Recently, my wallet of about seven years decided that it didn’t want the job anymore and proceeded to disintegrate. I have always had two wallets; one for everyday life, and a second that I took hunting. Why have two? Well, while hunting, I don’t need all the credit cards, club cards, and daily junk that I tend to pack around. Instead, I need my ID, hunting licenses, and one bank (or credit-card) for emergencies. The more I take into the woods, the more I can lose in the woods.
I had originally decided that I wanted a smaller plastic case I could just throw my cards into (maybe a little cash) and use that as a daily wallet. This was actually harder than I anticipated. At most of the stores I tried (think large outdoor/hunting stores) they had these cases, but they were either too large or too expensive. After taking my search from the store to the Internet, I found a small company named Trayvax.
Trayvax boasts that their wallets are RFID blocking (specific to credit-cards’ internal antennas), made from aircraft aluminum, and are extremely versatile. They can be customized to carry groceries with their small bag attachment, used with a carabiner clip (snap it to your kit while hiking), and they even come standard with a bottle opener.
The Trayvax that I ordered (Charcoal Grey) measured in at 4 1/4” long, 2 5/8” wide, and 1” thick. The thickness will vary greatly from user to user depending on the amount of cards you wish to carry. I carry six cards, a little cash, and my Ranger coin.
The craftsmanship of this wallet looks and feels exceptional. Trayvax makes their wallets in the U.S. and donates a portion of their proceeds (10 percent) to not-for-profit organizations distributing clean water around the world. Starting at $29.99 (currently on sale for $24.99), these versatile wallets are well-priced.
Some things to think about before you decide on this wallet: It’s made from metal, so sitting on it isn’t especially comfortable. I have always been a front-pocket wallet guy, so this was a non-issue for me. There is a limited amount of space for carrying things (specifically cards). If you use/carry an excessive amount of cards with you, this may not be the wallet for your everyday use. Lastly, you need to be careful if you carry a challenge coin. Although there is sufficient space for the coin, when you loosen the wallet, there is a tendency for the coin to fall out (almost like an automatic challenge).
(Featured image courtesy of Trayvax.com)
