There are so many reasons a chargeable iPhone case is a good idea. Whether you’re out on a hike, hitting the slopes, or simply setting up camp, most of the time a plug is not easily available. Luckily, companies like iBattz are working to create not only a case that keeps your phone charged, but one that is rugged enough to take on your outdoor pursuits.

When I first received the iBattz Mojo Refuel Armor S battery case, I was excited by how sturdy it seemed. Somewhat similar to the OtterBox design, this case took protection to a new level by offering a thicker rubber outer layer as well as a tough plastic inner. The case also comes with a smaller inner bumper for everyday use, since the larger case is a bit bulky. I found this bumper a bit flimsy in design and, with the absence of any screen protectors, would not suggest it for protection purposes.

If you choose the bigger case, however, it is incredibly durable. The thick, grey plastic offers ultimate protection. The plastic screen protector is effective, unless you press on it while taking apart the case. Unfortunately, it’s just attached by glue and will pop right off at the slightest amount of pressure.

Whatever top case you choose, both are designed to snap onto the back battery, which is connected to your phone by a port at the bottom. Once your phone is in the case, you can activate the charge by clicking a little black button on the left side.

The battery itself is probably the best feature, as it does provide a steady charge when activated. I was impressed that the battery was able to restore my phone to 100 percent life even from 20 percent. I also liked the blue LED light on the back of the case that alerts you about when it’s charging. This way, when the charge was complete, or something wasn’t working, I was quickly aware and could fix the problem. A cord for re-charging is also provided and easily plugs into the battery whether it’s on your phone or off.

The main drawback is the rest of the case design, which is incredibly hard to get apart and put back together. When I first took it out of the box, I wasn’t sure how to go about it. As it turns out, the instructions were actually inside the case that I could not get apart—a bit of a packaging flaw. The plastic outer comes off easily and, after a bit of a struggle, I was able to get the back battery to pop off the front case with the help of two little openings at the bottom.

I slowly worked my phone into the port, but found that no matter how hard I tried or what I did to re-position the phone, it did not seem to want to lay flat. This created a problem with putting the rest of the case back on, as the top did not want to snap back into place no matter how hard I pushed. I even reached out to other people to make sure it wasn’t just me, and no one I asked was able to close it completely. I was finally able to secure the whole thing with the help of the rubber outer, but was bummed that the actual protective quality of the case was compromised because of my inability to get it back together. The awkward positioning of the phone also made using it a bit tricky because buttons would press themselves, turning down my volume and hanging up on calls.

The rest of the phone’s functions worked well. I was able to use the touch screen relatively easily as well as the home key, which was a little hard to employ with the rubber case on, but was still easy to use by simply flipping down this part of the case. In the same way, ear phones and chargers are easy to plug in and work well with the case on.

It is worth noting that, while I did not test the Aqua removable case, iBattz offers the option. From what I have read from other users, this seems to be the feature the company has perfected. The Armor option is not as waterproof, so I would not suggest emerging your phone.

Overall, the idea is a great one, but the execution is a bit lacking.

Main image courtesy of iBattz/Additional images by Lauren Montemurri