Nike C.O.R.E. Audio Backpack

Nike’s C.O.R.E. Audio Backpack is a lightweight backpack that includes a special iPod pouch with a dock-connector cable, and a set of soft buttons on the right strap for controlling your iPod while it’s safely stowed in the Backpack. Unfortunately, the backpack itself feels flimsy, the soft controls are far too easy to press accidentally (murder if you’re listening to an audiobook or podcast!), and, what’s worse, there’s no hold switch to temporariliy lock out those buttons. To top it all off, when using my iPod with the Backpack, I could hear severe buzzing through my headphones whenever the iPod’s hard drive spun up. You’d be better off buying a good backpack (ideally one with cable management features designed to accommodate a portable media player) and clipping Apple’s iPod Radio Remote to your backpack’s strap. –Jason Snell