Super iPod Case Review Part. 4
Welcome to version four of our iPod Super Case Review. Ironic that version four covers the fourth generation iPod. We are also covering the iPod Photo in this review. The fourth generation iPod is practically identical to its little brother with the addition of a color screen and photo capabilities. We used each case with a 20Gb/ 40Gb fourth gen iPod and a 40Gb iPod Photo.
Our largest review yet, with ten cases, we have spent two months finding every case for the latest iPods. Some users are holding off on purchasing proper protection since there are so many choices, but the top 11-iPod cases are shown here and we weigh features, price and functionality and award an editors choice for the best overall case. Each case has been used in the toughest conditions and we have even broken the Vaja case when we put the iPod Photo in it, we couldnt get it out peacefully. We must remind you not to try to force anything to go your way in life, especially if it involves your iPod. These cases are good but there is a limit to everything.
Since your time and money clip are valuable, lets begin!! Click Full Story for the review and a special gallery.
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The iVod from Vajacases.com
The iVod from Vajacases.com is specifically a 4th generation iPod case, and one of the best i have seen to date. I have reviewed many iPod cases in my short life; some more expensive than this, but the cases at Vajacases.com are my favorite, by far. The folks at Vaja really pulled trough on their iPod cases. The iPod inserts through the top, and there is a slot at the bottom for your charger. Also, is a plastic screen protector. The iVod is made of synthetic leather, which looks and feels great. The case protects your iPod from any basic damage and can take a pretty decent fall. The only down side to the iVod is that there is no belt clip, however, most of their other models come with a belt clip. But what really makes this and every other Vaja case stand out is their awesome designs. The cases range in over 30 different colors and the Vaja logo is a great finishing touch. To put it simply, this case is totally awesome. Vaja offers cases for all generations and sizes of iPods , including the mini, and on top of it all they allow you to customize your cases, from half and half cases to spider web prints, Vaja does it all. To get the iVod or any other great Vaja product, visit http://www.vajacases.com . But seriously you guys, this is one site you have to check out. I spent over 30 minutes when I first visited, its really something else. The iVod will cost you $70.00 and is a small price to pay for the style this case offers, if you have the cash. Note this case is not compatible with the iPod Photo, you will be able to get the iPod in but you will never get it out, we tried and had to tear the iVod to pieces to get our iPod out. I was pretty disappointed about this because the iVod was my favorite case of the bunch.
PodSleevz from Radtech.us
The PodSleevz and miniSleev from RadTech are lightweights among the world of iPod cases. They are basically made of soft cloth that snugly hugs your iPod or iPod mini, there is a plastic screen protector and you can access the scroll wheel right trough the case. There is a slot for the charger dock and the iPod slips in through the top of the case so the headphone jack is available. Although when i first saw this case i dint think much of it i soon found out that it was quite a contender, the material is very durable for its incredible light weight of 2 grams. The PodSleevz goes for $19.95 and the miniSleevz for $17.95. They both come in six designer colors and can be ordered at http://radtech.us Check it out and this case will prove to be worthier of your iPod than youd ever think.
eVo2 from iSkin.com
The great people at iSkin.com have always provided us with amazing silicone products for our laptops, keyboards, and even iPods. And they have done it again with the eVo2, specifically designed for the 4th generation iPod; the eVo2 has all the great features of the previous eVos and eXos and more; much more. The eVo is 100% silicone, like all other iSkin products, it allows for easy access to all of your iPods features, scroll wheel, hold button, headphone jacks and charger. It has conveniently placed holes in the back to let your iPod breathe easy. The eVo comes in 8 different colors to match your style and has a completely removable revoclip, which rotates 180 degrees and allows for maximum mobility and freedom. The eVo2 comes with a unique screen protector to prevent scratches and other possible damage. Best of all, some eVo models glow in the dark, its one of the coolest most stylish cases out there. To get the eVo2 for just $29.99, visit http://www.iskin.com and take advantage of their new tattooing service and get your name or anything else you want printed on the back of your eVo2 if you are a big company and ordering a minimum of 50 products.
4G Skin from SpeckProducts.com
The specks 4G iPod skin is another one of our favorites here at MPG, to put it simply, its avery high quality case for a very low price. It is a part of Specks Skin Tight line of rubberized product line. What's unique about Specks skin is that you insert the iPod trough the bottom and is made of an entirely different material then the iSkin. The Specks skin is made of a superior shock absorbing, tear resistant KRATON plastic, which is easy to put on and will last a long time. This skin offers access to the scroll wheel and the headphones jack. On the negative note, the case come with no belt clip and leaves the screen wide open for scratches and other possible damage. This iPod skin line comes in three colors pink, blue, and clear $19.95 each, or you can get all three for $29.95, just in case you like to match your iPod case with your clothes. But that's really a sweet deal; you are only paying 10 dollars for a high rate iPod case. But personally, i cant lie, i love this case, i don't know what it is about it, but it just catches my eye. Go check the 4G iPod skin or any other great Speck products at http://Speckproducts.com
iSee from ContourDesign.com
The makers of this case say that it is the clear choice . The iSee is the new and improved Showcase G4, as its name states the iSee is completely transparent. What's unique about the iSee is that the iPod slips in trough the bottom and there is a security slip that you remove to insert your iPod and the reattach to secure it within the iSee. The iSee allows you to use the scroll wheel as well as the headphone jack and charger dock with out ever removing the iSee. The iSee comes without he same 100% removable horizontal belt clip as the showcase G4. I have to compliment them on the design of the belt clip one more time, its pure beauty. The iSee comes in two sizes iSee 20 and iSee 40, obviously for the 20 GB and 40 GB iPods; it is available now at Countourdesign.com for only $19.99. To order the iSee or any other great contour product, they have many more iPod cases by the way, please visit http://www.contourdesign.com
Xtremity from Xtrememac.com
The Xtremity from Xtrememac.com is one Xtreme iPod case, as its name suggests, this is one of my personal favorites. This case has a sleek and versatile design that makes it stand out, when I first saw it I had no idea it was an iPod case. This case is definitely designed for extreme individuals, or those who try. The Xtremity is made of white, high impact resistant plastic to match the iPods style while protecting it at the same time. There are gray rubber strips on both inside and outside of the case to keep the iPod in place securely and to prevent the case from sliding, it offers full access to all docks and headphone jacks. But what really makes the Xtremety, extreme is the removable play trough cover, which attaches to the back of the case and flips over the front of the iPod and securely connects to the bottom of the case. It of course allows full access to the scroll wheel. The Xtremety come with a removable rotating belt clip, dash mount for cars, and a spacer pad to ensure security for thinner models of the iPod. The Xtremity can be ordered at http://www.xtrememac.com for only $29.95 and is compatible with the iPod Photo, U2 iPod, Click Wheel iPod, and 3G iPod, so there is no worry that it will not fit your model of iPod.
Deluxe Leather case from Xtrememac.com
The Black Leather iPod Case from Xtrememac.com is for those of us going for the more professional look, or those who enjoy the appeal of a higher-class case. This case offers perfectly form-fitted protection. The soft padded interior protects your iPod from scratches while the genuine leather protects your iPod from any basic damage from falls or accidental bumps. This is like a pimped out version of the Xtremity it has a similar design with the flip front, and the same removable belt clip, its just leather and much better looking and feeling, and it smells great. I dont know what it is, but leather always appeals to people more than plastic. The flip front however attaches to the bottom of the case via Velcro in this case and the iPod is held in place by metal rods that are inside the leather and hug the iPod very well. This case also allows you access to all of your iPods controls with out removing the case and is compatible with the iPod Photo, U2 iPod, Click Wheel iPod, and 3G iPod, and as stated before, XtremeMac makes iPod cases for every model of iPod, and good cases at that. Order now at http://xtrememac.com, this case goes for $29.95 and is well worth it.
SportSleeve from marware.com
The Sportsleeve from Marware.com is a very durable case that unfortunately sacrifices convenience for durability and protection, which is more important to many iPod users. It allows for access to the headphone jack but not to the scroll wheel and charger dock. It comes with a no removable and nonrotatable belt clip and straps to allow it to attach to a backpack or shoulder strap. This case comes with an incredible amount of padding thus providing your iPod with unequaled protection. The iPod inserts through the top and the flap securely attaches with Velcro with a slot for your headphones. The Sportsleeve also has a slot for any regulation size card, drivers license, credit card, etc. The Sportsleeve is really a much better case then we can describe in words, thought it lacks the flare of some of its fellow competitors, its a contender in the editors choice. The Sportsleeve comes in six different colors, is $19.95 and can be ordered at http://marware.com
SportSuit Convertible from Marware.com
Marware is known for good products, and out of all the iPod cases, the SportSuit convertible ranks fairly high. I was skeptical at first. The case is very bulky and was loose on my iPod. It was not until one day when I was running and it started raining that I saw the importance of the bulk. The case, with the front cover, keeps all the water out, and its thickness was great when the iPod slipped out of my hands and plummeted to the ground into a puddle of water. I picked it up and kept jamming.
The SportSuit is made of neoprene and has special grips on the side of the case. It also has an opening on the bottom to allow for iPod syncing. Instead of an open hole, it has a sealable rubber piece. The belt clip is like none I have ever seen. I cant explain it to you, but once you get the clip in place, it is not coming off unless you stick a pen tip into a special release hole. This patented clipping system allows you to purchase other iPod accessories form Marware and use them to hold your iPod in other ways. The clip is very tight and works great on anything. You can take the front face off if you like to use the iPod controls while you are about. You can put the face back on with the use of Velcro(thus the name, convertible). Keep in mind Velcro wears out over time so this might not be the best solution for those of us that change songs a lot. The case comes in a variety of colors, and for active users, this case is the best choice. You can get this case at http://marware.com
-Adam Jackson
Leather iPod case from Proporta, Inc.
Proporta is known for their leather cases. They make cases for popular cell phones and PDAs. Recently, they released two cases for the iPod and one case for the iPod mini. Their leather iPod case is like others but has some unique features that make it stand out. The leather is not top of the line but is soft and high quality. The case is stitched with white thread so the contrast of the black leather and white string looks really good! It is simple and elegant case and has a small Proporta logo on the bottom. The way this case holds your iPod is the best part; they use two rubber pieces that you slide your iPod between. When secure, your iPod is not going anywhere but people can actually see it as opposed to other cases that cover the beautiful white shell. I was concerned the rubber would scratch my iPod but Proporta has sewn leather on the inside of the holders to make the experience pain free for your iPod and wallet. There is a slot for your headphones and pockets for credit cards. The final feature that makes this case great is its magnetic flap actually works. An issue I had with the Booq iPod case was the magnet was not very powerful. I close the flap over and the magnets find each other quickly and stay attached unless you pull them apart. It stayed close very well. Learn more about Proportas cases for every piece of tech at http://proporta.com
-Adam Jackson
ContourShowcase from ContourDesign.com
The G4 while not the flashiest case for your iPod, is one of my favorites. There is no other case that looks and feels like a natural extension of the iPod itself. The G4 is a solid plastic case, made of what is called impact-resistant plastic, created trough dual injection molding technology with a blend of shock absorbing rubber. In English, the G4 provides unmatched protection for your iPod. It allows for full access to all your iPods vitals, headphone jack, charger and scroll wheel maximum mobility. It has a removable belt clip, generously designed I must add, which attaches horizontally to your belt for the machead on the go. The G4 is only compatible with the 20 GB and 40 GB 4th generation iPod. But not to worry contour has great cases for all other iPod models as well. The G4 comes in black and white and goes for $32.95 if you buy directly from http://Contourdesign.com, check it out they have some other great products as well.
Our winner for the second time around is the Contour Showcase. We used all of the cases extensively and although the new contenders fared well, the Contour showcase with its scratch resistant ultra hard shell, amazing belt clip and usefulness at a great price, stayed in the top spot. Coming in second was the SportSuit Convertible, Contour iSee 20 the leather Proporta case, and tied for fourth is the Radtech Podsleeve and iSkin Evo2.
We would like to thank all of our sponsors of the Fourth Generation iPod Super Case Review and sincere to thanks for our chief reviewer, Matt Jackson (no relation), for his hard work and dedication to the review for the two grueling months. We hope to see you all in San Francisco and keep Podding!
-Adam Jackson Editor-in-Chief
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