Review on 📚 Bellroy Travel Document Passport Holder with Ticket Organizer by Katie Johnson

I'm very picky about the things I need to take with me when I travel. When I was looking for a new wallet in 2014, my first choice was the highly recommended Saddleback Leather Medium Bifold. Initially, this wallet made a solid and well-made impression. Unfortunately, after months of carrying it in my back pocket, two things came to light: First, the leather was so used to snapping my credit cards in half at the credit card slot pinch point. Second, what I took for strength in the thickness of the skin quickly became an annoyance as I ended up with an inch thick brick ruining my seating comfort. I called Saddleback about the first item and they told me it was a known issue and if I didn't like it I could send the wallet back, which I did. This brought me to a crossroads with a new requirement: I wanted a leather wallet that is thin enough not to be uncomfortable, capable of holding 6 credit/ID cards and a handful of bills. I searched around until I came across Bellroy. The travel wallet seemed to fit the bill and added some features I never knew I needed. After 6 years of use I finally decided that the original travel wallet I bought in 2014 had reached the end of its life, down to the holes in the leather and all. I liked it so much that I bought another one. There are some subtle differences which I will highlight below.1. Fits in your pocket This is supposedly the best thing about a wallet. It's big in two dimensions, which you don't need to pay attention to, and thin where it counts. I couldn't find any pants that I would wear if they didn't fit. With my passport, 6 credit/ID cards, and a dozen bills, it's about 3/4 inch thick. Amazing.2. The Right Pen I had no idea how useful a pen could be. I find it possible to pull it out at least once a week. I used to carry a great Fisher Space Pen but I don't carry it anymore as it suits the role much better. Bellroy is kind enough to include ink refills with every wallet and I still have refills from 2014. This doesn't delegitimize the previous point; I write forms and other short notes. I would not use a pen to write a novel. The new wallet appears to have a handle that Bellroy either added a white label to or made in-house. I haven't written with him yet, but if he's at least as good as the walkie-talkie he replaced, you should be fine.3. Added Security The new wallet replaces the split wallet with a flap that conveniently protects the back from prying eyes. In theory, this seems like a useful feature. In practice, the flap is not long enough to hold more than a bill or two, and the cavity is not visible when the wallet is opened. The new wallet also has RFID shielding, which I don't remember being a feature of the old wallet. Now that sounds like a useful feature since at least one of my credit cards has a contactless payment feature.4. Leather This is a thin wallet, so assume that leather is also thin. I got 6 years out of my first wallet and I'm not the type to take wallets lightly. I've had it in my bag on rooftops for solar panel installations, in machine shops, and on all kinds of seating. My old wallet has been completely submerged in water more than once. With all that punishment, he survived the warranty period twice. None of the seams were broken and the only real damage was two small holes in the hull. If you're traveling for business, it should go out of style before it wears out. In short, this is a great wallet for everyday use. I agree in that I didn't look for a new choice when my old one wore out.