If you're in a heavy-duty line of work, or you simply have butterfingers and drop your cell phone on the sidewalk twice a day, you might want to think about protecting your electronic investments. The OtterBox Defender Series cases are built just for that.

Made for smartphones, iPods, and the like, the Defender cases run from $14.95 to $49.95, depending on the device you'll be protecting. Nestled safely inside a high-impact polycarbonate skeleton and impact-absorbing silicone skin, your phone will suffer fewer superficial scratches on the outside and fewer jarring knocks on the inside. Each case also features a clear membrane that offers both protection and functionality for touch screens.

The OtterBox Web site notes that the Defender line will "provide some added protection against drop, bump and dust," but is "not intended for protection against water intrusion." So if you drop it in the john, you're on your own (OtterBox does offer waterproof cases, but not in the Defender Series). Defender cases are available for Apple, Blackberry, Palm, HTC and HP devices.