A Kindle solves the classic holiday packing problem — one paperback used to eat a chunk of carry-on, and you were stuck with a single book for a fortnight. But an unprotected e-reader is a nervous purchase to toss into an overstuffed weekender, especially when the itinerary involves airport crowds, sandy beaches and hotel pools.
The travel editors at Condé Nast Traveller have rounded up their tested picks for keeping a Kindle safe on the road, and the standout is a case from Burga. The writer's own pick is a pale pink plaid version, though the range runs from Greek taverna-inspired prints to western and sealife designs, made for the 11th and 12th Gen Paperwhite models.
Why the enthusiasm? The Burga cover is built from Saffiano leatherette with a satin finish that looks smart enough for a poolside lounger, yet weighs next to nothing. The practical details are where it earns its keep: an elastic hand strap on the back means you can hold the device one-handed without gripping, the front cover auto-wakes the Kindle when opened and sleeps it when closed, and the cover folds flat against the back so it doesn't flap around mid-chapter. The writer's pre-case ritual — burying the Kindle in a bulging personal item and hoping for the best — has been replaced by dropping it carelessly into any bag.
Beyond Burga, the round-up names Casely, Cobak and Amazon Basics as reliable all-rounders for drop and scratch protection, with editors putting top-rated cases through real-world testing. For pool-and-beach holidays where splashes are the main risk, a waterproof option like Walnew's Kindle cover is the safer bet.
A few buying basics are worth knowing before you order. Most cases on sale now fit the 7-inch Paperwhite (the latest 12th Generation), but plenty of options still exist for the older 6.8-inch Paperwhite and the 6-inch Kindle — measure your device or check your original order details, and you can confirm the model in the device settings. The good news on maintenance: a case has no effect on battery life, since it sits outside the device and leaves the charging port accessible. Just close the cover when you're done reading to conserve power.
For anyone who reads on the daily commute as much as on holiday, a decent case is a cheap insurance policy for the one device that replaces an entire suitcase of books. It also, as the editors note, has a small motivational effect — a case you actually like looking at makes you more likely to pick the Kindle up in the first place.
