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Remember the old saying, "Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch?" I believe a very wise man by the name of Austin Danger Powers said that. Oh and don’t forget knife, flashlight, pistol spare mag, mobile phone and IFAK. Bottom line, we carry very specific, practical items with us every day. Items we don’t leave home without. Even if you aren’t the gun slinging type, you probably carry a wallet. I think I got my first wallet when I was 7 or 8 years old and have carried one ever since. I try to make them last as long as possible. My last wallet lasted me the better part of a decade and was made of salmon skin. I absolutely loved it. Wallets are like a good pair of jeans. Stiff at first, but once you break them in they become very personal items. You know where everything goes, how it feels and you know if you have it on your or not. Unfortunately, my wallet needed to be retired. While the leather held up just fine, the interior cloth was ripped and worn. It was time to find another wallet.
I have carried my wallet in my front pocket for almost 20 years. I remember getting briefed by my Uncle Sam on my first trip to Thailand about pick pockets. Front pocket from there on out. I never liked sitting on a big bulky wallet anyway. That being said, I try to run my wallet light. There are only so many bulges I need in the front of my pants and my wallet ain’t one of them. Too much information…? Sorry. Anyway, I needed to find a wallet to hold the essentials. A few cards, documents and bills.
While at SHOT Show this year I spent some time with Blue Force Gear. BFG has been making innovative gear in the U.S.A since 2004. Lucky for me they make a Daily Gear line. Low and behold, they offer a wallet. It comes in a variety of colors. I chose Wolf Grey as it was a "non-tactical" looking color. BFG was nice enough to send one to me to try out.
Upon arrival I was skeptical. It looked too large for my front pocket. It measures 4×5 inches folded and 5×7-7/8th inches open. Much to my surprise it fit just fine and lay flat. Ok, but what happens when I load it up? I grabbed my old wallet and emptied it. Out came the credit cards, pistol permit, insurance info, bills and lint that had built up over the years. The old wallet looked pretty sad and flaccid just lying there empty. We shared a quiet moment until we understood one another. No hard feelings. Nothing but love, but it was time to move on.
I went through the stack of information sitting in front of me and got rid of things that had expired or were no longer needed. The remaining pile I sorted into the BFG wallet. When folded open there are four slots (two on either side) for cards. Under the card slot on the left hand side there is a general purpose pocket. Along the top there is a slit for bills. Its depth is limited to half the width of the wallet which I found to be a good thing. Not that I carry a ton of cash, but on those limited occasions when I do, I don’t have to dig very deep for it. I filled the wallet with nine cards, slipping them into the card slots. All but one slot was doubled up with the remainder holding three cards. I filled the general purpose pocket with about a quarter inch thick stack of documents. Lastly I dropped a few bills and business cards in the bill fold compartment. It should be noted the bill compartment has a rubber like texture on one side. This provides a little grip onto the contents giving them a little extra assurance they will stay put.
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With all that inside I folded it up and measured how thick it was. It measured roughly ½ inch to 5/8ths of an inch thick. Not bad considering my old wallet was around an inch thick. The wallet goes easy into the front pockets with jeans or slacks. Even though it is a wide wallet it fits my daily trousers and lays flat. This is a good thing. No need to advertise the location of your wallet or that you have a wad of cash by printing. Printing isn’t as big of a deal in jeans as it is in dress pants. I would often take out only the essentials and put them in a clip should I need to dress up. Lucky for me that isn’t too often. Regardless, that step isn’t necessary with the BFG wallet as it lays flat enough for my liking. Also due to its wider size, it is less likely to fall out of your pocket. Again not a big deal with jeans but I have had stuff fall out of my dress pants before while sitting down. It is nice to know my wallet will stay put.
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The wallet appears to be made well. While I have only had it for about a month, I cannot attest to how well it will hold up over time, however it seems to have a promising lifespan. Blue Force Gear makes the wallet out of ULTRAcomp™. They state that "ULTRAcomp™ is the same high performance laminate [Blue Force Gear uses] to build battle gear for elite commandos. The ULTRAcomp™ will never fade, crack, or wear down like traditional wallet materials." I like the sound of that. Regardless, Blue Force Gear carries a life time warranty.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the wallet. I have carried it daily in both casual and dress apparel. It works well in shorts too during exercise. I wouldn’t say it is stain resistant as I already have a few permanent splashes on it, but I don’t really mind. I am sure I could wash it one day if it bothered me. The quality seems legit. It is simple, yet practical and minimalist without being too skimpy. If you are looking for a wallet that is high speed, low drag give the BFG wallet a go. It comes in 5 different colors and is trimmed out in a light blue stitch and finished with the Blue Force Gear tag. There should be an option that would satisfy most guys out there. They are available for $65 direct from the Blue Force Gear website.
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Check out Blue Force Gear at blueforcegear.com, Facebook, and Instagram.
Check out Steve Coulston on Facebook and Instagram.
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