The Flowfold - A thin, durable wallet made in Maine from recycled sail cloth

For most of my life, I’d used cheap leather wallets from places like Walmart and Kmart. Even with a small amount of cash and a few cards, I always felt they were quite bulky, and within a couple years would start to become frayed and tattered looking.

I did a deep dive on wallets, and discovered the Flowfold wallet. It’s surprisingly cheap for being a handmade item the US, and re-used discarded sail cloth as its material, which is both a waterproof and extremely durable material.

I’ve been carrying this wallet for about 3 years now, and still looks like brand new on the outside.

https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/4bcf7283-d868-4eab-abfa-236c1de61249.webp

Inside, the inner material made of clear plastic sail cloth which holds cards is getting a bit scuffed at the edges from cards abrading it, but it’s not really all that noticeable when the slots are filled.

https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/ff4ad8e5-d97a-4691-aca3-8f266b251fa7.webp

The killer feature of the wallet, for me, is just how thin it is compared to most normal bi-fold wallets. This picture is with the wallet filled with 9 cards and and 10 bills, making it about as thick as an empty slim leather wallet, so it slips into even the smallest front pocket while still being easy to get out.

I was able to pick up this wallet for about $21 since this olive color was on sale, but I see usually they go for about $40.

It doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of fraying or non-cosmetic wear after 3 years, so I could see this lasting a decade fairly easily. A no frills, reliable BIFL wallet.

If you, gentle reader, have your own BIFL wallet, leave a comment below or make a new post of your wallet! I’d be interested to see it. ^^

guyrocket,
guyrocket avatar

My wallet is bison hide which is very durable. From: https://buffalobillfoldcompany.com/

I think I have the hipster with 10 card slots. I found it at Wall Drug. I am happy with it 10 years on.

GRENADE_MAGNET,

I’ve been using an All-ett wallet for about 15 years. Similar idea. I can understand why you’re so jazzed, slim wallets are great and you can carry them in your front pocket.

All-ett Wallets

plz1,

I just ordered the ID nylon version. I’ve had leather ones for most of my life, but I think it’s time to switch it up. Thanks for dropping the recommendation in here.

Spost,

I have a Hawbuck (www.hawbuck.camp) wallet, in a similar vein - thin, lightweight, indestructible.

PlantDadManGuy,

Awesome suggestion! Will pick one up today.

SpeedLimit55,

This reminds me of the Recycled Firefighter wallet.

SaintWacko,

I have a SlimFold micro that I’ve had for years which, other than the stitching wearing away, looks brand new

Jake_Farm,
@Jake_Farm@sopuli.xyz avatar

Modern sailcloth? So like dacron?

ProdigalFrog,

I believe so, yea

RayNASCAR,

Can definitely vouch for Flowfold. Bought mine in 2014 and still holding up well apart from some fraying in the corner.

It’s great because it doesn’t stretch out and lose cards like leather wallets I’ve had https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/96dc2956-30c0-4134-80d5-3e4faa03a3ca.webp

ProdigalFrog,

Oh hell yeah! coming up on a decade! :D

Fedegenerate,

I have a Mighty Wallet, which is basically a Folded tyvek sheet.

Because it’s tyvek it’s light and stupid durable. Their marketing material had them suspending their body weight from them and other feats

Because it’s origami it automagically expands and contracts to suit how much I put in it so it always stays low profile. Again, their marketing material had them taking an empty wallet, which is pretty much flat. Stuffing it full of douzens of business cards, ballooning the wallet to accommodate the volume. Then when they removed the stuff the wallet went back to being flat.

They also did custom designs, what I had printed makes my wallet look like it’s made of paper. It’s also very thin material, everyone thinks they can tear it… no one has.

Cons: It was pricey for a folded plastic sheet, they offered the net for free so you could make your own. No coin pouch. I have had things fall out/swap pocket when I opened the wallet. It has been through the washing machine more than any other wallet I’ve owned because I miss it.

snowbell,
@snowbell@beehaw.org avatar

I’ve been using the same leather Carhartt wallet for 15 years or so now and have yet to find a wallet I like as much. Only downside is how thick it is, but I have a ton of cards to hold and cash.

idiomaddict,

Anyone have recs with coin pouches? I’m in Europe and can’t get around without coins

cthonctic,

This is the one I'm using: https://www.andersundkomisch.de/en/a-k-kompakt-purse.html

It's very compact and essentially made out of heavy waxed paper. Holds all the cards I really need plus any cash I care to carry. Really like it.

idiomaddict,

Thank you!

Varyk,

Oh man, thanks, this is a great recommendation, I’m in the market for a new wallet right now and I love recycled products and thin wallets! Serendipity doo da

Swim,

realdealbrazil has stuff made out retired cocaine smuggling tarps from, you guessed it,Brazil!

ProdigalFrog,

made out retired cocaine smuggling tarps

What the shit, lol

That’s actually pretty darn cool though, and cheaper than flowfold even with shipping! Good find my dude.

Swim,

they are actually just regular tarps, i havw a bunch of their stiff. quite cool

acockworkorange,

The smell is something else.

CH3DD4R_G0BL1N,
@CH3DD4R_G0BL1N@sh.itjust.works avatar

Wallets must be good for this topic. I just looked up mine to see if they were still in business. www.flipsidewallet.comI assumed it might have been a case where they designed themselves out of business with a solid product no one needs to replace. I’ve had mine for, idk, 10 years, maybe more. Honestly can’t remember when I didn’t have it.

sin_free_for_00_days,

Hey, thanks for the link. Just looked it up, watched a couple reviews, and now I have one ordered. Looks like what I want. I’ve been going through different designs over the last couple decades and nothing has been quite right.

CH3DD4R_G0BL1N,
@CH3DD4R_G0BL1N@sh.itjust.works avatar

Sure thing, glad it appeals to you.

LolcatXTREME,

I have one of these and it’s not a BIFL. Awesome wallet but mines showing some wear and has a couple small holes in it after about 6 years.

ProdigalFrog,

Ah, darn. Well, considering it’s thin and recycled, 6 years+ of use is acceptable. But If you’ve happened to find anything that’s comparably thin but lasts even longer, I’d be interested to switch once mine wears out.

LolcatXTREME,

I haven’t seen anything comparable and I’m probably a little harder on it than you’re average joe, but it’s still my favorite wallet and I’ll be buying another once this one wears out too much

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