Over the years, we’ve been seeing a huge growth (okay, explosion) in weather and water resistant technology (you know it has when even Ashton Kutcher is half-advertising, half-modeling cameras in those incessant commercials). When you strip away the sensationalism of rugged technology, it turns out most people have little to no clue where to start looking for reliable and trustworthy products, and most times end up wasting their time and money.

As we find ourselves in the peak of the summer season, our technology inevitably does as well. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or simply a clutz who tends to knock their camera into the pool frequently while laying out, here’s a list of some comprehensive weather resistant technologies proven to provide a peace of mind (in no specific order). The search ends here:

1.)    Olympus Tough TG-1: The Olympus Tough TG-1 stands as the toughest Olympus camera ever released. Not only does is the 12 megapixel TG-1 completely waterproof (12m), but it is also shockproof (2m), freeze-proof (-10° C) and even crush-proof, being able to withstand the weight of 100kg. Deep-sea divers and aquatics alike will also enjoy its f2.0 aperture high-speed lens, which can capture clear, quality images with its high-speed lens as deep as almost 40 feet underwater. These are all class-leading durability ratings. You can even attach waterproof fisheye and telephoto converters by using an optional adapter. Now, we all know that the tougher technology you want, the pricier it will be –as they all say, you get what you pay for. The Olympus Tough TG-1 comes in at a whopping £359.99, or about $440. Additionally, if you want the fisheye converter or teleconverter, you’re looking at about another $160. Boasting ground-breaking picture quality, however, it seems worth it. Now, you’d think that this camera would best suit adrenaline junkies looking for serious adventure and travel (I sure thought so), but it’s been recently revealed that the TG-1 is also best suited for days at the beach or anything else taking place outside in bright light – which has led this product to be named the “best all-around tough-cam right now,” as it can surprisingly also handle indoor and low-light scenes, as well.

2.)   Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4: Panasonic provides everything from TVs to SIP phones to HD Video Conferencing solutions, but for those of you looking for the best Panasonic rugged camera, you’ll find it here. Rated last month as “very good” coming in at four and a half stars, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 is an easy-to-use, rugged camera with added exposure control that you simply won’t find in others in its class. The downside? The TS4’s photo quality and performance don’t seem to make too big of a stride from its predecessor – the TS3. Additionally, it seems to have a fairly small, low-resolution LCD when compared with competing models, but is still said to be an excellent rugged camera. Similar to the Olympus TG-1, the TS4 is also waterproof to approximately 40 feet, shockproof to about seven feet and freeze-proof to 14°F, or -10°C. One of its most innovative features, in my opinion, is its built in GPS, which would make it the perfect product for travelers of any kind. Another fun functionality is its Time Lapse Shot, which allows users to set up a start time, internal, and number of photos to shoot, where the camera will then automatically snap photos, making it possible to condense shots for fluid playback to witness such things as cloud moving across the sky or a flower opening. Ranging from $265 to $400, you may find this product to better suit your taste. Check out more here.

3.)   Nikon Coolpix AW100: Hmm….maybe Ashton Kutcher was on to something when advertising this one. The Coolpix AW100 made a splash in the market when introduced as Nikon’s first ever rugged camera. It does have good rugged specifications for its price, as well as solid GPS performance and is fairly easy to use. The AW100’s slow lens does require more use of high ISO settings of slow shutter speeds, though, and users have noted that it is occasionally unresponsive due to waterproofing and feels somewhat slippery when handling. If you’re looking for something for extensive traveling in unforgiving conditions, you may honestly want to stick to something a bit more durable. For those of you who are looking for a durable camera for shallow water or dry land adventures, you may find this is just what you’ve been looking for – just make sure you have plenty of light! The AW100 cashes in from anywhere between $279 to $379, and can be found here.

So regardless of your objective, you’re bound to find one of these technologies advantageous for your purpose – whether you’re looking to snap a shot of your son swimming for the first time or hiking waist deep in a blizzard. Hopefully, these reviews help you in your quest for the next best thing in weather-resistant technology!