The Net Takeaway: Why are Men's Wallets so Huge?

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Why are Men's Wallets so Huge? · 01/02/2005 09:12 PM, Personal

UPDATE: Lifehacker has a nice collection of posts about wallets small and large… Wallet Hacking Roundup

Ok back to the original article….

....

What a joke. I was going to buy a new wallet, since the old one had so many holes that my money was falling out.

But the new world is different than the old one. Because there are so many checks for ID, now every wallet has a flip-out compartment for driver’s license or other ID cards, aka the “pass-case” wallet. The wallets themselves are all larger, in part due to more credit card slots, but in part because (I think) people like bigger wallets to feel like they have more money to carry around.

My current wallet, with all my junk in it, is about 3/4” to 1”, depending on how hard I press it. It’s about 3” tall, and 4” from fold to edge. I really just want something that matches its slim dimensions, but the current models out there are all way too big.

Let’s look at some current wallets out there:

The Portland Bifold by the wonderful Levenger. 4Â¾“W x Â½“D x 3Â½“H with nothing it in. A half inch too high, and 3/4 an inch too long. This means a bigger lump in your back pocket, and bigger bruises when you sit on it.

The Victory Wallet is the “slim” wallet, at 4Â½â€W x Â½â€D x 3Â½â€H. Still 1/2 too wide, still 1/2 too long.

Polo wallets are available at every discount store these days (in the words of my late mom, “Never, ever pay retail”); here is Nordstrom’s carrying a sample bi-fold. Approx. dimensions: 4 1/8“W x 3 1/8“H x 5/8“D. 5/8 is a fancy way of saying “More than 1/2 inch thick when empty. (BTW, an aside: ever notice how the finest brands sell themselves out to accessories dealers? Polo stuff can be nice, but when buying Polo cologne, you get a cheap bag worth maybe $10. A Burberry coat can cost over a few thousand, but their watches are as cheap as Swatches. Strange brand work out there…)

Triple fold wallets are popular these days. Talk about thick! There is just no way to get these to fold flat. Levenger’s is 4 Â¾“W x 3 Â¼“H closed… and they know not to mention how thick it is when folded.

The original Filene’s Basement (sorry, flash only, crummy site) here in Boston has all sorts of impressive deals if you dig enough. I found these Trafalgar wallets which list for $145 for only $50. Of course, the fact that they are 4” x 5” implies that they are for people who pay other people to carry their wallets for them. BTW, if you’ve nver been to Filene’s Basement, its an impressive reverse auction approach to pricing. Cool stuff.

The Duct Tape Wallet is designed for those cool cats who like chaining their wallet to their pants. 4.25” x 3.75”.

Many companies, well, just lie. The popular Kenneth Cole brand wallets from these listings appear to be fine: 8” x 3” (Open) which means 4 × 3… except 1st hint: No thickness measure, and 2nd, when I measured this against my wallet, I found that they rounded. Its really 4.25” and 3.5”, again too big.

In fact, after all my hunting, I still can’t find a bi-fold wallet which is 4” or less W, and 3” or less H. “Card cases” which are mostly smaller, don’t hold money, just credit cards.

If anyone sees a brand of wallet designed for normal size pants pockets, please let me know.

* * *

http://www.coach.com/aspx/content/product.aspx?product_no=7667&category_id=53&easyask_id=
— sdlkjfsd Apr 28, 03:53 PM #
Have you seen the Stretch? Itâ€™s thinner than all you listed and wonâ€™t put a lump in your pocket. (Editor's Addition: Justin neglected to mention that he works for the company which makes the Stretch, which is merely an elastric strap which goes around your money and cards, similar to a money clip. Since that really has nothing to do with a wallet except in its most minimalist form, I thought this spam deserved a touch of editing.)
— Justin May 8, 10:46 PM #
It has been my experience that most wallets, measured new, shrink in size with use. When stuffed, the leather stretches and then adapts to the contour of oneâ€™s body and its contents. The dimensions, if a good, soft leather wallet, will actually become smaller (except perhaps thickness, as the contents add to thickness). The trick is to find one of quality, soft grade of leather! It usually takes me a few tries before one â€œsoftens upâ€ adequately to qualify as â€œtheâ€ replacement for the wallet Iâ€™m replacing. Once it is found, it is great, because it will go everywhere with me-from down the block to distant travel, etc.
— Rich Jul 10, 01:21 AM #

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