I’m addicted to my iPhone 5, aren’t you? Even though I’m a PC fanboy, I can’t get enough of Apple’s little wonder phone, which is scratch resistant and tough enough to withstand several drops from arm’s length. However, I still feel a paternal pang whenever it’s close to potential damage and that’s pretty often in a city like New York. I worry about stashing it in a pocket filled with loose change, keys and whatever else a guy throws in there before sprinting out the door. That’s where Twelve South’s SurfacePad (SP) comes in.
This ultra-thin leather cover guards against not only hazardous pockets but hazardous streets and the sleek, minimalist design doesn’t get in the way of feverish texting while waiting for a long light to change. When fully open, you have a nice gripping frame for your hands while executing both horizontal and vertical orientations (on the phone, that is). Personally, the iPhone 5 always felt a little awkwardly naked and the supple leather of the SP gives it some weight as well as character.
And for you design centric guys, aesthetically you don’t have a cover smothered with logos either. Instead you get an understated design on the front with the company name located on the inside of the cover behind the phone making it almost invisible (just the way I like it). There’s also a subtle trace on the spine for the volume control buttons, and the camera is completely unhindered through a cut-out on the back cover. The SP comes in three colors: red, black and white. I opted for the black to look professional while playing my favorite game apps. But the best part about this cover is that it’s lightweight and keeps the pocket girth nice and tidy so there’s room in your pants for more important things.
One critical detail about the SurfacePad: it attaches to your phone via adhesive which can be removed and reapplied multiple times as it employs a new reusable adhesive. If you plan to attempt anything ambitious like a session at the skate park, you can swap it out for heavier protection. And as cool and practical as the SurfacePad is, you may just wanna pick up a couple at $34.99. Because remember that’s a lot easier to plop down than replacing a screen at around $100 or more.
www.twelvesouth.com/products/surfacepad_iphone/