WALLET CONSIDERATIONS FOR NORMAL PEOPLE - APPRENTICE GEAR & EDC
What’s going on everybody, Stephen here, and we’re back again with another gear and EDC post.
This time, I want to talk about something that many of us carry every single day but rarely think much about: wallets.
For most of my adult life, a wallet was just a wallet. It wasn't gear. It wasn't something I researched, experimented with, or even really cared about. As long as it held my cards and cash, it did its job. I carried the same basic leather wallet for years without giving it a second thought, that all changed a while back now.
One night at a bar with a buddy, one of my cards was compromised. To this day, I can't say with absolute certainty how it happened, but it seemed possible that it was scanned or some other form of hands off theft. I wasn’t the person paying, so it wasn’t someone working taking down my info or anything.
Regardless of how it happened, suddenly I found myself canceling cards, ordering replacements, updating accounts, and dealing with all the headaches that come with compromised financial information. For the first time, I started paying attention to wallet features rather than just how cheap it was.
Not long after that experience, I was ordering a holster from Neptune Concealment, a company best known for their Kydex holsters. While browsing their offerings, I discovered they also made a simple kydex wallet.
It's definitely not your traditional wallet.
The Neptune wallet is essentially a rigid kydex shell that secures your cards through clamping pressure. Accessing cards involves flexing the wallet open and moving items around as needed. It isn't the quickest or most intuitive design if you're constantly digging through cards, but for someone who only occasionally needs access to IDs or specific cards, it works surprisingly well.
I eventually modified mine further by adding RFID sleeves on both sides for additional protection. Since then, it's served me faithfully for five or years.
Functionally, I really can't complain. The wallet has been durable, secure, lightweight, and completely maintenance-free.
My gray Kydex wallet is about as utilitarian as gear gets. It does its job exceptionally well, but it doesn't have much personality, and functionally its simple. I’ve loved, and still love it, but recently had the itch to return to something more traditional.
Returning to Leather
Recently, I've found myself drifting back toward traditional leather wallets.
Maybe I'm getting older. Maybe I'm getting boring. Or maybe it's just part of the natural progression that a lot of EDC enthusiasts experience at some point.
There's something appealing about a quality leather wallet that develops wear patterns, gains character, and tells a bit of your story through years of use. While modern minimalist wallets from Trayvax and Ridge are very sleek and cyberpunk looking, the classic leather still has a timeless appeal.
With that in mind, I picked up an inexpensive RFID-blocking Dickies bifold wallet from Walmart for around $8.
My Current Setup
The Dickies wallet offers much more traditional organization:
Employee badge in the exterior slot for quick access.
Credit and debit cards in the side sleeves.
Driver's license and identification cards in the center section.
RFID protection built into the wallet.
Magnetic closure to help keep everything secure.
To make it fold a little flatter, I removed a few items I had been carrying for years, including an old New York City MetroCard and a couple of bed-and-breakfast cards from trips Matt and I have taken.
Interestingly, this wallet actually carries less than my Neptune Concealment wallet, but I enjoy using it more than I expected.
I'm also still using a Neptune Concealment rubber retention band around it to secure my Apple AirTag. That gives me the same tracking capability I had with my previous wallet setup.
At least for now, it's working really well.
I haven't decided whether this leather bifold is my long-term solution.
Part of me still appreciates the rugged practicality of the Neptune Concealment wallet. It has proven itself over years of use, and I genuinely like it. On the other hand, there is something satisfying about carrying a traditional leather wallet again.
Maybe I'll keep experimenting with different leather options.
Maybe I'll discover a premium leather wallet that strikes the perfect balance between appearance and functionality.
Or maybe I'll eventually go right back to the Kydex wallet that's served me well for years.
Only time will tell.
Looking back, it's funny how little attention I paid to wallets until one bad experience forced me to reconsider what I was carrying. Sometimes it takes a problem to make us appreciate the value of good gear.
At the end of the day, wallets are a lot like watches, pocket knives, flashlights, and most other EDC items. There isn't a universally correct answer. The best wallet is the one that works for your lifestyle and carries what you need in a way that makes sense for you.
That said, if there's one recommendation I'd make, it's this: consider carrying an RFID-blocking wallet or RFID sleeves. Whether the threat is common or not, the added peace of mind is worth the small investment.
I'd love to hear what you're carrying. Are you a traditional leather wallet person? A minimalist card holder enthusiast? Still rocking a tactical wallet? And have you made any modifications to your setup?
Later on…