Titan Clear for nano

If versatility is your bag, baby, then GizMac’s Titan Clear for the second-generation (2G) iPod nano might be just what you’re looking for. Combining a clear, polycarbonate case with a variety of accessories, the Titan Clear can keep your nano safe and secure while giving you the freedom to choose how you want to carry it.

The Titan Clear’s spiritual predecessor, the Titan Gear, left us on the cold side. Although it boasted the same versatility as the Titan Clear when it came to accessories, the Titan Gear skimped on any sort of protective case. The Clear remedies that with the inclusion of a clear, two-piece polycarbonate shell. Even on its own, the shell is a nice case. The nano snaps snugly into it and the case’s two pieces fit together solidly and securely. The Clear leaves an opening for your iPod’s Click Wheel (a thin adhesive Click Wheel protector is also included), as well as a hole for the hold switch. The case’s bottom is also completely open, providing full access to your iPod’s dock-connector port and headphone jack.

Plenty of companies sell clear shells, so GizMac sets their offering apart by bundling in a slew of useful add-ons. Two small holes on each side of the Titan Clear’s case serve as mounting points for one of three included accessories: a rotating belt clip, an armband, and a carabiner clip (the latter can also be attached to a lanyard). The case clips very securely into all three accessories, and although none of these add-ons may win any design awards, they feel solid and won’t distract from your nano’s aesthetics.

One of the major sticking points with the older Titan Gear’s mounting system was how difficult it was to switch accessories. GizMac has improved this system noticeably with the Clear; I had much less trouble detaching the case from its accessories. At times the process still takes a little bit of effort, but I’d rather the mounts be a little difficult to remove than be flimsily attached. (The hardshell case itself can be a bit of a challenge to remove, as well, especially for those without long fingernails.)

Of the accessories themselves, the only one I have complaints about is the armband. In my testing, it was a little tricky to thread the armband through its plastic mount and I found the elastic material of the armband uncomfortable to wear at times, especially on bare skin where one of the plastic buckles can pinch your arm. The case’s Click Wheel protection could also be a little more robust, but that’s a minor gripe.

Overall, the Titan Clear is a very good value. A number of polycarbonate hardshells are available in this price range, but thanks to the Clear’s included accessories, you also get a bevy of ways to use and show off your 2G iPod nano. –Dan Moren