Any case can protect your iPad, and the right one can also make it look handsome. The Woolnut Leather Sleeve has a minimalist vibe, but the pebbled leather gives a very sophisticated appearance to the iPad Pro.
I wrapped several of my Apple tablets in the case over years, I can share what’s it’s really like to use.
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Woolnut Leather Sleeve for iPad Pro review
The 2024 iPad Pro is so slim and sleek it’s a pleasure to hold. That’s why I don’t put it in a case when I’m using it. But I certainly don’t carry the tablet around “naked.” That simply begging for it to get broken.
How protective a case to get is a personal decision. Some people want and need a bulky one with layers of plastic to protect their expensive computer. But other people prefer something slim and light. And “slim and light” is a perfect description for the Woolnut Leather Sleeve.
Table of contents:
Just enough and not too much
At first glance, Woolnut’s offering appears to be simply two leather rectangles sewn together. But there’s more to it than that.
Most importantly, it’s made of vegetable-tanned full-grain leather sourced from Scandinavia. My sample unit is cognac, and black is the other option. In time, the leather will patina, giving this case a vintage look. The pebbled texture adds to that impression.
“The pebbled leather structure is achieved by running a ‘dry drum’ as a part of the tanning process,” Erik Lavin, co-founder of Woolnut, told me. “Basically, that makes the leather ‘wrinkle’ as it tumbles around — after a certain number of drum revolutions the leather finally gets that pebbled structure throughout.”
The stitching on my sample unit is very tight, and adds to the professional appearance.
The fit is essentially perfect. The Woolnut Leather Sleeve is exactly the right size to cocoon an iPad Pro. The tablet is held securely, but not so tightly that it’s difficult to remove. As a bonus, that extra “wiggle room” brings some future proofing. I’ve used this case for years now with multiple Apple tablets. It fits the 2024 iPad Pro as well as it did the 2018 model I first put it in.
One edge of the iPad Pro is left open, allowing you to charge the tablet while it’s in this case.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
By design, there’s no room inside for anything else. The new Apple Magic Keyboard Case is slender but it’s still much too big to also fit into this sleeve. There are also no pockets or places to put accessories. Minimalism is the goal here.
And because it’s so svelte, this product is also lightweight. My sample for the 13-inch iPad Pro comes in just under half a pound.
Protection from scratches
The interior of the Woolnut Leather Sleeve is covered in 100% natural wool felt to cushion the iPad, and ensure the screen isn’t scratched when you slide the computer in and out.
Plus, the leather exterior protects your computer from scratches and bumps when you’re transporting it. But this is definitely not a rugged case, limiting how much it can shield the tablet from real disasters.
Woolnut Leather Sleeve for iPad Pro final thoughts
The iPad Pro on its own looks beautiful. But it’s a cold, glass-and-metal beauty. Wrapping this computer in a Woolnut Leather Sleeve gives it an organic look, even as the appearance remains utterly professional.
This case is sleek and lightweight, and brings some welcome protection to this tablet. Just don’t expect to use it to carry additional items.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Pricing
The price for Woolnut’s Leather Sleeve depends on the size. The one for the 13-inch iPad Pro costs $99.
Buy from: Amazon
And the version for the 11-inch iPad Pro costs $89.
Buy from: Amazon
For comparison, the DodoCase English Bridle Leather iPad Case that I recently reviewed costs $145. It also acts as a stand for the tablet, though.
Woolnut provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
This Woolnut Leather Sleeve review first ran in January 2020. It’s been updated with fresh information.