Others say...

"Toughskin is TOUGH"
The toughskin has saved my iPod so many times it isn't funny. If you are tough on your stuff as I am, get one of these. It fits over your iPod like a glove and protects it from water and dropping. I LOVE this product and highly recommend it.

"Great iPod cover"
This is exactly what I wanted. It's great protection for the ipod and I like that the screen cover doesn't actually touch the ipod screen - it hovers slightly above it. It may make docking a problem for those who like to dock their ipods because this cover doesn't actually open - you have to insert the ipod through the screen opening like putting on a glove. But for protection it's wonderful.

"Must have iPod protection/carrier"
I was given this as a Christmas present last year. I had wanted an iPod and the giver was so unfamiliar with technical items that he asked the seller what a must-have accessory for the gift would be. I'm glad this happened since I was unfamiliar with this product. I was expecting an iPod Nano and figured it would be safe in my pocket or fanny pack. Given my affinity for practical ways of protecting/carrying things like the aluminum case with belt clip for my beloved Palm Pilot. I have found only one 'con' among the many 'pro' items. There are also a couple nit-picky items which have been reviewed as negative which I consider as neutrals.

The Good: Nice sturdy rubber which aesthetically matches the style of my iPod. Whether the color matches or contrasts, it still looks like it could have been designed by Apple to be used with the iPod during the design process. The grooves not only lessen the bulk but act as a functional method for finger grip purchase to reduce slippage. The cutouts are plenty large enough for the features to be accessed. The USB sync cable fits nicely, the control disk access is the same size, the viewscreen square is roughly the same size and there is a removable clear plastic cover which has a raised rubber edge to protect the display, the hold/lock slide has enough of an access for even large fingers to actuate without allowing for accidental de/activation, and the headphone jack is well-sized for typical headphones of most designs. My main reason for writing this review is the durability and protection factor. I dropped my iPod recently. I'm almost 6 feet tall and I was holding it about chest level. I had my fanny pack in my hand and I opened the side door of my van. The iPod slipped out of my hand and bounced under my van. I heard at least one more 'thud' before I knelt to retrieve it and saw it rolling almost to the far side. I turned it back on and plugged it into my cassette adapter. It still worked just fine (such could not be said for my nerves at the time)! The belt clip allows it to freely swing to protect from random (not so) near misses and it also makes for a nice ad hoc stand when watching podcasts/videos.

The Bad: The hole for the headphone plug is too small for the Apple A-V adapter cable. In order to be able to watch my subscribed Podcasts, I had to take scissors and flip the hole inside out so that I could enlarge the hole from the inside. To remove the protector from the clip, you can press down on the button on the top of the clip. There is a piece of plastic which separates the part which holds onto the disc on the back of the protector. This piece of plastic is too fragile for my taste. Every time I took it off my belt to place in the cup holder in my van, that plastic got pressed. A couple weeks ago, after about a year of consistent use, it stopped working. This is somewhere between inconvenient and annoying.

The Nit-Picky: Anyone who owns an iPod has some form of external speaker system. Mine uses the sync port on the bottom of the iPod to connect the unit. This of course means I have to remove the iPod from the ToughSkin in order to connect it. It fits nice and snugly so it takes a firm, even hand to remove or apply it. I have noticed some scuff marks on the back from the connector, but this is entirely cosmetic. From the nicks and scuffs in the rubber, I cringe to think about the marks on the iPod if I had not been using the ToughSkin at the time!

Overall this accessory is a winner. Since I got the first one as a gift, I'll likely be buying a replacement soon. At a price which is less than 1/10 of the iPod's cost, it is a reasonable price point.

"No nonsense protection"
The ToughSkin lives up to its name. I use my iPod mainly in my car, but shuttling it back and forth between computer and automobile, usually with handsfull of mail and other detritus, I've dropped my iPod before. No damage beyond a few scratches but now that it's encased inside this thing, it's safe.

Funny, it just stretches open at the window opening... stuff the ipod in, position the enclosed clear shield for the window, and it's ready to go. My iPod is black so it's good looking, in the same way the Incredible Hulk is good looking.

IF you want to stuff your iPod in your pocket, you might want to keep looking. Otherwise this thing is simple, durable, and tough.

"Simply the best protector for iPod Video"
Think of this as "bulking" up the exterior of your iPod Video with a couple of layers (or 3 or 4...) of protection. For someone like me, gravity has a way of destroying the things I invest a lot of money in. But this skin keeps drops from making me spend more money. Like an earlier reviewer mentioned, it's something Batman would have on his utility belt. Only con? Doesn't make it easy to plug into a external speaker unit because access to the bottom is thicker...Getting one for 3rd gen iPod nano.