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Works with
Fifth-generation iPods

The Good
Protects whole iPod, including clickwheel
Secures iPod firmly to your arm
Nice Price

The Bad
Nothing major

The Price
US$29.99

Sport cases for iPods can be tricky things. For the smaller iPods like nanos and Shuffles, getting a good case that stays in place on your body and protects the iPod during exercise isn’t too tricky. For those who prefer to exercise with a fifth-generation iPod, though, the task can be trickier.


You need a case that not only protects the clickwheel from scratching, but also a case that secures the iPod to your body and prevents it from moving much while you work out.

Luckily, DLO has you covered with its Action Jacket for Video iPod, an iPod sport case that meets all of my requirements for a great iPod case.

The Action Jacket is a lot like other iPod sport cases. It’s a black neoprene and suede sleeve that protects your iPod while you work out. It protects the screen with a plastic cover. It offers easy access to the headphone jack, the docking port, and the hold button. It comes with an armband and belt clip.

The Action Jacket really shines in two areas: protection of the clickwheel and stability.

First, the clickwheel is covered with a plastic piece similar to the one that protects the screen. Protecting the clickwheel is crucial for any clickwheel-enabled iPod to make sure that the important item isn’t scratched or gouged. Though this plastic doesn’t always offer as smooth a scrolling experience as other cases, that’s only a minor complaint.

Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly for a sport case, the included armband is strong, stable, and keeps the iPod from moving while you exercise. The stretchy armband is tough and strong, which enables it to keep the iPod in place on your arm. Other sport cases try to offer this security, but none of the others I’ve used accomplished it so well. Even in 35 minutes of use on an elliptical machine, my Action Jacket hardly moved at all.

So, if you’re looking for a sport case that will provide all the things you need to protect your fifth-generation iPod — good protection for iPod, screen, and clickwheel; access to ports while in the case; stability in your arm while exercising — the DLO Action Jacket for Video iPod should be at the top of your list.

Manufacturer's Site