Today we’ll be taking a look at Belkin‘s Leather Sleeve for the 1st-generation iPod touch. I purchased this case from Future Shop, the Canadian equivalent of Best Buy (even though we have a few of those here too), and I was quite impressed with the design and quality.

As a Belkin standard, this leather sleeve is inside clear packaging which clearly displays the case and it’s features, something we’ll focusing on in this review. Continue reading for the full in-depth review of Belkin’s Leather Sleeve for the 1st-generation iPod touch.

Amongst the first cases that Belkin offered after the release of the 1st-generation iPod touch was their Leather Sleeve case. Available in both pink or black, this case is made of durable, high quality leather with precise honeycomb color stitching. The case covers the full back of the iPod protecting the shiny aluminum backing from scratches and dents. On the other hand: the majority of the front of the iPod, including the screen, are left exposed. This isn’t necessarily a bad feature because the sleeve doesn’t get in the way of your everyday use of the touch screen, which is actaully a pro.

On the bottom of the case, the dock connector and headphone jack are fully accessible. Two leather strips in this bottom area are a flaw because it can make using a dock – such as an iHome – a minor nuisance. On the top side is a Velcro tab that holds the iPod touch in place. Opposite the top and bottom, the two sides of the case form completely around the edges of the iPod. A tiny tag in the matching color, black or pink, is attached to the side of the sleeve and displays a small Belkin logo across it.

On the inside of this leather sleeve is a nice, soft material that resembles the look and feel of felt. It could very well be felt, but it seems more like a suede material to me. Stitched to this felt-like material is a Belkin patch, showing their company name in nice cursive writing along with the city where Belkin’s U.S. headquarters are located – Los Angeles, CA. Beneath that, to my surprise, was the establishment date of Belkin. And is it just me, or does it say 1982? So our good case-making friends were around long before the iPod was ever introduced (it really has only been 7 years, feels longer). Moving on, whatever it may be, it’s very nice looking and soft enough that you don’t need to worry about it rubbing up against the back of your iPod.

An increasingly popular trend with case companies is the addition of add-ons when you purchase a case. Unfortunately, a downside to this case (and a downside to Belkin as a company) is that there is nothing included alongside this leather case. There’s no screen protector, no belt clip, no microfiber cloth, nothing. Many other case companies such as Case-Mate include many things alongside your case, and it’s very professional.

I’ve used this case for over a week now, and in many different environments. At school, right here at home, in the gym and on-the-go. And for three out of the four, I highly recommend this case. At school, it’s great. It looks nice (but that doesn’t mean going up to the ladies and saying ‘Hey ladies, check this out,’) and it’s easy to use. At home, it’s a good case aside from the dock connector issue I explained above. On-the-go, the good keeps coming. The headphone jack is easily accessible when you’re on the go, and it fits well in your pocket too. Lastly, in the gym. This is where this case doesn’t make the cut. And it’s not because of the case at all. It’s just the fact that using your iPod touch while working out in a gym is just too dangerous (at least to me) because it’s a delicate device. Even with a case, the words gym and touch aren’t friends in my eyes. I would go with an iPod shuffle in this case. Cheaper, smaller and less delicate!

Overall, this leather sleeve is a very nice case. I can understand why my request for a case donation from Belkin was denied. Simply because Belkin is such a highly known and respected company that they already have a well established customer base. I give this case a 10/10 for design (I love the honeycomb stitching), and a 9/10 for protection.

Summary:

• Premium leather
• Available in black or pink
• Not for sale anymore through Belkin; must go through resellers/retail stores
• Compatible with 1st-gen iPod touch only
• No accessories/add-ons

This guide was written by Kiks52 and may not be used without prior permission. kiks52@gmail.com.