Not long ago, I reviewed the Cardo-S800 Bluetooth headset. One of the things I noted in that review was the lanyard, which did not work as well as I had hoped to secure the headset when not in use. In response, one eagle eyed reader (I believe it was Chris) mentioned that he uses the Nite Ize Tooth Ferry to carry his Bluetooth headset when not in use. Chris’ suggestion intrigued me. I am the type of person who hates having a hunk of plastic or rubber in my ear when I am not actively talking or listening to something. This means, my headsets typically get thrown on a desk, or in my pocket, where they are rarely accessible when I need them. As such, I found Chris’ solution to be an intriguing option. Before I had a chance to even research the Nite Ize Tooth Ferry, or try to contact them, however, they found me. Shortly after Chris made that suggestion, I received an email from Nite Ize, indicating that they had seen Chris’ comment and asking whether I would be interested in writing a review. Of course, I jumped at the chance. So, what is the Nite Ize Tooth Ferry? How does it work? Does it work at all? You’ll have to jump past the break where I will answer all of your questions.

The Nite Ize Tooth Ferry is a universal Bluetooth headset carrier. The main body of the carrier is made of a solid piece of reinforced leather. It actually looks much like the backing of a police badge. So, I suppose that is an added benefit when your kids (or you) want to use it to play cops and robbers.

Across the front of the Tooth Ferry is a criss-crossed ("X" shaped) series of elastic straps. To carry your headset, simply slide it between the straps and the leather back, and let the elastic hold it in place.

In the center of the elastic strap there is even a convenient pull tab, which can be used to quickly release your headset from the holder.

The back of the Tooth Ferry contains an ultra-secure belt loop. This is a fantastic belt loop because it has a hook, which slides under your belt. Even if it gets bumped, this hook will ensure that it always rests securely on your belt.

This brings us to the part of the review you all want to know. How does it work? One of the great things about the Tooth Ferry is that the criss-crossed straps leave an opening on all sides. This means, it can hold a variety of shapes and sizes of Bluetooth headsets. Of course, it will not work with all headsets, however, it is designed to hold as many as is practicable.

I tested the Tooth Ferry with three different headsets: the Cardo S-800, the SoundID SM100, and the Plantronics Voyager 520.

I started with the Cardo S-800. One of the key features of that headset is the removable earloop. Because I found the earbud on this headset to be too large for my ears, I typically use it with the earloop. I first tested it with the earloop removed, and this worked extremely well. Despite its small size, the Cardo S-800 felt extremely secure in the Tooth Ferry holder. More important to me, however, would be how the Tooth Ferry fared when the optional earloop was added. I will admit, this took a little more work. However, once I figured out the best angle for it, I was extremely impressed by how well it did fit, despite the fact that the design of the earloop can create some odd angles.

I next tested the Tooth Ferry with the SoundID SM100. This test was a complete disaster. For those of you who have not seen my review of this headset over at Gear Diary, this is one of the smallest headsets I have ever used. Additionally, in order to make it fit your ear better, the back of the headset is rounded in a semi-spherical shape. The size and shape of the headset made it impossible for the straps to grip and secure it.

The Plantronics Voyager 520, on the other hand, is a much more traditionally shaped headset than the SoundID. It consists of a longish piece and an earloop. This headset is really the kind of design for which the Tooth Ferry was intended , and it works great. The headset slipped right in under the elastic straps, and can be secured from a variety of angles. When wearing it on my belt, I always felt this headset was safe and secure.

Having determined that it would fit two of my three available headsets, the next test was to actually clip it onto my belt. I often have a problem clipping things to my belt because I find they end up jabbing me in the ribs or legs. Typically, I try to avoid having more than my phone attached to my belt. I was impressed to find, however, that even with a headset strapped in, the Tooth Ferry was practically invisible on my belt. I did not feel either the Tooth Ferry or the edges of the headset protruding into my ribs, and it weighed almost nothing on my belt.

I think the Tooth Ferry is a fantastic solution for those of us who do not want to walk around with a hunk of plastic sticking out of their ears. It allows you to quickly and easily access your headset, without it becoming an intrusion. Sure, it did not work with all of my available headsets, but even their website claims to work only with most headsets, not all. Some of the more creatively designed headsets, such as the SM100, may not work with the Tooth Ferry. And that is fine. There will always be an oddball. For the rest of you who are using a more traditionally designed headset, the Tooth Ferry offers the ideal solution, allowing you to have your headset at the ready…without appearing to have it at the ready. Nice!

Vital Stats:

Name: Tooth Ferry Bluetooth Headset Carrier

Manufacturer: Nite Ize

Where to Buy: Nite Ize Store

Price: $7.00

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