Fair warning: if you're not part of a military's special forces, enjoy BASE jumping, or scaling K2 in your free time, this review in all likelihood is irrelevant to you. That's because legendary manufacturer Pelican has stepped up to the plate with its first ever iPod-oriented offering, and it's casting a shadow larger than Jose Canseco at a congressional hearing. I'm not afraid to admit this case is more hardcore than me, because it's more hardcore than you, too.

Pelican i1030

When water-proof, dust-proof, and shock-proof just isn't enough, there's the i1030. Stow your iPod in this case and watch it take on superhuman capabilities. How does being able to withstand temperatures of 200 degrees F sound to you? Or a virtually unlimited altitude thanks to automatic pressure release? Waterproof is almost an understatement; if any case could recreate one of Moses' most memorable moments, the i1030 is it. And unlike other waterproof cases, this one even floats—not bad for a case that weighs almost 12 ounces.

While the i1030 can certainly double as a blunt-force weapon while it keeps your iPod mint, you won't be able to listen to it at the same time. That's because the i1030 is strictly a storage affair. If you want to to actually use your iPod, you'll need to remove it from the miniature Fort Knox. Now you understand the earlier disclaimer, after all there's only so many people who would need to protect an iPod through such extreme conditions only so they can listen to it later.

As such, while the Pelican i1030 may sport some incredible numbers, an impressive pedigree, and a very reasonable price tag, the limited use garners it only our "solid" rating, even if we're talking about near bomb-proof solidity.

(In the interest of comprehensiveness, it is possible to listen to your music while your iPod is tucked away if you use a BlueTooth module and headphones, but it means not storing your iPod completely in the case's cradle and makes for a tight fit...)

The Pelican i1030 is available in white and yellow and carries Pelican's lifetime "You break it. We replace it." guarantee.