So you finally got an iPod for your birthday and now you need to make sure it stays safe, scratch-free, and of course stylish. Unsurprisingly, there’s about as many kinds of apple iPod covers/cases as there are kinds of iPod owners. And in terms of usefulness and looks, an iPod cover is the best iPod accessory you can invest in. The most common (but still very slick looking) kind of covers are the single color silicone ones, which are usually called xskin/xskn or iskin. These can come with or without the track wheel cover. You can even get a tattoo/skin to go over a silicone cover that is repositionable and doesn’t leave a residue when you take it off. There’s also the knit iPod sock made by apple.

If you prefer a more unique solution, look for one of the many handmade, homemade, DIY, and otherwise one-of-a-kind covers that can be found on eBay or on independent craft websites. Most of these are made with excellent craftsmanship and will keep your iPod safe and uniquely stylish. Finally, there’s designer styles from tons of brands, maybe most notably iPod hoodies by C. Ronson and GEAR4. Just watch out for the leather ones because designers love to charge an arm and a leg for the "luxury" of wearing the skin of dead animals. Not cool!

But these cases aren’t just for the generations of regular iPods, there are also tons of options for your iPod nano, iPod mini and iPod shuffle. Just don’t waste your money shopping at the official iPod store, because you can always find apple’s products cheaper if you look around online. Super Media Store also has amazing selection and has lots of positive customer reviews (link on the top right of their website). eBags has a smaller selection, but regularly offers free shipping and has a 110% price guarantee so you’ll always get a deal on a cheap iPod cover.

A little PSA: If you’re still shopping around for an iPod you might want to take it’s dirty little secret into account when making your decision. Write to apple and remind them that making products with an intended shelf life of 18 months isn’t responsible or nice.