My Case For Thin Wallets
I am torn. I like things to be streamlined, efficient, and simple. But as a holdover from my youth, I also like to be over-prepared. Let me give you an example. When I was younger, I loved wearing cargo pants to school. The more pockets the better because it allowed me to carry things I might need. The reality is I rarely reached for anything outside my front two, and right rear pockets; same as today. These days I have trimmed down and it all started with my wallet…
Actually, it all started with a trip to Hawaii almost 10 years ago. While a group of us were waiting at the Pearl Harbor museum, we decided to “optimize” a friend’s wallet. She was carrying a simple boy’s wallet, the kind that closed with a Velcro flap. The thing must have been 1.5 inches thick. We ended up tossing out business cards, receipts, stickers etc. I often think about to this incident whenever I think I need a bigger wallet.
I rotate a few different wallets nowadays but the one you’ll find in my pockets most often is a simple affair. The TUMI wallet (pictured above) has two slots in front for cards, one main compartment in the center and a money clip behind. It’s durable, wears slowly, does not mind getting wet, and is not slippery. There are no flaps to open and close and it’s a single piece, not a bi-fold. I carry four cards with me – ATM, credit, driver’s license, and RFID security card which goes into the main compartment with the DL. Cash gets folded in half once and goes behind the money clip.
I also am a fan of the single pouch approach that MAKR made famous but having everything snug against each other becomes slightly frustrating when you need to pull out a card or cash at the register. I do carry a billfold occasionally but even then I try to keep it really simple and light. You might be wondering what I do with all the club cards. Simple – most places accept phone numbers in lieu of the cards and for all the ones that don’t, I store the information in an app on my Android phone.
How do you carry your cash and credit cards? Are you a Costanza, or do you keep it lean and simple?
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Ed’s note: You might have noticed a new name as the author of this post. It’s David Vo, a long time carry fan and contributor to Josh Spear and his personal blog. We figure that hearing about a person’s pocket contents is about the most personal introduction one can get.
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Glad I am not alone on this! Also have a very thin pouch for my cards & (paper) licences. This one, actually http://www.flickr.com/photos/kikus/45932073/in/set-1004363/
(I had to comment because of the Leatherman on the pic!
That is thin! And deals well with the non credit card sized gear you have to haul about.
Compared to David’s minimal size wallet shown, it may appear that I’m a Costanza!However, I don’t think so, since I use a “neat” simple, bi-fold leather wallet. The patina of the leather, a soft leather (“washed”) that improved with use, gives my wallet real “personality” and makes it as comforting as the double-sole leather “camp mocassins” I wear when relaxing in my home. Like them, my wallet has perfectly adapted to me, in a most comfortable, imperceptible presence. It’s reassuring to have what I need in my wallet, with me. It’s attractive, plain black leather, silhouette is perfect for any occasion, too. My wallet is an accessory I’ve bonded with–important because I’m rarely separated from it for any significant time.
Haha, it’s funny how a wallet can become such a sentimental thing. Guys generally don’t carry much in the way of jewellery or keep-sakes, so our watches and wallets often fill that void.
Here’s to a good wallet!
I’m a costanza type of guy. I have a Big Skinny magnetic money clip [http://www.bigskinny.net/wallet-clip-money.html]. It’s similar to the one pictured above, but a nice vegan nylon which suits my interests. The magnet is sweet because it’s durable and strong, but has not and will not erase any of my credit cards. After having finally achieved efficiency in my search for the perfect “constanza” wallet, I will never go back to a thick ol’ wallet again.
Robert, it’s sounding like you’re at the opposite end of the scale to a Costanza. The enormous and exploding wallet made famous by the fat little bald man is anything but the slim and efficient carry you have managed to create. Great stuff on getting by with nothing more than a pinch of cards!
A friend recommended your wallets to me but they are too high for me. I’ve been a mission to find a bifold that’s just large enough for US currency. I’m finding the best height for this is 3″. I find it difficult to pull and put back cash into a bifold that’s 3.5 “. It’s been a frustrating journey – I’ve tried several wallets but none coming close to what I’m looking for , a good quality soft leather 3″ bifold. If any of you know of a place. Please let me know or if bellroy does custom leather work let me know too the hide and seek with a height of about 7.3cm would be great. I’d pay top dollar for that
Went from “Costanza” to my Big Skinney Metro ( http://www.bigskinny.net/metro.html ) and never looked back. I have used it with US, UK, and EU paper bills perfectly fine.
*Skinny
Currently am a costanza, decided i needed a new wallet when all the pockets in my old velcro one ripped out when i tried to increase it’s capacity beyond what was evidently it’s maximum of 4cm (about 1.5 inches i think) across. Waiting on a bellroy now.