Technology keeps speeding up and we’re just along for the ride. In the age of new cell phones every day and upgrade plans that allow you to move on from a device just as quickly as you picked it up, nothing really lasts for very long anymore. Our tech rarely ages well, becoming more frustrating as time goes on.
That’s why I love the juxtaposition of leather cases, watch bands, and accessories for my devices. Even though the device itself might not age graceful, the accessories we buy for it don’t have to follow the same course. Leather just gets better as it wears. It feels better, it looks better, and it gets more character. That’s why I teamed up with two of my favorite leather technology accessory companies to look out a few of their products.
Bellroy Leather case for Pixel
Phone cases are a billion dollar industry on its own so it’s not surprising you’d find leather cases around. But, what you may not realize is that a lot of those “leather” cases are actually imitation leather. Any time you see Vegan Leather or TPU Leather, it’s not real cowhide.
That’s not the case with the Bellroy Leather case for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. This real leather case is environmentally certified and uses premium hides tanned by gold-rated Leather Working Group environmental protocols. Bellroy then dyes the leather so each case gets that weathered look you can expect to see on an old timer’s wallet after about 40 years of use. It feels fantastic to hold and looks high-end.
Leather is great but some cases really get let down in the protection department, even if the covering is fantastic. The Bellroy leather case is thick enough to provide some protection from falls while not making the phone feel too bulky. The Pixel isn’t the easiest phone to use anyways and adding a case to make it even bigger can be an awkward situation. Luckily, Bellroy figured out the perfect amount of protection vs. bulk here.
There’s a cutout for the fingerprint sensor around back and a small lip to cover the screen a bit. This can cause some problems when trying to swipe in from the right or left of the screen, but you get used to it pretty quickly. The case covers the power and volume buttons rather than leaving openings and does a pretty good job of not making the buttons feel mushy, like some other cases. Active Sense, the squeeze gesture on the sides of the Pixel, is also unaffected by the case.
Overall, this is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a high-quality leather case to use long term. You can grab the Bellroy Leather Case for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from Bellroy’s website, starting at $45.
Nomad Modern Watch Strap
Watches have come with leather straps for decades, but it’s oddly hard to find a quality, real leather strap for modern smartwatches. That’s where Nomad comes in. We’ve previously told you about Nomad’s leather wallets, ChargeKey, and Folio Wallet case, but none of them hold a candle to their watch straps, in my humble opinion.
This particular strap is for the Apple Watch Series 1-4 and will appeal to all of you who go “Captain Two Phones” and carry both an Android device and an iPhone. To be honest, the Apple Watch is the only reason I carry an iPhone anymore so I’m very into accessorizing and keeping my watch in tip-top shape, which is why I love Nomad’s strap.
I’ve only had the strap a few weeks but it’s already weather really nicely. The patina it’s developing is going to be a stunner and I have no doubt that this is a long term strap solution that I’ll be wearing for years to come, even if I upgrade my watch.
Nomad gives you plenty of color options here with Black, Slate Gray, and Natural color options. And if that isn’t enough, the Horween leather is from right here in the good old U.S. of A. You can grab the Nomad Modern Strap from Nomad’s website, starting at $59.95.