NOMAD rugged case
A minimalistic case for the iPhone 14 series for all those who lead an active lifestyle.
I don’t know if you belong to the group of people who like to protect their mobile devices with a case or do you prefer your device to be naked and unprotected. If you are in the first group, then you are someone like me who likes the protected device but also likes to personalize it in a certain way. A good case, in addition to protecting the device from scratches, can also save it from expensive repairs. This is not at all negligible today, especially when the prices of high-end devices are astronomical.
Choosing a case for your device is not (or is) that difficult because we have an almost unlimited selection of different models. We can choose a mask that no one else has, but we can also make our own. When it comes to selection, I like to stick to proven brands and cases that I know will protect my device. A brand that I don’t need to introduce anymore is NOMAD, which has several models of masks to offer — modern leather, sports, super slim, and rugged. I had the modern leather for the iPhone series 12 and I can only say the best about it.
With the introduction of the iPhone 14 series last year, NOMAD released a rugged case that immediately caught my attention because I love that type of case. In the meantime, I became the owner of the new series 14, so the only thing left for me was to become the owner of this case as well.
Perhaps it should be emphasized that this rugged type of case is not for everyone’s taste. It will certainly suit those who lead an active lifestyle, but also those who want to additionally protect their device from possible impacts. As the mask is made from a combination of a polycarbonate frame and plastic (PET) back, it is extremely light but adds some width to the device. It’s not a problem for me, but it might be for some with small hands and if they plan to carry the device in their pants pockets.
The polycarbonate frame should protect the device from a fall from a height of 4.5 meters. Also, there is additional thickening at each corner, so the device should remain more or less undamaged when dropped. Of course, I didn’t want to verify the accuracy of these claims, but I can say that my device survived a couple of drops from the table to the tiles without scratches.
What attracted me the most to this mask is that despite being rugged, it looks minimalistic. It is not one of those masks that are unnecessarily loaded with details. Despite this, the masks will not go unnoticed. Especially if you opt for the limited ultra-orange color that fits perfectly with the sports strap for Apple Watch. If you prefer muted colors, you can opt for black or ash green.
The NOMAD rugged mask fits perfectly in the hand and does not slip. The buttons can be pressed very easily and have a good response. The hole for the mute button is large enough that can be used without any problems. On the bottom, there are holes for the speakers, a charging port, and a place to attach lanyards. On the inside, there is a microfiber interior to prevent accidental scratching.
The mask supports MagSafe technology and has one of the strongest magnets. When paired with compatible accessories, the magnets hold very firmly and sometimes even require a little extra force to remove them.
Tried a couple of different iPhone 14 series cases so far and they all had one flaw that bothered me. When the device is laid on the table, it does not stand stably due to protruding camera modules. The NOMAD rugged mask has an elevation around the camera edge and at each corner. Because of this, the device stands stable when it is laid down on the table.
Using the mask daily for a few weeks, I did not find anything negative about it. The only drawback in my opinion is that fingerprints remain easily on the back, especially when you hold the mask in your hands for a long time. But as soon as the mask is wiped with a damp tissue — it’s like new again! I also did not notice that the mask is prone to damage and that the color fades. You can be sure that it will look like new for a long time.
Finally, we should mention the price, which is $50 on the official website. We can debate whether is this too much money for a mobile phone case or not. I will say that it is not. You cannot expect a mask that costs a few dollars to protect your device well, and a cheap case always looks cheap. If you have an expensive device, definitely invest in a better case because you won’t regret it. I know that I never had a better-rugged mask than this one from NOMAD. Big A+!
