Since the design of these cases differ greatly, and they emphasize different elements (fashion, function, protectiveness, etc.) it wouldn't be appropriate or fair to rate the cases compared to each other. Instead, I rated each case on it's own merits, keeping in mind the unique attributes of each one.

I want to stress that when buying a case, you should gather data and then make your own decision about which case will suit your particular needs best.

Rating System
Because of the disparate design and intended use of each case assembled here, I have rated each one on three factors:

- Aesthetics: In short, this rating describes how cool the case is. How it looks, how stylish it is, how the color interacts with the iPod within it, how the case feels in your hand.
- Protectiveness: This is one of the most important factors when assessing an iPod case's worth and some people buy a case solely based on this rating.
- Quality: This rating measures the quality of materials used and the quality of assembly. The design of the case plays a small role in this rating, since a poorly designed case can also lead to poor quality construction.

Each rating is a number from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest and 3 being average.

Methodology
The "Big headphone plug test" was performed because there are a number of aftermarket headphones that have larger plugs than the standard Apple earbuds. This test was performed with the Shure E3c canal phones since they are a popular choice for the iPod and have a large headphone jack. For a number of the cases, the plug would insert, with pressure, into the iPod, but the case would interfere enough so that the headphones would unplug easily with some movement of the cable/jack. These cases were marked as failing the test.

Note that the iPod's status light is visible through all of the cases that I used and photographed for this review. However, there may be colors of some models that may obstruct the status light, for example, the black JumpSuit Shuffle from PodGear.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, use the comments field below.

Speck Products SkinTight
Web site: SpeckProducts.com
Price: US $19.95 singles, $29.95 3-Pack
Colors: Clear, Black, Pink, Red, Blue (review sample), and Green
Cap protection: Includes a new USB cap with the cover already on.
Dock while in case? Yes
Big headphone plug test: Fail

The Speck Products SkinTight iPod shuffle case features an opening for the rear slider and embossed pictographs on the covered control pad. It has a great feel and texture which results in an almost velvety tactile sensation. The case is relatively thick rubber, but without being too bulky, and it has a bouncy quality to it. Crisp edges and flat planes mirror the design of the shuffle inside. Even though there is no coverage for the slider on the back of the iPod, the snug fit of the case combined with a raised rim around the cutout provides adequate protection. The color is very pretty, being a vivid hue and at the same time translucent enough to view the iPod's status light. The case is very high quality.

A new USB cap is included with the case and you must use it due to the manner in which the case overlaps the bottom of the shuffle near the USB plug. Therefore you cannot use Apple's lanyard cap either (but you can get the Speck Connect and Protect product if you want something like a lanyard.) There is a slight color difference with the Speck cap, despite it wearing the case. The SkinTight case failed the big headphone jack test, but you can pull the top of the case off in order to insert large headphone cables. It's a bit clunky, but it works.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 5
Protectiveness: 5
Quality: 4

PodsPlus Leather Case with Front Side Flap
Web site: PodsPlus.com
Price: US $19.95
Colors: Black, grey, pale green, pink, steel blue (review sample), and white
Cap protection: Yes. Compatible with both Apple caps.
Dock while in case? Sort of, you have to push the shuffle out of the case a little way.
Big headphone plug test: Pass

The PodsPlus Leather Case has openings for the iPod's slider, control pad, status light, and the top corners and the sides of the bottom. A flap covers the bottom of the iPod and secures it into the case. The case is made of thin and flexible leather that feels (and smells) good quality. The interior is lined with a soft polyester material, grey in color.

The shuffle fits nicely inside and all of the cutouts align perfectly. Despite being open, the top corners of the iPod are still fairly well protected. What's more, the bottom panel is double-thick which makes it stiffer and adds protectiveness. There is stitching that trims the edges and adds style and strength to the case. One nice feature inherent in this design (and is shared by the Vaja AP11 case) is that it can be used with Apple's USB and lanyard caps. I really liked the color of this case, it is stylish and unique and understated. One complaint I have about this case is that the end of the flap, the part that you insert into the loop to close, should be stiffer in order to facilitate closing the case. Compared with the Vaja (the two designs are very similar), this case from PodsPlus holds its own, even though the quality of the leather is not as good, and costs half as much. Nicely done.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 4
Protectiveness: 2
Quality: 4

XtremeMac TuffWrapz for iPod shuffle
Web site: XtremeMac.com
Price: US $24.95 3-pack
Colors: Lemon, bubblegum, grape, sky, tangerine, lime, cobalt, mist, and cherry
Cap protection: Includes two covers for both the Apple USB cap and lanyard.
Dock while in case? Yes
Big headphone plug test: Pass

If Willy Wonka made iPod shuffle skins they would be just like the XtremeMac TuffWrapz. Candy-colored, and even slightly candy-scented, these skins feature a covered slider and an open control pad. The rubber used is relatively thick and it gets thicker on the sides where there are serrations to provide better grip. Covers for both the Apple USB and lanyard caps are provided.

One nice element of the TuffWrapz is that the color of the case gradually becomes slightly translucent in the area around the control wheel, where it becomes thinner, and it adds a slightly ethereal effect to it. The ridges on the sides add protection to the shuffle inside but they add a feeling of bulk to the skin, which seems to visually emphasize the width of the iPod. Unlike some others, this skin is easy to get on and off and complete that it includes covers for both the USB cap and the lanyard cap.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 3
Protectiveness: 4
Quality: 4

XtremeMac Shieldz for iPod shuffle
Web site: XtremeMac.com
Price: US $19.95 3-pack
Colors: Lemon, bubblegum, grape, neon bubblegum, neon lemon, neon tangerine, cobalt, ice, and cherry
Cap protection Once piece design covers the lanyard cap. Works only with lanyard cap, not the USB cap.
Dock while in case? No
Big headphone plug test: Fail

The XtremeMac Shieldz is a unique product. It is not a case in the traditional sense, in that the entire back of the iPod is exposed. But it is made of thick and very stiff/strong plastic which does a good job of protecting at least the front and all corners of the iPod. The color hues are vivid, the finish is glossy and smooth, and the plastic is very transparent. The sides of the Shieldz protrude beyond the edge of the iPod which provides moderate protection. The Shieldz only work with the Apple lanyard cap.

The iPod is inserted and removed by flexing a piece of the top of the Shieldz. I found that once inserted, the iPod was secure and was in no danger of falling out. In fact the top clasp locks so securely that it's a bit difficult to flex enough to remove the iPod and over time I fear that small scratches may accrue on the top of the iPod around the headphone jack. This may not be the iPod "case" for everyone, but it's unique, attractive, and well made.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 4
Protectiveness: 2
Quality: 3

PodGear JumpSuit Shuffle
Web site: PodGear.net
Price: £9.99 2-pack
Colors: Jet black, ice white, blush, charcoal, pastel blue, pink, green
Cap protection: Cover for USB cap only.
Dock while in case? Yes
Big headphone plug test: Pass

This case, along with it's twin the ezGear For iPod ezSkin Tankini, are the only cases that completely cover the iPod. From what I can tell, these two cases are twins - made by the same manufacturer would be my guess. The PodGear JumpSuit Shuffle is very thin and has a silky feel to it. There is a thinner section that covers the iPod's slider and an imprint of the control pad, complete with raised control pictographs.

This case displays small quality problems. The cut lines are slightly crooked and both pieces (the USB cap cover and the shuffle cover) are each a little short. This resulted in an unseemly seam noticeable in the area where the cap snaps on and a small gap between the two pieces of the skin. Another issue is that since the texture of the skin is so slippery (not a problem in itself and some people may like it) it makes using the slider difficult. There is a seam of material that runs the length of the sides of the iPod on the main part of the skin, but that same seam is not present on the USB cap. I don't know if the seam is a purposeful design cue or a result of a manufacturing process, but whatever the cause, it would be better if it continued onto the USB cap and all the way around the iPod. The JumpSuit Shuffle is a straightforward design with protectiveness as a priority.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 3
Protectiveness: 4
Quality: 2

TUNEWEAR ICEWEAR shuffle
Web site: Tunewear.com
Price: US $14.95
Colors: Ice
Cap protection: Covers for both caps.
Dock while in case? Yes
Big headphone plug test: Fail

The Tunewear Icewear shuffle comes in clear only, has a covered control pad which has a simple dual circle design embossed on it, and an opening for the slider. There are stripes of thicker material running horizontally around the skin and a frame of material around the slider window.

The rubber is quite stiff, thick, and strong. It gives the control pad a 3-D glass effect, much like the buttons on the Apple web site. Sometimes, you can see that "wet" look when pressing the skin to the case, but in general this is not a problem. Although it is very thick, it manages to avoid looking or feeling bulky. Like the Speck case, this one has that bouncy, rubbery feel to it that makes you imagine that your shuffle would be protected even in a hard fall. This case is difficult to remove.

The small ball chain leash is a brilliant and simple design element that can serve multiple purposes. It not only helps to prevent losing the cap, but it can act as a way to clip the iPod to a keyring or zipper pull. The ball chain leash also acts as a safeguard when using the lanyard - if the lanyard is accidentally pulled off the iPod, the icewear cap of the lanyard is still connected to the iPod.

The Tunewear logo is a little too large for my tastes. One of the two cases they sent me had a slight defect and looked like one small section was melted or formed incorrectly. It was a small enough matter to not adversely affect the function of the case or to compromise the protection of the iPod, but resulted in a small gap between the two pieces of the case when put on the iPod.

The one fault with this case, and it's fairly serious, is the headphone port opening is too small. Not even the Apple earbuds can fit into the hole, so what winds up happening is that all headphone jacks will just compress the silicon material between it and the iPod. Luckily, the silicon is thin enough in this section to still allow the connection, but subsequently, the cable will pull out more easily since it is not seated all the way down.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 5
Protectiveness: 5
Quality: 3

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters Jam Jacket
Web site: EverythingiPod.com
Price: US $29.00 3-pack
Colors: Purple, green, clear
Cap protection: Yes
Dock while in case? Yes
Big headphone plug test: Fail: Headphone jack inserts but pulls out too easily.

The Jam Jacket by Digital Lifestyle Outfitters is made of medium thickness silicon and has openings for the control pad and slider, plus it has an open-ended cap that fits on both Apple's USB and lanyard caps. It features these great little nubs on the sides and in part of the front/back that are like the texture found on Muenster cheese.

The little loop of rubber that secures the cap to the body of the case is a nice idea, and does a decent job of securing the two together, but it also wants to straighten itself out, which results in it pushing itself down on the actual cap and creating a gap between the small piece and the larger piece of the skin that covers the iPod. The color is nice and the quality of the silicon is good. The cutout for the slider is square, which looks a little funny against the rounded corners of the actual slider. The open ended cap piece does work with both Apple caps, but will always leave the very bottom of the iPod unprotected.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 4
Protectiveness: 3
Quality: 4

Sumajin Loop
Web site: Sumajin.com
Price: US $8.00 each, or a "Starter Kit" at US $12.99 that consists of a matching Smartwrap, Loop, and 1 pair of Funky earphone pads.
Colors: Orange, pink, green (review sample), clear, black, blue
Cap protection: Yes
Dock while in case? No
Big headphone plug test: Pass

The Sumajin Loop features a covered control pad and slider. There are open slits along the bottom portion of the sides of the iPod on both sides which provide a means of inserting and removing the iPod from the case. The included lanyard simply loops through the cross section of the case and has a cord lock and simple knot tied in the end of it. The body of the case is made of medium thickness silicon with the material becoming very thick on the top and bottom.

Elegant and sexy are two adjectives that I didn't think I'd be using in this review, but they do indeed apply to the Sumajin Loop. The design is like no other case here, with thick rounded top and bottom curves and two slits on the sides, like the slit in a sexy woman's skirt, that reveal the long white legs of the iPod shuffle inside. The words 'Sumajin' and 'Loop' are subtly embossed on the front of the case, like it's whispering something seductive in your ear. The cutout at the top for the headphone port has two complex radiuses and looks like the arcing neckline of a woman's shirt. It gets better though, when you look at the included lanyard. It has a silky sheen to it, and the smooth rounded feel of something exotic, something Asian, and something beautiful. The cord lock looks like a diamond gripping the lanyard and adds to the elegance and style of this product.

There is a very small hole in the thick material of the bottom of the case. What its actual purpose is, I don't really know, but you could put a string or thin keyring through it if you wanted. Due to the lanyard cord's design - how it just inserts sideways through the case - and due to the fact that it's simply knotted on the end, the lanyard cord is removable and replaceable, and the iPod still fits snugly in the case with the lanyard removed. It is a very simple matter to slide the bottom of the iPod out of the slit in the side of the case in order to pull the cap off and sync it. The material that covers the iPod's slider is a little thick, and I had a difficult time moving the slider underneath it.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 5
Protectiveness: 4
Quality: 5

ezGear For iPod ezSkin Tankini
Web site: ezGear4u.com
Price: US $18.98 2-pack
Colors: Sky blue, frost white, princess pink, onyx black, lime green
Cap protection: Yes, USB cap only
Dock while in case? Yes
Big headphone plug test: Pass

The ezGear For iPod ezSkin Tankini is full-coverage, thin silicon skin. This case is a twin of the PodGear JumpSuit Shuffle and my guess is that they're made by the same manufacturer. There is a thinner section that covers the iPod's slider and an imprint of the control pad, complete with raised control pictographs. The case has a slippery feel to it.

I have the same criticisms of this case as I did the PodGear JumpSuit (above). It suffers from the same slightly uneven cut lines and has the same inconsistent seam around the edge. The skin looks quite nice in pink, however, and I'm usually not a fan of the color. Protectiveness is a priority with this design. It's thin and light and covers the entire iPod and USB cap.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 3
Protectiveness: 4
Quality: 2

Vaja AP11
Web site: VajaCases.com
Price: Starting at US $34.90. Up to $40.90 depending on choice of leather.
Colors: Choice of up to 15 colors, depending on type of leather chosen.
Cap protection: Yes
Dock while in case? Yes
Big headphone plug test: Pass

The Vaja AP11 is made of fine quality leather, has openings for the slider and headphone jack/status light. The top corners of the iPod are exposed and the bottom of the case features a flap to secure the iPod inside. Vaja's metal insignia appears on the front of the case. The review sample pictured is made of the Vitelino leather in black and retails for $40.90. It has a smooth grain and glossy finish to it. The control pad is covered but has pictographs either embossed or printed onto the leather. There is no lining or padding in this case, but the backside of the leather is soft. The design of this case is very similar to the PodsPlus leather case.

The Vaja AP11 case is a manly-man case. This case is like a tough guy in a black leather jacket wearing one of those dangling chains tied to his wallet. He's got a big, thick leather belt and a huge metal belt buckle. I'd guess that this case would not look as masculine in some of the other colors that Vaja makes them in. But if you get it in black, prepare to start acting tough.

The tongue of the flap that secures the iPod is very stiff and easy to push through the loop, a complaint I had about the other leather case from PodsPlus. When the iPod is wearing the USB cap, pushing the flap all the up results in it obscuring the "-" pictograph and that portion of the control pad. You have to back off the flap just a little bit in order to turn the volume down. The leather used, in typical Vaja fashion, is just fantastic. You get the feeling that this case would outlive the iPod and look even better in 10 years. The pictographs on the control pad are fuzzy and look cheesy on an otherwise elegant design, and this single element prevented the case from scoring a 5 for aesthetics. What's more, they are difficult to see since the color is almost the same as the case. The opening for the slider is smaller than it is and the case partially obscures the battery status button. The bottom panel of the case is double-layer leather and is stiff, so even though the top corners of the iPod are exposed, there is a measure of protection for them.

iPoditude rating:
Aesthetics: 4
Protectiveness: 3
Quality: 4

In Summary
Like I said at the beginning of this review, the designs of these cases vary so much that choosing one case over another is really not fair. I'm happy to say that you couldn't make a bad decision in this bunch.

The Speck Products SkinTight does so many things well, is easy to use, is very protective, is very high quality, and feels great in your hand. The only thing that mars it is the slightly mismatched color of the cap.

The PodsPlus Leather Case with Front Side Flap is the sleeper of the bunch. The design, obviously geared toward fashion, actually incorporates a number of protective elements that raises the usefulness of this case substantially. Sure it's pretty, but it's also practical. Who could have guessed? It holds its own when compared to the Vaja case which sells for twice the price.

The XtremeMac TuffWrapz score high on the eye candy chart. Although there is nothing wrong with them, I just never really got into their wide and smooth look. The covers for both the USB and lanyard caps is a plus though.

XtremeMac Shieldz is the loud punk with a mohawk standing in a group of frat guys. It's pretty, it's strong, it's easy to use. Perhaps most importantly, it's a lot of fun.

The PodGear JumpSuit Shuffle and the ezGear For iPod ezSkin Tankini are single-minded 'must-cover-the-whole-iPod' skins. They're thin and light but the pastel colors and slight quality problems turned me off to them.

The Tunewear Icewear case is one of the standouts in this crowd. It looks like no other, features the great little leash, and is one of the most protective - all at the same time. Its one fatal flaw, that the headphone hole is not big enough, still isn't enough to damper my enthusiasm for this great case.

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters has another good product with their Jam Jacket. Nicely styled, protective, and comes in great colors. The misbehavior of the connecting piece of silicon is not enough to prevent me from recommending this case.

The Loop by Sumajin reveals an aesthetic that strives to balance form with function and they succeed wonderfully. As you can tell from my description above, this case aroused feelings I didn't know I had. Beautiful.

Vaja creates an iPod case that compares to the highest quality Italian designer shoes. It's stylish, maybe a little too stylish by my tastes, and that's not helped by the cheesy play control imprints. I have come to expect nothing less than heirloom quality from them and they deliver again.

My Favorite
My favorite has to be the Sumajin Loop. It strikes the perfect balance between style and function and works with all of my headphones. The Speck SkinTight and Tunewear Icewear are close behind, but possess elements that detract from their usefulness for me. Honorable mention goes to the XtremeMac Shieldz. They are really cool, rather strange, and I like the way they look very much.