The Check-Out Line: ALL-ETT Billfolds

This is The Check-Out Line, where I review products that are designed to make your life easier. I give you my opinion and my opinion only. You decide for yourself. In this edition of The Check-Out Line I'll be reviewing the ALL-ETT Billfold.

PURPOSE: Men are often plagued with chiropractic issues in their backs, hips and legs from sitting on an uncomfortable, bulky wallet all day. The ALL-ETT is an alternative wallet, designed to eliminate the bulk of a regular wallet for both men and women...

RETAIL: Ranges from $15 to $30

They're available in both original rip-stop nylon and leather styles. The original ALL-ETT is made of black rip-stop nylon and is literally paper thin, while the others are made of soft black leather on the outside, while the inside remains nylon, which allows even the leather ALL-ETTs to be nice and thin.

One of the most obvious differences between the ALL-ETT and a regular man's wallet is the overall size. The ALL-ETT has about 20% more surface area, which allows it to be thinner and more comfortable because the bulk is spread out over a larger area rather than concentrated in a smaller space. By the way, the ALL-ETTs are all designed to fit inside a standard size man's dress shirt pocket, for those who don't want to carry it in the back pants pocket.

I received several styles to try out, and try them I did! Actually, it wasn't just me. Christmas Boy tried them all, too. I have to say, he was skeptical at first, but once he emptied out his old bulky wallet, he was delighted to find that everything fit nicely into the Traveler, including his passport. Plus, it's significantly thinner and more comfortable to sit on than his old one. In the end, he nabbed BOTH the Leather Traveler AND the Leather Card Case for himself! Drat. The good news is that he loves them both.

I tried out the European, which, according to the ALL-ETT web site, is "perfect for the absolute minimalist," as it just accommodates ten cards and paper bills, so it wasn't nearly large enough for me. I transferred everything (except the coins) from my old "checkbook style" wallet into the leather executive ALL-ETT. In case you're skeptical, here's a list of everything it's storing for me:

15 hard plastic (credit-card size) cards
10 thin paper cards
a small photo of my niece,
several receipts from traveling
a few coupons
two gift cards
paper bills

Believe it or not, it ALL fits quite nicely in my Leather Executive ALL-ETT. My old wallet was bulging and getting uncomfortably fat. And because the ALL-ETT Billfolds don't accommodate coins, (coins are bulky and this is a BILLfold not a COINfold) I picked up the cutest little change purse, which fits perfectly into one of the handy compartments in my Butler Bag.

PROS: The ALL-ETT is thin thin thin! But at the same time, it's got plenty of room for all your stuff! The leather ones are soft and feel nice, and the nylon version is washable and breathable, so it never gets sticky in the heat and humidity.

CONS: I have to say I know the rip-stop nylon is one of the key reasons the ALL-ETT is so thin and fabulous, but I definitely prefer the ones with the leather exterior, even though they're not quite as amazingly thin. That's all I can come up with for "cons" and in fact, I was going to say I wish they came in other colors, but I see on their web site that they do! Oh happy day! One thing I'd say is that I couldn't find the other colors on the web site. They are listed as text, but as far as I can tell, nowhere on the site can you actually SEE a sample of the color itself. This is important, especially for women buying either for themselves or their man. That's the only thing I'd change.

VALUE: I think these are priced great, especially considering how often you use your wallet.

OVERALL SCORE OUT OF FIVE STARS:

WHERE TO BUY: You can order your ALL-ETT Billfold directly from their web site and thanks to the kind folks over at ALL-ETT, because you're one of my blog readers, you'll save 10% on your total order by clicking here to place your order. But hurry, the special offer is only for a week! Order today because the promotion ends next Tuesday September 11, 2007.

Comments

[Jennifer]

Thanks! I love the Check Out Line. So many cool things to buy.

I bought the AllETT Traveler. I was thinking it could hold 3x5 index cards too.

[Jacki Hollywood Brown]

I'm probably going to get an olive green one for the Colonel!

[Monica Ricci]

Jennifer, I appreciate your comment and congrats on your Traveler! Jacki, let us know how The Colonel likes his olive green ALL-ETT!
~Monica

[Cassie]

Oooh... I want one for Murphy! His wallet is so thick and bulky, I can't stand it. And I'm not even the one that has to carry it around every day!

I only wish it came with some sort of see-through ID portion. We both have to show our photo IDs multiple times a day and it's so nice to just be able to flip the wallet open and see it without having to dig it out every time.

That being said, I'm still ordering him one. If he doesn't like it, then I'm keeping it! :)

[Monica Ricci]

Cassie, I understand what you mean. The good news about the ALL-ETT pockets is that you can see HALF of your cards, so for example, my ID lives on the left side, which means I can always see my driver's license photo sticking out. I guess it's a trade off. What color are you getting for Murphy?
~Monica

[Terry Lessig]

I just ordered the Original in Black. OK, call me boring. My Rolfs billfold (circa 1989) was falling apart, and there's nothing I hate more than breaking in a new one because they come unfolded, and it takes a few weeks for them to conform, despite my FA (and we all know what that means) sitting on it. Thanks for the link and discount. I used PayPal, and the whole process took less than two minutes. You help us to organize our time as well as our sh....errrrr...stuff!

[Monica Ricci]

Terry, yay! I hope you love your ALL-ETT when you get it. Definitely let us know.
~Monica

[Cassie]

I bought Murph the leather traveler (black) but now I'm thinking that the rip-stop nylon would be better what with him running around, crawling on the ground, etc every day.

I chose the traveler because well, we travel a lot but also because I think the large pocket where the passport is shown in the photos will be perfect for all the pieces of paper he has to carry around all the time. In his current wallet he folds them up a bunch of times so they'll fit and they just end up really bulky. I'm thinking that that large pocket will enable him to put them in there and have them lie flatter as well as be easier to find the one he needs quicker.

Ah well, I may just keep the leather for myself and order him the nylon one... they're such a great price it's no biggie ordering two. :)

[Monica Ricci]

Cassie, I hope you and Murph will both like your ALL-ETTs. I think the nylon option is a good one in light of his line of work!
~Monica

[Terry Lessig]

In today's mail there was an envelope from ALL-ETT, so I tossed it onto a pile of business papers thinking they had mailed me a receipt. A few hours later I was filing stuff away, and when I opened the envelope I found my new ALL-ETT! That's how thin it is! I emptied out my Rolfs Cowhide (RIP) and put all my stuff in the new ALL-ETT, which is still thinner with my stuff than the dead Rolfs is now that it's empty. Maybe I should have gotten the leather. This material is crinkly, and sounds like paper. Then again, maybe it will be fine. It drives the cat nuts.

[Monica Ricci]

Terry, what a funny story. Yes, the rip-stop nylon is VERY thin, you're right. That's the whole point! :)
~Monica