YoTank for Microsoft Zune
Price: $82.50
www.YoTank.com

To kick off our reviews of cases for the Microsoft Zune I wanted to find a case that provided the ultimate protection. In the past we have always looked to Otterbox to supply cases that can withstand the harshest conditions that anyone could possibly throw at their portable device. Too badly Otterbox is not making and does not have current plans to make a case for the Microsoft Zune. This started my quest to find another case that could provide Otterbox like protection for the Zune.

YoTank is relatively new to me, but a great looking start up based in the Midwest, USA. Their specialty is cases made out of aluminum for portable devices such as the Zune and Apple iPod. Each case design comes in your color choice of either plain aluminum or a black finish. Of course this looked like the exact solution I wanted, great protection for the Microsoft Zune! For review I received a black version for the Zune. Besides the color choice there really is no other choice besides what device you want the case for. This makes it simple to find what you need and get what you want, although some that want more jazzy colors may be a bit disappointed with the two color choice currently available.

In the mail came my very own YoTank. The packaging is very simple consisting of the case shrink wrapped in plastic and a small baggie that contained a belt clip. Inside the case with the shrink wrapped removed is another small bag that contains an allen wrench and two extra screws.

Taking a overall look at the case, it is of a very simple design. There are two solid aluminum pieces that make up a back portion and front portion. These two pieces are held together by six screws that are screwed down using the allen wrench. On the front portion over the screen cutout there is a piece of clear lexan to protect the screen of the Zune. Also cutout are holes for the sync cable, headphone port, hold switch, and front buttons on the Zune. The whole inside of the case is lined with a soft felt like material to protect the Zune.

Putting the case on the Zune is a very simple procedure. First thing that needs to be done is the six screws need to be unscrewed.

Next you will want to remove the protective white backing on the lexan screen.

Finally you will want to lay your Zune in the case and reattach the front portion with the six screws.

Notice how the Zune sits just a bit into the case, this allows space for the pads on the front portion so that the lexan screen overlay does not sit directly on the Zune's screen. A very nice touch to prevent scratches.

The final product.

To demonstrate this whole process I have put together this stop motion video clip on putting your Zune in the YoTank:

If you want to use the included carabineer style clip, you will need to unscrew one of the six screws and put the screw through the small belt clip attachment plate. This plate then connects via a nylon cord to the carabineer clip.

To recap on the installation, I was impressed overall. The YoTank does take more work to get your Zune into and out of than other cases, but once in the case I was very happy with the outcome. The fit was very good everywhere and all the cutouts lined up perfectly. There was no parts that caught or issues with putting the Zune in the case and the installation overall was a breeze without the need for any additional tools.

Taking a look at the Zune after it is installed in the case further impressed me. Every cutout lined up perfectly and the gap between the two portions was no existent. The case felt solid and there were not squeaks, rattles, or wiggles. One of the finest features of the case are the beveled cutouts for the front buttons. Instead of just being straight cutouts, they are beveled which makes them look much more professional while also being easier to use.

Not every case can be perfect though and there are a few things that could be improved on the YoTank. First off, the front buttons on the Zune are a bit harder to use as there is an extra thickness that comes from the front portion of the case. This is eased a bit because of the beveling but still can be a bit annoying (mainly with the 4 way pad on the Zune). The other problem that I think needs some improvement is the headphone port cutout. For the stock headphones it is large enough, but for many after market headphones the cutout hole is not big enough to allow the headphones to make a good connection with the Zune. One work around for this is to get a short headphone extender that fits in the cutout hole, I had one laying around (sorry I do not know what it was from!) that is about 6 inches long and allows me to connect headphones that would not fit through the cutout hole. I would think this could be a fairly simple fix for YoTank, all they need to do is enlarge the cutout.

Now for what you have been waiting for, how the case performed! I have been using the case for a good 3 weeks during my daily routine which tends to include taking my Zune with me wherever I go. The reason I have always loved rugged cases like the Otterbox is that I do not have to worry about my device and I can throw it into my backpack, pocket, or even the seat of my car without having to worry about it getting scratched, smashed, or hurt in some other way. I can happily say that the YoTank provided exactly this protection for my Zune and I never had to worry about it while throwing it around and generally not paying too much attention to where it was placed and what was going on with it.

The YoTank is a great rugged case but there is one thing that it lacks that the Otterbox has and that is complete element protection. Since the YoTank utilizes cutouts instead of sealed pass throughs, there is still a chance for water, dirt, and other things to get to your device. I find this only a minor draw back though as the YoTank still provides amazing protection for your device from other accidents and the tough shell of the YoTank will not easily be broken, bashed in, or compromised enough to harm the device inside.

Overall the YoTank is the best ruggedized case for the Zune I have yet to see on the market today. It provides great protection in a stylish package that is truly made to a fine quality standard. The installation takes a bit more work than your standard slide in case, but once installed you will be very pleased with the results and can be assured your Zune is safe from most accidents and harm that could potential come its way.

Pros:

• Great protection
• Stylish Looks
• Very well made with everything lining up perfectly and cutouts beveled
• Everything is included to install your Zune in the case 

Cons:

• Headphone Port Cutout is a bit small for 3rd party headphones
• Front Buttons can be harder to push because of the extra thickness of the front portion
• This is bulkier than your average case 

Thanks to YoTank for the Review Sample!