Think wallet and you’ll probably conjure up an image of something leather.  Sure, it’s a practical material for such an accessories as it’s very durable and ages well (it looks better as time goes on). But, leather is oh-so boring – at least  in our opinion – since it is so conventional and doesn’t separate you, the individual from every other iPhone carrying hipster.  So how about wood.

The Wallet Slim Wood is made entirely from wood and is large enough to hold one credit card and one ID.  So, there is no room for cash or an insurance card, but you probably won’t need that if you’re doing a night out on the town.  The content will stay secure thanks to a fancy magnetic enclosure and you’ll score yourself a sure fire conversation starter.

The Wallet Slim Wood costs $55 and is available in light maple, medium cherry, or a dark walnut wood.

3.5 out of 5 stars

There is no question in my mind that our landfills are stuffed to the brim with discarded iPhone cases because their utility or cool factor wore out.  Fighting that good fight are the fine folks at HEX with the Code Wallet for the iPhone 4.

It’s crafted from genuine leather, which is echoed with a stamp on the inside of the case.  The right side holds your iPhone 4 firmly in place, while the left side features 3 slots designed for IDs, credit cards or business cards.  An elastic strap keeps it closed, and while the black and brown version boast a black strap, the white one includes a white strap, though I’d imagine the latter would draw dirt relatively quickly.

Noticeable discoloration after just 3-4 weeks of use – click to enlarge

There is no doubt that the HEX Code Wallet case protects your iPhone.  The screen, even though it’s bordered by a set of credit cards is covered from keys and whatever other sharp objects are lurking in your pockets.  The back is also comparably protected, as are the edges since the iPhone is encased in a hard plastic.  However, the headphone jack, lock button and dock port remain exposed, though the strap slightly covers the latter two when in place.

I’ve been carrying the HEX Code Wallet for about 3 weeks now.  As a result I’ve eliminated my wallet, with the caveat that I only carry two credit cards and an ID.  Also, keep in mind there is no slot for carrying cash, though you can stuff money underneath the elastic strip.

The hinge, or the fold quickly lost its shape and attracted the most discoloration. This was compounded by the addition of credit cards, since when the case is closed it adds bulk and bends at the fold causing it to lose its uniform shape.  Perhaps they could have quelled this issue with a bit more material to allow for the change in shape and added bulk.

The “hinge” or fold could use more material to compensate for the cards added bulk – click to enlarge

The discoloration is a result of taking the wallet in and out of my pants pocket, which generally are a pair of dark jeans.  The version I tested out was brown, so in theory the black version wouldn’t suffer from the same problem.  A slight bit of discoloration also occured on the face and rear, but despite this wear and tear the stitching held firm.  It’s just a shame that the leather aged so poorly after just a few weeks of use.

From a practical/utility standpoint I couldn’t be happier with the HEX Code Wallet; I was able to ditch my other wallet.  To address the lack of slots, I plan on taking photos of my insurance cards and storing them on my iPhone, which should suffice in the event I get pulled over or need to present proof of medical insurance.

On occasion I wear a pair of slimmer jeans and while it was too big for the front pocket, I simply resorted to the rear pockets.  Two cards, or doubling up two cards in one slot seems to slightly addresses some of the closing issues (less bulk because less leather in the fold) I mentioned, but those are purely aesthetic issues.

Bottom line: The HEX Code Wallet for the iPhone is perfect for the night on the town or those that that don’t require more than 3 cards and don’t carry cash.  It’s biggest draw back is that the camera isn’t accessible and that filling the 3 card slots caused the case to lose its form.

You can buy the HEX Code Wallet for iPhone 4 from HEX for $49.99.

Pros:

• iPhone and wallet in one
• Made from genuine leather
• No need to remove the iPhone to charge/sync or listen to music

Cons:

• Rear camera is inaccesible
• Leather attracts discoloration quickly
• 3 card slot cause the wallet to lose form quickly

12►

eviGroup’s Wallet was supposed to be out in January, but that didn’t exactly pan out. Now, reports are coming in that the Wallet, their portable MID, is finaly shipping. The 5-inch device has a 800×480 resolution capacitive touchscreen and runs on Android 1.5. Specs include WiFi, 1GB storage w/ microSD support, integrated microphone and speaker, an 667MHz ARM processor, and an estimated six hours of battery life. A car mount and charger are also included, perfect for Google’s Maps application or listening to music on the go.

The Wallet is available now in a soft-back finish for $246 and a chrome finish for $271 .

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I always like posts about weird and unconventional wallets.  This is definitely one of those.  I heard a tip somewhere that if you wrap a rubber band around your wallet that it’s less likely to fall out of your pocket.  Taking a hint from that age old proverb, the Asset Organizer from Nooka is a water resistant soft silicone rubber wallet that features three vertical compartment slots to hold money, receipts, keys, and more.

Available in 5 colors, each wallet is priced at $35.  Just don’t let your dog know you have one.

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Having tools and not needing them is inherently better that needing them and not having them.  Available in 4 different styles, (bottle opener, ice scraper, spanner wrench, and even steel guitar picks) brandishing one of these could go either way in regards to how you appear in your social circle.  However, the bottle opener is definitely clutch.

All tools are the same size as a credit card and fit perfectly in a wallet for premium portability.  On sale now for between $7-$10 a piece.

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The TMT wallet is available in CNC machined anodized Aluminum or Delrin plastic and features much of what can be found on those old Swiss Army Knives.  Totally the wallet of the future, the TMT has a built in compass, ink pen, toothpick, tweezers, carbide glass breaker, a self defense striking edge, and o-ring seals to prevent water, sand, dirt, or dust from entering the fortified zone.

Damage!  Each wallet also has a removable stainless steel money/credit card clip in addition to two secret interior compartments, and even provides RFID protection.  The aluminum one is more expensive at $125 while the plastic version is at $85.

I wonder what it feels to sit on one of these?  The self defense striking edge is crazy too in that you’d never believe the headline, “Man bludgeoned by wallet”.

[via TheGadgeteer]

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Well hello novelty, at least according to one commenter on the linked product page.  The LED Credit Card Pocket Light is small enough to fit into a wallet and uses a 3V built in battery to power its light source – not sure how you recharge it, though.  My mom might enjoy this product for reading menus in dark restaurants, but beyond that its practical applications have to be few and far between.

Meritline currently has it on sale for $3.99 including shipping.

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The days of RFID driver licenses may still be a long way off, but just in case you happen to live in state or a city that demands the latest in identification then you might wanna take a look at the Flipside Wallet.  Crafted of plastic and anodized aluminum alloy components, it not only protects your credit cards, pictures and money from sudden head over heel spills off the side walk, but shields your RFID infused credit and ID cards from ‘RFID theft’.  I was just kind of hoping that it was water tight, you know, in case I get water boarded.

[via SlipperBrick]

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Nope, it’s not a envelope or some new fangled notebook sleeve.  This my friends, is the Mighty Wallet.  It’s constructed of the same material used to produce Fedex’s packing envelopes.  If you’ve ever attempted to rip those, then you know how strong the material can be.  The wallet is available in a variety of designs, and according the designer will suit most users needs since the material expands as more stuff is inserted.

You can get the Mighty Wallet here for $15.

[Treehugger]

A product like this begs the question of fire resistance? That has yet to be determined, but since it’s woven from 25,000 steel threads no more then .001-inches thick, it’s safe to say this wallet is resistant to the elements. It won’t stretch, bend, or wear and it’s impervious to a list of corrosive materials that include salt, acid and sea water. If you’ve got a little conspiracy theory in you, you’ll be glad to know it will protect all your RFID compliant cards from those snooping the radio frequencies.

Available here for $90

[Bookfojoe]