How we carry and protect our PDA and key accessories is an extremely individual choice and is often a compromise between style and function. Since purchasing my Compaq iPAQ 3650 over a year ago (and recently upgrading to a 3870) I have collected a drawer full of cases, none of which seem to possess all of the features I want. The Nite Ize PDA Universal Stand-Up Holster comes close in many areas but misses the mark on a couple of key functional features.

First of all, many people may recognize Nite Ize Inc. as a company that produces a variety of unique and versatile accessories and holsters for "Maglite^®" style flashlights. The company also has a line of stand up holsters for mobile devices such as cell phones, GPS receivers and two-way radios as well as the universal PDA holster.

The Nite Ize holster is very well constructed of tough Ballistic^® nylon on a bendable metal frame. The frame can be shaped into a loop with a snap to secure it to a belt, or with the snap undone, the frame can be bent out so that the holster can be stood up like an easel – rubber no-slip feet insure the holster provides a stable platform when used in this manner. The frame can also be used to hook over an object. There are two elastic straps that can be used to secure your PDA to the outside front of the holster providing easy access and viewing in a variety of positions (I actually hooked the holster over the rear view mirror in my car with my iPAQ secured by the elastic straps so that I could more easily access Windows Media Player while on a recent business trip – note that this is not recommended while driving). These straps can be secured out of the way when not in use. The downside is that you have to remove your PDA from the holster to use this feature – it would be much better if you could just pull back the front of the holster to access your PDA without having to remove it from the holster.

The holster has expandable sides to accommodate a variety of devices and accessory sleeves. It easily fit my iPAQ with the CF card and PC card sleeves, but sadly could not expand quite far enough to fit my dual PC card sleeve – the holster is designed to stretch to 1 ¼ " (about ¼" less than the dual card sleeve). An open bottom facilitates cable and charger connections while the protective cover flap hides a small zippered compartment that can accommodate a CF card, SD card, etc. Several pockets inside the holster can also accommodate storage cards or PC cards and an inside pen loop can accommodate a stylus. There is also an open-ended sleeve on the left outside of holster and a close-ended pocket on the right side. All in all there are a bevy of nooks and crannies where you can securely store your small essential accessories.

The Nite Ize stand up holster also looks good. It has a very sporty appearance (black and gray) and would look right at home on the hip of any outdoor enthusiast or backpack carrying professional - it would also blend in nicely with a SWAT team uniform. It may look a little too rugged for boardroom meetings, but that’s really up to each individual’s taste. The loop/stand adds somewhat to the overall thickness of the holster perhaps making it more difficult to fit into your computer bag or briefcase, but with the security snap it could be attached to the shoulder strap of your bag for easy access.

Specifications/Features:

Stretch side panels expand to fit most brands of PDA’s with expansion sleeves

Internal dimensions: 4 inches wide by 5.75 inches tall by 1.25 inches deep

Flexible metal frame allows different configurations – stand up, hang, belt carry

Elastic straps hold PDA outside holster for easy access when in use

Numerous pockets, sleeves and loops for accessories

Price: US$29.95 (3/31/02)

Pros: stylish, versatile, rugged

Cons: must remove PDA and reposition with elastic straps to use in stand up configuration, metal frame loop adds to thickness if carrying in briefcase, will not stretch far enough to accommodate Compaq dual PC card expansion pack.

Links: Nite Ize Inc. (www.niteize.com)

© 2002 Wayne McCurdy