Case makers continue to wrestle with whether consumers will want to treat the iPad like a computer or a big iPod, the reason for Incase’s Travel Kit Plus for iPad ($60), a big, thick nylon pack that goes well beyond the typical iPad sleeves we’ve seen. In the back is a thick padded iPad compartment with its own set of two zippers and a soft gray fleece lining; in front is a separate accessory storage area with two zippered compartments, one with separate mesh pockets, the other behind it with a lot more room, plus a Velcro-sealed compartment on the other side. Incase also includes a “travel stand” with cord management on the bottom, and two different angled plastic holders on the top.
All that’s missing is a shoulder strap, but there are nylon bands on the left edge to serve as a simple handle, and a place to attach your own strap if you have one.
On May 13, 2010, iLounge published The Complete Guide to iPad Cases and Protection, a multi-page comparison of over 70 different iPad cases and film protectors, sorted by genre. The following details were added to this piece by that comparison article; please click on the link above for additional comparative discussion of similar protective options.
We typically steer clear of recommending sleeves for iPods and iPhones, but iPad users may find that they make more sense. The concept is to totally envelop the iPad inside protective material, using a flap or zipper to open and release the device when it’s needed.
In almost every one of these cases, the designs speak for themselves—you either like how they look, or don’t—so we’re sorting them by price and focusing our brief notes on fit and scope of protection, with bare opinions otherwise.
Does Travel Kit Plus fit? Yes. Is everything protected? Yes. This case is a major exception in the “sleeve” section in that it is, in fact, an iPad sleeve, but also has a huge front compartment with enough space for Apple’s Wireless Keyboard—not the iPad Keyboard Dock—as well as virtually any other accessories you could possibly hope to bring along.
