On-the-Side: Mophie’s Outride case turns your iPhone into a rugged action cam

If you’re into extreme sports, a rugged action camera is basically a necessity these days if you plan on taking home footage of your adventures for show. But if you don’t have 300 bucks to drop on a dedicated cam like GoPro’s HD Hero 2 (which, like Hansel on Zoolander, is ‘so hot right now’), and you happen to own an iPhone 4 or 4S, here’s a cheaper solution: Mophie has just introduced the Outride, a $130 case that turns your iPhone into a capable action cam.

The built-in wide-angle lens gives the iPhone's cam a 170-degree view.

Like a number of other rugged cases – like the awesome TAKTIK case that got listed (and successfully funded) on Kickstarter – the Outride is built to take the hits (and splashes) with a polycarbonate case that’s shock-resistant and water-proof. Unlike most of the stuff we’ve seen so far, this case is specifically built for action photography, with modular mounts that allows it to be attached to surfboards and handlebars, and an integrated wide-angle lens that gives the built-in iPhone cam a wider 170-degree viewing angle.

Mophie also adds onto the experience by offering a free Outride app to go along with the case that features recording and playback. The app also comes with a social component that takes users to the “Outride community page” and other social networks for posting and viewing recorded footage.

Designed to fit the iPhone 4 and 4S, the Outride case will be available in September with bundles that range from $129.95 to $149.95, depending on the mount package.