I love going on vacation. It doesn’t matter if it is a 3 day weekend at the coast or a week at Disney World. At times like this I find that I want something to take with me that will hold my phone along with any other small items that can come in handy, i.e. hotel keys, local tourist maps, an autograph book for when we bump into Mickey Mouse, etc… A backpack is too much and even a fanny pack can be more than I sometimes need. So, I am always looking for a good phone case organizer, just for these special occasions.
With this in mind I wanted to try out the PDA Skins Horizontal Organizer. Looking at the stock photos and reading the description, it looked like this would fit my needs very nicely. But when I got my hands on it, I started to have my doubts. There are times that when my first impression is not very good, that after using the product for a while I gain more respect for it. Take a look at the full review to see if this is truly one not to waste your money on or if it eventually did live up to my initial expectations...
LAYOUT
You have your choice of microfiber or leather exterior… I chose the leather. There is a front pocket that has a Velcro flap for the phone. Along the back of the center zippered pocket there are two credit card pockets, two larger side pockets which could be used for business cards or receipts, and a pocket to keep your cash in. It has a handy elastic pen loop that could hold just about any pen of any size. There is also a removable insert that has a window pocket for a driver’s license, 3 more credit card pockets, and three more wallet side pockets.
On the back there is a solid sewn belt loop. It also has two flaps with Velcro, if you wanted to attach it to something like a purse or backpack strap. On the back there are also two small metal loops you can attach a shoulder strap to as well, giving the user 3 options of carrying the case
The layout out, number of pockets, and the format are fairly well layout out. This would certainly meet the needs of someone who wants to carry just a little bit more all in one place without having to stuff your pockets or worry about having to carry around something bigger like a fanny pack or purse.
QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION
Now that we have confirmed the layout is ideal, let’s focus on the quality of construction. The exterior and the seams are solid and of high quality. The zipper for the center section has two zippers which is convenient. The loops and clasps for the shoulder strap are metal and solid as well.
The Achilles heel of this organizer case is the Velcro. The Velcro for the flap that holds the phone is weak and does not feel like it really secures my phone. The flaps over the belt holder in the back also use Velcro with the same result… very weak grip and not very secure. The driver’s license insert is also secured by Velcro which barely sticks at all. In spite of the good layout, I have been too scared to use this case with my phone in it or trust my driver’s license to an insert that cannot be secured.
SUMMARY
The PDA Skin Horizontal Organizer has high potential. It has solid construction. There was obvious thought and planning given to the layout, but more testing and thought should have been given to the quality of Velcro used. The problem with the weak Velcro is that it is used at all the vital parts… securing the phone, securing personal ID, and securing the case to you.
PDA Skin is in a very good position to come out with an updated model of this organizer. If they do and if they address the weak Velcro issues, I will be first in line to try it out. Until then, I will not be trusting taking it anywhere beyond my own driveway.
