Let’s be clear, these OtterBoxes are not meant to be stealth. They aren’t designed to stay out of the way. They aren’t there to be convenient. They exist to protect your asset like a big hulkin’ bodyguard pushing his way through the crowd.

They add weight, width and bulk to your devices, but they are one of the best solutions out there for active gadget geeks. The few and the proud.

Blast took a gander at three OtterBoxes: two “Armor” class boxes that waterproof iPod touch and Nano, and a “Defender” series case for the iPhone.

OtterBox Armor Case for 3G iPod nano
$30

• Waterproof to 3 feet
• Dust, dirt, drop and scratch protection
• Click wheel still works
• Adds a ton of girth to the product

OtterBox Armor Case for iPod touch
$40

• Completely changes look and feel of iPod
• Waterproof to 3 feet
• Dust, dirt, drop and scratch protection
• Interface still works thanks to thin protective membrane
• Makes the iPod look tough

OtterBox Apple iPhone Defender Case
$65

• Bump, scratch and drop protection
• Not waterproof
• Less obtrusive than other boxes
• Very expensive for a cell phone case.
• Has a holster

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast: Boston's Online Magazine. He can be reached at guilfoil.j@blastmagazine.com.