Sony PSPgo Traveler Case Review

Sony's own first-party case for the PSPgo, the Traveler Case, is a pretty nice solution for protecting your PSPgo at a reasonable price. It looks good, it feels good in the hand, and it even doubles (sort of) as a stand for the PSPgo when watching movies. It's not perfect, but it certainly could be much, much worse. Add a screen protector, and you're pretty much set unless you intend to play with your handheld in the mud or the rain.

I got my PSPgo Traveler Case free when I pre-ordered my PSPgo, but I'd have been happy to pay for it, especially now that I've had a chance to try it out for a while.

Sony bills the Traveler Case as "durable and stylish." It's faux leather, which isn't really the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word "durable," or the word "stylish." Time will tell whether the case actually is durable, but I do think it looks pretty stylish, though that's more a result of the design of the case than the material it's made from.

The Traveler Case is the kind of case you put on and leave on. The top flips up out of the way while you're playing, so you don't have to remove the PSPgo from the case at all (even though the PSPgo's instructions warn you not to use it while in a case, since it can get hot). It's comfortable and feels good to hold, though the top does kind of flap around while the case is open, especially if you make vigorous movements. That might annoy some players, but I didn't find it too hard to ignore.

If you watch a lot of video on your PSPgo, you'll appreciate that Sony designed the Traveler Case to double as a stand while it's open. I didn't actually find it all that effective--I just couldn't quite get it to stand up the way I thought it should (I moved right after getting the case and naturally can't find the instructions). That's not much of a drawback for me, as I prefer to hold my PSP in my lap while watching movies, anyway, so I can shift it around for the best angle as I shift myself around in my chair. And other, more clever users might be able to get it to stand up the right way.

There's not a whole lot more to say about the Traveler Case. It's more substantial than a soft case, and offers more protection, but it's not quite a full hard case, either. It seems like it will do a good job of protecting the PSPgo under most normal, everyday conditions, especially if you add a stick-on screen protector to your PSPgo.

Until Logitech makes a PlayGear Pocket for the PSPgo, Sony's Traveler Case will do nicely for my PSPgo. And if you don't like the black color, it also comes in "lake blue."