The new Casio Exilim is now available on the Verizon network. The Exilim is a clamshell phone with a pivoting top, a tough “mil-spec” design, a 5.1 megapixel camera, and VZ Navigator. It's also completely waterproof, which is useful if you need to make phone calls or take high-resolution pictures while snorkeling.

From what I can see the Exilim looks tough as nails. It's dust, shock, and water resistant, and would make a perfect travel phone for someone who likes to wander off of the beaten path a bit. Sure, it costs $279.99 with a 2-year contract, but that's a small price to pay for a mobile phone that won't die on you in the middle of the Australian Outback or the deserts of Iraq.

Outside of high-adventure camping and military service, I'm not sure this phone is that great of a deal. The Exilim has a fantastic camera (it's even got autofocusing and an image stabilizer) but that's just about all it has. If you aren't planning a trip to the Congo or the Komodo Islands, you'll probably be better served by picking up pretty much any smartphone on the market.