By Andrew Liszewski
In my wildest fantasies I one day envision a world where people won’t have to carry wallets. At the most a single piece of plastic will take care of all our spending/identification needs, and maybe even that’s over thinking it. But there’s no point in getting caught up in dreams when we’re stuck living in this rip-off version of 2010 where ‘the man’ forces us to carry stacks of plastic cards wherever we go. But I rebel whenever I can, and to this day I’ve spent most of my free time on the hunt for the perfect minimalist wallet. And I think I may have found it.
The Mojito is from a Georgia-based company called Malcolm Fontier, and while I don’t remember where I first stumbled across it, I do know it instantly struck me as being a candidate for ‘Andrew’s perfect wallet.’ You’d think that since my only criteria is ‘slim & minimal’ finding an adequate solution would be an easy task, but over the years everything from clips to business card holders have failed me time and time again. But I think the Mojito has the potential to go the distance! And to make things even better it turns out that Malcolm Fontier makes an iPhone case embracing the same minimalist aesthetic, and I had a chance to check them both out. More after the jump.
Now when hunting for a slim wallet you have to be willing to make some compromises when it comes to how many cards you can carry. If you ditch that massive leather filing cabinet in your back pocket for something that can slip into the front pocket of your jeans, you’re going to have to let a few things go. But if you’re willing to do that, I can’t recommend the Mojito enough.
As you can see the wallet is actually designed to be just a bit shorter than the your standard credit card, which is probably one of the more important things you carry every day. Not only does it make the wallet lighter since there’s less material, but leaving the top of the cards exposed also makes them easy to remove from the wallet’s main slot. But you don’t have to worry about the cards accidentally falling out since the Mojito features a small elastic strap designed to hold the cards securely in place. It’s also kind of like the trademark of these wallets, and I’m sure I’ll be asked about it from time to time when I go to reach for a card.
On the other side of the wallet is a pocket designed to serve as a sort of money clip for storing cash. If you’re already a fan of carrying slim wallets you’re probably already used to tri-folding paper bills so they take up less room. And you’ll need to do the same with this wallet. But trust me, once you start doing it, you’ll never go back to half-folding your bills again.
I’ll also point out that while the Mojito products might look like leather, they’re actually made from polyurethane with a nylon lining. So if you’re not a fan of an animal having to die so that you have a place to carry your cards, they’re a nice alternative to a leather wallet.
Malcolm Fontier claims the Mojito can hold up to 4 cards in the main slot, but with a little extra effort, and some stretching and flexing over time, I can think you can easily squeeze 5 in there if needed. Or 4 with a couple of business cards. Out of the box the Mojito I tested was kind of stiff, so inserting and removing cash and cards was a little difficult, but over time the material will definitely relax, so I’m not worried about it. Nor should you be.
And I have to say I’m not really sure how anyone can make a wallet any slimmer or more compact without making too many compromises on what it’s able to hold. I know you can always just throw the cards and cash in your pocket loose, but I like having them all together inside a wallet at the end of the night so when I empty my pockets I know things aren’t going to disappear.
But while I’ve managed to slim my wallet’s contents over the years, recently there’s another item that I end up taking with me wherever I go. My iPhone. So thankfully Malcolm Fontier also makes a larger version of the Mojito, cleverly dubbed the iMojito, which lets you carry your iPhone (all generations) in addition to your cash and plastic.
Like with the Mojito wallet the iMojito swallows up about 90% of your iPhone, leaving the top 10% exposed making it easier to remove. And to ensure it doesn’t accidentally slide out once the case has been broken in, the iMojito also features that clever little elastic strap. But instead of a single pocket designed to hold just cash, on one side you’ll find 3 separate pockets for holding your plastic, business cards, receipts, money or whatever you can think of.
Now obviously the final package is no where near as small and slim as the Mojito wallet is, but it can still be easily slipped in a pocket, and I think it’s a great way to carry your iPhone and your wallet essentials all in one.
However, those of you looking for a case that will provide absolute protection for your iPhone from top to bottom will need to remember that the top bit of your iPhone will remain exposed when using the iMojito. So the risk of it getting scratched up from keys or coins when stashed in your pocket is still there. As someone who is paranoid about such things, I feel obligated to mention it. But seeing people walking around using their iPhones with cracked screens and what-not, I know it’s not a concern for everyone.
It’s nice to stumble across the perfect (insert whatever you’re looking for here) after a long search, and I really think the Mojito could end up being the perfect wallet for me. So much so that I feel like I should order a stack of them to keep as backups for when they eventually wear out from day-to-day use. The iMojito is also a nice alternative to the Mojito if you want to keep your iPhone crammed in there as well.
And to top it all off, I have to say I even really like the Malcolm Fontier packaging which features a clever sliding insert which slightly hangs out the bottom of the outer sleeve, mimicking the unique design cues of the wallet and case.
Pros:
+ Quite possibly the smallest, slimmest wallet you can buy.
+ Reasonably priced.
+ The Mojito wallet is available in a variety of color combinations.
+ High-quality construction and stitching.
+ Made of durable polyurethane instead of leather.
Cons:
– If you’re not already carrying a slim wallet you’ll have to get used to carrying a minimal number of cards.
– Slightly stiff out the box, making it difficult to insert and remove cards. But it will loosen up over time.
– iMojito case will not completely protect your iPhone from scratches.
Links:
Mojito Wallet – $25
iMojito iPhone Case – $35
If you have any questions about the Malcolm Fontier products you’d like answered, please feel free to leave them in the comments, and I’ll try to respond to them as best I can.
