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WaterField introduces the Micro Wallet V2.0

When it was first introduced, the Micro Wallet was sold with WaterField’s Cycling Ride Pouch.  People liked the small wallet but suggested some changes.  WaterField has incorporated some of those suggestions in the Micro Wallet V2.0.  One of the changes was to replace the zipper that just went along the top with one that curves around to the side, making it look a bit like the Finn wallet.  This zipper arrangement allows the wallet to open wide for easy access to the contents.  Another suggestion was to make the wallet available as a standalone purchase.

The Micro Wallet has no interior pockets, which helps keep the wallet thin, even when loaded up with your cards and cash.  The wallet can also be used as a simple pouch for storing cables and other small items that could get lost inside your big gear bag.

The wallet is made of either black ballistic nylon or brown waxed canvas.  It measures 4.0″ L x0 .75” W x 2.9” H.  It has a YKK zipper with a self-locking slider to keep the contents secure.  A loop on the outside allows you to clip the wallet into your bag, or you could slide a keyring through there.

This updated wallet is now included with the purchase of a Cycling Ride Pouch, and the Micro Wallet V2.0 is also available as a standalone purchase for $19.00 from WaterField.

WaterField adds RFID blocking to their Finn Wallet

Do a search and you’ll find a lot of articles about WaterField’s Finn wallets as they have evolved – and been reviewed – by The Gadgeteer over the years.  There’s a new evolution in the Finn design to discuss today.  WaterField has kept the same shape, materials, and functionality you love in the Finn and added RFID-blocking to the Finn Access wallet to protect your cards and even your passport.

There are three sizes of the new Finn Access.  The Compact Size (#25) is 4.5″ x 3″ and weighs 1.5 oz; it holds about 20+ credit cards plus a wad of U.S. dollars.  The Classic(#26) is 4.75” x 3.5” and weighs 2.6 oz; it holds 20+ credit cards plus a wad of US or foreign currency.  The Passport (#42) is 5.75″ x 4.25″ and weighs 1.9 oz; it holds a U.S. Passport, US or foreign currency, 20+ credit cards, and a small pen.

The Finn Access is made of full-grain leather, certified RFID-blocking material, and has a YKK self-locking zipper.  There’s an outside pocket to keep travel docs or even an iPhone X readily available.  All three sizes are available in your choice of grizzly, gray, black, or crimson leather.  The Compact and Classic sizes are $79.00; the Passport is $89.00.  Learn more and purchase the Finn Access wallet at WaterField Designs.

WaterField’s new Via wallet retains it sleek profile even when loaded

You’ve pared your EDC kit down, but did you remember your wallet?  If you need to lighten your wallet and slim it down, check out the new Via wallet from WaterField Designs.  The Via is designed to carry some cash and up to eight cards.  There are two front pockets to hold your most frequently used cards, one back pocket holds cash, and one back pocket holds a few other important cards.  You could even hold a membership or employee ID card in that back pocket so it can be read through the leather without removing it from the wallet.

Via is made from distressed premium full-grain leather that will only improve with use.  It’s 4.12″ x 3.25″ and weighs 1.7 ounces.  Even loaded up, it will stay slim and thin.  It’s available in grizzly leather with black leather accents, gray leather with grizzly leather accents, or black leather with red leather accents.  The Via is $59; order now from WaterField and it will ship on February 8th.

Aurochs Gravity Wallet review

Looking to upgrade that ratty old wallet you’ve been lugging around since college? I’ve got a good one for you. Aurochs is a Pakistan-based company that makes small carry products featuring vegetable tanned leather. This is definitely a cut above your 

What is it?

It’s a full-grain leather wallet designed and manufactured in Pakistan. The Gravity model is based on a traditional bifold design, with some nice additional features to help manage your cards, cash and extra bits like coins and a SIM card.

Hardware specs

  • 4x easy access card slots for your frequently used cards
  • One card drawer with pull out ‘gravity strip’ which can hold 4-6 extra cards
  • An expandable pocket for all your bills and currency notes (folded)
  • A pocket for your coins
  • A small slot for your iPhone/Android sim ejector
  • Made of premium quality full grain vegetable tanned leather
  • 112mm x 80mm

What’s in the box?

Rather than using industrial paper/plastic packing, Aurochs ships their products in custom made padded fabric pouches as seen below. Not only does it add a touch of class to the packaging, but you could use it as an organizer pouch to add to your bag. Of course, the wallet also comes in the package.

Design and features

From materials choices to design details, you get a sense for the quality and craftsmanship that went into producing the Aurochs Gravity wallet from the moment you open the package. It’s an impressive piece of gear.

It all starts with the leather, which is excellent. The Gravity features full-grain vegetable tanned leather, a process that takes more time and skill to produce. The results are well worth it: the leather is thick, durable, and has a luxurious hand feel. Mine’s the green model, and the deep-penetrating dye work passes the scratch test without showing any change in color below the top layer. There’s also no dye bleed, so the color doesn’t rub off on your clothes.

The construction in the Aurochs Gravity wallet matches the leather quality. Stitching and assembly are tight throughout, with tan thread used on the exterior that compliments the green leather nicely. The interior uses a grey thread and grey leather accents to add additional visual appeal. The leather is backed by a grey textured fabric that facilitates sliding your cards in and out of the pockets, and there’s nice reinforcement at all the key stress/use points. I don’t foresee the pockets stretching or separating on this wallet after years of use.

The Aurochs Gravity wallet offers multiple slots and pockets for organization. For your quick grab cards, you’ll find a pair of card slots on each panel cut at opposing angles to promote easy access. Behind the left panel is a clever “gravity slip” pocket: tuck 4-6 cards in the pocket and a strip of leather with a pull tab enables you to pull them out when needed. The right panel has an expandable cash pocket that will fit a nice chunk of folded U.S. bills.

There are also a set of additional bonus slots for smaller items. The back card slot on the right panel features pair of tiny slots designed to stash a SIM card and wire SIM card ejector. The expandable cash pocket and also has a slot where you could stash some coins, a key, or a small memory stick.

While this may sound a bit complicated, the Aurochs folks have done a really nice job of assembling the package with a simple, streamlined design. The little extras don’t impede the normal use of the wallet and stay nicely tucked away when not needed. It’s a superbly functional layout.

Performance

The Aurochs Gravity wallet is an excellent day-to-day accessory. I’ve been using it continuously for a month now, and it has become my new favorite wallet. Aurochs does an excellent job of emphasizing simple, practical execution in this design.

I really like how the wallet manages the organization of commonly used items. I’ve got my badge swipe for work, my license, 6 cards, and a wad of cash loaded up… and there’s room for more. Check out the two pics below to see how it all disappears:

It’s a nice, streamlined package, but allows for quick and easy access to any specific card or item that I might need.

The extra reinforcement on the card slots is also very good. They keep your cards snug, and can even hold an extra card or two if needed. I’ve also noticed that, despite regular use, they are not showing any signs of stretching that would cause the cards to slip out.

 While I don’t have much use for the extra slots for change and the SIM card, they are nicely executed and don’t get in the way of regular use. I don’t know that I would keep coins on the inside pouch due to the extra bulk, but I would absolutely use it to stash an emergency key if I was traveling. You could even stash a small memory stick in there if needed.

Good leather wallets are always going to bulkier than synthetic products, but the Aurochs wallet is not excessive in my opinion. The leather is thick, but not so thick that the wallet feels (or looks)  like a brick in your pocket.

What I like

  • Great vegetable-tanned leather.
  • High-quality materials and assembly.
  • Excellent usability with nice attention to the design details.

What needs to be improved

  • SIM card slot may not be useful to everyone, but it doesn’t impede regular use.

Final thoughts

Wallets designs can be all over the place with respect to quality, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the Aurochs Gravity wallet. I’m really impressed with what Aurochs is doing here; they are serious about details and craftsmanship. The leather is excellent, and they aren’t cutting any corners on the details. Usability is excellent, with plenty of useful spots to organize your cards and cash. If you’re looking for a quality mid-sized bifold-style wallet to upgrade to your day-to-day EDC, the Gravity will do the job well and serve you for a very long time. I’m looking forward to seeing more from Aurochs in the future.

Price: $54 with free standard shipping.
Where to buy: Aurochs
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Aurochs.

Your wallet full as a fridge? Switch to the Ridge minimalist wallet

Although I am not always on the lookout for a new wallet, When I see something that looks interesting I like to give it a mention. The Ridge wallet has recently caught my eye not only for the design but also the different material models they have. The basic wallet design is two outer plates covering an inner elastic band that holds up to 12 cards. All the wallets offer RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) protection and come with a money clip attached to the rear or an elastic cash strap option. The Ridge comes in carbon fiber, titanium, aluminum or polycarbonate in various colors. Another nice feature of The Ridge wallets is the ability to get replacement parts from their website, allowing you to keep your wallet in tip-top condition. The Ridge wallet starts at $45 for the polycarbonate model and runs up to $115 for the carbon fiber model. You can buy and get further information about The Ridge wallet at The Ridge website.

Note from Julie: We actually reviewed the Ridge wallet a few years ago.