It feels weird splashing water on a Bible, but that’s exactly what I did to the Waterproof Bible from Bardin and Marsee Publishing. It is what is known as a DuraBook – a book printed entirely on plastic/synthetic pages. It’s available in several translations and covers. My review copy is KJV.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Highlight without bleed thru
- Available in many translations
- Floats
Cons
- Looks like a paperback
- Heavy for its size
Features
- KJV
- DuraBook
- Plastic pages
- Text only
- 8-point font
- Black-letter
- Presentation page
- Floats
- Waterproof cover available
- 8.75 x 6 x 1.25
- ISBN: 9781609690182
Cover and Binding
There are several cover designs available including camouflage, blue, pink, and lily pad. The cover on my review copy is lily pad. It looks like a thick paperback cover, but it’s really plastic. I’ll be buying several translations and covers for my personal use. They will be camouflage and blue. I’m also considering one of their waterproof jackets. The pages are glued in sections. The cover is made to bend, so the pages will lay flat after use.
Paper or Plastic
The pages feel like coated paper, but it’s really plastic. The pages are very thick and the opacity is amazing. It has a slight cream tone, making it easy to read. The pages feel durable. I finally got up the courage to splash water on the pages and it wiped off with no problem at all.
The pages are great for marking with pens and dry highlighters. I haven’t tried marking it, so I don’t know which pens or color pencils would work.
The text looks like an 8-point font. I’ve read both 7 and 8 and I really can’t tell. It’s probably somewhere in between. I’m guessing it’s a 7-point font with an 8-point leading. It is black-letter and the font is so sharp and clear that the smaller text is easy to read. Supplied words are in italics. The text is not self-pronouncing, so there are no distractions and the text is nice and clean. The print quality is consistent throughout. There is enough room for underlining and you can write references after most verses.
Layout
The text is presented in verse-by-verse, double-column format. Paragraphs are marked with pilcrows. Chapter names appear centered above the first verse of the chapter and are in bold text.
The header on the left page contains the book name, the chapter number, and the first verse that starts on that page. The header on the right page contains the book name, the chapter number, and the last verse on that page.
I would like to see the KJV have the same layout as the NKJV – double-column with poetry and OT quotes in an offset text, and has sections headings and footnotes. I’ve seen some pictures of the NKJV with red-letter. The ESV, NIV, and NLT editions are in double-column paragraph format.
Since this Bible is so perfect for writing I would almost like to see slightly wider margins, but this would only add to the weight, so I can understand why the margins are small (0.25 on the outside). Another option would be to increase the space between the columns. A wide-margin or journaling edition would be awesome. One thing that helps the writing room is that books start on a new page. Some books take almost all of the last page, but most books give you lots of writing room. There is a page in the back for writing. I would like to see a few more pages even though it would add to the weight. Not everyone wants or needs to write in their Bible’s, so this layout is fine. Since highlighting and underlining is mentioned on the back cover I thought I’d add my thoughts on the matter.
Conclusion
I am extremely impressed with this Bible and it is my new favorite Bible in its price range. I feel more comfortable taking it with me than any Bible I own. This is the kind of Bible you toss around without worrying about it. I like taking a Bible with me everywhere I go, but most Bibles scare me. I’m always afraid of getting them wet, or tearing pages, smearing the text, etc. This Bible is made to take with you wherever you go: camping, fishing, hunting, boating, and traveling – it’s made to go with you anywhere without having to worry about damaging it, making it ideal for missionaries. It is on the heavy side, but it’s not that bad and it’s a trade I would gladly make. I love this Bible and I will be buying it in other translations and cover styles.
This Bible was provided for free for review by Bardin and Marsee Publishing. I was not required to give a positive review- only an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Dear Randy:
This is a puzzle for me. Great care has been taken to make this bible impervious to most natural hazards presumably so that it can be used in adverse environments. The reason for this need barring accidents is for use in outdoor activities where its size becomes a problem. I can’t, for instance, see putting this bible in a pocket or even a belt/fanny pack comfortably. I can see it being kept in a glove box in a car where in winter at least it can be quite humid, but how will it fare in dry and high temperatures during the summer. I think unless I am in an environment where resistance to humidity and other kinds of moisture hazards is needed, proper care, storage and use of a good well bound bible will suffice. I did notice there are no cross references which I for one, consider a major fault.
This is an interesting product, and should fill a niche somewhere in the market, it is however at present not for me.
Yours in Christ
Don Denison
The go anywhere bible, actually one day not too long ago I had a great idea for a bible and went online to see if there was anything on the market, and as you have guessed already “wallah the WaterProof Bible”. I missed it by that much, anyway Rite in the Rain makes waterproof journals, so this is not a new idea, although new for a bible. I have wondered if they use the same paper in the Waterproof Bible that’s in the Rite in the Rain journals? I’ve had these journals for several years now, but had forgotten all about them until several months ago, which gave me the idea for a similar bible, but some college aged kid beat me to it, bless him as I’m sure this bible can be made available in any language and put in the hands of many people who have never owned a bible, much less even seen one. As usual I guess I’m holding out for the Large Print edition.
This also might make for a good mechanics bible, I know I have manuals that have grease proof paper. http://www.riteintherain.com/
Hi Norm. Thanks for the link. I haven’t heard of this one. I’ll be checking them out.
Norm – thanks for the blessing!
I just wanted to clarify that we use an entirely different type of paper than Rite in the Rain. Their paper is water resistant because it is a wood pulp based product. When it is saturated, it will warp, wave, and mildew. Our paper will not do those things because is has no wood pulp in it. It is mainly plastic which makes it 100% water proof.
I am not knocking Rite in the Rain’s product because it is great for its intended use. We even sell their product on our site.
Hi Bobby. Thanks for the clarification.
Bobby, Thank you for the explanation, I do not own a waterproof bible, so I was unable to make a comparison. The Archival paper in my Rite in the Rain Journals is quite thick, so this particular weight of paper would not be good in a bible, however I knew that RITR also sold printing paper, which has to be much thinner. Anyway, congratulations, the Waterproof Bible has many applications and I hope you have much success in spreading the Good News.
What is the actual weight of this Bible??
It weighs just over 2 pounds and 4 ounces.
Thanks for the pics! I recently purchased this bible on eBay (which was much less expensive than Amazon) — but all of the photos I had seen had that FROG on the front and I was hoping so much that was just on the outer removable marketing cover, and am SO glad to see that it was!
I also have the KJV New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs. Its print is a bit smaller, but it’s the first time I feel comfortable carrying a bible with me “everywhere” — yet the first time I wanted to look something up it was in Isaiah, so I’m getting the full bible now. Just love them!~
Is there a review video of this Bible?
Hi Heath. I haven’t done a video of this one.
Is the KJV of this Bible the Cambridge or Oxford translation?