I’ve always enjoyed checking out the various accessories that enhance tech gear. Sometimes, though, an accessory becomes a necessity. This is particularly true when it comes to my Kindle. After paying what some consider a premium price (for a premium product, I would add), I want to make sure my investment is protected.

After using my new Kindle 2 for the past week, I can’t imagine not having a cover for it. The cover itself is an inexpensive accessory, but offers nearly complete protection and peace of mind… not to mention it’s nice to hold and easy on the eyes.

There are a variety of Kindle covers on the market. Most covers are offered by third parties and the range in price is considerable. You can spend as little or as much as you’d like on a kindle cover, depending on your tastes. The hand-stained leather covers offered by Haan Cole are beautiful, but will set you back over $100. If you appreciate the finer things and have the money to spend, I think the Haan Cole covers are a great choice. Many of us, however, are more interested in the less expensive Kindle covers after purchasing a new Kindle 2.

In this review, The Kindle cover in question (say that three times fast!) is the popular leather kindle cover made by Amazon.

When the original kindle was released, it came with a cover. Kindle owners had mixed opnions about that cover; some people liked it, others desired a lower price on the Kindle so that they may spend the difference on a cover of their choice. Since I never owned the original, I can’t add much to that discussion. However, this point was echoed in the release of the Kindle 2. The price point of the Kindle 2 remained rather high and this time did not come with a cover. I suppose some may see this as a “lose-lose” situation, but I would rather point out the alternative of an even more expensive reading device that was paired with a sub-standard cover. It’s my opinion that Amazon made the right decision by not including a cover with the Kindle 2. However, it’s a bit ironic how the cover they probably would have included is the popular choice.

The Amazon Kindle 2 Leather Cover

As for the cover itself, the Amazon Kindle 2 Leather Cover certainly does what you’d expect a cover should do. As you can see, the cover itself is made of black leather on the outside. The inside of the cover is made of a soft felt-like material. Beneath the felt, there seems to be a layer of some kind of gel padding. This is likely to provide extra cushion for the Kindle 2 during its trips in your backpack or suitcase. Along the spine of the cover are two clips that are used to secure the Kindle in place. The clips are cleverly designed to allow easy insertion and removal. I’ve noticed no signs of my Kindle ever coming lose from the clips, which is to be expected.

One other thing I like about this cover is that I can fold the left flap completely back. This allows me to hold the kindle as it was designed to be held. It also adds a bit of comfort since there’s a bit of bulk added to my grip. When I have finished reading, the cover always closes completely like a hardback book. No paperback symptoms to be found.

A few of the negative comments I’ve read about this cover is it’s inability to latch closed. Before I had received my Kindle, I thought this might be an issue, but now I honestly don’t see what the fuss is all about. Maybe you should be concerned if you’re a clumsy person and prone to dropping things. As for myself, I tend to keep my Kindle setting on my desk or tucked safely inside the bag I carry to work. If this is a really big deal to you, there are Kindle covers that latch closed available.

All said, I can definitely recommend this cover to anyone who owns or will soon own a Kindle 2. If you’re reading this and have some comments or questions about this cover, please leave a comment below. I’m always happy to read and reply!