Having already tried out and really liked the Ciderz case from Bodyguardz, I was very pleased to be offered the opportunity to review the company’s other iPhone 4 case, the Shelter.  The Ciderz is a Bumper-style edge-case which has become one of my go-to cases since writing my review, and was in fact on my phone when the Shelter arrived!

The Shelter differs in that it’s a more traditional case, but shares the same combination of polycarbonate and TPE materials in its construction.  As you can see from the pictures, this is a black and white model (for Stormtrooper fans everywhere), with the black sections representing the more pliant, soft-touch TPE and the white parts the harder polycarbonate.  Aside from looking good, this offers both hard-shell protection and improved grip.

Taking a quick tour around the case, you’ll find an opening on the rear for the camera lens, plus one on the top for the headphone socket, and on the bottom for the 30-pin dock connector and the speakers.  The sleep/wake key has its own cover, as do the volume up and down buttons.  The mute switch is uncovered and judging by the size of the aperture, the Shelter should be suitable for both the Verizon and the GSM iPhone 4.

Instead of using two separate circular buttons over the volume keys like the Ciderz, the Shelter has a rocker-style setup, and it’s much easier to use and nowhere near as uncomfortable to push: a welcome change.  Otherwise, it’s business as usual, as the dock connector and a 3.5mm headphone jack both fitted perfectly.

On the inside of the case you’ll see a collection of forward and backward slashes embossed on to the case.  These are made from TPE and are said to add scratch protection and to enhance the audio quality.  Personally, I didn’t notice any difference, so any gain is obviously minimal; although I would imagine they’ll do more for protecting the phone.

Fitting the iPhone 4 is easy, as you just push it in – top first – until it’s securely inside.  There is a lip for lay-on-the-table protection, however it’s not all that pronounced, but as the top, sides and rear are all covered; the Shelter offers as much protection as you would expect from a standard case.

It’s not all good news though, as the Shelter I received for review was ever-so slightly warped, with the rear panel bowed inwards.  This didn’t affect fitment, but I contacted Bodyguardz and supplied them with some images to get their feedback.  After examining them they confirmed it wasn’t normal and could have happened during shipping, and offered to replace the case for me.  The service they gave was great and if I were a consumer who’d parted with my cash, I’d be pleased with the outcome.  It’s great to see a company stick by their product.

The Shelter costs $29.95 and includes an anti-glare screen protector, plus it comes in a variety of colors.  Aside from the distortion in my case, it feels sturdy and well-built, plus the rocker-switch over the volume controls is a great design feature.  The hard and soft materials work well together too, and the normally slippy iPhone 4 won’t be falling out of your hands while inside this case!

The Shelter may not be as flashy as some other cases on the market, but I’m a fan of its understated looks and I’m going to recommend it for anyone who feels the same.