Expert's Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
At first look, it was tough to put my finger on what I liked about the Rhino Skin Leather Flipcase for the iPod nano. But after I’d spent some time with the case, I came to a conclusion: it just feels nice. Of course, there are any number of leather flip cases for the nano, but the Rhino Skin case feels well-made, like a leather case should.
Like your average leather flipcase, Rhino Skin’s model has a flipcover that folds over the front of the iPod; it secures to the bottom of the case with a magnetic snap. Instead of sliding your nano into a sleeve like with many flip cases, the iPod is held by a pair of leather-covered metal “arms.” The arms are more than strong enough to hold the iPod steady — I pulled on them for a while and couldn’t get them to bend. The rear of the case is covered with a soft, slightly grippy material that prevents the iPod from sliding around. On the back of the case, there’s a screw hole to attach the included removable belt clip, as well as a loop for threading the included wrist strap.
The removable belt clip is well constructed. It’s a bit smaller than the clips of some other cases, which cuts down on bulk. Pushing the spring-loaded button on the clip lets you slide the clip on or off easily. The screw on the back of the case for the clip doesn’t stick out so far as to be annoying and using a flathead screwdriver, you can remove the screw with ease if you want a completely flat backside.
From a protective standpoint, some might find the sides of the nano a little exposed for their liking, but the front and the back of the case are both wider than the nano, so I’m not that concerned. Other than that, the Rhino Skin is a luxurious case that both feels and looks like it ought to cost more than it does. –Dan Moren