is made in Large (16.5 × 7cm) and XL (fits phones up to 85 × 170mm) to suit larger handsets.
If your priority is a do-everything phone case and you're happy to close a zip properly each time, the Surflogic is excellent value. If you want the zero-thought magnetic seal, the Fidlock is the one. Both live in the same waterproof phone & key cases collection.
Surflogic Waterproof Phone Case (IPX8) — £25.95
Shop now →Phone case at a glance
| Fidlock Phone Case | Surflogic Phone Case | |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | Magnetic self-sealing (Gooper) | High-density waterproof zip |
| Waterproofing | Fully submersible | IPX8 (submersible) |
| Touchscreen | Front window | Front & back clear panels |
| Sizes | One (medium) | Large & XL |
| Best for | Fuss-free, quick access | Photo/video, larger phones |
| Price | £27.95 | £25.95 |
Surflogic key safes: lock it on the car
A dry case keeps a key dry — but if you'd rather your car key never came near the water at all, a combination key safe is the answer. The problem with hiding a key under a wheel arch or behind a bumper is that it's no secret; opportunists know exactly where to look. A Surflogic key lock removes the hiding entirely: the key sits in a combination-locked metal box clamped to your car, and the only way in is the code.
Across the range you get a foam-backed body and coated shackle to protect your paintwork, a weather-resistant cap over the dial to keep sand and salt out of the mechanism, and dials large enough to work with cold, wet hands. Here's how the range lines up:
| Model | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Key Lock Standard | Simple blade keys, smaller fobs | From £36 |
| Key Lock Maxi | Larger keys needing more room | From £45 |
| Key Lock Premium | Modern smart keys — all-metal, RFID pouch included | £53.95 |
| Key Lock Double System | Two keys, or families/car-sharers | £55 |
| Key Security Lock LED | Dawn/dusk sessions — lit dial | £65 |
Our pick: Surflogic Key Lock Premium — £53.95
If you drive a modern car with a keyless smart fob, the Premium is the one we point people to. It's all-metal through the body and shackle — far more resistant to prying and cutting than plastic alternatives — with a roomy 69 × 100 × 30mm compartment that swallows most smart fobs. The detail that matters most in 2026: it ships with an RFID signal-blocking pouch, so a keyless fob stored inside is shielded from relay theft, which is an increasingly common way modern cars get stolen. Foam-backed so it won't mark your paint, water-resistant against rain and spray, and a buy-once item at £53.95.
Surflogic Key Lock Premium — £53.95
Shop now →Which should you buy?
| You want to... | Get this |
|---|---|
| Take your phone on the water, fuss-free | Fidlock Waterproof Phone Case |
| Take your phone for photos/video on a big handset | Surflogic Waterproof Phone Case (front & back panels) |
| Take your key on the water, sealed and dry | Fidlock Waterproof Key Case |
| Carry phone + keys + cards together | Fidlock Waterproof Sling Bag & Bumbag |
| Leave a modern smart key locked on the car | Surflogic Key Lock Premium |
| Leave a simple key locked on the car, cheaply | Surflogic Key Lock Standard |
Looking after your cases
Whichever you choose, the maintenance is the same and it matters: rinse in fresh water after any saltwater or sandy session, and keep the sealing area — the magnetic ribs on a Fidlock, the zip on a Surflogic, the dial cap on a key safe — clean and free of grit. A sandy seal is the fastest route to a leak or a jammed lock. Dry everything fully before storing, and don't leave TPU cases baking in direct heat. Do that and any of these will last years.
For more on kitting out your car and post-session setup, see our guide to every Surflogic after-session accessory, honestly reviewed.
Keep your kit dry and secure
Browse every waterproof phone case, key case and key safe from Fidlock and Surflogic at Northern Watersports.
Shop phone & key cases Browse key safesFAQ: Waterproof phone & key cases
What's the difference between a waterproof key case and a key safe?
A key case (like the Fidlock) is a waterproof pouch you take onto the water with the key sealed inside. A key safe (like the Surflogic locks) is a combination lockbox that stays clamped to your car, keeping the key on land while you ride. Different problems, different tools.
Will a waterproof case stop my car key fob working?
No. Both the Fidlock cases and Surflogic pouch are designed not to interfere with electronic keys, smart fobs or bank cards — your keyless entry works normally through them.
Fidlock magnetic seal or Surflogic zip — which is more reliable?
Both are fully waterproof when used correctly. The Fidlock's magnetic self-sealing closure removes user error — it seals the moment you let go — which makes it more forgiving. The Surflogic zip is proven and slightly cheaper, but relies on you closing it properly every time.
Can I use my phone through the case?
Yes. Both phone cases give full touchscreen use through a clear window — photos, calls, GPS and apps all work. The Surflogic adds a clear panel on the back too, and is Face ID compatible.
Is a Surflogic key safe secure enough for a modern car?
The Key Lock Premium is all-metal and includes an RFID blocking pouch to prevent relay theft of keyless fobs. No lockbox is impervious to a determined, equipped attacker, but it's far more secure than hiding a key on the vehicle — and the RFID shielding addresses the main modern theft method.
Are these cases fully submersible or just splash-proof?
The phone cases and key case are fully submersible — Fidlock's are hermetically sealed and the Surflogic is IPX8-rated. The Surflogic key safes are water-resistant against rain and spray but are not designed to be submerged, since they live on your car rather than in the water.
Which case fits a large smartphone?
The Surflogic Waterproof Phone Case comes in an XL size that fits phones up to 85 × 170mm, making it the better pick for larger handsets. The Fidlock medium suits most standard smartphones.
