Gear Review: All-Ett Wallets

Hiking and backpacking are lots of fun, but what to do with the wallet.  It is unsafe to leave in the car, so I hate doing that but neither do I like carrying just a bulky wallet in my pack or in my pocket. Hiker wallets exist but we hadn’t found one that was easy to use and likeable until we found the All-Ett Wallet. Maker’s of the “World’s Thinnest Wallet”, this is a backpackers dream wallet.

Sport Wallet filled

All-Ett makes many styles of wallet but they are well known for making the “World’s Thinnest Wallet”. These wallets are quite thin and help put an end to bulging wallets in pockets. The wallets can be customized by different materials including spinnaker, ripstop nylon, recycled plastic and leather. There is also a small rainbow of colors to choose from. Each style comes with different options ranging from number of pockets, size, weight, and ID windows.

Original Wallet

The Original Wallet has four card slots which are non-overlapping.  The four slots can hold a combined total of 14 cards. Each pocket as a little strip of rubber gripper material to keep the cards from sliding out of the slots. The wallet has two pockets one for cash and a larger one for receipts and papers.

Sport Wallet

The Sport Wallet has two card slots which can hold a combined total of 10 cards.  The wallet is very minimalistic with only one slot for cash/receipts, and the two slots for cards.  This is a very minimal wallet, excellent for just carrying the essentials.

ID Wallet

The ID Wallet comes with four card slots, two overlapping slots on each side, which can hold a combined total of 14 cards. One of the slots has a clear ID window. There are two pockets, one for cash and one for receipts or paper.

Traveler Wallet

The Traveler Wallet has two card slots which can hold a combined total of 14 cards. Opposite the card slots is a large passport sized slot. It has two pockets one for cash and another deeper pocket for boarding passes, receipts and other travel documents.

Card Case with ID slot

The Card Case with ID slot as two card slots which can hold up to 10 cards or 40 business cards. One pocket is clear to show ID. This wallet comes either with an ID slot or without. There is no pocket for cash in this wallet.

We’ve had a lot of fun with these wallets. The wallets are super thin no matter how many cards and cash we’ve stuffed them with.   The wallets we got came in two materials; recycled plastic and ripstop nylon.  Both materials have held up very nicely over our hikes and backpacking trips.  The wallets are so thin even when loaded that neither of us notice them in our pockets.  I have even fallen asleep with the wallet in a side pocket and never felt it.  The recycled plastic material is a little heavier, stiffer, and rougher than the ripstop nylon which is smoother.  Both materials have a nice but different hand feel.

We have noticed that when the wallets are empty the material lays flat.  When we add in several cards and cash, there is a small excess of inner material that folds over itself.  This doesn’t impact the use of the wallet or the thinness.  The wallets don’t have a coin pocket.  As a backpacker, coins add to the weight so this isn’t a bad omission.  We have been using the wallets in our everyday life now too, loving their thinness.

We actually gave one of these wallets the ultimate test.  We were section hiking along the Appalachian Trail when we got caught in some torrential downpour, remnants from hurricane Nicole.  It rained for five days and each day I had my Sport Wallet made of recycled plastic in an outer pocket.  My pants were soaked by day three and never dried out.  The wallet, by day four, was damp but the paper I had stored inside one of the card slots was still dry (if a touch damp).  The money, being closer to the outside, was a little damp but otherwise everything in the wallet was still completely useable.  By day five, everything was soaked except the wallet.

We have had a lot of fun with the All-Ett Wallets.  They are extremely thin and have held up to a beating on our backpacking trips.  We have tossed them in storage sacks, or stored them in various pockets with no ill effects to either the wallet or the contents.  These are a great alternative to traditional wallets both in the backcountry and in everyday life.

Manufacturer	All-Ett
Model	Max card capacity	Weight (spinnaker)	Price (MSRP - spinnaker)
Original Wallet	14 cards	0.4 oz (11 g)	$19.95
Sport Wallet	10 cards	0.1 oz (3 g)	$14.95
ID Wallett	14 cards	0.4 oz (11 g)	$19.95
Traveler's Wallet	14 cards	0.3 oz (9 g)	$19.95
Card Case Wallet	10 cards or 40 business cards	0.1 oz (3 g)	$6.95

This story was originally posted October 18, 2010.