One of the first observations I made when I started using the Zune HD was how easy it is to nick and scratch that shiny body on my new media player.  This one was really in need of a case, or it was going to lose that new device shine all too quickly.  Sadly, the Zune HD did not include any kind of a case, pouch, or other protection.  So, I set out looking for a case to protect my new Zune HD, and it was not long before I found my way to Waterfield, which is an old favorite around these parts.  Waterfield wasted no time after the release of the Zune HD introducing a Suede Jacket for the Zune HD, and they were nice enough to send me two different models to use (and keep) with my Zune.  Let’s check it out.

This is an extremely simply case, but it worked great.  It is obviously made from a fine suede, which is soft enough to protect the screen on your device.  It is a sleeve style case, which means the Zune will slide right in.  It fits snugly, wrapped inside the suede like a blanket, but the case is stretchy enough that it is easy to slide in and out (it even has a stretch memory so it will always snap back to the correct size).  The suede material also allows the case to maintain a very skinny profile.  The Zune HD is almost as skinny in the case as it is without the case. 

The only thing I did not like is that, as a pouch style case, you cannot access the screen and controls without sliding it out of the case.  This is a problem for me since I am often walking while listening, which means every time I remove it from the case to adjust the volume or change the song, I risk dropping it on the ground.  That being said, this is not so much a complaint about the Waterfield case specifically, as it is a comment on pouch style cases in general.

The case comes in two styles, with or without a pocket.  Waterfield sent me one of each so I could compare them, and I have to say that I really liked the pocket.  It is not made from suede, but from a stretchy spandex.  This allows it to lie flat when empty, but expand to fit whatever you want to store there.  I chose to keep my headphones in there and it worked quite well.

I really loved the simplicity of this case.  It does exactly what you needed it to do, which is add just a little extra protection for the screen and body on your Zune HD.  As an extra bonus, it even looks great while doing it.  The Zune HD Suede Jacket is available from Waterfield for $13 with the pocket or $9 without.