With my posting to Afghan coming up I decided to buy the Nexus 7 tablet to take with me. I can use it for films, ebooks, wireless internet and most importantly.....surfing por....errr....ARRSE.

This presented me with the issue of safe carriage. We all know how ham fisted movers are, and their less than gentle approach to other peoples kit, so I wanted to offer my new purchase the best odds on surviving the journey out there. I also wanted something that would be useful in-theatre, and would cope with the environment I would be in, once on the ground.


I found there weren't many padded cases available for the Nexus 7 but Intelligent Armour manufacture one. It's multicam, and at £27.60 it's not overly pricey for the peace of mind it offers.

The case is made in the UK from "Crye 2-way stretch NanoSphere 40D Multicam fabric." To be fair, I've no idea what that means, but it sounds Gucci to me. It is, however, well padded and water-resistant and that's what matters.

The IA case arrived the next day by recorded delivery, and I was immediately impressed by the quality of this product. The material is strong, is well stitched, and offers more than I expected. There is a large internal space, measuring 15cm by 20cm, that is fastened by Velcro. Ample room for the Nexus 7, and a stylus if you use one. There are 2 external pockets, one with a zip (that I put my charging cable in) and an open pocket that I’ve not found a use for as yet, but it’s better to have something and not need it, than need it and it not be there...right?


I have used the case all weekend, and had no problem with it. After 24hrs I was confident enough to test the case, so dropped my Nexus 7 from a height of approximately 50cm, flat onto my table. I am very very very pleased to find that it came away unscathed.


Obviously, the case can be used for other devices and it just so happens that it is the perfect size for my Kindle too.


IA offer a wide range of products for other tablets. I have since purchased their iPad case, and will review this once it arrives.

My Verdict:

This case is very durable, well priced, and offers my tech the protection it needs. I would certainly recommend this product to others.