Andrew O'Hara
Nomad has built on their history of crafting stylish accessories from premium materials with their new Rugged Case for AirPods, and we've been using it on-the-go for a while, now.
The most common complaint we see in the forums and YouTube comments regarding AirPods is their propensity to gather scratches on the exterior of the charging case. Something so small that slips in and out of your pocket many times a day will inevitably attract these abrasions — especially when made out of plastic.
We're personally not sure that this is a big deal for us. But, we can see where people may not like it.
There's two ways to go about this — either a protective skin that adheres to the plastic, or a removable case. Nomad has chosen the latter, and the execution is better than most.
If you're at all familiar with Nomad's iPhone cases that we've spoken about before, then you will recognize the materials in their Rugged Case for AirPods. The body is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with a rubberized feel. Wrapped around it is leather sourced from the Horween tannery out of Chicago.
We've mounted the brown version on our AirPods case, but black is also available. Both perfectly match the company's iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands if you're one to match accessories.
Unlike others that have come to market, Nomad's shell is a two-part case, with a small lid, and obviously a larger portion for the bottom. We had some initial concerns at how well the top would stay on as we take the AirPods out of our pocket repeatedly, but this turned out to be a non-issue as we used them.
Nomad also kept things slim. When the case is equipped, it adds almost no bulk to your AirPods. This is in stark contrast to the Twelve South AirSnap that was difficult to fit in a pocket.
The best part of Nomad's implementation is that leather is the exact opposite property of the plastic that makes up the case. Whereas the AirPods plastic case looks worse over time as scratches aggregate, the leather of the Rugged Case looks better over time as a rich patina and wear develops.
It's unfortunate that you may need an accessory for an accessory, depending on how you feel about case scratches. At $29 it isn't exactly cheap either.
But, if you are worried about scratches on your AirPods, or just want to improve their looks, then Nomad's Rugged Case is the best you can do.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Where to buy
If you'd like to pick up a Rugged Case for your AirPods, they are available now directly from Nomad for $29.95 in either black or brown.
Sponsored Content
Wesley Hilliard
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
7 Comments
This is very First World.
My biggest concern is the packaging that it came in. It seemed to have more material than that product itself, and yet just gets tossed in the garbage? Is that foam material biodegradable? Very concerning, and companies need to be more responsible in this day and age.
It’s definitely welcome in my book. I work on an iro ore mine and the red abrasive dust ruined them and they look so dirty I’m embarrassed to where them when I fly home to the city. I look like bumb. The cute magnetic latch gets full of anything ferrous too and the lid won’t shut. When will Apple get over making wearables in white? Otherwise I love my AirPods!
But now that pretty leather case is going to get scratched up thru normal use instead. How can that be more acceptable? In order to “protect” the leather you need a case for your case. It’s madness.