Freecom Delivers ToughDrive Sport External HDD

Need a portable hard drive that can withstand the elements? Look no further than Freecom's latest, the appropriately named ToughDrive Sport. The drive is a durable, shock-resistant 2.5" device that has been engineered to "endure even the toughest conditions." We won't judge whether your needs are tough enough to warrant a purchase here, but suffice it to say, the company makes clear that it's perfect for "heavy duty users that want to carry their data on the move, from backpacking around the world to cycling up mountains."

Unlike traditional external HDDs, this one includes a handy loop in one corner for easy linkage with a nearby carrabeaner, and considering that it can withstand drops from up to two meters, we'd say you can even attach it to less-than-sturdy hooks. Of course, it'll also shake off adverse weather like it's no big thing, and the integrated USB cable ensues that you'll never have to bring along a seperate and equally waterproof connection cord.

The ToughDrive Sport includes room for up to 500GB of data, and the (PC-only) Turbo USB 2.0 connection promises transfer speeds of up to 30 percent faster than competing solutions for downloading or uploading data. Finally, the drive includes secure password protection whereby the user's password is encrypted and stored on a 256-bit hardware chip. It's available for shipping now for $219.