I recently had a re-occurring headache with a Seidio Holster for my Treo in that the retaining clip holding the Treo in the holster weakened so that the Treo would “pop” out of the holster as I sat down. I purchased this holster late last year and was concerned that the retaining clip had weakened in such a short time. While my original thought was to replace the holster with a pouch, I decided to give the holsters another try.
In looking for a replacement holster, the Helix Holster was recommended by several. Additionally, I was invited by Seidio to review their new holster for the Treo. According to Seidio, their new holster is the best holster on the market and is significantly better than the previous model that was causing me problems.
I decided to post a review comparing the two holsters. I used each holster exclusively for a week. I will first present some observations on each holster and then a summary comparison of the two.
Helix Holster 
Overall construction appears solid. It is made of a softer plastic that has a more rubber feel to it than plastic. I think the rubberized finish will go a long way to avoid scratching the finish on the Treo.
However, with prolong use, I think the finish on the Treo where the retaining clip rubs against will show wear with time. My old Seidio holster (which is designed similar) rubbed the paint off the Treo in this area after about a month of use.
The Treo snaps into the holster with no difficulty and comes out of the holster with just as much ease. In the holster the Treo fits snug, really snug into the holster. There is no wiggle room to allow the Treo to “pop” out un-expectantly. My only concern is that with time, the retaining clip will weaken and the snug fit won’t be as snug. Compared to the old Seidio holster, the retaining clip does appear to be stronger and may last longer. The retaining clip curves further down the Treo than the old Seidio holster which adds to the secure fit.
I have noticed one problem with the retaining clip. It fits really close to the mute/sound switch and if you’re not careful, it will knock the button over to the non-mute side. You also can’t take the Treo in/out of the case with a headset plugged in.
The Helix comes with two clips. A rotating mounted clip or a detachable clip. Personally, I don’t like the detachable clips simply because the Treo rides snugger with the mounted clip. Compared to the Seidio holsters the Helix does rides slightly lower but not too low to cause problems.
One interesting note on the clips is that there is no metal lug on the holster for the clips to attach to. They attach to a plastic lug that is formed into the holster itself. This eliminates another potential area of the holster that could scratch the Treo. The clip itself does have a metal spring but the holster itself is all plastic.
While the clip rotates, it doesn’t make that distinctive “click” sound as other rotating clips do. The clip rotates with positions every quarter turn while other clips have positions every eighth of a turn. I don’t see this being an issue simply because most rotate the holster to ride horizontal or vertical.
Accessibility to the buttons is not a problem. The holster is cut in such a manner to allow unrestricted access to the side buttons. The top button rests almost flush with the retaining clip but is accessible. While in the holster, the Treo mounts easily on to a cradle or sync cord. I am able to dock my Treo while in the holster to a Seidio cradle with no problem.
Seidio New Holster 
Advertised as the best holster for the Treo, it doesn’t fall far from the mark. The overall construction is similar to the skinned holster. The holster is made from hard plastic with a felt liner. The clip rotates 180 degrees and feels firmly attached. Instead of a retention clip that is a molded part of the holster, Seidio has a hinged retention clip that holds the Treo firmly in the holster.
The retention clip is spring loaded and overlaps the top of the Treo covering the SD slot and mute button. The clip has a thin rubber bumper underneath it to protect your Treo from being scratched.
Two concerns over the design. First, I am curious how long it will take for the spring to weaken and secondly, could the retention clip pop the SD Card out of the Treo. The spring feels good and strong (it’s actually to springs, one on each side of the cotter pin holding the clip). I would imagine it will take considerable use to weaken both of these springs.
I popped the clip a few times to see if the SD card would pop out and on the third try, it popped out. I don’t think under normal use the SD card will pop out but if you try, it will.
The holster rides noticeably higher on your hip than the original Seidio Holster and the Helix. It will take some getting used to and due to the design; it feels a tad bulkier than the other two holsters. It gives you a false sense that the holster rides away from the body. The Treo snaps into the holster very easily and removal is just as problem free.
You can remove the Treo from the holster while a headset is plugged in. The plug sits awfully close to the holster but far enough away that you can carefully remove the Treo without unplugging.
The clip rotates 180 degrees while the Helix rotates 360 degrees. Not an issue for me and I’m curious is anyone carries their Treo upside down. Speaking of the clip, one criticism of the original Seidio Holster was that the clip gave way and fell off too easily. I can’t pick up on how Seidio did it but this clip feels considerably sturdier than the previous model. It does feel more solid than the Helix but, remember the Helix’s clip is designed to be removed/changed out.
Accessibility to the side buttons is not a problem but you have to remove the Treo to access the mute button. If you are constantly turning on/off your mute, this may be an issue.
The holster is designed to allow docking while the Treo is holstered. I had no problem docking the holstered Treo to my Seidio desktop cradle.
Summary
Both seem to be very good holsters. I like the soft rubber material of the Helix but I’m leaning towards liking the retention design on the Seidio. I like the higher ride of the Seidio but it does take some getting used to.
So, which is better? It all boils down to personal choice and either one would serve you well. If I had to choose one today, I’de go with the Seidio. With use, the retention clip on both models is likely to weaken. With the Helix, the retention clip is a molded part of the holster. With the Seidio it’s a hinged part connected to the holster. If the Helix weakens, your only choice is to replace the entire holster.
If the springs in the Seidio weaken, there is a possibility (HINT, HINT) that Seidio will offer a replacement kit for the springs and you won’t have to scrap the entire holster.
Here’s a brief grade sheet on the two holsters and the original Seidio Holster.
Helix
Construction Material A+
Design/Construction A (Rather see a permanently fixed rotating clip)
Durability A
Usability A
Worth the Price A
Seidio (New Model)
Material A (I like the rubber material of the Helix Better)
Design/Construction A+
Durability A- (moving parts that may weaken quicker)
Usability A
Worth the Price A- (only because it’s $10 more than the Helix)
Seidio (Original Model)
Construction Material A
Design/Construction B (belt clip prone to popping off in earlier models)
Durability C (Retention Clip weakens)
Usability A
Worth Price B (Retention weakens after a short period)
Again, both are good holsters and which is better is really dependant on your preferences. I will say this, both holsters are by far better than the original Seidio holster. Helix took a similar design and improved it while Seidio redesigned a weakness in the original design.
If the spring holds on the Seidio (and only time will tell) it will come close to meeting the company's boast that it's the best holster ever for the Treo.