Not everyone needs to carry around a beast like the Galaxy Note 2(I love mine though!). There are some people who don’t need all those features, and are eve n more minimalist than that, they don’t want to carry a wallet. Wouldn’t it be convenient to carry around your phone in a case that can also hold a few cards so you can leave your wallet behind? There are some options, and here is one from Incipio, the Stashback for the iPhone 5. How did it hold up in many trips hiding in several front pockets? Let’s find out.
First Sip
The Stashback comes in several color combinations, I decided to go with Obisidian Black/Ultraviolet Blue. I like the combo of black and blue, it gives the case a more sophisticated look. The Stashback has a nice NGP Soft Shell inside(rubber like feel) and a plextonium shell. This gives it a nice combo of protection and good looks. The finish is of a soft-gloss nature, not too shiny, not too matte. All the buttons are covered by the soft shell, and are very easy to press. This is a dockable case, it accomplishes this by allowing you to slide up the back cover so that the phone may fit on a dock. The bottom of the case also has the hidden door to store three ID or credit cards. This makes this case the only thing a minimalist will carry besides his keys. Put your ID and two credit cards in your Stashback and off you go. The Stashback started many a conversation when people discovered there were credit cards hidden inside such a small case. It gets bonus points for that alone.
Two Shots In
The Stashback was carried mostly in pockets and in glove compartments for a few weeks. In this time the case did get a few scratches on it, but nothing too noticeable. This is not too surprising because the case was traveling with keys a few times. The weight is barely noticeable, but the combination of the NGP softcase and Plextonium shell really gives the Stashback a sturdy feel. I’m sure it will survive most drops without incident. It is bigger than your basic shell case, but that is to be expected with the additional protection and hidden credit card pocket. The phone is easy to take in and out of the case, but it will never accidentally fall out. We don’t have any docks that have a lightning connector, so we weren’t able to test out the dockable feature just yet.
Last Call
There are a ton of iPhone 5 cases out there. That makes it increasingly hard for a case to stand out from the rest. The good thing is that you can find one based on specific needs, like the Stashback. Its combination of good looks and sturdy build makes it a great choice for someone who wants to travel really light. The combination of colors available makes it easy to find one that matches your style. At $34.99, it’s a great value for a case that offers so much protection and functionality.