I have 3 levels of jackets for here in Michigan.
LIGHT WEIGHT: Costco fleece jackets (or similar) with the all-important zipper pockets on the sides so things can't fall out and an inside pocket that is big enough...just barely.... for the iPad mini. "Barely" counts as good enough for me.
MEDIUM WEIGHT: My favorite medium weight jacket is from ScotteVest. Here's me and one of the 15 pockets this jacket has. It's called the Chloe Glow Hoodie and is $90 unless you get it on sale which I did. I didn't receive any benefits from saying this but I love their clothing and if I was a millionaire, I'd probably order everything they have for women. Since I'm not, I'm selective.
I ordered this one in XL because I like to layer up underneath it. I'm 5'4" and 135lbs and it fits me fine. Since Scottevest tends to have very accurate measurements if you like a more loose casual fit, I suggest upping it one size and forgetting about your ego like I had to do.
HEAVY WEIGHT: If I'm more dressy or it's really cold here in Michigan then my black coat from Columbia with an inner and removable very warm Omni-Heat silver liner fits the bill. I also ordered this in XL. I bought it at an outlet mall and kept trying them on until it felt just right. The outlet mall also had a North Face outlet but I'm too frugal for that. Columbia was fine with me. I liked their prices better and I couldn't love this coat anymore than I do...unless it was plastered with a North Face logo....because this pocket is BIG and could probably hold a little kid or puppy inside it instead of my iPad mini.
Now about the iPad mini cases.
For 3 years I've had an Invellop Leatherette Case that I bought for $14.95.
It still looks like new. "Leatherette" is good stuff. Wears well.
The best feature on the Invellop Case
is that you can close the cover and it shuts the iPad mini off.
That's my favorite feature.
My second favorite feature is that it holds a pen stylus with an elastic loop. It's worked
great for 3 years and is still working just fine. It's handy to always have a pen and I use
the writing pen end more than the rubber stylus because...now my next favorite feature...it has some credit card slots that I keep small sheets of paper in instead.
Perfect for a quick note.
(I know I could use an app for that but sometimes I stay in old school mode.)
The only drawback to the Invellop Case...and it's a major one....is
that it will not reliably stand up.
I can't tell you how often I've used a salt and pepper shaker behind it to raise it up.
That works well in a restaurant but when I'm laying in bed that trick won't work. So I just hold it in my hand or prop it on blankets.
It does have a hand strap but it's thin and doesn't instill confidence.
That's why when I got the chance to try the Gladius iPad mini case by New Trent (on the left) that goes for $35.93 I jumped right on the deal they offered me to review it and try it at a discount.
I was intrigued by the metal stand and the beefy hand strap. That's what drew me in and both features did not disappoint. (The Invellop on the right is playing nice and standing for the picture but it doesn't have the iPad mini in it for the picture. When the iPad mini is in the Invellop case the weight makes it very unstable.)
The fact that I now have to press a button on the side to shut off the iPad...or wait 2 minutes for it to auto shut off....gosh I'm so lame....makes me not miss folding over a lid quickly to shut it off seem like something I can live without. Especially since there is a clear cover over it now that comes as part of the more protected Gladius case on the left.
The New Trent Gladius case stands up by itself so well. It stands up even on my bed when I turnover or adjust. It's a very sturdy kickstand. It's not an adjustable one though. But the angle choice they decided to make it was probably for this reason and it's more easily viewed straight on than looking down at it.
I thought I'd use the hand strap more now that it's a beefier one on the New Trent Gladius. I guess if I worked in the Apple store and walked around with it more, I probably would. (And I'd look so cool in my grey t-shirt with the Apple logo.
If only I was an Apple genius. If only. If only.)
I thought I might go back to my old Invellop
case because I love familiarity and there is comfort in things you are use to.
But....I guess the winner is the New Trent Gladius because my iPad mini is still in there.
I think it has found a new home. And...as you can tell from the size, it still
fit in all my pockets!