ClearCal is a very inexpensive ($6.95) set of transparent Mylar protective panels for your iPod video or iPod nano. Unlike traditional iPod cases, ClearCal protects your iPod from nicks and scratches without adding any additional bulk.

There's not much to say about the product itself. It's easy to apply or remove, it does what it's supposed to do, and it's cheap.

I reviewed a similar but more expensive product, InvisibleSHIELD , last February. In that review I explained that my wife needed iPod protection that would allow her to insert her iPod into the DLO TransPod FM transmitter she uses in her car. I said that InvisibleSHIELD was a great solution and it was.

But... so is ClearCal. Furthermore, InvisibleSHIELD costs 3-4X what you'll pay for ClearCal. So the big question has to be whether InvisibleSHIELD is worth the premium.

And the answer is, "it depends." The products are made of different materials. ClearCal is fabricated out of clear, polished Mylar that's stiff and inflexible; InvisibleSHIELD is made from a softer, more flexible clear material designed by the military to protect the leading edges of helicopter blades. ClearCal comes in three pieces: full front, click wheel, and full back, which means the sides, top edge (where the earphone jack and hold switch are) and bottom edge (where the dock connector is) are not covered. InvisibleSHIELD also comes in three pieces: a large wrap-around piece that covers everything but the click wheel, a piece for the click wheel, and a piece for the click wheel button. So InvisibleSHIELD protects more of your iPod. Furthermore, while both products have a 30-day money-back guarantee, InvisibleSHIELD also includes a lifetime replacement guarantee.

So there you have it. If you want protection for the top, bottom, and sides of your iPod and a lifetime guarantee, InvisibleSHIELD is the better choice. But if you can live without those features, ClearCal does a great job for a lot less money.

The Bottom Line

I'm very pleased with ClearCal, especially considering its low price. It's easier to apply and remove than InvisibleSHIELD and much less expensive. If you're looking for iPod protection from scratches and nicks that doesn't add bulk, it's certainly worthy of your consideration.