DLO HipCase Review
CaseandCover.com reviews DLO cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
DLO made its name in iPod related products and was one of the first companies to offer iPhone cases. The DLO HipCase model currently comes in 3 varieties: a brown leather case, a black smooth leather case and a black nylon case. All HipCase models are designed to hold your phone on your belt or bag/purse strip horizontally and offer a wide and sturdy belt clip. The cases have strong Velcro tabs that close the top cover securely and have cut-outs for the headphone jack. You can listen to music while the iPhone is in the case, but for most other functions you will need to take the phone out of the case. As far as hip-side cases go, the DLO cases are stylish, not too bulky and are comfy to wear. One thing you will still need to deal with though is the slippery iPhone when you pull it out of the case to make a call or use applications. The three models in DLO’s HipCase series have a few slight differences:
The brown natural leather HipCase is the thinnest and adds the least bulk to the iPhone. The case looks minimalist yet attractive. The black leather HipCase has a smooth leather surface and a well-padded body. It adds slightly more bulk than the brown leather case but the padding gives your iPhone more protection. The inner leather on the black leather case is soft and the back has white seams. The black nylon HipCase is made of very durable nylon and is more resistant to water (though not water proof). The flip cover is well padded and the interior has a soft lining. The nylon case has a small cash/credit card pocket, a feature that the leather cases lack.
All three cases are very well built and the price is reasonable.
by mobiletechreview
The brown natural leather HipCase is the thinnest and adds the least bulk to the iPhone. The case looks minimalist yet attractive. The black leather HipCase has a smooth leather surface and a well-padded body. It adds slightly more bulk than the brown leather case but the padding gives your iPhone more protection. The inner leather on the black leather case is soft and the back has white seams. The black nylon HipCase is made of very durable nylon and is more resistant to water (though not water proof). The flip cover is well padded and the interior has a soft lining. The nylon case has a small cash/credit card pocket, a feature that the leather cases lack.
All three cases are very well built and the price is reasonable.
by mobiletechreview
DLO HipCase for iPhone and iPhone 3G Review
CaseandCover.com reviews DLO cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
Finally, the HipCase's horizontal orientation is more comfortable on your waist or hip than cases that position your iPhone vertically.
That's the good news. The bad news is that there are cutout areas at all four corners and another in the middle of the bottom edge. While they make it easier to get your iPhone out of the case, they also mean there are five areas where your iPhone is not protected and could get scratched or worse. I'd have been happier if there were no cutouts or at least no cutouts on the corners and just the one in the middle. Interestingly, it looks like this is only the case for the black leather and nylon versions. The brown leather case, which I've never seen or tested, appears to be designed with no corner cutouts and just a single hole in the middle as shown below, so it may be a better choice than the black ones if you prefer a little more protection.
The other, more minor issue is that if you put your iPhone in the case with the headset jack nearer to the bottom, it can't be accessed. So you have to remember to put your iPhone in with the headset jack nearer to the top than the bottom if you want to use it without taking your phone out of the case. Not a huge issue but worth noting.
The Bottom Line
If you like a holster-style case, and don't mind having parts of your iPhone unprotected, the DLO HipCase is a beautiful and elegant solution. But if you prefer a case that offers serious protection or one that doesn't require you to insert and remove your phone repeatedly to use it, it's not right for you.
September 26th, 2008 by Bob LeVitus
The DLO HipCase for iPhone and iPhone 3G is a handsome holster-style carrying case that is available in black leather (shown below), brown leather, or black nylon.
There's a lot about this case that I liked, but there were also a couple of features you might find problematic. I tested a black leather case with light-colored stitching and a light tan interior, as shown above. One of the things I liked best about it was the look and feel of the leather and the design of the case. The leather -- both inside and out -- is soft and supple. It smells like expensive leather and felt quite nice in my hand. And there's even a small inside pocket, just big enough for your ID, a credit card, a couple of business cards, or a key (as long as it's thin and flat).
The case was quite tight at first, so getting the phone in and out was somewhat difficult and I occasionally struggled to insert or remove it. But after a couple of weeks it loosened up just enough, making it a lot easier to put my iPhone in or take it out.
There's a Velcro fastener on the flap, so opening and closing the case was easily done one-handed. The flap has a little bit of padding, so there's a little more protection from bumps on the front side of the case. And although I suspect the Velcro might lose some of its stickiness over time, mine was still in very good shape after a few weeks of fairly heavy use.
Unlike many cases with belt clips, this one's is an integral part of the case as shown below, so it doesn't seem likely to snap or break off. It also means the clip fits tightly, so I never felt the case was flopping around or likely to fall off.
Finally, the HipCase's horizontal orientation is more comfortable on your waist or hip than cases that position your iPhone vertically.
That's the good news. The bad news is that there are cutout areas at all four corners and another in the middle of the bottom edge. While they make it easier to get your iPhone out of the case, they also mean there are five areas where your iPhone is not protected and could get scratched or worse. I'd have been happier if there were no cutouts or at least no cutouts on the corners and just the one in the middle. Interestingly, it looks like this is only the case for the black leather and nylon versions. The brown leather case, which I've never seen or tested, appears to be designed with no corner cutouts and just a single hole in the middle as shown below, so it may be a better choice than the black ones if you prefer a little more protection.
The other, more minor issue is that if you put your iPhone in the case with the headset jack nearer to the bottom, it can't be accessed. So you have to remember to put your iPhone in with the headset jack nearer to the top than the bottom if you want to use it without taking your phone out of the case. Not a huge issue but worth noting.
The Bottom Line
If you like a holster-style case, and don't mind having parts of your iPhone unprotected, the DLO HipCase is a beautiful and elegant solution. But if you prefer a case that offers serious protection or one that doesn't require you to insert and remove your phone repeatedly to use it, it's not right for you.
September 26th, 2008 by Bob LeVitus
DLO StrapWrap Review
CaseandCover.com reviews DLO cases and covers for the iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry. Trusted reviews, from trusted sources throughout the internet.
by Dan Pourhadi, Macworld.com
Being a student of the collegiate order, as well as a guy who pretends to be a Chicago Loop business-type, I’m constantly carrying a bag to look like I’m on my way to something important (even if sometimes the bag is empty). My iPhone rests in my pocket, pumping tunes to my ears and effectively eliminating any idle communication with fellow public-transportation drones. But keeping it in my pocket is annoying and inconvenient—the iPhone is always bouncing around, clinking with my change from lunch, and extending my headphone wire the entire snag-attracting distance from my ear to my pants. Oh, and it makes my pocket bulge, too.
When I saw the box for the DLO StrapWrap , I let out a soft yelp: exactly what I needed, I thought. And after giving it a try, I was content with its functionality, and only mildly disappointed by its caveats.
The StrapWrap’s exterior is made from neoprene, making it reasonably resistant to the effects of wear-and-tear. It attaches to your shoulder bag or backpack using two adjustable Velcro flaps that wrap around any strap (up to 2.5 inches wide). A “stability clip” can clip to a buckle on your bag’s strap to keep the StrapWrap from sliding. Your gadget slides into one of two stretchy pouches on the front of the case, depending on the gadget’s size (gizmos up to 2.5 inches wide will fit) and how exposed you want it—one pouch offers more protection than the other. You can use the other pouch as a pocket for whatever you can manage to cram in there (for example, earbuds, ID, or credit cards).
The Good: The neoprene feels very durable, and the pouches constrict so tightly that there’s no way your gadget is slipping out accidentally. The Velcro flaps work well to secure the case to the strap—at least they did for my bags—with little slippage. And, of course, the convenience factor is a big plus.
The Bad: Because of its ‘one size fits all’ mentality, the StrapWrap is big, both in bulk and height. For messenger bags, that isn’t really an issue—there’s plenty of room across the chest. But for backpacks, the macho design—and particularly the height, considering that most backpack straps curve—can add a level of discomfort or general irritation that, for some, could be a deal-breaker.
In addition, while the “stability clip” can be useful, if your bag has no buckle or other appendage within reach, the clip becomes nothing more than a nuisance, and there’s no way to remove the long stability strap from the case. You end up either dealing with the swaying, bouncing fabric or shove the strap between the case flaps and your strap. And, of course, unlike bag-straps designed specifically for, say, an iPhone or iPod, there’s also no way to control the functions of your gadget without removing it from the StrapWrap first.
All-in-all, the StrapWrap is a decent bag-strap option, especially for people who may want to bring along different gadgets at different times, but it’s not without limitations.
by Dan Pourhadi, Macworld.com
Being a student of the collegiate order, as well as a guy who pretends to be a Chicago Loop business-type, I’m constantly carrying a bag to look like I’m on my way to something important (even if sometimes the bag is empty). My iPhone rests in my pocket, pumping tunes to my ears and effectively eliminating any idle communication with fellow public-transportation drones. But keeping it in my pocket is annoying and inconvenient—the iPhone is always bouncing around, clinking with my change from lunch, and extending my headphone wire the entire snag-attracting distance from my ear to my pants. Oh, and it makes my pocket bulge, too.
When I saw the box for the DLO StrapWrap , I let out a soft yelp: exactly what I needed, I thought. And after giving it a try, I was content with its functionality, and only mildly disappointed by its caveats.
The StrapWrap’s exterior is made from neoprene, making it reasonably resistant to the effects of wear-and-tear. It attaches to your shoulder bag or backpack using two adjustable Velcro flaps that wrap around any strap (up to 2.5 inches wide). A “stability clip” can clip to a buckle on your bag’s strap to keep the StrapWrap from sliding. Your gadget slides into one of two stretchy pouches on the front of the case, depending on the gadget’s size (gizmos up to 2.5 inches wide will fit) and how exposed you want it—one pouch offers more protection than the other. You can use the other pouch as a pocket for whatever you can manage to cram in there (for example, earbuds, ID, or credit cards).
The Good: The neoprene feels very durable, and the pouches constrict so tightly that there’s no way your gadget is slipping out accidentally. The Velcro flaps work well to secure the case to the strap—at least they did for my bags—with little slippage. And, of course, the convenience factor is a big plus.
The Bad: Because of its ‘one size fits all’ mentality, the StrapWrap is big, both in bulk and height. For messenger bags, that isn’t really an issue—there’s plenty of room across the chest. But for backpacks, the macho design—and particularly the height, considering that most backpack straps curve—can add a level of discomfort or general irritation that, for some, could be a deal-breaker.
In addition, while the “stability clip” can be useful, if your bag has no buckle or other appendage within reach, the clip becomes nothing more than a nuisance, and there’s no way to remove the long stability strap from the case. You end up either dealing with the swaying, bouncing fabric or shove the strap between the case flaps and your strap. And, of course, unlike bag-straps designed specifically for, say, an iPhone or iPod, there’s also no way to control the functions of your gadget without removing it from the StrapWrap first.
All-in-all, the StrapWrap is a decent bag-strap option, especially for people who may want to bring along different gadgets at different times, but it’s not without limitations.