Okay, I admit it: I got this sleeve because it looks cool. As a medical student, I couldn’t think of anything more appropriate than a sleeve that looks like it came out of an anatomy lab. As a bike commuter, I needed a sleeve that would protect my iPad’s delicate screen from shock and vibration on my daily ride to school. My iPad is often sandwiched between a few folders, my lunch, a change of clothes, and a tool kit. The Ribcage does an excellent job of protecting my iPad from impact in addition to its unique, stylish design.
While not exactly anatomically correct, the raised bumps of the “ribs” are rigid enough to protect the screen while remaining flexible enough to get my iPad out easily. Even without the iPad inside, it is stiffer and more supportive any neoprene cases on the market. The sleeve is lined with a soft, felt-like material and the iPad fits snugly inside through the exposed top. The front of the case, which is meant to protect the screen, has a little bit of extra lip at the top to prevent it from being completely exposed. The sleeve is covered with faux-leather or vinyl material that makes for a nice grip.
With a $35 price tag, it’s not the cheapest option out there. As with all SwitchEasy products, it comes loaded with accessories including an anti-static screen guard and two viewing stands in black and white. With exception to the port covers, these are the same accessories covered in my SwitchEasy Nude review, so I won’t go into too much detail here. This sleeve does not come with port covers in its accessory kit, but the screen guard and stands are still a nice bonus that isn’t offered by most companies.
After several months of wear and tear, it’s held up pretty well to everyday use. The only issue I’ve come across is that the material on the rib cage portion can get scuffed, especially since the material grips onto smooth surfaces. The case got caught on the internal frame of my backpack and a few scuffs can be seen in the image above.
The back of the sleeve, which covers the aluminum side, is not as well padded and mostly serves as a scratch guard. Considering that it’s covering a solid piece of aluminum, I’m not as concerned about that as much as the glass side. For those who are interested, the sleeve is a very snug fit, and can eventually be broken in to fit over a SwitchEasy Nude polycarbonate case in addition to the iPad.
Overall, I think the sleeve is well thought out and fits well. The only exception is the material, which I find to be too soft for my liking. The Ribcage design does an excellent job of protecting my screen during my daily commute, and even managed to survive one or two major impacts without any damage to my iPad. While it’s not the most cost efficient, it’s fairly durable, and I would recommend this sleeve to someone looking for a unique, eye-catching design (it’s also available in white, grey, and red). For everyone else, there are cheaper sleeves out there that might be just as functional.