Pacific Design's Contour molded sleeve for iPod nano is a minimalist two-tone leather case with built-in screen protection and an included carabiner clip for convenient attachment to anything you own.

While that sounds good on paper and even looks quite nice in the product shots on the company's Web site, we were rather disappointed by the case after we had time to use it. The Contour molded sleeve suffers from the same shortcoming inherent to most leather cases for the iPod nano: the material simply doesn't allow for precise fit of the tiny iPod nano.

The Contour molded sleeve does a fine job of securely sheathing your iPod, but the case feels bulbous in hand. The case is stitched together from two pieces of leather, leaving the edges wider and more pointy than rounded, while the the front of the case bulges outward in the middle. The result is a sloppy appearance with a less than perfect fit.

The Contour molded sleeve is compatible with both iPod nanos, but the second-generation fits marginally better, since the case is made to accomodate its taller dimensions. The carabiner is the best design touch but doesn't make up for the case's shortcomings. As for the two-tone coloring—available in black/grey or pink/white—we found it somewhat cheesy at first but it grew on us over time, but your tastes and preferences may vary, of course.

The Bottom Line

For a company that has previously delivered several high-quality iPod cases, the Contour molded sleeve is a surprising disappointment. If a minimalist case is what you're after, hard plastic or silicone cases tend to be better for the iPod nano.