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One of the features I consider in iPhone case reviews is whether it comes with a method to attach the case to a belt, pocket, purse strap, or what have you. Few of them do anymore, choosing instead to distinguish themselves with funky features or high fashion. This is unsettling to me, but thankfully there are a good number of belt clips designed to work with at least the slim iPhone cases. In this review, I’ll take a look at offerings from Belkin, Speck and Monster.

Leather Slim Fit with Pull Tab

Belkin, of course, has been developing accessories for Apple products since well before the iPhone (and even the iPod) was around, and their years of experience have carried over to the Leather Slim Fit with Pull Tab ($29.99). This stitched leather case is about as basic as they come as far design goes, save for the aluminum strip on the front. It’s elegant. Professional. Whatever the design term is for “black” these days.

The belt clip on the back on is quite tight, making it a little harder than it should be to slip into place. This serves a purpose, but not as effectively as it should. The gimmick with this clip is that the top flap which uses velcro to hold the phone in place can also be pulled to raise the phone about half an inch out of the case. This makes the phone easier to retrieve when trying to take a call, but there’s a problem; if you pull the tab too hard, it can pull the whole case right up off your belt. That alone prevents the Leather Slim Fit from getting a perfect score.

Still, if you’re using your iPhone naked—or with a skin or ultra-slim case—the Leather Slim Fit is a handy, sturdy clip for carrying it around.

QwickDraw

Is there a reason Speck misspelled “quick” in their QwickDraw ($29.95). If it’s because another company already owned the name QuickDraw, okay. If it’s because they thought they were being clever, then I shake my fist at them in rage. I’m like that.

Any bad will I’ve created with my angry gesture, however, will hopefully be repaired with my favorable review of the case. First of all, it goes on easier than the Leather Slim Fit. Second, it’s open in the front, so you can use the phone even when it’s in the clip. This feature can be a detriment, however, because the screen of your phone is open to the world, just waiting to be scratched.

The fit is tighter than with the Leather Slip Fit, so expect a tight squeeze if your iPhone is skinned, and a very squeeze with a slim case. This is important, because to get the phone out, you have flip back a top latch and pull up from the bottom with your fingers. It’s a comfortable motion, but hard to pull off if there’s anything on your iPhone outside of a screen protector. I think users will find it easier to just pull off the entire clip, but either way, you get the functionality you desired.

Monster LRG

Yes, it’s that Monster; the audio and power company. Proof yet again that everyone has an iPhone case out these days, so here’s the Monster LRG ($49.95), complete with the Monster price tag. Monster always tends to make the premium price worth it, and they do that here through functionality.

Stitched flaps on the back allow you slide a belt through horizontally or vertically. This not only allows you to position the phone however you want, but it also all but guarantees this case isn’t coming off your belt. I can’t imagine anyone would want to pull their phone out from the side instead of from the top, but the option’s there if you want it. Another option is the detachable key chain that features the metal LRG Cycle logo clip. This snaps securely to the back of the case and allows you to dangle your phone from a belt loop, or to carry keys if you’re using the belt straps for attachment. The clip is sturdy and easy to open, and looks pretty good to boot.

The top flap has an opening for your headphone jack (as do the others), but not for the power switch (the others do). However, of the three clips covered in this review, only the Monster LRG has an opening for a dock cable. Do you need one with a belt clip? You do if you leave your phone in the clip when you’re not carrying it around.

The Monster LRG provides the tightest fit, making it the hardest from which to retrieve your phone. It’s also the only one with any real sense of fashion, coming in various leather and camouflage colors.

Conclusion

Each of these cases does its job, and each has its own gimmick for doing it. The Monster LRG ultimately offers the most functionality, but you’re paying for it. I also don’t like the tight squeeze, so only if you’re seeking fashion would I recommend it.

Rather, I prefer for my belt clips to be a bit more basic, allowing my iPhone skin or slim case to be the fashion statement. I’m therefore recommending Belkin’s Leather Slim Fit with Pull Tab, but just barely above Speck’s QwickDraw. I don’t like that the Belkin case rises on my belt each time I pull that tab, but it offers a better iPhone fit than the QwickDraw, as well as protection from scratches.

• Belkin’s Leather Slim Fit with Pull Tab - 4/5
• Speck’s QwickDraw - 4/5
• Monster LRG - 3/5

See other iPhone 3G/S case reviews:

• iPhone 3G case roundup
• iPhone 3G/S soft shell case showdown
• Uniea iPhone case roundup
• iPhone 3G/S hard shell case showdown