review – I like to think I’m a little minimalist in my everyday carry. While many women carry a tote-style handbag, I prefer to carry a wristband or no wallet at all, just a purse and a phone in my pocket. Don’t get me wrong: I love fancy handbags as much as most people, but I hate carrying big bags. I even have handbags for physical therapy because they sprained my neck and shoulders. So for that, I’ve been trying to find a lightweight wallet that can be moved from my work bag to my wristband and still keep me organized at the checkout. In the last month I put the MGearIO gadget wallet to the test and I learned some interesting things about myself and minimalism.
What is it?
MGear.IO is customizable wallet Elastic straps to secure EDC accessories
What’s in the box?
So, so much in this box!
- Reusable storage jars and velvet bags
- the wallet itself
- Wallet accessories: multifunctional card, storage tube and flashlight
- 32 inch ball chain
- extra front panel
- Spare parts and Allen keys (screws and side plates)
- manual
- Warranty Card
- MGear.IO stickers
Specification:
- 71mm wide x 92mm high x 11mm deep (without any side fittings)
- Each side fitting adds 13-17mm of width (depending on fitting)
- Weight: 60 grams (without accessories)
- Sturdy machined aluminum frame
- Carbon fiber front, rear and side panels
- High strength spring steel tension plate
- High strength elastic nylon belt
- high strength screw
feature:
- 1-5 card internal capacity
- Interchangeable front and rear panels
- Elastic band for cash and accessories (additional capacity 1-5 cards)
- Ball Chain Necklace (Free for a limited time)
- Limited lifetime warranty
As their website says, the MGear.IO wallet is the most customizable wallet in the world, so I had a lot of decisions to make when ordering! Their website lets you choose the frame material and color you want, available in silver and black. The carbon fiber front panel is replaceable and available in a variety of colors. You can choose to print one of the images on the plate or upload one. I chose their Gadgeteer logo printed in color. If you want something less flashy, you can also choose to have the image engraved on the stainless steel plate. I found the interactive wallet generator very easy to use and it gives you a good idea of what a finished wallet will look like.
The wallet is flanked by elastic loops that hold a variety of accessories you can order. You can choose from mini LED flashlight, storage tube or bolt action pen. I opted for a flashlight and a storage tube.
The site also offers accessories that can be placed in a wallet with a credit card, these options include several different types of multi-tools, Fresnel lenses, combo RFID cards with survival information, combo RFID with measure and measure Conversion information on the card and a 32 Gb flash drive. I picked a multitool for me.
About a week later, my wallet arrived and I was very impressed with the look of the wallet! I was in a hurry when I placed the order, I just took a small screenshot of the Gadgeteer logo from the web page, I was worried it wasn’t big enough or clear enough to look good enough. I think it turned out very well! The wallet certainly feels sturdy. It’s heavier and thinner than the Tyvek purse I usually carry, but it feels like you can drive over and everything will be fine. However, I should point out that customization comes at a price. This wallet is expensive. Again, it will last a long time, but this is not a wallet to buy on dips.
I knew right away that I was going to have to choose a card that I would carry around since it didn’t have the capacity of a regular wallet. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — the less I carry, the less likely I’ll misplace my card and the more likely I’ll find what I’m looking for quickly. I loaded what I thought was the bare minimum: driver’s license, ATM card, AAA card, insurance card, Visa card, and Tesla key card. I’ve tried to install my new cool 18-in-1 multitool in it, but it’s not possible. That’s such a shame. I decided to replace it with an insurance and AAA card, and took a picture of them with my phone just in case. Another option is to attach the multi-tool to the keyring and carry it that way (there is a hole in the tool in case you need to do this). However, I no longer carry keys, so this is not a solution for me. Now that I have my 18-in-1 multitool ready, I can cut boxes and open bottles when needed. I’m unlikely to use some of the other features like the fish scaler and wood saw, but hey, I’m a city girl. These opportunities don’t come up often in Los Angeles.
In my old Tyvek wallet, I had a skinny Tile tracker that was a little thicker than a credit card. Since credit card space on this wallet is at a premium, I swapped it out for a regular Tile fob, which I attached to the hole in the wallet with a short ball chain I had on hand. The wallet comes with a 32″ ball chain that I use to hang it on my ski jacket when I go skiing so I don’t accidentally drop it off the chair lift, but for everyday use I don’t use it . It’s long enough to hang your purse around your neck, which might be nice if you’re traveling or in sketchy places. For review, I also tried installing a split ring in the hole in case people wanted to install a key that way, but the hole really wasn’t big enough. The key ring is attached, but it is rigid due to the curvature of the split ring. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a split ring that would work. Ball chains work great, though!
My side accessories of choice are the flashlight and storage tube. The flashlight is nice and has a lens to focus it wide or narrow, depending on your needs. It’s powered by one AA battery, and I think for the most part, I’ll leave it on the purse while I’m using it, as the elastic that attaches it to the purse is so comfortable. It casts a bright light for such a small flashlight, like the wallet itself, and it’s well made and will last a long time.
Another accessory I chose was the storage tube I bought for the medication. I suffer from migraines and when I feel them coming I can sometimes stop them if I take some magnesium and a little Tylenol. I have a brittle quick release pill that I can take too if they go away. I like to carry all these things with me because I don’t know when I’m going to feel them coming. I found this small stainless tube can hold one magnesium and six Tylenol, but the brittle little prescription is not a good choice for a tube. It has to be stored in a foil pack so it doesn’t rattle and the pack doesn’t fit well into the tube. I could have stuffed it in there, but I know trying to get it out of the tube that’s about to have a migraine won’t help my condition. Nevermind, I often go where there are no small breakable pills and I keep them all over the place for a rainy day, so it’s not a deal breaker for me. One note about this fitting is that due to its round shape, the tube is more difficult to fit under the elastic ring. You can do it, but for me it’s a two person job. Like a flashlight, I might try to access the medication in the storage tube without taking it out of my wallet because I’m lazy.
There is an elastic loop on the outside that you should use for “folding money” or more cards. I try to like this part of the design, but sometimes I have so many bills that I end up with a pile of money on my wallet. I think if you’re a true minimalist you’ll be fine, but between my own shopping and the spare change my son brings me in for accidents, I tend to accumulate a lot of cash. I was flustered trying to break free from the elastic at the cash register (and then put it back on). The strap works, but for me it’s not the best experience for everyday use.
I think the MGear.IO wallet might find its home in my workplace where we pretty much only use key cards. This wallet holds all my keys, I can keep a dollar or two under the elastic wallet, and I also have emergency Tylenol and a handy flashlight (which is great because I often lose things at the movies and at work). I can keep it in my work bag or attach it to it with the included long ball chain.
what do I like
- custom made
- Build quality
what would i change
final thoughts
The MGear.IO wallet is perfect for true minimalists who love having a well-crafted accessory or two!
price: $55 and up, depending on customization. $136 as configured
Where to buy: MGear.IO
source: Samples for this review are provided by MGear.IO
