This Simple Kindle Accessory Seriously Upgraded My Reading Experience (and It Costs Less Than $25)

Trending 2 days ago
img-2698.jpg

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • The Strapsicle silicone straps upgrade nan grip options connected your Kindle and supply a unafraid clasp to forestall drops.
  • At $21, Strapsicle is an easy and affordable Kindle accessory to make your reference acquisition moreover much comfortable.
  • If you for illustration much ergonomic grips aliases don't for illustration nan look of straps crossed nan backmost of your Kindle, an replacement information action whitethorn beryllium best.

If you're adventuring connected summertime travels successful nan upcoming months, now is nan cleanable clip to drawback my favourite Kindle accessory, particularly if you're a voracious reader. Let maine explain. 

If you're an avid e-reader for illustration maine (or moreover if you're caller to nan Kindle world), you astir apt quickly figured retired really uncomfortable it tin beryllium to usage nan e-reader. That's not because my Kindle Paperwhite is bad, but because it's sometimes difficult to find nan cleanable position for optimal reference enjoyment. 

Also: I switched to an e-paper Android telephone pinch a beingness keyboard - here's my buying advice

Kindles do not person built-in support, making reference successful bed, astatine nan pool, astatine nan beach, aliases anyplace a batch much challenging, particularly if you for illustration to publication lying down aliases astatine overseas angles. 

And conscionable for illustration it's celebrated to outfit our smartphones pinch grips, rings, and different accessories for stability, it's rather en vogue to do nan aforesaid for our different tech, including Kindles. After 1 excessively galore times dropping my Kindle Paperwhite onto my look (that point does, successful fact, time off a mark), I yet caved and was earnestly successful nan marketplace for a grip system. 

During my journey, I encountered immoderate of nan accustomed accessory contenders: accepted grips for illustration PopSockets, cases that person to stands, and large, clunky holders. But thing other caught my oculus -- Strapsicle

kindle-strapsicles

I stumbled upon them online. Strapsicle is simply a stableness action created for e-readers for illustration nan Kindle and Kobo to guarantee a comfortable grip erstwhile you read, and a unafraid clasp for your Kindle erstwhile you're not (you know, for illustration erstwhile you autumn dormant pinch nan instrumentality successful your hand). Strapsicles are elemental silicone pieces that popular complete nan corners of your instrumentality and create a strap to grip your Kindle securely. 

Also: The champion e-readers of 2025

So, wherever had this accessory been each my life? The reply is that Strapsicle has a ample cult pursuing of users, galore derived from BookTok, but nan accessory hasn't rather made it mainstream. But that business whitethorn beryllium astir to change. In 2024, nan Australian-based marque sealed a $250,000 woody connected Shark Tank Australia. 

Since I initially wrote this review, I've been utilizing Strapsicle connected my Kindle for complete six months. I now ain aggregate sets (like nan Eggnog and Blush pinkish sets pictured successful this article) and a matching Strapsicle silicone clutch. Here's why I'm a instrumentality for life. 

The Strapsicle fits astir e-readers, creates a unafraid grip, and adds a furniture of protection. The accessory comes successful respective nosy colors, including blush pinkish (pictured successful this article), lilac, sage green, and more. The straps travel successful 4 sizes: small, medium, large, and Kindle Oasis, and a useful size floor plan makes it easy to lucifer nan correct Strapsicle group pinch your respective e-reader model. 

kindle-strapsicles

Holding my Kindle Paperwhite upside down utilizing some Strapsicles arsenic support. 

Kayla Solino/ZDNET

Since I person nan Kindle Paperwhite 6.8-inch 11th Gen model, I purchased nan ample size. In nan box, I received 2 silicone straps branded "top left" and "top right," which made it easy to group up my Kindle.

Also: I replaced my Kindle pinch this E Ink tablet that runs Android - and don't regret it

You tin usage some straps simultaneously aliases take to only usage 1 strap connected your device, depending connected your preference. I tested some approaches, and I for illustration having some straps on, particularly since nan silicone corners adhd immoderate protection, too. 

Having a Strapsicle allows maine to spot my manus wherever I want connected my Kindle without worrying astir security. This characteristic is why I chose to effort this strap exemplary alternatively of much accepted methods, for illustration a PopSocket, which tin only beryllium fastened successful 1 spot. I tin flip my Kindle upside down and each around, and it doesn't budge. 

PopSocket vs. Strapsicle

Before I dive in, fto maine opportunity that I americium not anti-PopSocket. I enjoyed utilizing a PopSocket connected my iPhone passim my teens, but erstwhile I began moving astatine ZDNET, it became progressively impractical to proceed utilizing 1 connected my phone. 

I spent a batch of clip testing MagSafe accessories, and it became annoying to alteration cases each clip I tested products. I besides didn't emotion utilizing a PopSocket capable to acquisition a newer MagSafe version. All that said, a PopSocket was still my first thought erstwhile considering a grip for my Kindle. 

According to Reddit, PopSockets are widely used by avid readers connected their devices. They're an affordable and personable action for adding a grip to your Kindle. I do spot nan appeal. 

kindle-paperwhite-with-strapsicle
Kayla Solino/ZDNET

My biggest interest pinch adding a PopSocket to my Kindle was its placement. Should I put it successful nan center? Off to 1 side? It turns retired that immoderate Redditors had the same issues. While immoderate said they preferred a PopSocket for its much ergonomic grip, others agreed that it was beautiful annoying to only beryllium capable to grip your Kindle from 1 spot. One Redditor even admitted utilizing 2 PopSockets connected her Kindle to combat this issue. 

Also: This viral PopSocket replacement is my caller favourite iPhone accessory (and it supports MagSafe)

The placement concerns, and different adherence issues (would it instrumentality to my case?), yet pushed maine distant from nan PopSocket action and towards trying Strapsicle. Plus, while basal PopSockets are under $12 connected Amazon, immoderate much intricate and nosy designs cost up to $35, which I deliberation is rather expensive. 

Other Redditors said that they liked nan Strapsicle for its added security, acknowledgment to its silicone corners, customizable placement (which allows you to grip from anyplace connected your Kindle), and nan truth that it didn't pinch their pinky for illustration PopSockets do for immoderate people. 

I work together pinch these individuals. I acquisition nary pinching aliases cramping successful my hands utilizing Strapsicle, moreover for agelong reference stints, and I emotion that I tin publication securely from anyplace and astatine immoderate perspective without worry. Plus, nan Strapsicle is easy to cleanable and swipe down, and I tin region nan accessory without hassle. The Strapsicle, successful short, is phenomenal, and I can't judge it costs maine conscionable a smidge much than $20 because I would've paid measurement much for thing that brings this benignant of functionality. 

kindle-strapsicles

Only 1 Strapsicle placed connected my Kindle Paperwhite. 

Kayla Solino/ZDNET

If I'm being picky (which I am; it's my job), nan criss-cross Strapsicle look whitethorn not beryllium for everyone. I don't attraction excessively overmuch astir nan backmost of my Kindle. But if you are into aesthetically pleasing tech, you whitethorn want to see nan PopSocket route. 

The straps could besides fresh astir my lawsuit a small better. I person a simple, flexible, clear lawsuit connected my Kindle Paperwhite, and while nan straps fresh good astir nan corners, they do person a benignant of puckering that prevents them from laying wholly flush. However, I don't mind because nan straps adhd padding to my Kindle's corners and activity truthful well. 

Also: I switched to a colour E Ink tablet for months, and it thumps nan ReMarkable successful cardinal ways

Just support successful mind that there's a chance that nan Strapsicle whitethorn not fresh pinch your existing case, truthful you'd request to bargain a caller 1 aliases spell without. Strapsicle does waste its own clear case to travel nan straps. 

ZDNET's buying advice

My bottommost statement here: Strapsicle has created lightning successful a vessel successful a near-monopolized Kindle accessory market. These elemental silicone straps are functional, easy to use, and affordable. At $21, a brace of Strapsicles feels for illustration a overmuch amended bargain than a singular PopSocket, but to each their own.

I do not uncertainty that Strapsicle will astir apt beryllium connected shop shelves successful nan early and go synonymous pinch nan e-reader experience. I person thing bad to opportunity astir this accessory because my look is now protected from my Kindle, which was precisely nan problem I needed to solve. Props to Strapsicle, and I dream I tin get these straps for my iPad someday. 

Strapsicle is receiving ZDNET's Editors' Choice award for its trailblazing and applicable grip solution for celebrated e-readers, for illustration nan Kindle series. Strapsicle grips unafraid your instrumentality to debar drops and falls, support your manus comfortable, and let reference astatine a wide scope of angles. 

Plus, nan accessory is affordable, due for e-reader users of astir ages, and comes successful various colors and sizes. Sure, you could still get a PopSocket, but I can't extremity recommending this Kindle accessory, and I get asked astir Strapsicle everyplace I return my Paperwhite. If you person a Kindle, you request Strapsicle. 

Show more

More