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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1359241
Max Protection First off, WaterField’s AirPods Max Shield Case is indeed a real case with a stiff-ish shell and a secure, water-resistant zipper closure. As with Apple’s case, the headphones lie flat, so the Shield Case takes up little more space than the headphones themselves. The interior, you will discover, has lavish padding and a velvety, teddy-bear soft surface. (Seriously, if you need some added stress relief, put on some mellow tunes and stick your hand inside for a while.) Inside the case, you can be assured that your headphones are well-protected and likely more comfortable than you are. You’ll find a lot of products out there that are actually designed with an eye toward mass production more than long-term durability. At WaterField, that factor isn’t even on the table. The Shield Case, like virtually of their product line, is hand crafted in their loft-like facility a few blocks from the San Francisco bay, amid the old piers and pricey condos. Their goal is to do it right, rather than fast. That hand-crafted care, rather than the WaterField logo, justifies their products’ price tags. Max Convenience Like nearly all of WaterField Designs’ products, the Shield Case could probably get by on looks alone. But it doesn’t. It has the features that you need, where you most want them. In spite of the quick-turnaround, The Shield Case was one of WaterField’s many community-design projects with customers worldwide brainstorming feature ideas. On the back of the case is a large, elastic net pocket, good for paperwork or other thin stuff you need quick access to. On the front, is a slash zipper pocket, also padded with the teddy-bear lining, useful for more delicate items. Our personal favorite is a humble nylon loop. Attach a carabiner clip and the case can securely clip onto, rather than go inside other cases you may be carrying, a help for those who want to squeeze every possibly inch of their carry-on space. Inside the case is a small elastic net pocket with a Velcro strap to neatly carry a cable and charger. Below the pocket are a pair of leather tabs that conceal a pair of round magnets. The tabs flip up to put your headphones to sleep or fold back down if you want to keep them in the Apple-supplied shell.