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A few weeks ago, I took a look at some hard shell cases for the iPhones 3G and 3GS. Those tend to be the pretty ones, since it’s easier to be fashionable when you’re not worried about bending. But there are many people out there who’d rather protect their $200 to $300 phone than show it off like a well-coifed purse poodle. It’s to you kings and queens of the road that I dedicate this review.

Grip Two Toned Vector

We start with Belkin and their Grip Two Toned Vector ($29.99). This is a simple silicon case that wraps around your iPhone, leaving only the screen and top face exposed. The mic, speaker and dock port are open at the bottom, as are the silencer switch, camera and headphone jack. The power and volume buttons are covered, but raised bumps in the case let you know where they are and allow for decent control. Of all these, only the silencer was difficult to use while in this case.

The case’s fit is nice; easy on and easy off, while resting snugly when in place. The lips don’t splay over the edge, and although the frame doesn’t sit in a perfect rectangle at first, you can adjust it. There is no option for a belt clip or lanyard, but the silicon construction provides for a secure, comfortable grip.

The back pattern is a bit like Eddie Van Halen’s guitar: solid caviar (black) with randomly crisscrossing stripes (light blue, hot pink or clear). These work best over the white phone, as the striping of the black/clear model especially was totally lost against my black iPhone. But again, you’re not looking for design here, you’re looking for protection against scratches and bumps, and the Grip Two Toned Vector delivers.

Grip Ergo

I’m not as big, however, on Belkin’s Grip Ergo ($29.99). The fit is the same, the functionality is the same, and the protection is perhaps a bit better against bumps and short drops, but the design is toointrusive. The raised textured pattern slopes in at the center of the back, which makes the phone comfortable to hold when using both hands. If you text a lot or play a lot of games, this is good. For general use, though, as when talking, it adds extra bulk that makes the phone uncomfortable to hold…and I have fairly large hands; I can’t imagine what those with smaller hands would think of this.

Port and button access is the same as with the Grip model, right down to the difficulty in getting to the silencer switch. Color options are equally limited, coming only in caviar, indigo and chili pepper (red).

I like what Belkin is doing here—making cases to accommodate the multiple uses of the iPhone—but I mostly hold my phone with one hand, not two, even when texting. I’m willing to sacrifice design for the sake of protection, but not basic functionality.

Silicrylic

We move on now to Incipio for one of the more unique options in this roundup: the Silicrylic ($24.99). This case—available in white, clear, black, olive green, burnt orange, lavender, magenta and blue—combines a silicone case with a polycarbonate shell that snaps over the back and around the corners. As a result, you get an excellent blend of hard shell protection with soft shell comfort and grip.

The necessary ports are predictably open, but unlike with Belkin’s models, the silencer switch hole is wide enough to allow easy access. Also, the lip around the edge is nicely beveled, making it very easy to type at the edges of the screen.

No belt clip or lanyard is offered, but the Silicrylic does come with a screen protector, polishing cloth and plastic stand to hold the phone up in its horizontal orientation. Plus, the polycarbonate case (which can also be purchased separately) is available in clear or black, so you can create your own look. Combine all of this, and you’ve got a case that does a great job with protection, functionality and design; a combo that’s not easy to pull off.

Solo, Solo FX, and Solo FX SE

iSkin comes close, too, with the variations in their Solo line (Solo - $29.99; Solo FX - $32.99; Solo FX SE - $34.99). These cases all border on hard shell, but there is some bendability and shock absorption to them.

The variations are both accessory and color/design oriented. Solo gets you four solid color options and a clear screen protector. Solo FX offers five color options, a mirror effect screen protector and a circular design pattern. Solo FX SE drops the color options to three, but includes both screen protector options and a subtle embossed pattern. The color of all the variations is translucent, looking good over both black and white iPhones, and the Microban antibacterial construction offers a solid grip and decent protection.

This is a fun case that, depending upon the color, can be either feminine or masculine. Ports are easy to access, although I found the covered power button to be a bit less responsive than with the other models in this review. The best part, though, is that you can spend an extra $15 to get the revoClip. This belt clip helps to keep your phone out of your pocket or purse, providing easy access for when a call comes in. The whole package can run you up to $48, but it’s as complete a solution as you’re going to find.

revo²

Our final entry was a favorite of mine back with my first gen iPhone, and it’s still one of the best options out there for complete protection. iSkin’s revo2 ($39.99) has too many features to cover in a roundup review, so I’ll just tear through this.

It comes in four colors: black, blue, red and white, all of which have a black face. It has a honeycomb micro-texture shell that provides a solid grip and reduces sliding, and is coated with a “dust-reducing treatment.” It comes with not only an adhesive anti-glare screen protector, but also a clear plastic shell that snaps over your screen for when the iPhone is not in use, and can snap onto the back when it is in use.

The revo² completely covers your iPhone, including flaps for the dock port and headphone jack (I had some trouble getting the headphone flap to stay in place). Only the camera, silencer and speaker/mic are permanently open. However, the camera opening isn’t quite wide enough, and I found it hard to find the volume buttons under the case. On the bright side, as with the Solo, the revo² is compatible with iSkin’s revoClip.

This is a great looking case no matter what color you buy, and it offers fantastic protection and a comfortable grip. I just wish the fit had been a little better, and that power/volume buttons were raised higher for easier access.

Conclusion

There’s not a bad case in this bunch. Only Belkin’s Grip Ergo didn’t appeal to me, yet it may be the best model here if you use your iPhone for typing and gaming more so than speaking. The revo² provides the best protection, but I still prefer Incipio’s Silicrylic and iSkin’s Solo cases for overall use. If you throw in the revoClip, I’ll declare the Solo this roundup’s winner.

• Belkin’s Grip Two Toned Vector - 4/5
• Belkin’s Grip Ergo - 3/5
• Incipio’s Silicrylic - 5/5
• iSkin’s Solo, Solo FX and Solo FX SE - 5/5
• iSkin’s revo2 - 4/5

See other iPhone 3G/S case reviews:

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