Review: DODOcase Durables Is The Perfect Compliment For A Caseless iPad Air
by Brent Dirks
January 20, 2014
Company: DODOcase
Product: Durables Sleeve
Price: $69.95
Compatibility: iPad Air
Website: www.dodocase.com
Date: Jan. 20, 2014
The Product
Even though DODOcase is mostly known for its line of beautiful and functional folio cases that are designed to look like real books, the company continues to branch out. The Durables line is designed for iPad Air users who don’t want to use a case but need to protect their tablet while in a computer bag or while out and about. That’s a fancy way of saying it’s a sleeve. But definitely not a run-of-the-mill version. Just like its other products, the sleeve is handmade at the company’s San Francisco shop using traditional sewing techniques. And DODOcase builds each sleeve with three different layers of protection. The outside is made with waxed canvas while the interior is made with soft cotton twill. Recycled felt makes up the middle layer. My favorite part of the outside layer of the sleeve is the real leather accents. Along with a very handy tab and snap system that helps secure the iPad Air inside the case, there is a nice handgrip that makes the sleeve even more comfortable to hold. For the past few weeks, I’ve used the Durables to transport and protect my iPad Air, and I’ve been really pleased. I would never put a caseless tablet in my main computer bag for fear of dings and scratches, but the sleeve changes that. With its nice amount of padding, I’ve carried around the iPad with no worries. And while the waxed canvas exterior is made to ward off a few drops of water from time to time, it also “wears” just like leather, which is something I also like about the sleeve. It is also very easy to insert and remove an iPad Air from the sleeve. While it offers a snug fit, you can easily remove your tablet with one hand. Just to note, the Durables really is designed for just the iPad Air and nothing else. I was unable to fit it in the sleeve with just a slim fitting shell or even Apple’s own Smart Cover. So that might be a turnoff for some potential buyers. The only other downside I can find is the cost of the sleeve. For $5 less, you can purchase a folio case from the company that offers full-body iPad Air protection.What’s Hot
- Beautifully designed and handcrafted.
- The perfect compliment for iPad Air owners who don’t want to use a case.
- Offers another layer of protection to protect from dings and bumps inside a bag.
- Extremely easy to insert and remove the iPad Air.
What’s Not
- Expensive. You can purchase a full-folio case from the company for less.
- Doesn’t fit an iPad Air with Apple’s Smart Cover.
