Verizon has officially announced its brand new Kyocera Hydro Elite smartphone, a rugged handset that will be promoted by none other than Bear Grylls.

The Kyocera Hydro Elite has leaked many times in the past, but now the smartphone is finally official. Verizon will start offering the device online on Aug. 29 for $99.99 on a two-year contract, after a $50 mail-in rebate.

The smartphone sports a 4.3-inch 720p display and packs a dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz under the hood. Other specs of the Kyocera Hydro Elite include an 8-megapixel rear camera, LTE support, NTC touch-and-share and wireless charging. The smartphone is also water-resistant, allowing users to keep it submerged in up to three feet of water for up to half an hour. A 2,100 mAh battery will keep things up and running.

Because this smartphone aims to appeal to active users, famous survivalist expert Bear Grylls will be the one who will market the rugged Kyocera Hydro Elite. If the handset itself doesn't stir one's curiosity, Bear Grylls promoting it will definitely convince at least some consumers to check it out.

"Built to survive the rigors of everyday life, Hydro ELITE is launching with a little help from extreme-survivalist Bear Grylls - star of television's hit new series 'Get Out Alive' and the father of three active boys," touts Verizon Wireless. "Watch Grylls showcase the device's unique protective features and Smart Sonic Receiver technology on Kyocera's YouTube channel."

The Smart Sonic Receiver technology Verizon mentions is designed to make the device more audible under noisy circumstances.

Rugged, water-resistant smartphones seem to be a new trend nowadays, as increasingly more companies are launching such devices. Powerful handsets usually don't come cheap, and it's only natural that consumers want to invest in a durable device rather than spending a small fortune on some handset that would break under the first raindrop. Device manufacturers are responding to this need by offering rugged handsets, but this is the first device to be promoted by Bear Grylls. It may not guarantee its success, but adventurers will likely appreciate the survivalist's endorsement.