Waterfield Analogue Pocket Case
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

Given how hard it is to come by, it's little surprise that the Analogue Pocket has become a treasured object for those lucky enough to own one. With that in mind, it goes without saying that some form of protection is in order – especially if you're going to be, you know, carrying this thing around with you, so thank goodness for the talents peeps over at WaterField Designs. As we reported not so long ago, they've cooked up a neat little $49 pouch which is the ideal replacement for Analogue's official hard-shell case (which is only really good for putting your console on display).

The pouch comes in black, blue, green and red (as you can see, we've opted for the rather swanky red version) and we can confirm the "high-performance textile" used for the outside is able to withstand bumps and scrapes with relative ease – although, because it's not a 'hard-shell' design, we'd avoid applying too much pressure to the pouch as it could result in damage to the console. You won't want to be placing this at the bottom of a bag full of other heavy items, for example.

Waterfield Analogue Pocket Case
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

The inner lining is the true star here, though; advertised as being "as soft as a puppy’s ear" by WaterField, it really does do the job; it's incredibly soft and plush. There's no danger of your beloved Analogue Pocket getting marked or scratched while it's ensconced within this pouch.

The pouch uses a magnetic closure system which initially seems a little impractical; the fact that all that is required to 'close' the pouch is a gentle pinch can be somewhat disconcerting to begin with, but we can happily confirm that once closed, the pouch will only open when you want it to. Even holding it upside down and vigorously shaking it doesn't make the console slip out.

Waterfield Analogue Pocket Case
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

The only other feature of note is the zipper compartment that allows you to store extra items, such as carts, charging cables or other elements. We found this to be a little snug; you're only likely to fit a couple of Game Boy cartridges in there, and the Game Gear cartridge adapter just about fits on its own. If you're looking for something roomier, then you'll probably want to opt for WaterField's larger (and more expensive) carry case.

Despite concerns about the amount of storage space this pouch offers, we're pleased to report that it's the usual story when it comes to WaterField products. Sure, the price might not be palatable to everyone, but what you're getting for your fifty bucks is a well-made pouch that will offer adequate protection for your investment.

Thanks to WaterField Designs for supplying the Analogue Pocket Pouch used in this feature.