If you want to play Angry Birds atop the Himalayas, boy have I got a case for you.

Or maybe, you’re like me, and travel to rough and tumble places like the Baja.

Either way, you ought to give the Go-Form Extreme Sleeve strong consideration if you want to bring your iPad (or New iPad) to locales decidedly less friendly than your office or living room.

You’ve probably read about G-Form before, and possibly even watched videos of iPads being dropped – Dave Letterman style – from amazing heights (hint: 500 ft. from an airplane); even being thrown against a wall, or trampled upon. I admit I did not attempt any of those daring feats of tablet bravery. I don’t have an endless supply of tablets here in the Stark Labs and would rather not risk losing my ability to Flipboard in my spare time. Still I did toss it around on hardwood flooring, carpeted areas, and also on stone.

There’s really nothing fancy about the Extreme Sleeve. It’s well crafted. Thick rubberized panels flex and give the case a finish that wouldn’t look entirely out of place in, say, Alien. It’s made from “RPT technology” and “PORON XRD” I’m told. I have no idea what that means. But I’m convinced that this will absorb energy from a fall as advertised. The zipper along the top is likewise heavy duty and is easy to grasp. There are no inserts for pens, SD cards, or the like, so store that elsewhere (like me, use your wife’s purse).

Easily this is the most robust case I’ve tested. Those that follow our adventures in new media on SI know that I love shooting video and photos with my trusty EOS 60D around San Francisco, up in Napa and also down in the Baja. And just as I’m paranoid about dust around my lenses, I’m also looking for ways to keep my iPad ready for duty — even bringing it along on a Panga for a whale watching excursion. And the G-Form fits the bill perfectly.

G-Form Extreme Sleeve (second generation)

4.5 out of 5 stars (Right on the Money)

Available in yellow or black. Fits iPad, iPad 2 and New iPad.

Price: $69.95

StarkIN:
Quality build and materials; Absorbs impact from falls as advertised (no I did not drop it off Transamerica or Golden Gate); Great fit; accommodates Smart Cover.

StarkOUT:
None; though a bit pricey (then again, so is busting up your iPad).

Verdict:
When the tough gets going, bolster your iPad with this sleeve. Plus: it looks ‘Alien’ cool.

IN PHOTOS: G-Form Extreme Sleeve for iPad / iPad 2 / New iPad