There are as many cases as there are iPods it seems right now. I’ve tried three of them. The Waterfield one that is a nice cloth one with a hook for a 4G iPod. It is nice, but bulky. A silicon green thingy for my nano. It works, but I like the look of the nano and it seems strange to hide it. A stickon shield thing that looks like a plastic wrap that is too difficult to even think about putting on. So the search continues with a couple of options. By the way, the absolute best place to find user reviews of this stuff is stuffed into the Apple accessories store. It isn’t indexed by google, but the “user reviews”:http://store.apple.com/1-800-780-5009/WebObjects/EducationIndividual.woa/7200908/wo/cL7YxRzAN6Rx2NxHdkU12tEMO6U/8.SLID?mco=C2D6780F&nclm=iPodCases and whats most popular is interesting. Also since, like Amazon, this is an ecommerce site, you don’t have the normal spammer problems so here in order that is roughly ordered by most popular on the Apple Store, best user reviews there and iLounge ratings are the choices. There aren’t any perfect ones, but here goes for the best clear case with a belt hook for carrying around.
I ended for trial purposes getting an iSee for the 5G iPod (since the Agent 18 doesn’t have a belt clip) and the Crystal Jacketfor the iPod nano, and and will report on how it is going but iLounge has a good overview of “nano cases”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/review_grades/C207/ and “5G cases”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/review_grades/C209/
* Agent 18, stylized audio accessories. Got good user “reviews”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/power-support-crystal-jacket-mini-set-ipod/ from iLounge. This is a simple polycarbonate case for iPod video, iPod nano, etc. but it doesn’t have a belt loop co holder so not the perfect solution. $20 list. Most folks like it for it design, but don’t slide the iPod in, it will scratch! I won’t use without a belt clip though. Not reviewed by iLounge though. Some folks think the Isee has a better looking case and other disagree. They seem to be the most popular cases by far at Apple, so that’s interesting.
“Apple”:http://store.apple.com/1-800-780-5009/WebObjects/EducationIndividual.woa/7200908/wo/cL7YxRzAN6Rx2NxHdkU12tEMO6U/13.SLID?mco=6C6259D4&nplm=TG282LL%2FA#rev. It is better selling than the ISee but less than Agent 18, but has fewer reviews so far compared with the iSee
* “Contour Design Isee Nano”:http://ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/contour-design-isee-nano-ipod and for “5G iPod”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/contour-design-isee-video-for-5g-ipods-ipod/. This only got a B, but several folks at both Apple’s store “reviews”:http://store.apple.com/1-800-780-5009/WebObjects/EducationIndividual.woa/7200908/wo/cL7YxRzAN6Rx2NxHdkU12tEMO6U/24.SLID?mco=D4F6DE40&nplm=TF667LL%2FA#rev and ilounge like it better than the review. Think it is more sturdy. Go figure. Also $20. There is debate about whether the Contour Design fits as well. It does seem to scratrch easily itself (how ironic) and has a belt clip. The 5G and nano are quite similar.
* “Power Support Crystal Jacket for iPod Nano”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/power-support-crystal-jacket-for-ipod-nano-ipod/. This got an A- and is now available for $20 direct. One fellow thought it was weaker than the Isee. It does include something to protect the clickwheel. It isn’t carried by Apple, so no idea how real users like it. There is much debate about why it got an A- since others like the largely equivalent. There were some questions about whether it is durable enough compared to the iSee.
* “XtremeMac Microshield”:http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/xtrememac-iceframe-and-microshield-clear-cases-for-ipod-nano-ipod/. Although it is B rated by ilounge mainly because it isn’t completely protected. It is more durable plastic and a better belt clip, but leave the top unprotected and there isn’t something to protect the clickwheel. Because it is closely pressed, it leave “wet marks” on the iPod so that is a little ugly.And also quite a few remarks about how often the scratch on
