I’ve always been a fan of a ‘naked’ phone (PDAs are another story) feel, but I’m pretty wary about keeping my device in my pocket because of how easily it can just slip out as I move about. I’m also quite worried about the wire of my Shure earphone adapter getting messed up as I sit down or move around with my iPhone in my pocket (my friend had to RMA his Shure adapter because of that).
So ladies and gentlemen of the mobile world, welcome to today’s review. Please hit the jump to read words I wrote and look at pictures I took of the vertical pouch case from PDAir.
Juuuuump!
Unboxing
The unboxing in this case (pun always intended, baby) was simple enough. Rip open the box and peel back the cover paper and reveal the gorgeous leather case. There’s nothing else in the box, but there doesn’t need to be!
Putting it on
Unlike the last i-related case I reviewed on JAMM (*cough* shameless plug) this one doesn’t stay on all the time. In fact, I’d call this more of a holster than a case. But that’s OK — I love holsters. You get little bit of western bad-ass cowboy feel and the knowledge that you’re still the same old tech nerd. At least that’s how I see holsters…
So just like a holster, you simply place the case on your belt by using the ultra tough belt clip and let it do its thing. Unlike the plastic or grafted belt clips of other cases, this one is just part of the holster itself. I can’t stress enough how much I distrust all other kinds of belt clips. Sure it can still come off the belt, but it’s got no fancy pants moving parts. It’s just good old fashioned belt clip power (like in the 60’s).
After attaching the case to your belt all you need to do is strike a pose and dramatically slide the iPhone down into the case. No flip tops, no Velcro, no magnets. That means easier access, but definitely less security. You can put the iPhone in any way you want — even upside down if you’re that kind of person (an acrobat, maybe?).
I use a skin from BestSkinsEver on my iPhone, so the case does hold onto it a bit better than a completely naked iPhone. Once inside, you can dangle the phone at most any angle (except for tilting it upside down) without fear of it falling out. However, being the dedicated reviewer that I am, I also tried my case out with my friend’s iPhone (no skin — just a screen protector) and came up with the same results.
The case certainly isn’t going to offer the same protection for anything more than a brisk walk though. If you ever have to run around in a hurry with the case on, make sure to place your hand on top of the iPhone so it doesn’t come flying out. It will! But you shouldn’t run around with your iPhone on your belt anyway! Precious cargo.
Accessibility
The ringer switch, volume buttons, 3.5mm adapter, and power button are all easily accessible while the phone is in the holster (assuming it’s right side up).
You can take the iPhone back out by grabbing it by the sides and pulling out. My friend was rather shocked by this method because he thought most people and would end up dropping out while trying to get it out of the case. This case certainly requires just a bit more “finesse” than others that don’t grip your device (where your device just sits in a protective shell), but it’s nothing I haven’t gotten used to. It’s just habit to put my entire hand over the phone once it’s part-way out. The grip of the case comes from the elastic material on the sides, and one can only hope that they’ll keep that elasticity as time wears on — otherwise the iPhone might pop out a bit too easily.
Design and Protection
PDAir has designed a very sleek and simple case. Its smooth black (also available in brown, red, white, and pink) leather is only interrupted by the white stitching across the sides, which add a great accent to the whole package (I feel like an interior designer writing like that!). The front and back panels feel very soft but contain a solid panel underneath the leather to keep the iPhone safe from impact. One great thing about the case so far is that I can always feel the vibration of the iPhone when a text, or call comes in. The case is pretty much flush to my hip, so it’s always easy to tell if my phone is trying to tell me something :).
The only really exposed areas of the case are the entire top, half of each side, and the two bottom corners of the phone. It’s no Otterbox, but if you keep this thing on your belt (like I think most people will) your phone should stay in its place and out of harm’s way.
Conclusion
It’s the first time I’ve ever owned a case without any kind of cover or latch to keep the device secure, and I am loving this design! It’s a great feeling just being able to slip the iPhone back onto my belt, as if I was putting it back into my pant pocket. At the same time, it has a great advantage over my pocket, in that it doesn’t slip out when I put my feet up, and it doesn’t get in my way as I walk or kneel to tie my shoelace (yes, there are a lot of factors in case-wear!). All I need to do is slip the phone in and forget about it.
Time to sum up some key characteristics in quick bullet points:
- No belt clip worries. Solid, tight, and no moving parts.
- No lid or latch, can be a pro or a con depending on your style.
- “Grips” phone well, although could slip out during rigorous activity.
- All buttons except “home” accessible while the iPhone is in the case.
So if those bullet points are looking good to you (they do to me — I wrote them!), then head on over to PDAir and get yours now!
Crucial Info
Price: $28
Colours: Black, Brown, Red, White, Pink
Availability: PDAir Website (scroll down to the “Vertical Pouch Type” cases)
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