There are many smartphones to choose from these days, some reasonably priced while others can empty your wallet.  If you purchase an expensive smartphone, even one advertised to withstand water, dust and drops, you still want a way to protect it. Hello, smartphone case.

Despite this practical reason for purchasing a smartphone case, there are other functions beyond protection, from extra power to pure aesthetics. And while each case serves its purpose, some do so better than others. Here we take a look at some of the worst smartphone cases on the market.

5 iPhone cases to avoid

iPhone Mashup Shoe

Designed and created by Alan Nguyen using a 3D printer, the iPhone Mashup Shoe is something that will easily catch anyone’s eye. Kudos for the creative design, but who would want to put their iPhone on their shoe?

For women, there will be days when you won’t have a purse big enough for today’s average smartphone, but I doubt that they would think of putting their precious phone on their foot. Personally, I would rather hold on to my phone the whole night or not bring it, rather than putting it on my shoe.

Gun Grip Case

The Gun Grip Case can only be described as the worst iPhone case ever designed. Why? For the simple fact that it makes you look like you have a gun sticking out of your pocket or you’re concealing a gun in your purse.

It comes with an app that completes the gun look of your iPhone (see image at right). Imagine how the authorities would react if they came across a person at night with something that looks like a gun sticking out of their pocket? Lives could be lost. Cops and anti-gun advocates are now calling to have the accessory banned from being sold online and in physical retail stores before chaos ensues.

Survival Senbei Rice Cracker iPhone 5 Case

Senbei is a Japanese rice cake that can either be sweet or salty, usually served as a snack with green tea. If you’re always hungry or looking for something to munch on, senbei can be your go-to snack, but would you go as far as making it your iPhone case?

Mariko, the presumed designer behind this case, thinks people need an edible iPhone case, so she created the Survival Senbei Rice Cracker iPhone 5 Case. This iPhone case will not protect your phone. I’m not really sure who would want to eat their iPhone case, no matter how edible it is, after a day of handling it.

HANA2

If you have trouble fishing for your phone from inside your pocket or bag, the HANA2 silicone case is for you. At least that’s what the ad for this weird-looking iPhone case says. The nose on this case (see main article image) is advertised as something that will make it easier for the user to find, while also improving the handling the phone so that you won’t drop it. It might be useful, but seriously, do you really want a nose on the back of your phone?

iMeshi Sakana iPhone 4 case

Another weird iPhone case is the iMeshi Sakana iPhone 4 case. It features what looks like a delicious fish meal. The problem with this case is that it doesn’t really protect your iPhone, and because of its size and design, it could actually cause your phone to fall because the case could get in the way.

Not really sure why people would want a fish for a phone case!

Feature image via P+G Design