Phone tethers

This is the one i use:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072595S4G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's lasted me 5 trips so far.

Some recent threads on the topic:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/phone-tether-opinion-please#top

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/cell-phone-lanyard

I have good luck with these patches and lanyards. They have gone to Europe on two 25+ day trips and are still in good shape. I add a clip inside my purse to hook the lanyard to. My phone is either hooked to my purse or around my neck so I don't lose it or drop it. I like the patches because they do not have metal rings that can cut through the plastic.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09JBWRPBX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
and
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KSRS1YL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I love my Loopy which keeps me from dropping my phone while taking a photo. It also really helps my hand where gripping a phone in my left hand can cause pain.

I bought it specifically because I had seen photos of the crowded board walkways over the water at Plitvice Lakes National Park and didn’t want my phone bumped & dropped. But, it’s so comfortable! My finger is resting in the loop right now. 😊

I used this lanyard set on my trip to Rome and Florence last year. It worked well. I wore the phone on the lanyard around my neck, but kept the phone in my front pocket. I mainly wanted to make sure I didn’t drop it while taking pictures or on public transport. It saved me dropping it on the bus on more than one occasion!

I use Koala and I really like it.

Mine (once to London, 2x to Paris, works great so far). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074Y96JSX/?coliid=I1OS20L5BIG74U&colid=1Y6499OSU35SY&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

I've been using an around-the-neck lanyard for my last few trips. The lanyard has been ideal for keeping the phone constantly available for photos and other uses. However, I've just experienced a serious phone problem due to use of the lanyard.

Most of the time the phone is in my left hand in vertical orientation (USB/charging port at the bottom), to keep it from bouncing around as I walk. I let the phone dangle for short periods if I need my left hand for some other purpose, such as to grasp a railing as I go up or down stairs. When the phone hangs loose, the USB port is upward.

A few nights ago, when I returned to my hotel and plugged in the phone, I got a warning message about moisture in the charging port and direction to unplug the phone immediately. I know what happened: I walked under a tree with low-hanging foliage as I climbed the steps outside my hotel. It wasn't raining at the time, but it had been a rainy day, and I'm sure some water dripped off the tree and into the charging port as I brushed against the leaves.

Five days later the phone can still only be recharged wirelessly. I had to traipse around Riga on an 88-degree day (a Sunday, naturally) to buy a portable wireless charger. It is heavier than the external battery I can no longer use, so a pain to carry around, and when I need to recharge on the go, it's not easy to hold the charger and phone in the right position.

I assume when I return home I won't be able to cable the phone to my computer to download my photos, so that will be a further annoyance.

I suppose those of us using neck lanyards need to keep something like a small adapter cable attached to the charging port to keep rain out.

Thanks so much for all your replies!

Good to be aware of the charge port vulnerability.

Katie

Acraven, my Bandolier case with neck strap leaves my charger port on the upside, also, and I never thought of that issue. I've never had any problems, either, but awareness is always good. Thx for the info!

acraven, I would have never thought about that charging problem. Who would have thought that water could drip in, especially when it wasn't raining. Fortunately my otter case has a cover over the charging port but not over the speakers. The hanging tab for the lanyard fits between the case and the phone. Although not a true waterproof case, it provides protection. Thank you for sharing your experience.

I like the patch as Horsewoofie suggested, but use mine with a spiral plastic cord - like old dial telephones used to have. It's short but can go long.

acraven, first that stinks about your phone.

Five days may be too long, but it may still be worth trying a blow dryer to lightly blow the moisture in the port that got damp. Not too hot, too close or for too long at a time. A light air dry.

If there hasn't yet been any corrosion, it could still work. And shouldn't make anything worse.

My engineer brother successfully did this with a phone that had a dunking. That took some patience with the blow dryer.

I used this tether on 2 trips to England. I hooked it to my Travelon crossbody (on one of the zipper locks) and slipped it into the pocket. I have an iPhone case with a ring on the back that it attaches to. I prefer this type of case because it keeps the charging port free.
When I used it on my RS tour last year, all my tour mates wanted one.

Phone Assured Phone Tether - 31"... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y5GZP1T?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This is a $10 gizmo I purchased for our upcoming trip. I plan to either clip the tether onto my wrist or my crossbody when it's in my hand.

Yes, melrowgo! That's the exact one I've used on my last two trips.

The wife an I used the OUTXE noted above for 3 weeks in Paris/France/London this spring. Pull out of vest, listen for magic ding, put back in vest. Well worth the few $$. They are part of our ‘American Express’.

The things you learn here - I love it. The $10 gizmo looks interesting - substantial enough yet easy to grab for a photo. I will be experimenting this trip with a knock-off bandolier type phone case that I will wear cross-body style.