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In the interest of full disclosure, we sell all of the 5G iPod cases covered below through our Think Different Store. Before you cry bias, however, there are a couple things you should consider. First, iPod cases sell quite well regardless—and sometimes in spite of—my reviews. Second, if you've read any of my iPod case reviews (including this one, as you'll see), you'll know I'm not afraid to give bad ratings to crappy products. Third, even if I decide to be biased, that's okay. The Super Bowl XL referees taught me that.

But let's start on a positive note by beginning with the iSkin eVo3 ($34.99). iSkin releases some of the most popular iPod cases we sell, and little wonder. If there's a lack of inspiration in iPod case design, it's not coming from iSkin. The eVo3 combines the colorful, rubberized skin of previous eVos with a clear plastic front that provides complete protection, a great design and (mostly) easy access. After slipping your iPod into the case through the open screen area, you slip the plastic covering into the slots in the case (the covering is held in place by the slots and a small bump at the bottom, not by pressure between the iPod and the case). Once in place, your iPod is completely encased: a thin membrane covers the click wheel (with minimal response time affected), a flap slips into the USB port, another thin membrane covers the hold switch, and the recessed covering around the headphone jack allows the case to protect more of that area while still allowing for wider headphones to fit in.

There are breathing holes on the back of the case (although I'm not sure the iPod really needs them), as is a removable rotary belt clip. The eVo3 comes in six apparently Gatorade-inspired colors—arctic clear, atomic green, blaze red, blush pink, eclipse black and sonic blue—and most of them look pretty good. Unfortunately, you have to choose either the 30 or 60GB model, as they can't accommodate both. Still, that ensures a good fit. And with membranes taking the place of open ports, a good fit is necessary.

On the other extreme, you've got the Aluminum Case for 5G iPod ($24.95), an iPod case that looks as boring as its name. The Aluminum Case comes in black and silver, neither of which are going to turn any heads. They're as industrial as they come, but that means they kick butt in the protection and functionality departments. You get the iPod in by simply opening the side on its hinges and placing the iPod within the form-fitting padding of the case's shell. The door closes securely, but isn't difficult to open. A clear sheet of plastic covers the screen, and it's attached to the case so it won't slip around as with other cases that offer removable screen protectors.

A detachable belt clip can be screwed into the back, and it does hold the case quite well. The only thing that really bugs me about this case is that the holes for the controls and ports are quite wide and sit too far away from the iPod itself. This makes them easy to access, but kind of ugly. Still, this case isn't about beauty, it's about practicality. It's a case for the manly man; if you have John Mayer or Rob Thomas on your iPod, you don't want the Aluminum Case.

Here's another extreme, as we switch to the Crystal See-Thru Solid 5G iPod Case w/ Lanyard ($22.95). I really like plastic, see-through cases, often preferring them over their colorful rubber counterparts. Not this one, however. Although it looks good, choosing to let the iPod itself be the design, it's fundamentally flawed by its bottom-hinged construction. Latches towards the top open the case, and you simply place the iPod on the front half and close the back half behind it. However, the hinges at the bottom are large, and they make it extremely difficult to get to the USB port when your docking cable is plugged in. Even worse, the ports at the top make it difficult to get to the hold switch, and I wasn't able to plug in my Altec Lansing headphones. The latches that hold the case shut don't stay in place well, and the lanyard at bottom can't be removed without completely cutting it off. Why's the lanyard even there? Seriously, who'd want to wear a 5G iPod around his neck, especially considering a detachable belt clip is included? Nope, I'm afraid the Crystal See-Thru Solid is just a bad design from start to finish.

Nice to look at, though.

No iPod case review would be complete without a product from DLO, and this round-ups offering is the Action Jacket for 5G iPod ($29.99). The case is made of a material that stretches to fit around your iPod, but not all that well. I mean, you can access everything, but the openings never seem properly aligned. The screen and click wheel openings are covered with a thin, pliable plastic, but the ports and hold switch remain open. Finally, a small strap flips over the top and attaches to the back with Velcro to hold the iPod inside. It seems a bit loose, but I attribute that to the all-in-one 30/60GB fit, and I tested the case on the smaller 30GB model.

An adjustable armband and belt clip are included, but you'd expect that, considering this type of case is designed for people on the move. It offers excellent protection for scratches, bumps, sweat, etc., while providing for fairly simple access. More importantly, it's easy to get the iPod in and out of the case, and that's not always the way these things work. You're probably better off using this with a 60GB 5G iPod, but no harm should come from using it with the 30GB model.

Along these same lines, we've got Marware's Sportsuit Basic ($19.99). The main differences between this and DLO's Action Jacket are that the clear area of the Sportsuit Basic takes up pretty much the entire front, and that there's virtually no access to anything when it's in the case. A flap at the bottom (from where the iPod is inserted) holds the iPod in place, but must be pulled away to access the USB port. Likewise, the hole at the top for the headphone jack is just wide enough for the actual headphones, which is a problem because it doesn't actually line up well with the headphone port. Also, the hold switch is completely covered, with a white outline indicating where it should be. Should be. Again, it didn't always line up perfectly.

But this case is durable, and works quite well for the active iPod user. Its greatest strength is its ability to work with various attachments. A basic clip comes with it, but you can also purchase devices for for cars and bikes, as well as a swivel clip, a leather swivel clip and a lanyard. It's a great case when your iPod is in it and being used, but getting it in and out is more trouble than it may be worth.

If you're not a basic kind of user, you can take a step up to the Marware Sportsuit Convertible ($34.95). What makes it better than the Basic model? For starters, it comes in colors; not just black, but also blue and silver. It's more than that, though. It also includes an armband and hand strap, and it contains a harder, padded shell that covers the front of the iPod, offering more protection than the clear, pliable plastic of the Sportsuit Basic.

A pocket on the front of the case can be used for headphones or whatever else you may need to get from here to there. Aside from that, the Convertible carries all the strengths and weaknesses of the Basic. The lack of velcro straps or metal snaps does make for a surprisingly streamlined case, but I wish Marware would've made it a bit simpler to get the iPod in and out.

Marware makes things a bit more basic with the Sport Grip Backwinder ($19.95). The most interesting thing about this case is its raised rubber grip on the back under which you can wrap your headphone cord. Quite handy, provided, again, the headphones you use aren't much larger than the earbud headphones included with your iPod.

The good news here is that the holes for the USB port, headphone jack and hold switch are all perfectly placed, for a change, although thickness of the case may make it difficult for you to get a good headphone connection. A thin adhesive covering can be applied to the screen and click wheel for additional protection, although the click wheel doesn't really need it considering the case already covers that. Aside from the headphone grip, though, there's no real reason to buy this over any other rubber model, and I'm not sure that's enough. Maybe the colors are, though: black, blue, green, pink and white.

So, there you go. A whole bunch of mediocrity here, although a couple cases do stand out. If you haven't already seen it, be sure to check out my coverage of the Speck Products 5G iPod cases. There's not a lot more to love there, but sometimes having options is all the love you need.

Applelinks Ratings (5 being highest):

More 5G iPod (with video) case reviews.