Whenever I see the word "vintage" on new product, I tend to scoff a little bit. In the case of XtremeMac's Vintage Sleeve for the new iPad, I definitely let out a groan. But once I took the sleeve out of the box and placed my iPad inside, I began to give the product a little credit for what it's good at: protecting my expensive tablet device.
This sleeve is made out of brown-green distressed fabric, which looks like something that'd fit in with the World War I aesthetic featured in Downtown Abbey. Outside, there's a snap closure to keep the iPad locked in, and a faux leather handle at the top to carry the sleeve or grab it out of a bigger bag. The inside is also lined with distressed fabric, and features an integrated pull tab that retrieves your iPad.
Overall, this is a really solid iPad sleeve. It's not as thin as others on the market, but if matching it is your Modus Operandi, then you're on the right path. iPad users attached to the Smart Cover, however, will have to leave that aside. We tried shoving in the iPad with the Smart Cover on and it just wouldn't fit. I am generally a fan of keeping the display covered when the iPad is not in use -- especially with its shiny new Retina display -- but if you're okay with taking the chance then the sleeve is worth the consideration.
The bottom line. This sleeve from XtremeMac has plenty of padding for your Apple tablet and goes great with a military aesthetic, but you might want to steer clear from telling your friends it's anything but vintage inspired.
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