vB Easy Archive - Hands on review: 8700x Gizmoskin Version 3

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Hands on review: 8700x Gizmoskin Version 3
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Posted by: lgreenberg

Gizmoskin Round 3

Hands on review by lgreenberg
March 20th, 2006

Price as reviewed: $39.95 USD

Sometimes practice makes perfect. And in the case of the Gizmoskin they seem to be one hundred percent committed to getting it right. I was recently sent the third iteration of Gizmoskin case for the Blackberry 8700x series.

Most important, what makes this version different than the previous versions. For starters the belt clip. In past versions the belt clip was wrapped with the same soft lambskin leather which the entire case was made from. This caused some issues. The belt clip does take abuse. We're always taking the case on or off our belts, swiveling it this way or that way. Well that caused the soft lambskin leather to stress. Gizmoskin responded by coating the steel belt clip with a tougher cow hide leather. This type of leather should handle abuse much better than it's softer cousin.

Here's some pictures of the newly coated clip.

I'm personally not a fan of this style of clip. I find the clip to be a little too short for my taste. I'm not one hundred percent confident that the case won't slip off my belt after I've worn it for a while. I've been using the case for a week now. It hasn't fallen off but I've been making sure it doesn't have the chance to do so. Habit I guess. :smile:

The clip is also too straight. It needs a little break at the end which helps lock it onto a belt. For example.....

The big plus to the Gizmoskin case is the fact that it ratchets. It does so very firmly, which is good. The OEM RIM leather holster has a ratcheting belt clip but I find it very loose. Often times the OEM case will shift positions while on my belt. The Gizmoskin's clip stays firmly where you set it.

The overall design and shape of the case remains unchanged. It's still a perfect fit for the 8700c.

For those of you wondering.... Yes the case holds the 8700c with the extended battery just fine.

The case still uses the same magnetic closure as the previous versions.

And the it still has the built in sleeper magnet. However, the magnet has been repositioned for better accuracy.

The biggest problem with the past version of the Gizmoskin has been the opening of the sides of the case. It's no big secret that the sides of the Gizmoskin are not stitched together. They are however held together by a strong adhesive. Apparently the adhesive used on past versions just wasn't the right fit for the leather being used and several users of the case reported their cases coming apart. I even tested this on my old version. I pulled the sides apart and they did come loose rather easily.

Well it seems this issue has been solved. A new adhesive has been used and it's MUCH stronger than whatever was used in the past. I did some testing on the case that was sent to me. I tried my best to pull the case apart. I pulled at the sides of the case as hard as I possibly could and they never came apart. After ten minutes of constant pulling there is zero evidence of my testing.

These pictures were taken after I had pulled on the sides as hard as I could for a bit.

So the question remains, is this the final version of the Gizmoskin? I guess that'll be up to the buying public to decide. From what I've seen from their commitment to product quality I'm guessing even better things are still yet to come.

Pros: Beautiful leather, perfect fit, sleeper magnet, fits both regular and extended batteries, professional looking, slim.

Cons: Belt clip.

Posted by: DocDVD

I my opinion, big turd. I had mine of a week before the left side became "unsewn." Gorilla glue to the rescue. Week three, right side "unsewn." Follow that with a trip to the trash can. The actual leather case that ships with the new 8700G instead of the plastic holster is really much better. I could almost keep this instead of my Classic Vaja arriving this week.

Posted by: lgreenberg

As I said in the review the issue with the adhesive coming loose and the sides pulling apart appears to have been addressed with the latest version.

What leather case is shipping with the 8700g? I've heard nothing about that.........

If I had to choose the Gizmoskin over the RIM case I'd personally opt for the RIM case because of the belt clip. I prefer the slimmer design of the Gizmoskin over the RIM though. I just can't get used to that style of belt clip.

Posted by: DocDVD

The leather case almost looks like a Krusell leather holster, but it says Blackberry on the front. Nice and snug with elastic sides, and really is far superior to the holster which as everyone knows, shoots the phone out across the room when you bend over on occassion. Plus, unlike the holster, it vibrates all the time in the leather holster exactly as it should.

As far as the Gizmoskin I got, it was sold to me as a "corrected" version that was not supposed to have the sides tearing issue, but it did indeed tear rather quickly.

Posted by: lgreenberg

Who says the 8700g is shipping with the leather case?

I haven't heard a thing about that on Blackberry Forums.

Posted by: DocDVD

Mine arrived Saturday unbranded from Australia manufacturered in Sunday, and it came with the leather case.

Posted by: lgreenberg

Wow, never seen that case before.

Can you post some more images?

The case was in the box? It's a RIM case?

Posted by: DocDVD

Yep, brand new RIM case in the box. There was no plastic holster, just this cool leather and elastic one. I was shocked too, pleasantly. Works beautifully, extremely snug and functions like a champ. Really feels like a Krusell.

Posted by: lgreenberg

Thanks for the images.

Are you sure it's leather. It looks like RIM's sport foam.

Can you get a shot of the clip?

Thanks again.

P.S. Sure enough with a little research I found some of the European providers are indeed shipping the 8700 with that. Cool.

Posted by: DocDVD

It definitely appears to be leather. I will get a clip shot for you tomorrow.

Posted by: lgreenberg

Unless it's a different case I'm told it's Hydrofoam.

Posted by: DocDVD

Nothing says what it is made from, the top and bottom and clip certainly feel and look like leather, but I guess it could be pleather or whatever for all I know.

Posted by: lgreenberg

It's called "Hydrofoam."

Posted by: acnst

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocDVD

Mine arrived Saturday unbranded from Australia manufacturered in Sunday, and it came with the leather case.

Could you post pics of the unbranded 8700? I would also like to know which information you have in the field "Vendor ID" when you press ALT CAP and H on the device.

Posted by: Synncere

Thanks for posting the review lgreenberg. I wasn't happy w/ my previous Gizmoskin case but it looks like they've improved on the new version. I may have to give this one a try.

Posted by: GregGebhardt

A friend just got a case like this and it hydrofoam for sure.