If you’re like us, you can’t enjoy the outdoors without packing your favorite digital devices. After all, there are pictures to take, Facebook statuses to write, and tweets to send, so that everyone in your social graph knows how much fun you are having hiking at 10,000 ft. Plus, digital devices can save your life. This woman avoided a bear attack with her iPhone.

You have to treat your devices a little differently when you take them outdoors. Storing them in a case made of the wrong material for example, could ruin your camera and iPhone in mere minutes if you get caught in a surprise downpour.

If you want to safely enjoy your gadgets outdoors, check out our tips for safe storage and usage:

1. Don’t keep you camera or phone in direct sunlight.

Just a few minutes in direct sunlight, even if the air temperature is moderate, can cause the device to heat up over recommended temperatures. Apple advises people to keep the device between -4 and 113 degrees F. Although 113 degrees F seems high, within just 15 minutes of exposing my iPhone 4 to direct sunlight, screen up, on a clear sunny day in Central Park, NYC caused the device to overheat and turn off for several minutes.

2. Waterproof your devices.

If you are on the water canoeing, waterskiing, or swimming for fitness, make sure to waterproof your phone. Cases like the Sanwa Waterproof Case allow you to still use your touchscreen while your iPhone is snuggly in the case.

3. Protect your screen and buttons from grime and oil.

Touchscreens and buttons provide a great place for sunscreen residue and grit from the trail to settle and destroy your hardware. By applying sunscreen and then pressing buttons, you can cause a goopy mess around the seam of the button and the device. Make sure to carry some hand wipes to wipe your hands as you transition from climbing the rocks on the trail to grabbing for your camera. As always, bring a small bag to store used wipes so that you don’t litter. Remember the outdoor rule of thumb – carry in, carry out.

4. Get a weatherproof padded case.

Companies like OtterBox make cases that are not only waterproof, but impact protecting as well. Hard cases with a little padding can protect the device from accidents like having your phone pop out of your cycling jersey pocket when you hit a pothole. Check out this case that fits perfectly in your cycling jersey (pictured above).

Sometimes, accidents still happen. Know what to do if your iPhone falls in the water.