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Products: OtterBox for iPod with video, for iPod nano

Company: OtterBox

Website: http://www.otterbox.com
Rating: 9.0/10.0
Pros: Protects your iPod from sand, dirt, drops, and waterproof to 1m. Sports a functioning scroll-wheel, even while underwater or covered in mud.
Cons: Rather bulky for an everyday case, but it wasn’t designed for that.
Overall: This box does the job if you require the aforementioned requirements

Would you believe me if I told you that you can take your iPod swimming with you?  Come on, do a few laps, it won’t break, I promise… With the OtterBox, the iPod turns into a rugged little guy.  The clear plastic case protects your iPod when hiking, swimming, everyday life, and in the rain (waterproof headphones not included). 

I have to say, when I first took a look at the OtterBox for iPod with video, I thought that it was kind of bulky (so if you’re bringing it swimming, I’d stick to a nano).  Then I thought about how much more you can do with your iPod when it’s wrapped in hard plastic, and loved it.  If you’re not really the rugged, outdoorsy type, the OtterBox may still work for you.  I don’t really classify myself as a mountain-man or anything and still have gotten great use out of the product (rainy days in particular).  Read on for the rest of my review.

You may be thinking to yourself… “I would never submerge my $300 piece of gadgetry in water.” Let me tell you, once you do it, it’s kind of hard to stop.  When I was testing it out in the Gadgetell Labs, I couldn’t stop dunking it. I was thinking about taking a bath with my iPod but figured it wouldn’t really be necessary.  The OtterBox (for both iPod with video and nano) has a good tight seal to keep out water, beer, or whatever may come it’s way.  They claim that it’s only fully waterproof up to 1 meter below so I wouldn’t suggest scuba diving or anything of the sort.  The plastic cases also protect it from scratching (which we all know iPods are known to do).

I’d have to say that my favorite part of the OtterBox is the covering over the click-wheel.  It turns the smooth surface of the actual iPod click-wheel and makes it kind of grainy (like a laptop touchpad).  It also has a rim around the click-wheel that makes it easier to locate the buttons and kind of guides your thumb around the wheel. It is nice to be able to still use the click-wheel under water or when covered in mud, without having to pop open the case. One minor issue with the OtterBox for iPod with video is that it’s made for both the 30 and 60 gig models, making it the thickness of the 60 gig.  There’s a piece of foam that holds the 30 gig iPod in place so it doesn’t rattle around, but it is still sort of bulky.

Conclusion

The overall concept of the OtterBox is amazing.  You can take your iPod with you as you’re fly fishing or when you’re swimming laps or when you’re dunking it in the bathroom sink.  The possibilities are endless.  If this is a requirement for your everyday life the OtterBox is for you, otherwise we recommend a smaller case. The OtterBox for iPod with video and nano will run you $49.95 and $39.95 respectively.

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