What makes a wallet a “smart wallet?” How about an RFID-protected card-slider mechanism for storing your credit cards? Perhaps a solar-powered tracking system so that you can find your wallet when it goes missing? These are some of the features you’ll find in the Ekster wallets, all wrapped in luxurious leather. I’ve got the Ekster Parliament Bi-Fold Wallet & tracking card for this review. Let’s go learn more!

Looking sharp and organized

Measuring in at 4.1” tall by 2.5” wide by .59” deep, the Ekster Parliament wallet is roughly the size of a pack of playing cards. It’s an all-leather wallet with a structured, formal look that pairs nicely with business or formal attire. The model I am testing is the black leather and has Ekster’s shield logo embossed on the front face for an extra touch of class.

The design of the wallet is built around a card slider system for storing and dispensing your cards. It’s a box that offers RFID/NFC blocking and is designed to hold 4-6 cards (depending on thickness). Push the thumb lever on the bottom of the wallet and your cards slide out, presented in a fan-like formation so that you can pick the card you need.

The rest of the wallet design is wrapped around the card-slider core. The front cover that will hold two additional cards, and there’s an additional card pocket on the back of the wallet. None of these slots is RFID protected so you have a place (or three) for your badge-swipe work ID, non-scannable cards, or tracking card (which we’ll discuss momentarily). Open the front flap and you’ll find a wide elastic band, finished with leather, to secure your cash or additional cards. All in all, you’ve got a total capacity in the wallet for 9 cards plus cash (or some additional cards) under the elastic band.

Overall construction of the wallet is excellent. The leather is quite good, with a substantial and luxurious hand feel. The dye work on the leather is excellent with consistent color, no color change with scratches, and no dye bleed into your clothes. Stitching and assembly is rock-solid throughout with even stitching and nicely finished seams. It’s a nice build, well in alignment with the high-end style of the wallet.

Where’s my wallet?

Ekster also offers a customized tracking card as an option for their wallets that utilizes the TrackR technology. It’s the size of a thick business card and is designed to fit in the rear card pocket on your wallet.

The card is a is designed to work with the TrackR app you’ll download to your smartphone. Choose add a new device and choose the “Works with TrackR” option to select Ekster products. Add a name for your card, and you’re paired in moments.

Once you’re paired up, the TrackR has some nice features for close range location. Lost your wallet? Tap a button on the app to cause your card to ring so you can find it. Lost your phone? Double press the button on your tracking card to set off an alarm on your wallet. Both of these features work as long as the app is open and Bluetooth is enabled (and in range). Leave your wallet somewhere? The app will report the last known location while within Bluetooth range. 

For long-range tracking, you’ll need to register with the TrackR Crowd GPS Network. If your wallet is within range of another device that has the TrackR app open and is part of the network, you’ll be notified of the last detected location. The app will also notify you if you helped someone else locate their TrackR enabled device. 

It’s also important to note that the TrackR card made for Ekster is solar powered. Charge it in direct sunlight for a couple of hours, and you’re good to go for a month or so before a recharge. That’s a nice bonus feature, given that a lot of tracking devices of this type are battery operated.

Stepping out with the Ekster Parliament Wallet

As a great looking wallet, the Ekster Parliament is a winner. It’s structured form and sophisticated style looks great with business wear or for formal occasions. It’s a classy accessory.

If you like your wallets super-slim, you should know that the boxy form doesn’t really favor front-pocket or back-pocket wear. It’s over 1/2” thick empty. It works great stashed in the inside pocket of a suit coat or blazer but shows a lot of bulk in your pants pocket (especially jeans or slim-fit dress pants). If you won’t mind a thicker wallet or keep your wallet in your bag (or your jacket), this won’t be an issue for you.

The card-slider system works exactly as intended, keeping 4-6 cards nestled snugly in it’s RFID-blocking chamber. Given that there’s not much of a gap between the cards when deployed, however, it’s not easy to quickly grab the card you’re looking for. You could keep your frequent-use card at the back of the stack, but I often found myself pulling all the cards out of the wallet to find the one I want. This means extra fumbling if you’re at the cashier paying for that double espresso you just ordered. I could just keep that card in the flap, but that kind of defeats the purpose of the RFID protection.If you’re only carrying those cards for occasional use (like at a formal occasion) this won’t be a big deal, but it’s irritating if you’re going for a credit card several times throughout the day. 

The elastic band for cash is also a bit of a design issue for me. On the Ekster web site, they show a couple of bills folded in half inserted behind the band. In reality, the wallet width is actually narrower than a standard U.S. bill. This means you’re either fighting to stuff your cash into the band or folding it twice to make it fit (which adds even more bulk to the wallet). If you’re used to going cash free and just keep a couple of bucks handy for emergencies, this may not be an issue for you. If you just got a bunch of bills in change for that espresso, however, you’ll find yourself fighting to get it all wrangled under the band.

Like all wallets, your satisfaction with the Ekster Parliament will really come down to personal preference. I see this wallet as ideal for formal occasions riding in my jacket pocket, where cash and frequent use of cards are not required. If you’re constantly going in and out of your wallet all day long, or carry a lot of cash on a regular basis, you may find some of these design features to be less than ideal. If you don’t mind a thicker wallet and prioritize the RFID protection, this may be the choice for you.

I do like the tracking system for close-range location, as I have a tendency to lose my wallet in the house. Or my phone. Sometimes both. The ability to ping one or the other to find where they have gotten to is really handy. This does require that the app is always running on your phone, however, to maintain the connection to the TrackR. The long distance tracking depends on other TrackR users being close to your device, which could to hit or miss… but the app does also log the last detected location of your device within Bluetooth range. This means that you can find out if you left your wallet at home or at the office before you go into a full-blown panic.

Conclusions and Pricing

If you’re looking for a classy wallet and don’t mind the thickness, you can’t go wrong with the Ekster Parliament Wallet. It looks great, has a clever RFID-protected card sliding system, and additional storage for cash and scannable cards like work IDs. The TrackR card is great for short-range location and remembering the last place you left your wallet if you wander off. Build quality and finishing are also excellent, with multiple leather finishes available. The Parliament wallet retails for $69.95 on its own or can be bundled with the custom solar-powered TrackR card for $99.95. Check them both out at Ekster’s web site! 

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Ekster. Please visit their site for more information.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Wallets

Ekster Parliament + Tracker Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 24, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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The Trayvax Element Old Glory wallet is for the person who wants to make a statement with the wallet’s unique form and function shape.  And its guaranteed to get a few stares and a few comments.

On the outside of this Tobacco Brown wallet, there is an American flag branded onto the side flap which covers the money clip on the inside. It is made of a very nice top grain oil tanned leather that looks and feels durable. The wallet is accented by a MIL-SPEC paracord trim along one side of the wallet.

One of the first things I noticed when I opened the box was the aroma of the leather itself. Something about fine quality leather has that certain smell to it.

The Trayvax is 4.5″ inches long, 2.8″ inches wide, and 1.5″ inches thick. And it weighs in at 5 ounces.

 Although the Trayvax website states that this wallet can hold between 3 to 10 cards I was skeptical at first to believe that this wallet could hold that many cards.  When you first unbox the wallet you will see how thin the wallet initially is and you’ll wonder how exactly you’ll get more than 2 credit cards in there.  Apparently, there is a little method to do before you can carry all those cards. According to the instructions, you must first insert several cards into the Trayvax wallet and then soak the wallet with the cards in it for 10 minutes. This will not only stretch out the wallets leather material but will also keep its shape after the wallet dries.

On one side of the wallet is a small opening that allows you to slide a card upwards with your finger to retrieve the cards in the wallet. With only about 6 cards I had inside the wallet, sliding a card up did take some effort. It wasn’t terribly difficult but with that many cards, it should be expected. Makes me wonder how it would be if I had one or two more cards jammed in the wallet. Under the flap, where the money clip is located,  it is very easy to insert and retrieve cash that you place there. The flap helps keeps the cash in place and the strap keeps the flap shut.

Trayvax also sent along their wallet comb, the Shift. It’s a Dual-Sided Stainless Steel Comb about the size of a credit card and is about as thick as one. The Shift has can be carried in the Element wallet as well since it will fit inside the wallet. It has comb teeth on opposite sides of each other. One side is a fine tooth comb and the other side is a wide tooth comb. The Shift is not only intended for combing the hair on your head but can be used for beards as well. I must say I gave it a try and it actually works like a regular comb. I didn’t think it would make a difference but the Shift worked well if not better than other combs I have used. The Shift is very well made and constructed, and yes, it has a bottle opener on it too. Why? Why not.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Trayvax. Please visit their site for more info and to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Wallets

Trayvax Element Old Glory Brand wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 5, 2017 at 10:30 am.

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Having a good business card holder is a necessity to make a proper business introduction. While carrying a card loose in a pocket or wallet may at the onset seem sufficient, there are a number of drawbacks to this approach. The cards often become tattered and worn or dirtied in a pocket. This is unacceptable because a business card is a reminder of your first impression and should be presented to the business contact in pristine condition; an example of your own professionalism. Another downfall of a loose card is that it may become easily mixed with another person’s information. Having to sort through bunch of cards in front of a new contact is a bad first impression because 1) it distracts you from the conversation 2) It shows a lack of organization 3) it implies, by your collection of other cards, that the current contact is potentially not the most important meeting you are having. One option for carrying your cards is The Lioe Titan card holder. Read on to see what I think!

The Lioe Titan business card holder comes in a black box with an outer sleeve. The sleeve can be removed and the box offers a nice presentation for gift giving.

The first impression is that the holder is extremely well designed. There are many aluminum shell style wallets that imitate the style and design of Rimowa luggage but are flimsy sheets of aluminum that bend and dent with the slightest pressure. The Aluminum pieces used to fabricate the Titan are not stamped – they are machined – and they are at least 2 mm thick. Because the holder is made from Aluminum it is lightweight and only weighs 90 gram when empty. The case is 66 mm wide, 99 mm long and a little less than 9 mm tall.

There are lots of stylistic cues on the Titan that makes it an attractive and yet still functional gadget. The top has a truss pattern that the manufacturer says was inspired by the nose of the B-29 Superfortress but it reminds me more of The John Hancock Center. The sides and bottom are detailed with flutes which make it easy to hold, open and close.

The picture below is a view of the bottom when open. You can see here that all parts are bead blasted and anodized for a uniform gunmetal grey finish.

The sides have some flutes as well and an opening which shows the cap screw that keeps the top and bottom halves attached

The front is etched with the Lioe brand

The inside bottom edge has a 45 degree slope at the front which makes it easier to get cards out of the inside. In the picture below you can see a Western European sized business card fits within the 55 mm interior. Apparently, Egyptian cards can be up to 57 mm wide, but all other sizes should fit within this holder. Nine standard thickness cards will fit in the holder, or 2 embossed credit cards and 1 laser engraved card. Credit cards inside the case should be shielded from RFID since the metal enclosure acts as a Faraday Shield. If the case is open like below it may be possible to read the RFID information.

The Titan has press fit magnets in the base and a steel set screw in the top which acts as a magnetic closure. The closure is enough to keep the unit from opening during normal handling but will not keep it closed if it is jostled in a pocket or stored loosely in a bag.

One last thing I noticed is that the Titan can be bit loud when opening and closing. It registered 57 dB on Decibel X when measured about 3 feet away. That’s not really loud if your having a conversation, but will be noticeable if you are trying to keep quiet during a presentation. I made a movie demonstrating the noise below.

In conclusion, the Lioe Titan has plenty of style. The metal design and finish, construction and operating mechanism set it apart from other holders. The Aluminum parts are thick and resilient and will last a lot longer than a stamped sheet metal alternative. However, The closure may open unexpectedly and the operation of the holder may be a distraction if it is meant to be done discreetly during a meeting or presentation. Lastly, the Titan retails for $70, which is almost three times the cost of a hinged door design or leather folding design. If you’re looking for a conventional design to store business cards look elsewhere, but if you want a unique and durable holder the titan may be just what you’re looking for.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Lioe Designs. Visit their website for more information or to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Wallets

Lioe Titan business card holder review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 26, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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I’ll be honest, I’m not much of a leather wallet guy these days.  I typically find them to be a bit on the thicker and bulkier side, and I’ve become more of a minimalist wallet EDCer.  But something about this JooJoobs American Flag Wallet drew me in.  America may not be perfect, but I love it dearly and to me our flag not only symbolized what is great about our nation, it reminds me of those who have served (including my grandfather) and died to protect us.  So this wallet automatically had a very special appearance to me.  But beyond the Stars and Bars, what was it like?  Let’s find out.  Gadget on!

Specs

• Size: 3″ by 4.25″ by 1/2″
• Holds 8 – 10 cards + folded cash
• Made from distressed, full-grain cowhide leather
• Our signature hand-stitching
• All products are handmade, made to order

Options

• Stitching: Dark Brown (reviewed here) or Natural Tan
• Personalization (initials or logo) can be added to the inside for an additional $6

Packaging

The JooJoobs American Flag Wallet arrived in a simple plastic envelope with a JooJoobs decal sealing the flap.  

Features, Functions and Performance

First impressions: High quality, great leather.  You know how you can pick up and handle something and you can feel the quality in it?  This wallet did that for me.Clean design, both front and back.

The stitching around the perimeter was flawless and secure.The embossed American Flag looked great.  Very understated yet dignified, fitting of Old Glory.Inside, there are two pockets on either side.  I found it interesting that the pockets have slightly different shapes.  On the left the pockets have cutout notches to aid in removing cards.  On the right, the pockets have more of a curved shape.Closed and unloaded, the wallet is fairly thin, though with a total of six layovers of leather stacked up, its a bit too thick for me to call it a “minimal” wallet.While the thickness of the wallet doesn’t necessarily lend itself to being called minimal, its footprint is fairly small, which lends itself a bit to being used as a front-pocket-carry wallet.Above, I’ve loaded the wallet with a total of 6 cards and three once-folded bills.Above, you can see that the loaded wallet does grow a bit in thickness, expanding to almost 2x its unloaded thickness.As mentioned above, this Dark Brown stitching looks great all around, and I found myself wondering what the Natural Tan thread would look like on this wallet.
Above, the stitching along the back.As mentioned above, this wallet has a fairly slim footprint, which helps keep its overall size down.

Conclusion

I really like the JooJoos American Flag Wallet.  The distressed, full-grain cowhide leather is excellent: durable, rich color and that glorious leather smell.  The stitching is impeccable as well, and I think it should last for years.  The design inside is simple, with four pockets that allow up to 8 – 10 cards + folded cash.  Finally, the embossed American Flag design is very classy and well done, worthy of the dignity of our nation’s symbol.  It also has a very affordable price: Just $39 for a leather wallet of this quality is a bit of a steal.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by JooJoobs. Visit their site for more info or to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Wallets

JooJoobs American Flag Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 3, 2017 at 11:44 am.

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