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Tom Bihn Nik’s Minimalist Wallets review

REVIEW – We’ve reviewed lots of wallets here at The Gadgeteer, and quite a few products from Tom Bihn as well.  So it only makes sense that we review the new Tom Bihn Nik’s Minimalist Wallet.  How does it stack up against Tom Bihn’s high-quality, durable, well-designed bags and travel accessories?  Let’s find out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

Tom Bihn Nik’s Minimalist Wallet is a wallet that caters to the minimalist crowd in size, thinness, and simplicity, yet is durable, affordable and available in many different colors, fabrics and configurations.

What’s in the box?

Hardware specs

  • Styles:
    • Wallet #1 – $24, Two interior fabric pockets. No exterior pockets.  (reviewed here)
    • Wallet #2 – $26, Two interior pockets — one pocket is fabric, the other pocket is clear urethane for your ID or any other card you might want to show off. No exterior pockets.
    • Wallet #3 – $30, Two interior pockets: one is fabric, the other is clear urethane. One exterior pocket.   (reviewed here)
    • Wallet #4 – $32, Exactly the same as Wallet #3 except for one the addition of a small webbing loop.
    • Wallet #5 – $30, Two interior pockets, both of which are fabric. One exterior pocket (reviewed here)
  • Materials:
    • Exterior:
      • 210 denier 2×2 Ballistic nylon
      • 400d Halcyon
    • Lining: 120d Aether ripstop
    • Window (Wallet #2 & #3 Only): .016″ clear urethane
  •  Colors:
    • 210 Ballistic nylon in Black, Cloud (reviewed here), Coyote, Dawn, Island, Viridian, and Grass
    • 400 Halcyon  nylon in Black and Nordic
  • Dimensions:
    • Unfolded: 5.7″ x 3.9″ / 145 x 100 mm
    • Folded: 2.9″ x 3.9″ / 75 x 100 mm
  • Weight: 0.6 oz / 16 grams (all styles are approximately the same weight)
  • Construction:
    • Made in USA with fabric from Korea / Japan / U.S.A.
    • 100% finished seams

Design and features

The Tom Bihn folks graciously provided three of the five styles of their Nik’s Minimalist Wallets to review.  Let’s start with the basics that are common to some or all of these wallets, and then we’ll progress into more specific features of the wallets.

My initial impression of the Nik’s Minimalist Wallets was that they are small, thin, lightweight and feel very well-constructed and durable.  I also really liked the color, which was “Cloud,” a type of gray color that can look different depending on the lighting conditions, as can be seen in the images in this review.  The above photo above shows the “front” and “rear” view of the three Nik’s Minimalist Wallet samples that I reviewed.  All look very similar from the outside and each holds about 6-10 cards and/or some folded cash bills.

The above photo illustrates the relative footprint size of the Nik’s Minimalist Wallet.  It is quite small and lightweight, and the material is soft, which makes it perfectly suited for either back pocket or front pocket carry, and could even easily be carried in the chest pocket of most shirts.  Additionally, one of the features common to all of the Nik’s Minimalist Wallets is a simple but elegant elastic band, which is used to keep the wallet closed.  It gave me a feeling of greater security knowing that the wallet could not accidentally open or items fall out of it inadvertently due to this elastic band.

The Nik’s Minimalist Wallet is made from two materials, an exterior shell, and interior lining material.  Depending on the wallet selected, the exterior is either 400D Halcyon nylon or 210D Ballistic nylon, the latter being the material of the wallets reviewed here.  210D Ballistic is a “ballistic” type of nylon material this is lightweight with a smooth feel but very durable, and fairly water-repellant.  The interior lining is 120D Aether ripstop nylon material that is very lightweight and also has some water-repellant properties.  The use of high-quality, lightweight, durable, engineered fabrics like these is among the hallmarks of Tom Bihn’s products.

Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #1

Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #1 is the simplest and most minimalist of the five wallet designs, but don’t let that fool you—it still manages to easily and securely hold several cards and some cash.

 

The interior of the Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #1 has two pockets, one on either side, which is the basic interior layout for all of the five wallet designs.  I really like how Tom Bihn has chosen to orient these pockets, with their openings toward the wallet’s central fold.  This means that when the wallet is closed, the likelihood that a card or some cash will fall out is greatly reduced, and when the elastic strap is used, this likelihood reduces to almost zero.   There is also a small, simple “TB” logo tag sew to the inside.  If you’ve read my other reviews, you might know that I am a fan of minimal to no exterior branding, and the Nik’s Minimalist Wallet hits a home run for me here.

Due to the aforementioned fabrics used in the construction of the Nik’s Minimalist Wallet, when empty, it is quite unstructured and even somewhat floppy.  This is by design, as these wallets were intended to be very minimalist and featuring thin, lightweight, durable materials without any rigid stiffening materials that just add bulk and weight.

To realistically evaluate the Nik’s Minimalist Wallet, I loaded it up with the above items: 6 bills and 7 cards, which is a fair representation of what I might typically carry in my wallet on an average day.

As seen in the photos above, once loaded, the Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #1 takes on form and shape and yet doesn’t really increase appreciably in thickness due to the thinness of its materials and construction.

One aspect I did notice about each of the Nik’s Minimalist Wallets was that when US paper bills are folded in half once and placed into one of the wallet’s pockets, the top edge of the cash sits just past the centerline of the wallet, which is where the wallet would tend to naturally fold.  Note that this effect is also further illustrated in the far right photo in the series of three photos above.  This means that the very top edge of the cash can get a bit curled.  While this is certainly not a show-stopper by any means, I think that if the Nik’s Minimalist Wallet were even just a few millimeters wider, this curling of the edge of the bills would have been prevented.

Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #3

Next up is Nick’s Minimalist Wallet #3.  This version further builds on the features of Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #1 reviewed above.  It add an exterior pocket has the same interior pocket configuration as Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #1, but one of its two interior pockets has been converted into a transparent window pocket for an ID card.

The ID window pocket is made from .016″ clear urethane, which is fully transparent and very durable without adding greatly to the wallet’s thickness.

 

Even with the added exterior pocket, Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #3 is still quite thin when empty.

What the above photo fails to convey is that, although it may appear thick when empty, this wallet is actually very thin and compressible.

As with Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #1, to realistically evaluate Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #3, I once again loaded it up with the above items: 6 bills and 7 cards, which is a fair representation of what I might typically carry in my wallet on an average day.

I placed the cash bills, folded over twice, in the non-window pocket and all of the cards save one in the window pocket with my ID to the front so that it would be visible should I need to show it.

In the exterior pocket, I place the card that I use most often.  The exterior quick-access pocket can actually hold more than one card—I found that it could hold two cards easily and even up to three cards, though this does start to get a bit snug.  While this exterior pocket does provide quick access to your most often used card or two, or even some folded cash, I think the one and only drawback of this pocket is that it is somewhat exposed, so there is the potential for a card or cash placed within it to fall out, though this possibility does seem remote.  Also, the more items that are placed in the wallet (not just in the exterior pocket), the snugger all of the contents fit, thus holding everything together that much more securely.

The series of photos above illustrate that Niks’ Minimalist Wallet #3 does not increase appreciably in size once it has been filled with several cards and cash.

Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #5

Nick’s Minimalist Wallet #5 was the third and final version sent by Tom Bihn.   It includes the same exterior pocket and interior pocket configuration as Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #3, but the transparent urethane window pocket has been converted to a fabric pocket.

As with Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #3, even with an additional pocket added to the exterior, Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #5 is quite thin when empty.

Once again, as with the wallets above, to realistically evaluate Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #5, loaded it up with the above items: 6 bills and 7 cards, which is a fair representation of what I might typically carry in my wallet on an average day.

 

While the Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #3 is a bit thicker than  Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #1 due to the added exterior pocket, it is roughly the same thickness as Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #3—which is actually quite thin even once loaded.

As with Nik’s Minimalist Wallet #3, the exterior pocket here served quite well for quick-access carry of my most often-used card.

What I like

  • Very small, compact, thin, and lightweight
  • Durable materials and solid construction
  • Highly suitable for back pocket or front pocket carry (or even front shirt-pocket carry)
  • Available in multiple styles, colors, and fabrics to suit the needs of the user

What I’d change

  • Nothing

Final thoughts

I really like Tom Bihn’s Nik’s Minimalist Wallet.  Its design is the definition of functional minimalism: simple, yet with enough organizational features to still be useful; lightweight, yet with high-quality, durable materials and construction, and with a small enough footprint and thickness to easily be carried in the back or front pants pocket or even front shirt pocket.  Its many colors, materials, and styles give the user many options to suit his or her EDC  needs.  Plus, the price is extremely affordable at $24-$32 depending on the Wallet style selected.  If you are in the market for a small, minimalist wallet that is durable and affordable, I would encourage you to give the Tom Bihn’s Nik’s Minimalist Wallet a serious look.

Price:

  • $24 for Wallet #1
  • $26 for Wallet #2
  • $30 for Wallet #3
  • $32 for Wallet #4
  • $30 for Wallet #5

Where to buy: Tom Bihn
Source: The samples of this product were provided by Tom Bihn.

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Tom Bihn Nik’s Minimalist Wallets review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 4, 2019 at 8:39 am.

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Waterfield Designs Micro Wallet review

REVIEW – We love wallets here at The Gadgeteer, in all shapes and sizes.  One of my favorite types is the zipper wallet, because it holds its contents very securely.  Recently, Waterfield Designs, who has been producing some really nice zipper wallets for some time now, updated their Micro Wallet product line with some new colors and an additional size. Let’s it them out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Micro Wallet is a small, thin, compact zipper style wallet with a minimalist style that is designed to hold a few cards and some cash or even act as a small tech gear pouch.

Hardware specs

  • Size options =
    • Compact = 4.0” x 2.9” x 0.75″
    • International = 4.25″ x 3.375″ x 0.75″
  • Material and color options=
    • 1050 Denier Ballistic Nylon in Black only for $25
    • Waxed Canvas in Brown only for $25
    • Full-grain, deer-tanned leather in Brown, Red, or Blue (Blue reviewed here)  each for $39
  • Capacity = Holds about 8 cards and some folded cash, plus 1-2 cards in the exterior quick-access pocket
  • Zipper = YKK self-locking
  • Location of manufacture = Workshop crafted in San Francisco, CA, USA

Design and features

The Micro Wallet has been in the lineup of Waterfield Designs for some time but has recently undergone an update in available materials and sizes.

My initial impression of the Micro Wallet is that it is essentially a more minimalist version of the Waterfield Designs Finn Wallet.  The leather’s texture is as soft and supple as butter and it is very compact, and I really like the bright blue color.

While the full grain, deer-tanned leather of this review sample was quite impressive in look and feel (and available in Red, Brown and this Blue colors), the Micro Wallet is also available in Black Ballistic Nylon as well as Brown Waxed Canvas (a classic Waterfield Designs style).

The Micro Wallet is a very compact, minimalist wallet, and excels at either back- or front-pocket carry, and I used it both ways with great success.  In fact, the softness of the leather helps the Micro Wallet feeling comfortable in your pocket even in front-pocket carry.   It is also designed to fit inside some of Waterfield Designs’ larger wallets for travel, such as the Passport Finn Access Wallet and the Travel Wallet (reviews of these are in-process—stay tuned).

Although it’s difficult to see in this photo, the Micro Wallet starts out quite slim at only 0.75″ thick, and as seen below, it stays quite slim even when loaded.

One of the main features of the Micro Wallet is its zipper that wraps around two of the sides of the wallet.  As with all of the materials and components used by Waterfield Designs in their products, this is a YKK locking zipper, which means that when the zipper pull is in the above position, it is free to be zipped open or closed, but once the zipper pull is flipped the other way and laid flat, it “locks” into that position.  This helps keep the zipper from opening accidentally in your pocket or purse.

You may have already noticed that the Micro Wallet includes a small loop of nylon webbing on one side.  This is a handy feature that allows the Micro Wallet to be attached and secured to all manner of things, from various hooks and clips to locking carabiners, keyrings and the like.

In the example above, I’ve attached the rectangular carabiner that is included with the Waterfield Designs Travel Wallet (NOTE: not included with the Micro Wallet), but this little loop of webbing will fit many different types of hooks, carabiners, and the like.  This allows the Micro Wallet to be attached to a belt loop, purse or messenger bag strap, backpack webbing, keyring or any number of other places.

The inside of the Micro Wallet is very spartan, with no organizational pockets.  This was done purposefully, in keeping with its minimalist design philosophy as well as intent to keep the Micro Wallet as small, thin, and compact as possible.  Although inside pockets would indeed help with the organization of contents, they would also add to the thickness of the Micro Wallet.  It should also be noted that the Micro Wallet is NOT available with an RFID liner option.

To test out the Micro Wallet, I loaded it up with the above items: 6 bills and 7 cards, which is a fair representation of what I might typically carry in my wallet on an average day.

In the above photo, you can see that the bills and cards essentially just sit inside the Micro Wallet since, as mentioned above, there are no internal organizational features.  The 6 bills and 7 cards fit just fine, and in fact, there was room for some additional items. One drawback to the Micro Wallet here is that, if you want to put cash bills into it, you have to double fold them, which can start to add a lot of thickness to it.  This is a good spot to mention that the Micro Wallet is available in two sizes, Compact, which is designed to hold US bills, and International, which has a slightly larger footprint and is designed to hold foreign (non-US) bills.  I couldn’t help but wonder if the International version might have allowed me to only fold my US bills once, which would have reduced the thickness due to not having to double-fold them.  I should also mention that the Micro Wallet’s open interior allows it to be used to hold cables, adapters, memory cards and so forth—sort of a mini tech gear pouch—if desired.

The above photo shows the thickness of the Micro Wallet with the 6 bills (double folded) and 7 cards inside.  Even with the bills double-folded, the Micro Wallet is still very thin and compact.

As seen above, the Micro Wallet is very suitable for back-pocket carry like just about any traditional wallet.

Where the Micro Wallet excels, however, is in front-pocket carry, where its small footprint, thinness, and very soft material make it quite comfortable.

What I like

  • Very small, very slim, very suited for either front or back pocket carry
  • Locking YKK zipper provides quick yet secure access to contents and could also be used to hold small items like cables, adapters, etc.
  • High-quality materials and construction—the leather looks and feels great and seems very durable

What I’d change

  • Find a way to give it an RFID liner but without adding much thickness

Final thoughts

The Waterfield Designs Micro Wallet is an excellent slim, compact, minimalist wallet if you want to carry a handful of cards and cash securely and you aren’t as concerned about organization.  It has a classic look and feel and is quite affordable for a wallet made from these materials and construction, which give me the impression that it will last a long time and only get better with age.

Price:

  • 1050 Denier Ballistic Nylon in Black = $25
  • Waxed Canvas in Brown = $25
  • Full-grain, deer-tanned leather in Brown, Red, or Blue (Blue reviewed here) = $39

Where to buy: Waterfield Designs (AKA SF Bags)
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Waterfield Designs

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Waterfield Designs Micro Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2019 at 8:49 am.

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Waterfield Designs Travel Wallet review

REVIEW – Waterfield Designs Finn Wallet has been been on a wallet rampage of late.  A few months back they administered their Next Generation Wallet survey, soliciting feedback from customers and wallet fans far and wide.  As a result, they have updated several of their classic wallets and created a few new styles, one of those being their Travel Wallet, a large wallet designed to organize and secure documents, cards, cash, and other small items while traveling.    I do a fair amount of travel for work, and I always seem to find myself wishing I had something in which to carry all of my small, personal travel gear, so I was excited to review the Waterfield Designs Travel Wallet.  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Travel Wallet is a large, pouch-like wallet with a zipper closure and several organizational pockets inside that has been designed to hold items while traveling, such as cards, cash, a Passport, or even small electronics.

Hardware specs

  • Size options
    • Travel Wallet: 7.25” L x 4” H x .25” W weighing 2.5 oz. for $49
    • Travel Wallet Plus: 10.25” L x 5.25” H x .25” W weighing 4.0 oz. for $59
  • Material and color options
    • Oil-tanned full-grain leather in Brown or Black colors each for an additional $10
    • Waxed Canvas in Brown color
    • Ballistic Nylon in Black color (reviewed here)
    • Italian Forza in Blue and Red colors
  • Capacity by size
    • Travel Wallet: Passport, larger foreign currencies, cards, and coins.
    • Travel Wallet Plus: Fits the same items as the Travel Wallet plus other travel documents.
  • Zipper: YKK self-locking
  • Location of manufacture: Workshop crafted in San Francisco, CA, USA

Design and features

The new Waterfield Designs Travel Wallet is also a result of the Next Generation Wallet survey that was conducted in  January-February of 2019.  One of the results of this survey was that folks wanted a larger wallet that could hold several items—and even a smaller wallet—while traveling.

My initial impressions of the Travel Wallet were that it was BIG—bigger than the Waterfield Design Passport Finn Access Wallet, which is a big wallet in its own right.  However, both of those wallets are large for good reasons.

The Black Ballistic Nylon fabric of this review sample had a technical and tough look and feel, and I immediately liked it.  The Travel Wallet is also available in Brown or Black oil-tanned full-grain leather, Brown Waxed Canvas, or Blue or Black Italian Forza fabric.

The Travel Wallet is actually available in two sizes: Travel Wallet (shown here), and Travel Wallet Plus, an even larger version designed to hold more and larger items.  The Travel Wallet is not going to reasonably fit into anyone’s pants pocket (front or back) unless perhaps they are wearing cargo pants.  I suspect that it probably be better suited for jackets pockets, or being carried inside a purse, bag, backpack or similar item.

As with all of the Waterfield Designs wallets reviewed above, the Travel Wallet begins quite thin for a wallet of its size.

For size comparison purposes, the above photo shows the quite large Passport Finn Acess Wallet from above on top and the larger Travel Wallet beneath it.

Above is a closeup of the Travel Wallet’s Black Ballistic Nylon material.  Ballistic Nylon is known to be a very tough, abrasion-resistant material, and depending on the fabric’s makeup, it can have a somewhat rough texture.  However, Waterfield Designs has selected a type of Ballistic Nylon that is relatively soft to the touch, and it has a really nice feel.  Waterfield Designs has also included a logo tag on the exterior of the Travel Wallet, which I found a bit interesting considering that no such logo tag seems to be on any of Waterfield Designs’ other wallets.  I’m typically not a fan of exterior product logos, but this one is classy and fairly understated, so it was not an issue to me.

Like the Waterfield Designs’ other zipper wallets, the Travel Wallet also features a YKK locking zipper to help avoid accidental opening and keep the Travel Wallet’s contents secure.

The Travel Wallet includes two accessories shown in the photo above: a small travel pen and a rectangular-shaped carabiner with a spring clip.

This miniature pen is a ballpoint twist-type, and fits in the hand nicely.  However, I would use it more in a pinch, such as for signing a receipt or a customs form, than for writing the Great American Novel, but it is certainly handy in a pinch.  It also includes a pocket clip.

The Travel Wallet includes a small loop of nylon webbing to which the rectangular spring carabiner can be attached, which then allows the Travel Wallet to be attached to a belt loop, purse or messenger bag strap, backpack webbing, keyring or any number of other places.

One of the Travel Wallet’s features that really caught my eye was its bright gold interior lining with its zig-zag/diamond pattern.   A bright lining such as this helps the user to find items placed inside the Travel Wallet, especially in lower-light conditions.  Plus, it looks pretty cool.   However, I was a bit surprised that Waterfield Designs did not include an option to add an RFID blocking liner, as they have in nearly all of their other wallets.  This is something I would definitely want to have while traveling to help protect my travel documents and cards from RFID theft.

Looking at the interior of the Travel Wallet, one side has two open-top pockets of identical size sewn into the liner.

The opposite side of the interior has a large zipper pocket that spans the entire length of the Travel Wallet intended to hold small items such as coins, tokens, receipts, keys, small electronic accessories, or other travel essentials.

To test out the Travel Wallet, I loaded it up with the above items: 6 bills and 7 cards, the mini pen, an iPhone Lightning charging cable, and my US Passport which is a fair representation of what I might typically carry in my wallet while on a business trip, especially outside the US.

The image above shows the items loaded into the Travel Wallet.   The 7 cash bills fit into the left open pocket, and the 6 cards fit into the right pocket.  The only item that didn’t fit quite so well was the mini travel pen.  More on this below.

My Passport fit into the open center portion of the Travel Wallet, but there was no dedicated pocket inside that could hold the Passport, which I did find a bit odd.  The Passport would only fit into the inner zipper pocket if I left it open.  However, the Travel Wallet’s outer zipper did zip closed just fine with the Passport inside it, and with clearance to spare.

The above photo illustrates the issue with the included mini travel pen not fitting well into the Travel Wallet.  I was a bit surprised by this, considering that this mini pen was included with the Travel Wallet—I would have expected the Travel Wallet’s interior to have a dedicated pocket for this included pen, as Waterfield Designs’ Passport Finn Access Wallet has.  Further, the mini pen sticks up so far that it can be a bit challenging to zip the Travel Wallet closed because the mini pen protrudes upward into the zipper area like a periscope.  I suppose I could have placed the mini pen into the interior zipper pocket, but that seemed like a less than elegant solution.  I should mention that the Waterfield Designs site does show a photo of the interior of the Travel Wallet in which there is a small pocket on one end of the inside into which the mini-pen has been placed.  However, I suspect that these photos may perhaps depict the larger Travel Wallet Plus, which may have a small, dedicated mini-pen pocket.

Even with all of the items shown above placed inside the Travel Wallet, once again, like other Waterfield Wallets I’ve reviewed, it manages to remain very slim and in fact, could easily hold even more items than what I placed into it.

The Travel Wallet is probably not very realistic for either back or front pocket carry, as seen in the images above.  The even larger Travel Pocket Plus is probably less realistic.

As mentioned above, the Travel Wallet is designed to hold a smaller Waterfield Designs wallet inside it for travel.  Above, I’ve placed a Compact Finn Wallet inside the Travel Wallet and there is still room to spare.

And finally, I placed the Waterfield Designs Micro Wallet inside the Travel Wallet, and again it fits perfectly fine with plenty of room to spare.  Based on these two smaller wallets fitting inside, I feel pretty confident that a smartphone would fit inside as well.

What I like

  • For a large wallet/pouch, it still retains its slimness, even with several items placed inside
  • Well laid-out interior organizational pocket, with the exception of a spot for the mini pen
  • Locking YKK zipper provides quick yet secure access to contents and could also be used to hold small items like cables, adapters, etc
  • High-quality materials and construction–the Black Ballistic Nylon looks and feels great and seems very durable
  • Gold high-vis lining helps see contents

What I’d change

  • Add an RFID blocking liner option
  • Needs a better place to hold the mini pen

Final thoughts

The Waterfield Designs Travel Wallet is a very large wallet, and in fact is really more of a travel pouch.  But don’t let that deter you—it still manages to remain quite slim even with multiple items loaded into it.   The locking zipper helps keep contents secure and the Black Ballistic Nylon of this review sample has a very tough, technical look and feel.  I think the price is very reasonable considering its size, functionality as a passport (and other items)-holding travel wallet/pouch, materials, and construction, which give me the impression that it will last a long time, as Waterfield Designs’ products are known to do.

Price:

  • Travel Wallet for $49
  • Travel Wallet Plus for $59

Where to buy: Waterfield Designs (AKA SF Bags)
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Waterfield Designs

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Waterfield Designs Travel Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 22, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Waterfield Designs Passport Finn Access Wallet review

REVIEW – The Waterfield Designs Finn Wallet has been one of their staple products for many years and has undergone several updates during that time.  One of the more dramatic updates was the creation of the Finn Access Wallet, which added an exterior pocket for quick card access to the outside of the wallet.  Waterfield Designs has recently updated several of their wallets, including their Finn Access Wallet, adding new sizes.  We were provided with a Passport size Finn Access Wallet to try out.  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Passport Finn Access Wallet is a large, zipper wallet with a quick-access side pocket that is designed to hold not only several cards, some cash bills, and other smaller items inside, but can also hold a US Passport in its external pocket.

Hardware specs

  • Size options
    • Compact: 4.25″ x 3” x 0.75″ weighing 1.4 oz. for $69
    • International: 4.25″ x 3.375” x 0.75″ weighing 1.4 oz. for $69
    • iPhone XS: 6″ x 3.5” x 0.75″ weighing 2.2 oz. $69
    • Passport: 5.75″ x 4.25” x 0.75″ weighing 1.8 oz. $79
  • Material and color options= Full-grain, deer-tanned leather in Brown, Blue, or Black color (Black reviewed here)
  • Capacity by size
    • Compact: 20+ credit cards plus a wad of cash; Quick access pocket fits 1-2 cards
    • International: 20+ credit cards plus a wad of cash, including US or foreign-sized currency; Quick access pocket fits 1-2 cards
    • iPhone XS: 20+ credit cards, US or larger currency, and an iPhone XS or similarly-sized smartphone; Quick access pocket fits 1-2 cards
    • Passport: 10+ credit cards and US or larger foreign currency and designed to hold a US Passport; Quick access pocket fits a US passport (125 x 88 mm)
  • RFID blocking liner option available for an additional $10
  • Zipper: YKK self-locking
  • Location of manufacture: Workshop crafted in San Francisco, CA, USA

Design and features

The Finn Access Wallet is one of the more recent variants of Waterfield Designs’ staple Finn Wallet that includes an exterior pocket on one side for quick access to often-used cards or other items.  This Passport size is designed to hold a Passport for travel.

My first impression of the Finn Access Wallet was that-the leather’s texture feels and looks as soft and supple as butter, and also that this is quite a large wallet.

The full-grain, deer-tanned leather of this review sample was quite impressive in look and feel and is currently available in Brown, Blue, or this Black color.

As listed above, the Finn Access Wallet is available in several sizes: Compact (designed to hold 20+ cards and US cash bills, plus 1-2 cards in the external slot), International (designed to hold 20+ cards and foreign bills, plus 1-2 cards in the external slot), iPhone XS (designed to hold several cash bills, cards, and iPhone XS or other similarly-sized smartphones inside it, plus 1-2 cards in the external slot), and Passport (pictured here—designed to hold 10+ cards, US or foreign cash bills and a US Passport either internally in the external pocket).  Each of these has an increasing footprint size to accommodate the noted contents, yet like the standard Finn Wallet, each remains quite compact for what they are designed to hold.  But make no mistake—this Passport size of the Finn Access Wallet is indeed a big wallet.  As will be seen below, the Passport Finn Access Wallet will work for back pocket carry, though it may be a bit snug for most pants, and front-pocket carry is likely out of the question (the typically larger thigh pockets of cargo pants would be a viable option, however).  The Passport Finn Access Wallet is probably best suited to be carried in a jacket pocket, purse, or bag.

Despite having a large footprint size, all versions of the Finn Access Wallet are still quite thin.

Like the standard Finn Wallet, all versions of the Finn Access Wallet also feature a YKK locking zipper to help avoid accidental opening and keep the wallet’s contents secure.

The feature that separates the standard Finn Wallet from this Finn Access Wallet is this external access pocket that is integrated directly into the Finn Access Wallet’s leather, not stitched onto it which would add material layers, and therefore it helps keep the Finn Access Wallet thin and compact.

As seen above, the Passport Finn Access Wallet holds a US-sized Passport in its external access pocket perfectly.  The fit of the Passport in this pocket was just a bit snug, but I actually think this is perfect because you don’t want your Passport to be accidentally falling out of it while you walking through the airport or anywhere else while traveling.

Above, another photo of my well-worn Passport sitting securely in the Finn Access Wallet’s side access pocket.

An additional accessory that the Passport size of the Finn Access Wallet is designed to hold is this micro pen.  In full disclosure, I’m not sure if the Passport Finn Access wallet actually includes this small pen, or if the Waterfield Design folks just helpfully tossed this into the package with this wallet.  I don’t see anywhere on the Waterfield Designs site where you can purchase this small pen separately (however, one is definitely included with their Travel Wallet, the review of which is in process, so stay tuned).

This miniature pen is a ballpoint twist-type, and fit in the hand nicely, though I would use it more in a pinch, such as for signing a check than for writing the Great American Novel, but it is certainly handy in a pinch.  It also includes a pocket clip which is handy for securing it into the inside of the Passport Finn Access Wallet as you will see below.

Like the standard Finn Wallet, the Passport Finn Access Wallet includes a lined interior which can be selected with optional RFID blocking for an additional $10.  And like the standard Finn Wallet, there are also organizational pockets inside.  However, because the Passport version is larger than some of the other versions, it has more space to allow for additional pockets.  As seen in the image above, the Passport version includes a large pocket plus a small pocket on the left, and two identically-sized pockets on the right.  More on these below.

To test out the Passport Finn Access Wallet, I loaded it up with the above items: 6 bills and 7 cards, the mini pen, an iPhone Lightning charging cable, and my US Passport which is a fair representation of what I might typically carry in my wallet while on a business trip, especially outside the US.

The image above shows the items loaded into the Passport Finn Access Wallet.  On the left, the larger pockets hold the iPhone Lightning cable with loads of room to spare, while the mini pen clips into the small pocket and is held securely.  On the right, one of the pockets holds the cash and the other holds the cards, and both have plenty of space left for more.

Above and below, some additional photos of the Passport Access Wallet from various angles showing the interior and the items I loaded into it.

Above, a photo of the inside of the Passport Access Wallet showing the small pen pocket to the left and the large pocket the Apple iPhone Lightning cable inside.

The above phone shows the inside of the Passport Access Wallet showing the two same-sized pockets with the 7 double-folded cash bills in the left pocket and the 6 cards in the right pocket.

Even with the Passport Access Wallet loaded with the items shown above—including the Passport in the outside access pocket—it largely maintains its thinness, which is quite impressive.

The Passport Finn Access Wallet was designed to hold a smaller wallet inside while traveling.  In the above photo, I’ve placed the Waterfield Designs Minemo Slim Wallet inside the Passport Finn Access Wallet and it fit with room to spare and I could even zip the Passport Finn Access Wallet close with no issues.

Next up was the Waterfield Designs Micro Wallet, which also fit inside the Passport Access Wallet, no problem at all.

Finally, the Compact Finn Wallet (which is approximately the same size as the Micro Wallet) also fit fine inside the Passport Finn Access Wallet, thus demonstrating that it can be used to hold one of Waterfield Designs’ smaller wallets while traveling or while out and about.

While the Passport Finn Access Wallet does indeed have a large footprint—larger than most traditional wallets, and for good reasons—it is not impossible to carry it in your back pocket, but it will likely be a tight fit, as seen above.

However, front pocket carry is probably not going to work well, as seen in the image above.  For most people, the Passport Finn Access Wallet’s footprint is just too large to be comfortable when carried in a front pocket.

What I like

  • For a large wallet, it still retains its slimness, even with several items placed inside
  • Well laid-out interior organizational pocket
  • Exterior quick-access pocket fit US Passport snugly and keeps it handy
  • Locking YKK zipper provides quick yet secure access to contents and could also be used to hold small items like cables, adapters, etc
  • High-quality materials and construction–the leather looks and feels great and seems very durable

What I’d change

  • Nothing!

Final thoughts

The Waterfield Designs Passport Finn Access Wallet is indeed a bit of beast in terms of footprint size but still manages to remain slim even with multiple items packed into it.   The locking zipper helps keep contents secure and the quick access pocket is very handy.  It has a classic look and the leather has a great look and feel.  I think the price is very reasonable considering its size, functionality as a passport-holding travel wallet, materials and construction, which give me the impression that it will last a long time, as Waterfield Designs’ products are known to do, and will only age gracefully over time.

Price:

  • Compact, International, or iPhone XS sizes each for $69
  • Passport size for $79
  • Add $10 for RFID blocking liner

Where to buy: Waterfield Designs (AKA SF Bags)
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Waterfield Designs

Filed in categories: Reviews

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Waterfield Designs Passport Finn Access Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2019 at 8:14 am.

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Waterfield Designs Minemo Slim Wallet review

REVIEW – Slim, minimalist wallets have been on the rise for some time, and in fact, we have reviewed several of them here at The Gadgeteer.  Recently, one of the companies whose bags, pouches, wallets, and other products we have come to admire, Waterfield Designs, administered their  Next Generation Wallet community design project, soliciting feedback via multiple surveys directly from customers and fans.  That feedback was used to not only update some of their existing wallet designs but also to create new wallets not previously offered in their wallet product lines.  One of those new wallets was their Minemo Slim Wallet.  Let’s check them out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Minemo Slim Wallet is a small, thin, compact bi-fold style wallet with a minimalist style that is designed to hold a few cards and some cash.

Hardware specs

  • Material options =

    • Oil-tanned, full grain Black, Blue, Brown, or Dark Brown Leather – each $59
    • Heritage Blue, Stone Red or Forest Brown Italian Waxed Canvas (Forest Brown reviewed here) – each $49
  • Capacity = Holds about 8 cards and some folded cash, plus 1-2 cards in the exterior quick-access pocket
  • Optional RFID blocking liner available for an additional $10
  • Dimensions = 4″ x 2.6” x 0.375”
  • Weight = 0.8 oz.
  • Location of manufacture = Workshop crafted in San Francisco, CA, USA

Design and features

The new Minemo Slim Wallet is one of Waterfield Designs’ newest wallets.  It is the direct result of the Next Generation Wallets survey which was administered to customers and other interested folks back in January-February of 2019.

My initial impressions of the Minemo Slim Wallet that I was sent to review were twofold: first, it is indeed slim, and second, the look and feel of its material are quite unique.

While the Italian Waxed Canvas fabric of this review sample was quite unique in look and feel (and available in Heritage Blue, Stone Red, and this Forest Brown color), the Minemo Slim Wallet is also available in Black, Blue, or Dark Brown oil-tanned, full-grain leather.

The Minemo Slim Wallet is available in Black, Blue, Brown, or Dark Brown Leather, or Heritage Blue, Stone Red or Forest Brown (reviewed here) Italian Canvas.  The Italian Canvas material looks and feels almost like a waxed canvas material in both visual an tactile properties.  Furthermore, on close inspection, the fabric has what appears to be a very small “hex” or “honeycomb” pattern.

The Minemo Slim Wallet is not only slim, but it also has a small footprint at only 4″ x 2.6”, which makes it a great option for either front- or back-pocket carry, and in fact would probably work fine for even front shirt-pocket carry (though I don’t tend to carry my wallets this way).  Additionally, the Minemo Slim Wallet has been designed to fit inside some of Waterfield Designs’ larger wallets for travel, such as their Passport Finn Access Wallet or their new Travel Wallet (reviews of both are in-process—stay tuned).

As mentioned above, the Minemo Slim Wallet is indeed slim at 0.375″ thick when empty.

The Minemo Slim Wallet is lined, and has a simple diagonal pocket on either side to hold cards or cash.  For an additional $10, the Minemo Slim wallet can include an RFID protection liner as well, but this feature was not included in the item reviewed here.

To test out the Minemo Slim Wallet, I loaded it up with the above items: 6 bills and 7 cards, which is a fair representation of what I might typically carry in my wallet on an average day.

The exterior of the Minemo Slim Wallet has a single easy-access diagonal pocket on the front, which allows the user to insert an oft-used item for quick access, such as an ID or some cash.  Note that if this Minemo Slim Wallet had included the optional RFID protection, any item placed into this exterior pocket would be outside of the RFID protection, which can be both a risk or benefit.  The risk is that someone with malicious intent could access the data on a card stored in this exterior pocket without your knowledge via wireless technology. The benefit is that if you use a certain card often via wireless means—a chipped credit card, and so forth—you could use this card without removing it from the inside of the wallet, or even removing it from this exterior pocket.

Above, I’ve loaded the Minemo Slim Wallet with the remaining 5 cards (my ID being in the outside pocket) in the top pocket, and the 6 bills in the lower pocket.  One drawback to the Minemo Slim Wallet here is that, if you want to put cash bills into it, you have to double fold them, which adds a lot of thickness to it.

I think the number of cards and bills that I placed in the Minemo Slim Wallet were probably just a bit more than it was designed to carry regularly; while  I’m certain I could have put more cards and/or bills into it, this would continue to increase the thickness, and with the word “Slim” right in its name, I think the Minemo Slim Wallet is intended to provide a more svelte, minimalist carry for your wallet items, which means you should probably be carrying less in it than you would in a typical wallet.

As seen above, the Minemo Slim Wallet is very suitable for back-pocket carry like just about any traditional wallet.  I barely know it’s there!

Where the Minemo Slim Wallet excels, however, is in front-pocket carry, where its very small footprint, super thinness, and very soft material make it quite comfortable.

And finally, the Minemo Slim Wallet is actually quite suitable for front shirt pocket carry as well, as long as you don’t put too much into it, which will make it heavier and can pull your pocket downward.

What I like

  • Very small, very slim, very suited for either front or back pocket carry
  • External quick-access pocket is handy
  • High-quality materials and construction

What I’d change

  • Perhaps make the footprint just a bit larger—cash bills must be double-folded to fit, which increases the thickness

Final thoughts

The Waterfield Designs Minemo Slim Wallet is an excellent slim, compact, minimalist wallet if you want to carry a handful of cards and cash.  It has a classy look and feel and although it is a bit on the pricey side, its materials and construction give me the impression that it will last a long time and only get better with age.

Price:

  • Italian Waxed Canvas styles are $49.99
  • Oil-tanned, full-grain leather styles are $59.99
  • For RFID protection liner, add $10 to any wallet price

Where to buy: Waterfield Designs (AKA SF Bags)
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Waterfield Designs

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Waterfield Designs Minemo Slim Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 12, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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