Customer Reviews

Cole Haan Hand-Stained Pebble Grain Leather Kindle Cover with Hinge (Fits Kindle Keyboard), Blue Pearl

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I had been lusting after the Cole Haan cover for the Kindle2 for a long time and when they went on sale this spring I bought one and I love it. When I pre-ordered my Kindle 3 I anxiously awaited the Cole Haan release for the new K3. Well it arrived today and I'm disappointed with it. My K2 case has an extra piece of leather sewn on the spine of the cover. The new one doesn't. At first it seems like a minor styling detail difference though I personally think the cover looks much sharper, classic, with the added leather. It also stiffens the spine which helps center the cover over the front of the Kindle. Without it it is much more floppy. It doesn't feel as good in the hand either when holding closed package. The added leather on the spine of the K2 cover did not affect the ability of the cover to fold back for one handed reading so I don't know why this was eliminated other than to save cost or to rush these to market. In fairness the photos on Amazon clearly shows this spine is missing I just did not notice it until I had if in my hand. Not sure I'll keep it.

Update: I am returning the cover.

I have owned the Kindle II with the Cole Haan Pebble Grain Leather Cover. I was recently given the Latest Generation Kindle as a gift and based upon all the negative reviews had originally decided not to order a cover. I have been a design engineer for almost 40 years and tend to research everything before making decisions. I finally decided to order the Cole Haan Pebble Grain Leather cover, knowing I could always send it back if not satisfied. I am so glad that I purchased the cover!! I had read about poor fit, about the excess overhang of the cover and about the lack of the extra binding strip that was on the Kindle II cover spline.

I found the fit to be very acceptable. The cover overhangs the Latest Generation Kindle 1/3", which is enough to protect the Kindle. The overhang is slightly more than on the Kindle II which was 1/4", but in no way is it a problem. The Kindle rests in the cover in perfect alignment. The lock snaps into place and holds the Kindle very securely. And finally to address the lack of the extra piece of leather on the spline that so many have complained about, I will offer this; that extra piece of leather does not mean there is double thickness of leather along the spline. That strip of leather on the Kindle II Cole Haan cover allowed two pieces of leather, one front and one back to be sewn together to make the cover. You can feel the Kindle II cover and tell there is no added thickness because of this strip of leather. Cosmetically, some may prefer the look of the spline strip, but it does not appear to serve any purpose other than allow Cole Haan to make the Kindle II cover using smaller piece goods.

I am very pleased with my purchase.

I bought this along with the Amazon cover. Though the leather feels wonderful, it doesn't seem very substantial. The size is also larger by about 1/4" all the way around. Like the other reviewer stated I think the extra leather binding added structurally to the feel. My wife has the Kindle 2 and I bought this cover for her. Made me really want one. This one just doesn't seem as well thought out, and the hooks didn't seem as tight as Amazons. It made a clicking noise on the top hook, after making sure it was fully hooked.

I would also like some sort of closure in the future.

I'm sticking with Amazon's cover and sending this back. It seems much better designed and although the leather isn't as soft it definitely feels more protective.

Unfortunately I have to agree with the other reviews. I loved the Cole Haan cover for my Kindle 2. But this one simply does not work. The reasons have already been mentioned: floppy cover, slightly too large, missing spine stitches.

This is the third Cole Haan Kindle cover in our family. The previous two were for K2's. We were a bit anxious about what we might receive after reading some negative reviews here. However, after it arrived, just moments ago, it is love at first sight.

The K3 clipped into position without any hesitation. It is perfectly square in the cover, with a suitable margin of 5/16" (that is just a hair more than the thickness of a wooden pencil). In a relaxed manner, the cover lines up with the back when it is closed. Our other covers had an extra layer of leather on the binding. This one does not. We have had to "train" our other covers to fold back for use, and will do the same with this one. There is just enough material to allow the two covers to match when open and folded back. Like any quality leather product, there is a break-in period. We like to run our fingers down the spine when we first fold the cover back to let it know where we want it to lay. It won't be long and it will develope it's own memory and we will have a good old familiar and obedient friend. We will do the same training with the closing and know that the front and back will line up just as we want it to. We do not miss the other layer of leather on the spine.

The quality is superb; the stitching, the pebble grained leather outside. The weight of the cover and lining is perfectly balanced with the size and weight of the K3. There is not a blemish in the leather or stitching to be found. There is a supple feel to the flexibile nature of the cover and lining. When you feel it, you just know you have a quality product in your hands. "Ahh, let me settle down and read..."

This, like our other K2 Cole Haan covers, will be a joy to own and use for a long time. At least until K4 comes along. Then we will have the next generation Cole Haan, because we have grown to expect a quality product from these folks. We are exceedingly happy with the K3 Cole Haan.

Have finally received my Haan Cover today, and after reading the reviews I was a little anxious how it would be, there seemed to be a lot of negativity, however I found this product to be as advertised, excellent quality leather and suede that offer a degree of protection, maybe not as much as amazon's but it is all class and smells like leather should. Folds back nicely to read like a book, cover does flop a little bit but you would have to be picky to think that was an issue and although it does add a bit of weight to the total kindle experience it is all leather so I accept that. So I am going to keep it and enjoy it with my great kindle every day.

Update 27/11/10

I have recently purchased the Amazon Light Kindle Cover (for travelling in Africa where night lighting can be non existent) and whilst it is a very good cover and there are a thousand reviews that testify to that, I really like the look and feel and smell of my Cole Hann Cover, it now has the feel of an old family member and I prefer to read with it on more than the Amazon version. It has some scratch marks from my finger nails but it adds to its character, and the leather smell gives it that more homely touch, the movement and floppiness that everyone comments on, well to be honest I like that and if you really do like books and I suspect that you do then this cover with the kindle makes you feel like you are still reading an old favourite....really rate this cover highly

although previous reviewers are correct in mentioning the floppy cover, i have no objection to this and actually like it. the leather is very soft and the suede provides a great feel. if you are looking for protection, you should likely look elsewhere. and i found the size to be just fine for me.

I had a K2 with a Cole Haan leather cover and I liked it alot. For my K3 I purchased both the CH and the Amazon standard cover and I tried them both out. The Amazon cover was nice and it had the string to keep it closed, but the CH was just so much softer and rich looking. Even though it was more than twice the price of the Amazon cover I decided to keep the CH cover. Some negative reviews said the cover was floppy...so what? It's supersoft leather and isn't supposed be hard like cardboard...thats why its so expensive. Also some mentioned the fact that the cover overlaps the k3 by a quarter of an inch or so all around,,, another so what? The overlaping gives the K3 added protection since the K3 is slightly emersed inside the cover...I presume that was CH's purpose in designing it like that. The top folds around easily for one handed reading and the clip on lights fit on the cover of the K3 easily. If you are going to be very hard on the K3 and subject it to numerous drops and spankings...than the CH cover may not be for you...But if you just wanna read with a nice soft high quality leather cover this is the one. I'm a macho Italian guy and I still get alot of compliments on my Saddle Tan one. Good Luck!

This cost me more than half of what the Kindle it covers cost me, but I did get it on sale so that's how I justify the cost. Plus, it will be on my Kindle forever. Very soft. This comes with a little pocket on the inside that will hold business cards or little notes. The feel, the smell, the color - everything about it makes me happy and enhances my Kindle reading experience. I feel like I'm reading a really old leather-bound book. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it.

I received my dark green pebbled CH yesterday, and what a disappointment.

While the leather was very soft to the touch, I can't really say that it was pebbled: it was actually very irregular, slightly pebbled in places, and completely smooth in others - it made me wonder if they had re-used used leather. It was however, completely marbled...

The cover is indeed floppy (for a lack of a better word), but that isn't a problem if you are fine with a very soft type of cover (definitely a pleasure to hold when folded back). What really bothered me, was that the cover simply seemed too big! As in too much leather! There is a large gap (at least a quarter inch) between the K3 and the edges of the cover, which is useless on such a soft cover and doesn't make for a comfortable right hand holding. When closed, the front of the cover, because it is so soft, and when it is flush with the front K3, is also too big and the edge goes beyond the edge of the back - not sure if I'm making myself clear, but basically, when closed, the front of the cover is half an inch longer (wider) than the back!

I was also disappointed that the whole thing was crooked. I totally realize that I have a tendency to like everything to be nice and even. But at that price, I do expect my Kindle to be perfectly centered when in the hinges (and not have the top lean more towards the inside of the cover than the bottom), the stitching to be perfectly even, the logo on the front to be straight, and the edges of the case to also have straight lines and no diagonals...

On the plus side, the color itself is a lovely dark olive green, as beautiful as I had imagined it.

All in all, it could have been a lovely (if minimalistic, especially in terms of protection) case. But it seems not finished, and quality control is definitely very poor here. I remember that the first K2 CH cases also had issues, which were then fixed somewhere down the line. So I may give those another try in a few weeks or months. But for now, this particular case is sadly going back.