Protection doesn’t have to be bulky. Think of an cardboard egg box: barely bigger than the eggs it contains, but tough enough to stop its precious cargo from breaking even when stacked up on shelves in a supermarket, or when (presumably) mis-treated by that same supermarket’s delivery drivers.
So it is with Greatshield’s VIES case, a zip-up slip cover that is slim, weighs next to nothing and yet offers a decent amount of protections for your iPad 1, 2 or 3.
The outside of the case is nylon, and has an extra zip-up pocket in its side. The inside is neoprene, and is covered in a pattern of bumpy nodules which seem to offer some sort of shock absorbing qualities.
The sleeve zips closed and is small enough to be slid into a larger sleeve or straight into a bag or backpack.
The Good
If you like to use your iPad coverless, or with just a smart cover, this little case is almost perfect. It acts a lot like the padded pockets available for the better messenger bags, only it’ll fit in pretty much anywhere. It is also so light that you can effectively forget about it, and really does seem to offer the right combo of stiff padding and minimal profile.
Plus, it has that handy little pocket in the side. Loading this up with anything more than a spare USB cable or perhaps a camera connection kit will completely spoil the case’s svelet lines, but who’s fault is that?
The Bad
It’s not really fair to ding such a cheap ($20, but available cheaper if you look) and lightweight case for a lack of protection, so I won’t. As I said, it seems surprisingly capable, but I wouldn’t start tossing it around like I did the Extreme Portfolio, which I was happy to (literally) throw onto a train.
So, other than the lightweight materials that are designed into the case, there’s not really much to complain about.
The Verdict
The VIES should be on your list if you’re looking for a way to carry your iPad in a bag, and you’re also paranoid about bumps and scratches being inflicted by the other inhabitants of that bag. Lighter than most folio cases, and more protective than a Smart Cover, and yet way cheaper than both, the VIES is a surprise winner.
Source: GreatShield
