The Carved Traveler Wood Case for the Galaxy S5 is a great option for anyone who doesn't want the typical phone case. It has a rubberized exterior to help with drops and dings along with a wooden inlay for added style. Buttons are slightly mushy, but it's nothing to worry about.
- Design
- Durability
- Functionality
- Feel
There are hundreds if not thousands of phone case manufacturers out there nowadays, so it is hard to determine a difference. Many case manufacturers tend to skip function for form, but some have pulled off both. One of those companies is Carved.
There are many skin makers out there, both textured decals and skins made out of natural wood. The problem is none of them offer the protection of the standard polycarbonate or rubberized case. That is where Carved comes in. Carved originally started with making wooden skins for iPhones, but has since expanded their offerings to Slim Wood Cases, Traveler Wood Cases, and even Solid Wood Cases. They currently offer cases for all iPhone models 4 and up, along with the Google Nexus 5/6, and Samsung Galaxy S4/S5/S6.
For this review, Carved was kind enough to send us a Traveler Wood Case for a Galaxy S5 I had laying around. So, I set down the Galaxy Note 5 for awhile and employed my encased Galaxy S5 as my daily driver. The Traveler Wood Case has a rubber bumper surrounding the entire device to provide maximum protection and a wooden back for added style.
One of the first things I noticed, is how genuine Carved is. You can tell they take pride in what they produce, as they are all hand-made in Indiana. From opening the box that it was shipped in, you are greeted with sleeve that holds the case that has hand-drawn artwork on it. It is a very nice change to the regular box that just lists off the company’s name with other specifications.
You can opt for either pre-made designs on their website or opt for your own artwork on their awesome Case Designer. If you want something one of a kind, be sure to check it out, it’s pretty intuitive. We didn’t get our hands on custom-made design, so we have the Corporal Inlay case. At first glance it looks very clean and minimal. The wood grain really stands out and feels very natural. Don’t worry, you won’t get any slivers.
One thing I thought was really cool is what’s on the inside of the case. It has the entire team’s signatures around the Carved logo. It just goes to show you that how much this small team appreciates your business.
When putting the Carved case over my Galaxy S5, it went on with ease. So many other cases I’ve tried try to get it to be such a tight fit, that it is somewhat of a struggle to get the device in and out of it. That is not the case with the Carved case. They struck the perfect balance between fitment and the easiness to put it on.
All of the ports are in the right spot and there is no room to spare. Carved definitely measured twice and cut once, because everything lines up perfectly. One little detail I appreciate is that the headphone and microUSB cut outs are slightly larger, so you can fit bulkier cables in there. I am always disappointed when I need to remove my case to charge my device or listen to music.
Holding the Carved Traveler Case in the hand is very comfortable. The edges are very wide and have slight dimples in them to give maximum grip. Some case manufacturers forget about the whole “grip-ability” of a case, but not Carved. The edges are also slightly rounded to make it very ergonomic. The wooden inlay is completely flush to the outer rubber edge, so there is no unwanted lip.
While the design and practicality of the case is 100% point, one issue I have with the case is the buttons. They function as they should, but they just aren’t very tactile or clicky. I almost second guess myself sometimes when I press them because they are slightly mushy. That is honestly my only real issue with the Carved case, other than that it is great.
Another thing I appreciate about the case is that it has a very nice lip around the front of the case. I find myself setting my phone face-down on most occasions, so it’s really reassuring that Carved included a nice sized lip to protect your phones screen.
Overall, I am very pleased with Carved and their phone cases. Not only do they add the protection that many of us need, they add the style that we want. They also have a massive selection so you’re bound to find a design that you like, and if you can’t find one, you can make you’re own. Their cases range in price, but this case was $29, which isn’t bad at all, especially when you think that it’s protecting your $500+ investment.
Be sure to head over to Carved’s website to find your next case. You can also find them on Twitter.
