Review: Marware Sidewinder For iPhone

Traditionally, holsters haven’t been made for iPods and were exclusive to phones for the longest time. The same could have been said for the iPhone, until manufacturers seized the opportunity to fuse cell phone accessories and their typical designs for iPod cases into a sleek package. Holsters from Vaja, Belkin, Griffin, and Marware come in many different forms, and today I’ll be taking a look at one unique case, the Sidewinder.

The Sidewinder

Previous versions of the Sidewinder have attempted to cover the entire iPod with a hard plastic shell, allowing removable parts for access to either port and adding a dash of functionality. Marware took the same concept and applied it to the iPhone, but realized one very important thing other case manufacturers are reluctant to acknowledge: you cannot cover the entire iPhone.

This is why a holster version of the Sidewinder works so well, as it takes only the essential elements (headphone holder & kickstand) but adds a bit more as well.

Headphone Management

The focus of the Sidewinder’s design is headphone management, but it’s taken up a notch in holster form. Marware has added a slot to hold your Bluetooth headset as well, and no, you don’t have to choose which you can carry as the slide out holder accommodates both.

The headset can slide in easily and will either have the earbud sticking out or sticking in, but winding up your earphones is a different story as there is no right way to do it. There are small slits where you can slide the earbud cable in, but you are still left with some slack towards the connector. Although you can use the Bluetooth headset slot to hold the connector, your earbuds won’t fit snugly around the holder. I found it was easier to leave the earbuds plugged into the iPhone, leaving a bit of slack, and then winding it around. Doing this allowed the earbuds to slide into the bottom slit easily and you don’t have to fuss around with plugging or unplugging. However, this contradicts the intended functionality of a holster since you need to unwind the earbuds for use.

Accessibility

A prime factor in choosing a holster is how easy you can pull it out and how snug of a fit the holster provides. The last thing anyone wants is their iPhone sliding out due to a loose holster, and this fear is only magnified when handling such an expensive device.

The holster itself provides a snug fit, but to pull out your iPhone you’ll have to push down on the tab at the top to release the phone. To put any fears out there to rest, I decided to put the Sidewinder to a somewhat dangerous test: a bike ride.

I took a short 3 mile ride and went over plenty of bumps and curbs, and I am pleased to say the Sidewinder held on without ever loosening its grip.

Kick Stand Clip

One of the things the Sidewinder is notable for is its kick stand, or interchangable clip system. The Sidewinder allows the best of both worlds in a convenient system. The included belt clip functions as a stand in either position.

What’s cool about the clip stand is that the iPhone can still go into Cover flow or widescreen mode while in the holster.

Other Niceties

Included with the Sidewinder is a microfiber cloth and screen protector. The screen protector is a no fuss plastic overlay that will stick right on and can be removed with relative ease.

The holster also has a cut out for the camera, and even with the belt clip attached there is a clear view. Along the bottom are slits for the speakers and there is no audible distortion in quality or volume.

Should You Buy?

The Sidewinder is one of the most unique holsters for the iPhone and provides added functionality that makes it an almost all-in-one case. You’ll never want to take the Sidewinder off.

Pros
-Provides strong grip
-Cable management is easy and accommodates Bluetooth headset
-Clip is strong and makes an easy stand

Cons
-If pulled too hard the cable winder will come off the rails but can slide back in. It must be handled with care after this.