Plenty of Room for Accessories with These Travel Cases

You don't use a Pocket PC for its huge display or awesome keyboard—you use it for its portable functionality. And while Windows Mobile devices are very capable by themselves, accessories can enhance them tremendously. You may end up with a number of these hardware add-ons, and when you get ready to hit the road, you may want to bring one or more of them with you. Coat pockets can fill up quickly!

The obvious solution is a carrying case of some sort, and my favorite source for those right now is a company called Roadwired (http://www.roadwired.com). They offer a number of small, medium, and large carrying cases/organizers to help you bring necessary equipment with you, easily and safely.

Padded "Pods" with plenty of pockets

Roadwired's Pod is an extremely well-designed case that can hold your Pocket PC and a number of accessories, and will do double-duty as a small camera bag. The three well-thought-out side compartments can hold your cables, batteries, memory cards, portable keyboard, and more. The main interior compartment is cushioned and can be divided into multiple sections to store your Pocket PC and accessories separately. It will also hold a camera, lens down for added protection.

Roadwired Pod

If you need room for more accessories, Roadwired also offers a bulked-up version of the Pod, called Podzilla. It looks very similar to the Pod, but has twice the interior volume of its svelte sibling. Given the choice between the two, I would go for Podzilla—it's better to have a little extra carrying capacity than to run short. Also, my cell phone won't fit in the Pod's side pockets, but it's nice and comfy in the Podzilla.

Roadwired Podzilla

The left compartment of both cases contains 4 elastic mini-pouches, perfect for holding digital media or small accessories. There is also space to store a mini-keyboard or other accessory. The right compartment has 2 yellow bungee cords sewn into the side of the case that are ideal for securing loose cables, candy bars, or anything else you'd like held snug! Opposite the bungee cords is a clever nylon pouch with a Velcro enclosure, perfect for holding a CF camera or similar accessory. The front exterior compartment is opened by first opening the top of the bag and then unzipping the pouch. Within, you'll find 8 elastic bands perfect for holding AA batteries, pens, etc., and 2 elastic holders for CF or similar cards. Opposite is a mesh pocket which can hold cards or small accessories.

The top has a clear plastic pocket to hold a business card. Behind it is a hidden "Hide and Go Home" compartment, where you can keep a spare key, $10 bill, credit card, or something else for an emergency. The top of the case is generously padded, so a key or credit card within that pocket will not show through the top. Both the Pod and the Podzilla come with a reinforced handle on top, along with a detachable shoulder strap.

The back of the case has breathable mesh so moisture doesn't collect, and 4 nylon bands that allow you to wear the case on a belt. The Pod would be relatively large for a belt case, and you might look a little geeky wearing it on 42nd Street in New York City. But it would work well if you were hiking or rock climbing.

I really like the Pod and the Podzilla. They have a well-thought-out design and are made of quality material. I'm not a big fan of cases that use Velcro, but Roadwired did it right using it on these two—small, strong, and placed just right. You can buy MUCH cheaper mini-bags at your local discount store, but none will match the quality and usefulness of the Pod ($49.95) and the Podzilla ($69.95).

Keep your accessories under R.A.P.S.