Living in Colorado, rugged gear is a must. When the rugged gear is quality and affordable, it is even better. The Argus Bean Rugged Camera fits the criteria of both quality and rugged, and better yet, it is affordable.

The Argus Bean Rugged Camera comes in both a 5MP and 3MP version, and while it isn't fashionable, it is very utilitarian. Designed to look like a caribener, the camera connects nicely to any backpack or other adventure gear. The rugged camera does have a flash, it has a fixed focal length, and it does have a 1.5" LCD screen and a SD card slot for data storage and expansion. The built-in litium-ion battery should be good for a few hundred standard-quality shots. Argus Bean has designed this camera for quick and fast action shots; you won't be using it to create works of art, but it will survive in the wild and stay out of the way when you don't need it.

The camera is available now for $57.49 for the 5MP flavor and $44.19 for the 3MP. I have dropped and killed a camera in a lake, off of a cliff, and down a ski hill. The Argus Bean Rugged Camera, probably would not have dropped, and it probably would have lived. Piece of mind, in my opinion, is worth $60.

via Chip Chick