Review of Vaja I-volution Case for 60GB/80GB IPods

Proponents of Apple's iPod claim that the MP3 player is style over substance, and that their competitors' players offer the same functionality for a lower price. While this may be true in some cases, style goes a long way.

The same could be said for Vaja's leather iPod cases. The i-volution case starts at $70, a price nearly double that of the many other cases available. So what makes Vaja cases so special? For one, it just plain looks nice. The cases are handcrafted with a myriad of custom options, including different types of leather and of course, different colors.

The case includes a plastic cover to protect the screen from scratches, and the body of the case is sturdy and thick to protect the iPod from drops. As many iPod owners have realized, the MP3 player's finish is extremely fragile and may scratch if you so much as look at it the wrong way, so this kind of protection is important

The case fits the iPod very snugly. It takes little effort to slide it in, but the device generally stays secure. Over time, however, the case loosens up a bit, making it easier for the iPod to slide out on its own. Luckily this is not much of an issue, and I personally have never had my iPod fall out unless I tried.

The i-volution is built like a tank. Mine has been dropped on various surfaces from various hights, scratched, and put through a whole range of extreme temperatures. It still looks like it did the day I bought it, except for some slight wear around the edges.

The front of the case is soft, cushioned leather, adding to the protectiveness.

Unfortunately, the price of a sturdy case is an increase in thickness, and the Vaja is quite thick. It increases the overall thickness of the iPod by about 50%.

The open-top design of the case also means that bits of dust can creep their way into the case, eventually scratching the device. It is recommended that you clean the case out every once in a while if you plan on keeping your iPod completely scratch-free.

That said, is the Vaja case really worth $70-plus? Realistically, probably not. However, it is probably one of, if not the, best case money can buy for your iPod, and if you need a highly-protective, highly-stylish case, the Vaja will not do you wrong. Also, that leather smell you get when you pull your iPod out makes it all worth it.