Uniea U-Suit for iPod nano

Uniea bills its U-Suit for iPod nano as a "leather hard case" since it features a leather exterior with a reinforced ABS plastic interior. In form, it's basically a sleeve; you slip the nano in at the top, which is open, and the case covers the back, the edge around the screen, and the face on either side of the Click Wheel. The controls and screen are left exposed, though recessed, but Uniea also includes a thin adhesive film to protect the screen.

All of the iPod's controls remain easily accessible when it's in the sleeve; the open bottom lets you get at the hold switch, dock-connector port, and headphone jack. I found the edges on either side of the Click Wheel a little annoying when scrolling (my thumb kept hitting them), but it didn't seem to adversely affect the nano's operation. The leather exterior is pleasant to the touch and the case is robust enough to keep the nano pretty well-protected; the interior features a soft lining that won't scratch the iPod.

The one major downside to the U-Suit is that the case is rather on the bulky side. The third-generation nano is the thinnest that Apple has ever made and although the reinforced leather doesn't make it particularly hevavy, it does substantially increase the iPod's profile. If it's svelte lines you're after, the U-Suit probably won't meet your needs, but if you're in the market for a decent leather sleeve, it ought to be fine.

--Dan Moren