The belt clip
The belt clip, pictured in Figure C, is one of the best I've seen, requiring two buttons on the side to be pressed at the same time before you can pull the Visor out.

FIGURE C

The belt clip is one of the best I've seen.

There's no spring to hold the clip closed. The placement of the case in the clip also means the unit hangs upside down. Both of these require a little bit of time to get used to. My only minor complaint is the fact that the part that clips onto your belt or clothes is held in place by friction alone.

If you're not planning to use many Springboards, or if you don't mind the slight exposure or the need to remove the case to perform a HotSync operation, then Covertec's Cobra Case may be for you. It's a very good-looking case and easy to use, plus it has one of the best belt clips of all the cases I looked at.

E&B Company's Slipper Visor
In the realm of form-fitting cases, few come close to the E&B Company's Slipper series at http://www.ebcases.com/store/scripts/store.exe/. Their Slipper Visor, pictured in Figure D, is no exception.

FIGURE D


E&B Company's Slipper Visor is a nice, snug fit. Roll over picture for a larger image.

It's made of thin leather, and the Visor slips inside it. The case gives a nice snug fit but offers minimal protection to the Visor. The flip-up lid has some slight stiffness, but you may want to add an old credit card-sized piece of plastic (such as an old hotel keycard) into the pocket on the inside of the lid. This will add some additional screen protection.

The Slipper Visor has holes in the case for the IR port and HotSync connection. That's right, this case is one you can keep your Visor in and still perform a HotSync operation, and it's the only one in this review that can do it.

The belt clip is good, and I had no trouble with the case falling off the clip or the clip coming off my belt. The case can be slipped into the front pants pocket with little trouble, and the small metal button for the belt clip won't be noticed at all. The belt clip itself has a single button on the top that, when pressed, allows the case to come out. It was a bit stiff at first, but it soon became easier.

Problem areas
However, all is not perfect with this case. For starters, the lid is held closed by two small strips of Velcro. This might not have been the best choice, since in my case, the lid kept coming open. It would be nice if there were a hole in the back for a reset pin to be used, but you can add one yourself if you desire. There's also a clear plastic film that covers the buttons on the Visor. This can take some getting used to, but after a few days, I hardly noticed it. Since the top part is open, you can use some of the larger Springboards without problems.

E&B Company's Slipper Visor is also available without the belt clip, but I'd advise getting the clip version because it's the same size and you might just want to keep the Visor on your belt in the future. It's a nice looking case as well, and if you don't mind the occasional open lid, it might be for you.