Boomer Shopping: Some Stylish Cases for iPads and iPhones

The foldable front cover of the “studio” iPad Air case converts to viewing as well as typing modes. Photo by Lia Norton.

The “studio” iPad Air case comes in a variety of colors. Photo by Lia Norton.

If you’re like a number of other baby boomers I know, you’re trying to keep up with the latest generations of iPads and iPhones. (Yes, it’s true, baby boomers are big consumers of all things Apple.)

You might even get a free upgrade — but you still have to buy new protective cases. 

Perhaps knowing that I’m always dropping my smartphone and tablet and generally treating them roughly when I travel, STM Bags asked if I’d like to review a couple of their cases. I wasn’t familiar with STM, but that’s all the more reason to see what they had to offer, and I’m always glad to keep up with the latest travel gear.

A “studio” cover for the iPad Air arrived in the mail shortly thereafter, and I quickly realized  it was more stylish than my usual accessories, which run toward “battered and bruised.”

It has a magnetic closure feature that makes it easy to open, close, and set up at different viewing angles, and  it even wakes or puts the tablet to sleep depending on whether or not you’re opening or closing it. It’s also lightweight but protects your iPad from bumps, bruises, cat scratches, and rough treatment during airport security checks.

One caveat: it does not fit earlier iPad generations.

A few weeks later, a second package arrived with a “harbour 2” case for the iPhone 5s ansd 5 (a different model fits the 5c.)

Again, stylish — more stylish than my typical iPhone case, for sure. This one was grey with a kind of desert orange stripe around it, which actually turned out to be a hinge that allows you to prop up the phone for viewing, and also makes it easy to put the smartphone in and take it out, or dock it on another device.

It weighs very little but the exterior offers a hard shell with rim for protection — it’s supposed to be scratch resistant, and so far my cats have not made a mark on it —  while the interior is softer against the phone.

Of course, it also allows access to all the buttons, ports, controls and the camera lens on the smartphone.

The “harbour 2” from STM is designed to fit the iPhone 5s or 5. The striped area is actually a hinge. Photo by Clark Norton.

STM makes cases for other tablets and smartphones, too, and you can check them all out at the STM Bags website. 

This Week’s Travel Quiz:

According to a recent study, mobile devices are projected to account for what percentage of the U.S. online travel bookings by 2015?

A. 10 percent

B. 15 percent

C. 25 percent

D. 35 percent

I’ll have the answer in my next post.

Meanwhile, be sure to download my free report, “How to Ride the Coming Wave of Boomers,” available here. It’s all about the best ways to market travel to baby boomers — the biggest-spending group of travelers the world has ever seen. It’s also the easiest way to subscribe to my blog, so you won’t miss a posting. Thanks!