Gear We Love: CitySlicker keeps your Mini Jambox safe and sounding good

There’s a lot of gear out there for your Apple devices, but how do you know which are worth your time and what’s not worth your money? In our Gear We Love column, Macworld’s editors tell you about the products we’re personally using—and loving.

Most of the stuff we cover in “Gear We Love” are accessories, but occasionally we’re excited about an accessory for an accessory. That’s the case—no pun intended—with this week’s item, WaterField Designs’ $49 CitySlicker for the Jawbone Mini Jambox. As its name implies, the CitySlicker for Mini Jambox is a version of WaterField’s excellent CitySlicker MacBook Case that’s been sized down to fit Jawbone’s nifty Mini Jambox Bluetooth speaker.

The Mini Jambox has become one of my favorite Bluetooth speakers for travel, thanks to its slim profile, surprisingly good sound for the size, and great battery life. But though the Mini Jambox feels solid, it’s not as rugged as portable speakers specifically designed to take abuse, so I’ve often wished for a case to keep it safe as it’s bouncing around inside my suitcase or backpack. The CitySlicker for Mini Jambox fits the bill.

Like the MacBook version, the CitySlicker for Mini Jambox combines a lightly padded, ballistic-nylon pouch with a thick, naturally tanned leather flap that snaps closed. The flap, available in black or brown, protects the top of the speaker and holds the speaker in the case, but it also gives the otherwise-plain CitySlicker a bit of Indiana Jones flair. Soft fabric on the inside of the case keeps scratches at bay.

Loops on each end of the case let you attach it to your bag (carabiner not included), and a zippered, stretchy-mesh pocket on the back has room for a couple thin cables, your earbuds, and even a small stand for your iPhone. A larger nylon loop on the bottom of the case makes it easy to hold the case while you pull the speaker out—a welcome feature, because the CitySlicker fits the Mini Jambox like the proverbial glove.

The case adds a bit of bulk to the Mini Jambox (with the speaker inside, the case is about 6.5 by 3 by 1.5 inches in size), and it obviously adds some weight (about three ounces). The CitySlicker is also what you might call a luxury item, considering that it’s a $49 case for a $150 speaker. But the case fits perfectly, looks great, holds some extras, and provides a good amount of protection. It’s just what I wanted.