Review: XtremeMac Sportwrap

While there are some nicely done hybrid products available, there aren’t a whole lot of pure armband options on the market for use with the iPhone or iPod touch – and for a simple enough reason: how many users really want to go jogging with a device that bulky strapped to their upper arm anyway? In fact a number of iPhone and iPod touch users also keep a nano or shuffle around specifically for exercise purposes. And so the lack of demand for such an armband leads to a lack of options, which generally means far too few good options. Which is why those iPhone and iPod touch users who really do want to wear their device on their arm may view XtremeMac’s forthcoming Sportwrap as more of a relief than anything; it’s not particularly flashy and isn’t perfect, but it gets the job done well.



Neoprene is generally the most comfortable material when it comes to armbands, so it came as no surprise that the Sportwrap felt plenty comfy on my arm once I adjusted the strap to the appropriate size. And the almost-clear material over the screen is easy enough to use the touchscreen through it. I say “almost clear” though because for some reason the chosen material is a bit grainy when you look through it. Not so much a big deal, as it’s not like you’re going to be doing heavy websurfing or reading the fine print of an email while you’re jogging and your device is mounted to your arm, but the blurry screen cover did cost the Sportwrap what otherwise would have been a four and a half star rating. Of course star ratings are comparative, and so the argument for the Sportwrap is helped by the lack of competition in general.



The single biggest issue when wearing an iPhone or iPod touch on your arm remains the fact that the auto-rotation can’t be turned off during music playback, causing the device to go into and out of Cover Flow mode every time you move your arm – but that ongoing fiasco is entirely Apple’s fault. The only real thing that armband fans are likely to fault XtremeMac for is the fact that the Sportwrap isn’t yet shipping.

Learn more about the Sportwrap at XtremeMac.com.