ACCESSORY REVIEW: BestSkinsEver iPhone 3G Total Body Skin w/One Piece Back

Skins have been a popular alternative/compliment to cases for iPhone/Touch users who are paranoid (like me) and want to keep their device in pristine condition. It is a simple, relatively inexpensive way to protect your device from scratches and minor bumps, without adding any noticeable bulk like cases.

Side Note: A body skin may still be a worthy investment if your iPhone/Touch has a lot of scratches, dents, cracks, etc. First of all, you are shielding your device from further damange, and secondly it make your device look like it is in much better condition than it actually is. Why is this important? Many of the scratches with literally become invisible once the skin is applied, and a lot dents will just show up as bubbles when you look at it. This may not be the best looking, since it looks like a poorly installed skin, however, this may be beneficial for you if you are trying to take your iPhone/Touch into the Apple Store to get a replacment unit becasue a lot of the damage on your device will be hidden or less visible! Last I heard, no one was denied warranty becasue they had a poorly installed skin ;).

There are three main options for these types of skins: BestSkinsEver, Bodyguardz and Zagg InvisibleShields. I opted for the BSE skin because it is by far the cheapest ($7.99USD) compared to Bodyguardz ($24.95USD) and InvisibleShields ($24.95USD) . I have never tried the other two brands, but they are supposed to be very similar to the BSE skin.

Here is a breakdown of what is included:

BestSkinsEver ($7.99USD)
- 1 Set of the Total Body Skin (Screen Skin, Home Button Skin, Back Skin)

Bodyguardz ($24.95USD)
- 2 Sets of the Total Body Skin (Screen Skin, Home Button Skin, Back Skin)
-Squeegee
-Application Solution
-Instructions

InvisibleShields ($24.95USD)
- 1 Set of the Total Body Skin (Screen Skin, Home Button Skin, Back Skin)
-Squeegee
-Application Solution
-Instructions

Shipping:
Shipping was reasonably fast. The skins were in my mailbox in less than 1 week (3 days I believe). Shipping was also free for me (Shipping is free if you order 3 or more skins). Check the BSE website for the cost of shipping for purchasing less that 3 skins. http://www.bestskinsever.com/

Pre-Installation:
The reason why BSE is so much cheaper than the other alternatives is because they only give you the bare minimum. Basically your order will come in a regular letter envelope with the invoice, and whatever skins you ordered inside. Instructions are not even provided in the envelope, they direct you to their website for text instructions. I have ordered a few things from BSE in the past and overall I have been very satisfied both with the products and service they provide.

I personally do not think it is worth paying more for the extra's you receive with the other two brands. You can just use and old credit card, or a inactive giftcard (from Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc.) and the application solution is just a water detergent mixture. Bodyguardz and InvisibleShields advertise a lifetime warranty on the skins, where they will replace the skin for you whenever you need. BSE does not advertise this, however I have had no trouble getting replacements for my skins in the past for free.

Installation:
Let me just start off by saying that this thing is NOT EASY to install, especially if this is your first time trying it. Patience is your best friend in this situation. It took me between 45 mins to an hour to complete the installation. I just followed the video tutorial from the InvisibleShields website, and it worked flawlessly. One thing to note: the paper backing stuck to home button skin and would not wash off. I contacted BSE and they appologized and shipped a replacment skin for me immediately! (Thats what I mean by great customer service!)

Tips for Installing the Skin:
- Set aside at least one hour to install the skin. You do not want to rush this.
- Install the skin in a steamy washroom (Like after a shower). The steam captures a lot of the dust floating around so that it does not end up on your skin, and under your screen.
- Spray a little bit of solution on the squeegee instead of the top of the skin (as stated in the InvisibleShields video). I find this works just as well, and you have more control over how much of the solution is getting on to your device.
- If the corners or sides start to dry out, dab your fingers with the application solution rather than respraying, so you don't put on too much application solution. (Which will likely increase the duration of your installation)

Post-Installation:
I am fairly happy with the final product (and proud of myself for doing a reasonably good job =D). One thing to note though, these things are not as indestructable as advertised. On the first day after applying the skin onto my phone, I had the phone in my pocket along with some other items. I think it was pressed up against one of the items and now it has left a rather annoying mark on the screen. It probably wont heal itself, becasue it looks like the screen protector has been slightly stretched. It is probably partially due to the fact that I did not give the skin enough time to fully cure.

Post-Installation Tips:
- Make sure that where ever you put your iPhone/Touch, it is not pressed against the corner of something else. (especially in your pant pocket like me =(... )
- Throw a case on it. The skins are great for protecting your device from scratchs and minor bumps, but it provides virtually no drop protection.
- Keep your order confirmation emails! This will make getting replacment skins very easy and fast if/when you need them =).

Pros:
- Excellent scratch protection (better than any case available)
- Touch sensitivity is not affected by the screen skin
- Hide some of the existing damage on your device
- Can still be used with almost any case
- Price is very reasonable
- Fast shipping
- Great customer service, making it a breeze to get a replacement


Cons:
- Not easy to install.
- You need to set your device aside for a few hours (supposedly 12 hours) to let it dry. (So you can't play with it)
- Dust starts collecting around the edges of the skin over time.

Conclusion:
Overall, I think this is a must have for any iPhone/Touch owner. You have already invested so much in your device, whats another 8 bucks? You may get really frustrated during the installation, but once you are done, it will be so worth it. The device gets a little "grippy-er" with the skin on. Some like it, some don't so you will have to wait about 12 hours after the installation to judge for yourself =).

Hope you all enjoyed my first review! Let me know what you guys think. Thanks a lot.

-monkeyball p