I went digging recently for another minimalist wallet and boy did I find one. My old one, two pieces of titanium attached with a rubber band, was getting too old and things were falling out. I did a quick hunt and found a few very flat minimalist wallets, but nothing that seemed to be rugged and clever. Enter Trayvax.
I tried the Trayvax Element, a leather and stainless steel monster with a built-in bottle opener and a money clip. The whole thing costs $84.99 and holds up to 10 cards.
The wallet is surprisingly tight when you first open it, but Trayvax recommends soaking the leather in warm water for about 10 minutes and then placing all of the cards you want to stuff in at once. This stretches the leather permanently but doesn’t mean you’ll end up with stuff falling out. A handy strap keeps things intact.
Further, the wallet has a money clip in the back that holds a few bills, and a rear flap protects the cash and the cards. The entire thing is RDIF resistant.
The whole thing isn’t completely minimalist, but it is a clever and interesting design. Because it is made of steel and thick leather it will last as long as a good wallet should, and the dimensions are perfect for a front pocket. Plus it has a bottle opener.
Now that the Trayvax is carefully sized to my cards and getting a little patina from my pockets, it’s becoming a part of my so-called everyday carry. At $84 it’s a bit pricey, but for what you get — durability, RFID protection and the ability to drink without consequence — is worth the price of admission.
