A number of years ago, I'd taken my iPod on a trip to visit some relatives, but had somehow neglected to pack my earbuds. I ended up getting a new set of earbuds at an airport gift store. The new set came in a case that lets you wind the cords up inside itself. Ever since I came back from that trip, I've put my Apple earbuds in that case.
The case opens like a clamshell, and has center indentations for the earbuds. Place the earbuds in, then close the shell, with the cord dangling out the hole in the side. The top has a thumb rest, and you wind the cords up into the case. To get them out, I just open the case, grab the plug end and pull it out. The case is about 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter and fits nicely in a pocket.
I've seen other earbuds with similar cases since then.
Doc
