Apple designed its Apple Watch to cater to a wide range of tastes and budgets, offering the device at prices ranging from $350 to $17,000. Recently, the company teamed up with Hermès for a unique designer Apple Watch collection featuring Hermès bands.
Some accessory makers have taken a cue from Apple and partnered with well-known fashion labels to create unique Apple Watch accessories. Incase is one of the latest companies to do so through a partnership with luxury brand Parabellum. Together, the two created the Apple Watch Travel Folio, which is crafted from full-grain North American bison leather in Los Angeles, California.
Design-wise, the Travel Folio has impressive attention to detail and impeccable construction, and I’d expect nothing less for its premium $250 price tag. The exterior is a high-quality textured leather and the interior is a soft suede that protects the Apple Watch from scratches. I’m no leather expert, but the bison texture looks nice and should weather well with daily use.
I used the Incase x Parabellum Travel Folio in Pumpkin, a rich orangey brown color that matches well with a gold Apple Watch and is used for several other Parabellum products. The Travel Folio also comes in a classic black color, but both are made of the same bison leather.
Parabellum is known for its style and quality, and while I’m no fashion expert either, the Travel Folio matches the Parabellum aesthetic and is just as stylish as the company’s popular range of bags, belts and wallets. For someone who owns other Parabellum products, the Travel Folio will fit into a collection. Incase and Parabellum made 150 of the Apple Watch Travel Folio accessories, so each is a limited edition product.
A dust bag is included with the Travel Folio and there is a subtle Incase logo on the snap button (which is made of ceramic) that keeps it closed. An additional cord wrap is included with a matching button with the Parabellum logo. Inside, folio parabellum and incase stamped with brand name.
The Travel Folio is versatile, serving as both a charging station and a way to transport the Apple Watch and Apple Watch charger. When traveling, the Apple Watch can be stowed under the leather on the right side of the Folio, while the charger is wrapped in a separate cord wrap. With the Apple Watch on Folio, the band is covered while the Apple Watch face is visible for a quick time check. As the name suggests, it’s a folio – it has a cover that folds over the Apple Watch and closes. I noticed while using the Folio that the inside of the Apple Watch has a bit of a bump when the Apple Watch is closed.
There is a suede-covered foam cutout that accommodates the Apple Watch charger for use at home or for charging the travel folio. The Apple Watch charger fits into the cutout and the cord is pulled downwards, allowing it to be plugged into the power adapter. From there, the Apple Watch can be placed inside the folio on top of the charger, under the leather flap, or on top of it.
Because the Apple Watch charger’s cutout is suede and foam, it’s not particularly stable inside the Folio, but that doesn’t matter too much since the whole thing lies flat on a desk or other surface. When traveling, the Folio can be used to store the Apple Watch in transit and then set up in a hotel room as a place to charge the Apple Watch at night.
Serving two functions gives it much more versatility than a typical Apple Watch carrying case, but ultimately it can be purchased for both purposes. It works as a simple case to hold the Apple Watch while traveling or as a charging solution. Due to its design, the Travel Folio only works with open-loop bands and does not support iOS 9’s Nightstand mode. One may not want to buy a Travel Folio with a closed-loop band like the Milanese Loop because the band needs to be undone every time it is used.
The long length of the Travel Folio makes it somewhat awkward to transport. It won’t fit well in a purse or pocket, but it will fit in a suitcase, briefcase, or large bag. At home, it looks nice on a desk or nightstand, and it protects the Apple Watch from the environment while charging, but it’s not a better solution than one of the other docks on the market for home charging.
bottom line
At $250, the Incase x Parabellum Apple Watch Travel Folio is aimed at a niche audience. It’s ridiculously expensive compared to other Apple Watch stands and charging solutions on the market, and it’s not something I would buy myself or recommend to the average Apple Watch owner because of its high price.
For someone familiar with the Parabellum brand, who likes a bit of luxury, or needs a way to keep the ultra-expensive Apple Watch Edition safe, the Travel Folio is worth a look. Ignoring its price tag, it’s versatile as it can be used for travel or at home on a desk, but its size makes it unwieldy.
It’s not the most practical Apple Watch charging solution or travel case I’ve seen, but if you’re spending $250 on an Apple Watch accessory, I guess practicality comes down to quality, branding and design. The Travel Folio is well made and is undoubtedly one of the most premium Apple Watch products on the market. If you’re after those special qualities and price isn’t a factor, it’s worth a look.
How to buy
The Incase x Parabellum Apple Watch Travel Folio can be purchased from the Incase website for $250.
Note: MacRumors was not compensated for this review.
