I spend a lot of time getting splashed with water in my line of work, and it turns out that I need a water-resistant wallet in my life.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my leather kitty wallet so much that when I had it stolen while I was in New Orleans 12 years ago, I immediately ordered a replacement. Then, when the zipper on the replacement broke, I ordered a third – used, from eBay, because the company had quit making them.
Read more: I’m testing a pair of Hokas for my upcoming trip to the Grand Canyon
But sometimes, a heavy, fat, leather wallet won’t work for me. I’m heading to the Grand Canyon soon for a 15-day trip down the Colorado River in an oar boat. I’m going to get wet, along with all my belongings.
Normally I wouldn’t even take my wallet on the river (what would I use it for, exactly?). But I’m hiking down to Phantom Ranch to grab a seat on a passing raft, and I’m going to need a credit card and ID when I get off in a different location. (Logistics are complicated!)
Allet makes a good water-resistant wallet
Lucky for me, a company called Allett – think “wallet” without the “w” – sent me a durable, water-resistant ripstop nylon wallet to test. I’ll stuff it in the bottom of a dry bag, and if all goes well, I’ll pull it out at the end of the trip, contents intact.
The wallet, a lovely shade of dark red, holds up to 24 cards, plus cash. It measures 3 5/8 by 5 inches and weighs a hair over half an ounce. It sells for $44 at www.allett.com.
I’ve already tested it out. Stuffed with my driver’s license, a credit card and a little bit of cash, it’s about as thick as a flour tortilla. It’s big enough to hold a plane ticket, too, which will come in handy since I won’t be carrying a purse on the plane. My only complaint? It’s a little big to fit in my jeans pocket comfortably.
My Allet won’t take the place of my kitty wallet, but it’ll come in handy on assignments – most of them! – that involve dirt, mud and water.