Gear Review - Marware Runabout for iPod Nano

I, like billions of others on the planet, have joined the massive throng of Apple supporters and received an iPod Nano for Christmas. Thus far, I must say that I'm quite impressed. The Nano suits my requirements of a light, flash-based player I've mentioned in past postings, and the Podcasts available on iTunes have been stellar. Fans of The Office and Extras should check out the Ricky Gervais podcasts.

Another major advantage for iPod owners is the huge amount of aftermarket products available. Even before I received my Nano, I ordered the Marware Sportsuit Runabout. I knew that the Nano was susceptible to scratches, and a case was essential to keeping the face pristine. I also wanted to find a case that I could use while in the gym or running outside. I've used the Runabout for roughly two weeks, and thus far it has exceeded expectations.

The case itself is pretty simple - a wetsuit-like neoprene band holds the Nano and straps to your wrist; it also comes with an 'extension band' for those who want to strap it to the upper arm. You can access the clickwheel through the plastic screen on the case, and headphones plug in from a hole in the bottom. The case is decently well-made - the neoprene material is pretty slick. A tiny bit of the stitching has come loose, but not so much that the integrity of the case is compromised.

As far as using the Runabout during workouts, this case is perfect. I never liked strapping my music players to my bicep for several reasons: it cuts off circulation to my massive arm (cough), I can't easily adjust the music and volume, and I sweat like a mother, so my excessive perspiration may damage the player. Previously, I had to hold my mp3 player when I ran, and I couldn't listen to it when I lifted weights. With the Runabout, I can strap the Nano to my wrist, and both run and lift without any issues. Having the Nano strapped to my wrist allows me to do any lifting exercises (bench, squat, pullups, deadlifts) and not worry about the player falling on the floor or cutting off circulation. I'm such a sweaty bastard that even my wrists get damp, so the case does get wet after my workout, but it dries out pretty quickly.

Any downsides? Like I mentioned, alittle bit of the stitching came loose, specifically around the slot where you slide the Nano into the case, but this is not a big issue. Other than that, the Runabout functions exactly as its name describes, allowing you to "run about" with your Nano. There are a ton of iPod cases on the market now, but if you specifically want one to mount to your wrist (Marware makes one for the iPod Mini as well), the Runabout is the go-to case, and at $25 bucks, well worth it.

REVIEW UPDATE: 5/31/06

I always like to re-review products after having them for awhile, to see if any other issues have emerged after extended use. Many times, issues that didn't occur after initial testing occur after heavy use. Fortunately, this is not the case with the Runabout. It's holding up as well as when I first used it, and no further stitching loosening has occurred.

One other small nitpick that may not be universal - I sweat like a pig, and the unit gets pretty damp after a treadmill run. As a result, the plastic screen sticks to the Nano abit, making it difficult to remove. This doesn't affect access to the clickwheel at all, it just makes it abit tough to take out once I'm done with the workout.

Get more information on the Runabout and other Marware cases here.