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Works With
Clickwheel/4th Generation iPods

The Good
Tough case provides good protection
Good shock absorption
Great price
iPod can be docked with case still on
Good option for exercise or chores

The Bad
Clickwheel is not covered, leaving it open to scratching
Armband can stretch out of shape
Plastic cover can get dirty
No place to store headphone wires

The Price
US$14.95

As soon as you get an iPod, you start seeing new places to use it: in the car, at the gym, doing yard work.


After all, having thousands of songs at hand, with no chance of skipping, and in a smaller package than a portable CD player is pretty compelling. The big concern of exercising with an iPod, though, is that your $200+ sound system is going to get broken, damaged, or just plain get in your way. So, finding a good sports case for your iPod is key.

Marware’s entry-level offering for the Clickwheel iPod (the 4th generation overall) is the Sportsuit Basic, and it’s a fairly solid product, especially for the price.

The Sportsuit Basic is a black neoprene sleeve that the iPod slides into for protection and easy wearability. The sleeve comes with grooved plastic inserts on the sides and bottom to improve gripping the iPod and to provide protection from drops (which I’ve needed more than once!).

A tough, clear plastic face sits over the screen to protect it from scratching. Unfortunately, the clickwheel is not covered, leaving it open to scratches from items in a gym bag or tool shed. The plastic covering isn’t tight, either, leaving the case open to dirt and grime, which can either get on the face of the iPod or the back of the plastic cover, making things a little messy.

Securing the iPod to your arm is easy thanks to the included Velcro strap. Though the iPod is heavy for the strap and will move a bit on your arm – especially if you’re running – it generally holds fairly securely to your body. The armband is made of a stretchy material that makes for a pleasingly tight fit at first. Later, though, the armband will likely get stretched out after a few months of dumbbell curls pump you up.

The Sportsuit doesn’t offer a specific place to store the headphone wires to keep them out of your way when working or exercising. With the Apple earbuds this is less of an issue, but third-party headphones with longer cables can be cumbersome.

Still, the Marware Sportsuit Basic is a good starter case to use with your Clickwheel iPod while working out or in the yard. And at only about $15, even if you end up buying another case once you’ve used this one for a while and better understand your needs, you won’t feel like you’ve wasted money.

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