Money, keys, ID, driver’s license, debit and credit cards: These are the typical contents of a wallet. For somewhat less organized people, there are also deposit receipts, receipts, notes and other rubbish that quickly swells the wallet. But an overly thick wallet is annoying. Especially when it is carried in the back pocket. Not only is it uncomfortable to sit there, but in the worst case it can also happen that keys break because they fight for space with the small change in their wallets and lose them.
The Slim Wallet from Lockcard promises to solve all these problems. The highlight behind the wallet are various plastic shafts in EC card format, which Lockcard calls “cover plates”. Cash, keys or even an Apple Airtag can be stowed in them. Each user decides for himself which ones are needed. EC cards and ID cards can also be found between the shafts
Their original idea was to develop a space-saving debit card-sized keychain to avoid bulky keychains. Hence the name Lockcard, which is a combination of the English terms “to lock” – i.e. to close or block something – and “card”. Keycard would have made more sense, but unfortunately the term is already used for cards that take on a key function. That’s how the lock card was born and its logical further development is an entire wallet in EC card format: The result was the slim wallet.
The six-piece set includes a compartment for two keys, a cash compartment, a magnetic holder, the rubber band and of course the lid and bottom of the wallet. According to the Lockcard, the two compartments then fit another 15 cards into the rubber band. The number is of course reduced if additional accessories are required. Key or cash compartments and a cover plate that accepts an Apple Airtag are also available as extras. The costs per compartment are between eight and ten euros, for the six-part module buyers shell out 29.99 euros. By the way, without a magnet, the Slim Wallet costs 19.99 euros.
Because 3D printers make the Lockcard Slim Wallet, it’s made of plastic. Don’t worry, according to Lockcard, this is recycled plastic. Recycled or not, unfortunately, plastic never really feels high quality. At least not in comparison to genuine leather or other natural materials. Nevertheless, the feel of the slim wallet is not bad, on the contrary. The surface of the cover plates is a bit rough and matte, which feels much better than smooth plastic. The plastic is hard and difficult to bend, even though it’s relatively thin. That also seems valuable. The same applies to processing. You won’t find any sharp edges on the plastic parts. Everything seems really well made. Very nice.
The handling of the Lockcard Slim Wallet is self-explanatory. In the test, we dissolve a very long-serving and large Friday wallet. After clearing out, you are left with 70 euros in bills, five euros in coins, ten cards and two keys for the front door and the apartment.
All copper money, expired press cards and bank cards as well as a number of receipts were thrown out. Spring cleaning was long overdue. The slim wallet holds all ten remaining cards and the money as well as keys for the house and apartment door without any problems.
The first wearing feeling is as beautiful as it is unusual. In any case, during the first few days, the tester always had the terrible thought that he had forgotten his wallet and keys. Compared to a huge bunch of keys and an even larger wallet, the slim wallet from Lockcard is hardly noticeable in your trouser pocket. In this respect, the purse from “The Lion’s Den” keeps its promise. However, the keys cause problems, because unfortunately the corresponding shaft only holds two.
And that’s annoying, because two keys are missing: first, the small one for the mailbox, which the tester likes to check for new items after work, and second, the car key. Both are still attached to the large bunch of keys. Naturally, the car key does not fit in the wallet, but smaller keys for mailboxes or bicycle locks do if interested parties are willing to buy an additional cover plate.
As wonderfully inconspicuous as the small purse feels in your trouser pocket, it is just as fidgety when it comes to giving away your money. A good wallet is characterized by the fact that its wearer can pay almost blindly with it. In the toughest test on the Hamburger Berg it wasn’t that easy. Admittedly, the tester wasn’t quite fresh when he was out and about, but it was simply difficult to first pull out the cash in dark locations and then put it away again.
Card payment doesn’t work everywhere in Germany. A lot of small change was added to the difficulty during the course of the evening. In any case, it annoyed the tester to push up the cover plate, fumble out notes or small change, pay, only to somehow stuff more small change and notes back in again. Open, pay, pocket is easier.
The same applies to the keys, by the way. In front of the front door, the following scenario was repeated during the test: carefully push out the cover plate, fiddle with the front door key, unlock the door, fiddle with the front door key, fiddle with the apartment key again, unlock the door, fiddle in, done. A bunch of keys is a bit easier to handle. It should be said that the handling improves over time. It was annoying for the first three days though.
As for the cards, it’s all a little more relaxed. The most used card can be placed on top so that it can be easily pulled out. It’s a bit more uncomfortable when you want to show your ID card, which is in the middle of the deck of cards. The quickest solution is then to take out all the cards, dig out the ID and then put them all back together.
Buyers of the slim wallet must take one aspect into account: the tester had kept his ID card with house and apartment keys in the slim wallet. In retrospect, that is extremely unwise. If the wallet is lost and falls into the wrong hands, it offers burglars a formidable opportunity to get into the apartment because the address is noted on the identity card. A separate bunch of keys is definitely safer.
The magnetic holder for the wallet is clever. In the test, we placed it at hand height on the door frame and it is indeed very practical to have a fixed place for your wallet. Since the beginning of the test, the tester has hardly had to look for the slim wallet, although he likes to look for his wallet. Why almost? Unfortunately, the magnet is not particularly strong. Once the Slim Wallet must have slipped and landed in a shoe. A stronger magnet would be desirable here.
The Lockcard Slim Wallet is a very good idea to shrink your wallet to EC card format. Handling cash is a bit annoying, especially when you’re out in the evening. In addition, the compartment for the cash is rather narrow. Carrier:in doesn’t keep a lot of small change. It is therefore particularly worthwhile for people who use EC card payments. In spring, the Slim Wallet should also please cyclists who know the problem all too well, keys, cards
Here the Slim Wallet offers real added value. The magnetic holder is practical, although it could have been a little stronger. Anyone who can do without it saves ten euros. The price of 19.99 euros for the slim wallet without a magnet is fair. Comparable wallets cost around 30 euros. Find out tonight whether one of the lions is convinced of the Lockcard Slim Wallet. 8:15 p.m. on Vox in “The Lion’s Den.”
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