Review: Slappa Hardbody Daily PSP & Accessory Case

January 29, 2006 at 02:14 AM in Gadget Reviews

Slappa Hardbody Daily PSP Case

I'm not just a gadget maniac, I'm also a case freak. Immediately after I purchase an expensive gadget I also need to buy a case to protect it, and I often find a case wasteland. Manufacturers don't always seem to immediately release well made protective gear for gadgets when they hit the street. The PSP has been out for awhile and there are as many cases for it as there are people waiting to kick your ass online in SOCOM - well ok, maybe not that many. Slappa is renown for making high quality CD & DVD cases as well as backpacks and messenger bags, so when Slappa sent me their Hardbody Daily PSP case to review I was excited to give it a spin on "Phat Bastard." (You did name your PSP too, right?)

What's in the Box?

One Slappa Hardbody case with zipper, caribiner clip and Velcro belt-strap (yo Batman).

What's Good About It?

This case has two UMD slots, a large slot for your extra accessories like headphones or memory cards, and of course a large space to hold your PSP. The outer shell is reinforced which will protect your PSP from crushing forces and the zipper has a unique outer covering which makes the seam smooth and hides the zipper when zippered up. Hiding the zipper like this does make the zipper a little harder to pull, but is well worth the style points added. The zipper pulls have the nice round Slappa plastic tugs that are on most Slappa products, and a soft elastic band holds your PSP snugly in place when inserted.

What Could Be Improved?

Don't get me wrong - I love Slappa products. I have to honestly say that in this case (hah case, no pun intended) they missed the mark on one key point: how delicate the PSP screen is. The Slappa Hardbody case does have a soft felt-like backing, and while the photo above depicts the PSP stored with the screen against the elastic band it is possible to store the PSP flipped around with the screen towards the back of the case. Thing is, I don't want anything touching the screen on my PSP. I've tried just about every soft cleaning cloth out there and bottom line is dust particles scratch the screen no matter how soft the cloth is. (If you want to keep your PSP screen perfect, get a can of compressed air and a Hori screen protector and apply the protective film immediately after opening in a steamy bathroom to minimize dust particles.) If you already have a screen protector applied to your PSP, then of course none of this matters. The only other drawback to this case is the lack of dedicated storage slots for your memory cards. I have four 1GB cards I lug with my PSP and don't want them slapping around freely, I prefer to have them secured.

GadgetMadness Verdict: Same Slappa Quality, Season to Taste

The designers of this case obviously focused on portability options (Velcro beltclip, caribiner) and in this goal they succeeded without question. My own personal preference in a PSP case is one that allows the PSP to be played while in the case, like the Vaja or Logitech PlayGear. However if you are looking for a more storage friendly solution, the Slappa Hardbody will rock your world up and down, front side and back. (And if you're ever playing SOCOM online and find yourself in the Bunker level, keep an eye out for a player named "Flopsie." I know that level like the back of my hand.)

SLAPPA HardBody PSP Daily Case Summary:

xEVA outer shell with patent pvc design
Water resistant zipper with 2 pulls containing rubber SLAPPA logo grips
Storage divider with 2 cargo net storage pockets (ideal for storing 2 Universal Media Discs)
Cargo net storage pocket inside the case cover (ideal for storing headphones and remote control)
Xtra-wide elastic band for ultra-secure PSP storage
D-ring with removable carabineer clip for EZ transport
Adjustable Velcro storage strap for multiple transport options
Dimensions: 4" (w), 7.5"(h), 2"(d )