Civilian Lab Kevlar Clip Wallet **REVIEW**

[bbbshrimp]

Hello my friends!

Here's one of my favorite EDC wallets -- Civilian Lab Kevlar Clip Wallet! And I'm going to give it a review. So here it is (this is my first review, so forgive me if it's a bit disorganized):

SIZE: 4.5" tall x 3 1/8" wide (when folded); 8" wide (un-fold)
MATERIAL: Kevlar (duh..), Clear mesh ID window; Steel gun-holster type clip; Velcro closure

Ok. let me begin with the packaging (please see pics). I was very surprised when I received my clip wallet that it came in a very cute and efficent packaing. The wallet is clipped to a slightly see-through plastic which has printed picture of the wallet as well as brief illustrated instructions that show several ways to clip the wallet. I was very amused when I remove the clip wallet from the plastic board because there was a very cute picture of a bunny eating carrot hidden behind the wallet!* :laugh: :laugh:
I think Civilian Lab must have a thing for bunnies because I found another bunny picture on the back of the plastic board (and this is a very hilarious picture, but I've decided to hold my tongue so I won't spoil it for people who haven't seen this).

CAPACITY:
The wallet is very thin and small. It fits pretty much to the sizes of the essentials for wallet (bills, credit cards), so it is smaller than most of tri-folds you see out there.
So in one of the pictures here, you can see I have 6 cards (credit cards, IDs, club cards, etc.), 7 bills, 2 receipts, and some change that sit neatly in the wallet. You can put a few more cards and bills in it for sure, but personally, this is pretty much what I carry in my wallet. I actually didn't notice the zip change pocket inside the main compartment until a couple of days after I started using the wallet. The zip pocket takes up about 2/3 of the un-floded width of the wallet. You will need to put the coins in the center section of the wallet, so that you can fold the wallet properly.

CLIP EVERYWHERE:
I absolutley love this clip thing! I clip the wallet ANYWHERE that I can clip it to... It's very easy to be clipped to your belt of course. The type of steel clip this wallet has is used by the military and polic units. The clip end has a retantion "trench", so it actually locks onto your belt pretty tight. If someone is trying to snatch your wallet off your belt, you'll definitley notice it and it's pretty hard to try to pull it off the belt without putting your fingers under the belt to "releas" the locking trench. This clip works pretty much the same as a lot of the leather gun hoslter clips.
The clip also works great even when you're not wearing a belt. I've taken some pictures showing it clipped to my waistband (works either wallet outside the pants or inside the pants* :P) and my pant pocket. The clip top levels with the wallet top, so you won't feel anything poking the side of your stomach. I used to lose my wallet inside my backpack or messenger bag, but now I just clipped on the webbings or any inside compartment, so it's very easy to spot the wallet. If you have bags that have pals, then this wallet is going to be very happy. See pics -- I clipped my kevlar wallet on the shoulder pad d-ring and the pals on the tail piece of my fast pack.
Oh! Another great place to clip it is on your car visor, the same way you clip your gate remote control to car visor. I really love it when pay at the grocery counter because I don't even bother removing the wallet from my belt -- I just open the wallet and get my credit card out with the wallet still secured on my belt! :highfive:

Conclusion:
This is a perfect wallet for people who don't like losing their wallets all the time and it's perfect for you if you don't keep tons of receipts like George Costanza. The wallet price is also very reasonable at $22 (I've paid more for some of my tri-fold surf wallets that didn't have belt clips and weren't made out of cool Kevlar).
Civilian Lab also has the clip wallet in perforated leather for $32.
You can check out the wallets here: www.civilianlab.com
or you can also buy from: http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme%20gear/gear%20organizers%20main/civilian_clip_wallet.htm

Did I do a good job reviewing this wallet? ;D

[bbbshrimp]

Here are some more pics.

[bbbshrimp]

clip to pants ;D

[bbbshrimp]

clip to bakpack

[Lunal_Tic]

Great review bbbshrimp. :thumbsup: I'm off to see if it is available in other colors.

-LT

[Deaths Head]

Great review! Would work will on the EDC Magazine too. Especially the pics.

[iceman]

clip to bakpack
Nice back pack :)

[flashlight]

So is it bulletproof too?* :-X They do have some cool stuff though. I kinda like the cable wallet as well but it might be too comfortable to sit on. :green:

[bbbshrimp]

Great review!* Would work will on the EDC Magazine too.* Especially the pics.


Hey.. thanks! Would be honored to have them on the EDC Magazine. Please feel free to use any of the pics. :highfive:

[luigi]

Very nice but is missing a "hole" like the one in "The Wallet Jr" that can be used to attach a chain.
The safety chain and the clip would make it even more useful in my opinion.

Luigi

[Deaths Head]

Hey.. thanks! Would be honored to have them on the EDC Magazine. Please feel free to use any of the pics. :highfive:

Not up to me though. You may want to make an offer to knuckleduster. He is always looking for good reviews on unique everyday carry items.

[KSH62474]

Great review! This is awesome. even though i just got a wallet(eagle creek slim wallet) i was looking at this one as i like wallets made out of cool stuff. Your review made we want it more. Can you please post pics of thickness of the wallet and show something to get an idea of how thick it is?( a battery standing up, stack of quarters, most things work) Thanks!

[bbbshrimp]

Hey KSH62474,
Thank you so much! I'm out of town for a few days, but I'll post thickness pic when I get back home. With the stuff I had in the walllet, the thickness is probably about a bit over 1/2" thick I think.

;)

[knuckleduster]

Excellent review! I enjoyed it tremendously. Looks like a great product.

Dave

[KSH62474]

Thanks bbbshrimp. The only thing i was worried about was thickness but the nice thing is it has a coin pocket AND its still thin. I think I'm going to have to get one of these!

Pics of the coin pocket would be nice too to clarify where the pocket has been palced. Thanks!!!! O0



Hey KSH62474,
Thank you so much! I'm out of town for a few days, but I'll post thickness pic when I get back home. With the stuff I had in the walllet, the thickness is probably about a bit over 1/2" thick I think.

;)

[TKC]

That is a cool wallet. That was a great review.

[marvyn]

I am looking for a new wallet, nothing too complicated or bulky and was thinking of a Civilian Lab Clip in the perforated black leather. Contemplated the Spec-Ops and Maxpedition offerings but a bit too military for everyday work use needs to work with a suit.

Anyone out there using Civilian Labs wallets I would like to hear your views.

Minor advantage ..... it matches the perforated leahter strap on my Tag Carrera watch.

Cheers

[gerry.agnosia]

Hello Marvyn,


I purchased a Civilian Labs Kevlar Wallet not too long ago. I ended up using it for all of... a month.

The wallet was billed as being mil-spec tough, but in actuality the only part of it that maintained any design integrity in practice was the military-spec steel clip. The kevlar itself started to fray and the plastic ID holder started to come apart after three and a half weeks of just regular, every-day use.

This being the second bad experience I had with Civilian Labs' questionable quality control (The first being with their retractable key lanyard which had a complete and utter spring malfunction.) I now am avoiding their gear.

For now, I use a Spec-Ops. T.H.E. Wallet as my, well... wallet. I had worries that it would be too big and bulky, too, but it folds up into a nice, convenient and RUGGED package. From the experiences I've had with wallets, I can truly say that this is THE ONE. I suspect I may never need to purchase another wallet (Pending cataclysmic events or loss.) again.

- Gerry

[parnass]

:bump: Threads merged with a bump.

[TOAD69]

I have a civilian lab clip wallet in kevlar and it has held up fine.
and i carry it every day at work and IM A WELDER very hard on gear! :knuppel2:

[amboose]

Many thanks for this great review. Purchased one and it helped when I needed to manoeveur on my back. That's when I clipped the wallet up front on my pants.

[JonSidneyB]

Bump....

Trying to get Civilian Lab more noticed now that I am carrying their items to support the forum.

[mahler9]

Clipping a bulky wallet like that to the outside of your pants? Anyone else think that's a, I dunno, bad idea?

Maybe they can make a smaller, more pedestrian version with Kevlar. It's a unique material that no one else is using right now for wallets.

[brianwhynot]

Anyone know if it blocks RFID?

[Valolammas]

Anyone know if it blocks RFID?

Kevlar? I don't think so. AFAIK, things need to be entirely encased in (electrically conductive) metal to be shielded.

[Gorbag]

If you're worried about RFID blocking, the mylar from balloons works pretty well.

Yay, Civilian Labs! Cool stuff.

[crossroads]

Alrighty, since this thread is already here, I thought I'd put my review of a Civilian Labs Rewind Duo Wallet here as well.

First impressions is that it is a very nice wallet, both aesthetically and quality-wise. The packaging is attractive, and still retains the cute bunny pictures mentioned by bbbshrimp :). What is included is the wallet, the Gearkeeper Retractor and a leather belt loop for the belt. The packaging states that the wallet was designed in the USA and made in China, for those who care.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7466/dsc00466gg7.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00466gg7.jpg) http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7872/dsc00500gy1.th.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00500gy1.jpg) http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/7334/dsc00509ta2.th.jpg (http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00509ta2.jpg) http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/4871/dsc00511fz7.th.jpg (http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00511fz7.jpg) http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5291/dsc00498hd1.th.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00498hd1.jpg)

As indicated by the packaging, the sizes are 4 1/4" X 3" X 1/2". When I measured it with all my cards and ID, it measured 4 1/2" X 3" X 3/4". Not bad; bit strange why it is longer than stated on packaging though :shrug:. Maybe my measuring tape is off. When open, the length of the wallet reaches 8 1/2".

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1922/dsc00503za9.th.jpg (http://img407.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00503za9.jpg) http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7017/dsc00489uk8.th.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00489uk8.jpg)

This is a trifold wallet, and comes with two magnetic snaps to hold it together, unlike the kevlar version, which uses velcro. One of the main reasons I chose the Rewind Duo was because I didn't want the velcro, as it is simply too loud when opening and closing, bound to get attention. The magnetic snaps feel quite secure, and add very little to the overall thickness (approx less than half an inch). Something that bugged me initially was that a simple flip close would not immediately result in both snaps coming together properly. Once you get used to it, you can feel for how they will close properly. This issue in itself was discovered through nitpicking anyway, and should not bother anyone *too* much, if at all. UPDATE: I've mastered the art of magnetic snap closing after a few days use. No more issues. :)

The "action leather" appears to be perforated leather, and is allegedly resistant to water and sweat damage. I did a very amateurish test by turning on a tap (at a reasonably strong pressure to be honest) and passing the wallet through the running water for less than a second, with the back of the wallet facing up. Water did get through, but only wetting my 5 dollar note. The note itself provided further water protection to the wallet :). The perforations also allowed the wallet to dry extremely quickly, and the leather seems fine. I think I'll have to update this review in a month or two to further comment on the leather quality, but IMO it is high quality stuff.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5859/dsc00491ta6.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00491ta6.jpg)

The back of the wallet comes with a "fuel gauge", which is just a strip of clear plastic on the back of the wallet, allowing you to seem your notes without opening the wallet. However, you will have to stagger your notes, in order to see what you have. The stitching around this area is not straight, and does disturb the overall high level of quality this wallet initially gives off (again, nitpicking). Don't get me wrong however; I am not afraid of it falling apart. Personally, I could have done without this fuel gauge. I understand the logic behind putting in this feature (not letting potential thieves see your wallet's insides), and it is innovative and also does its job. However, IMO, I could have done without it. YMMV.

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3473/dsc00496yy2.th.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00496yy2.jpg)

The packaging specifically points out the "reinforced loop stitching" of the wallet, which is designed to be hooked onto by the Gearkeeper Retractor. I actually do not plan on using the two of them together, but I did again do some amateurish tests on the loop, which mainly consisted of pulling it hard. I am glad that it did not break; this reinforced loop stitching feels extremely secure. If I did use the retractor with the wallet, I wouldn't worry about the stitching breaking at all. It would have been rather awkward for Civilian Lab if if I, a relatively small guy, had ripped it out :laugh:.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9035/dsc00502wh3.th.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00502wh3.jpg)

The ID window uses "micro mesh". My last wallet had a plastic window, and it had rubbed off my name on my unlaminated student ID card. I am glad that this micro mesh will not do the same. It does not stick to the card, and feels quite strong, but still flexible. Stitching around this area is straight and consistent, and I am confident it will not break from too many cards.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1118/dsc00480ni0.th.jpg (http://img185.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00480ni0.jpg)

There are three pockets in the center of the wallet, another three at the end, and one tiny one at the start. The pockets at the end are designed for bank cards. All the stitching on the center and end sections look secure, and I am not worried at all about durability.

Center:
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3826/dsc00483is0.th.jpg (http://img185.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00483is0.jpg)

End:
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/5294/dsc00492ud5.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00492ud5.jpg)

However, the small one seems to have been sewn a bit more halfheartedly. It is marketed as a little pocket for a spare key. It is designed in such a way that half of it is sewn, but the other half is open, leaving a little pocket. I attempted to store two $2 coins in it (size of a penny, about twice as thick). One of the coins slipped into the sewn area, while the other was hanging around the unsewn part. They are in no danger of falling out when the wallet is closed, but once opened, the coin at the unsewn part flew out rather easily, while the other was still lodged inside. I had to shake the wallet a few times to get the coin out; attempting to open up the pocket will result in the sewn part stretching dangerously. I know it is marketed as just a key pocket, but I still wish Civilian Lab could have strengthened this part of the wallet, even though it is a minor detail.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2903/dsc00473em6.th.jpg (http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00473em6.jpg) http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8959/dsc00474uz3.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00474uz3.jpg) http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7430/dsc00495yf5.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00495yf5.jpg)

Other than that, I am very impressed with the wallet, given its price of US$35.88 at Jon's site here (http://www.jsburlysflashlights.com/cgi-bin/ccp51//cp-app.cgi?usr=51I2972567&rnd=2220051&rrc=N&affl=&cip=203.219.234.204&act=&aff=&pg=cat&ref=civlabwallets&catstr=HOME:civilianlab). If you factor in the cost of the Gearkeeper Retractor, which is around US$14 or so (out of stock item at JSB's doesn't show price :knuppel2:), it makes it cheaper than the Action Leather Wallet with Clip. So, if you're interested in a high quality, low cost, small trifold without a clip, I'd say this is your best bet. Gearkeeper Retractor option is just icing on the cake. O0

Icing that I will be licking off for use with my keyring setup :P.

Further impressions: I only had one business card that could fit in the credit card slots :thumbsdown:; the rest were too wide. Marc's card is used as an example.

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/8566/dsc00505fw2.th.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00505fw2.jpg)

The leather belt loop is not made to the same standard as the wallet, so if someone attempts to steal your wallet with the retractor attached, and pulls enough so that there is no more cable available, I'm not sure whether the belt loop would hold. But then again, I don't use the retractor.

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9523/dsc00508ma3.th.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00508ma3.jpg)

Obviously, pics are now up.

[Eeyore]

I carried a variation of this wallet for over a year. The reel was built in to the wallet. I liked the extra piece of mind it gave me while overseas. Unfortunately, the leather belt loop broke off within a few short months. I then started attaching the carabiner to the belt loop of my pants. In another 9 months of almost daily use, the cable broke. The wallet itself, however, looked almost new.

I decided to try something new. My current replacement is the WalletSafe Tri-fold Travel Wallet by PacSafe. It dose look a bit geeky but so far has been holding great.

http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=15

[jrbrangi]

odd question, is this a true trifold? is the flap with the magnet just for securing it closed or do the bills actually extend into this section of the wallet? only reason is that since I am insane, I hate when bills are all bent up from being in a trifold.

[crossroads]

odd question, is this a true trifold? is the flap with the magnet just for securing it closed or do the bills actually extend into this section of the wallet? only reason is that since I am insane, I hate when bills are all bent up from being in a trifold.


I can't exactly answer your question, because, unless you're Australian, the size of your dollar bills will be different to Australian bills. One of my pics (one with the Wharcom) in the review illustrates that they can be positioned in the middle in such a way as to be all bent up. I think the more likely answer would be yes, the bills do extend into that section.

[jrbrangi]

thanks, I still may go for it though. for those with the clip version, when clipped in front pocket is it so bulky that you can't hold anything else in the pocket? ie keys, phone etc.

[xx13xx]

I have been carrying the cable wallet for awhile and think its probably one of the best wallets I have ever had. I did break one cable reel already and i lost the leather loop a couple of days after I got the wallet, but other than that she is holding up very nicely. Also if you break a reel they sell them seperately for like $5 so its no big deal.

[jrbrangi]

yea, still up in the air as to which one, can you get the regular leather version they have without the cash window in rewind setup? or is it missing the sewn in loop. Not a fan of the little cash window.

[xx13xx]

honestly cash window is dumb but its not really that noticeable its maybe 2 inches long and like a 1/4 inch wide lol i never even look at it, cause i know there is no money in there

[Bierkameel]

Good review and good pics, just ordered the kevlar version.
I was looking for a decent wallet :)

[mercop]

I ordered one of these the other day after stumbling across the site. After some of the mixed reviews here I am very interested in getting it and trying it out. For about the last 10 years I have been carrying a little black Eagle Industries wallet given to me by John Carver the owner of Eagle. It is a great piece of gear. The problem is that I leave my house three days a week in PT shorts from the gym with my 38 in a belly band and some shorts don't have pockets and the ones that do have small ones. I needed a way to put my wallet and this looks like a great solution. My only issue looking at it is that I wish the clip was blacktikewl instead of shiny. But that is just my tactical OCD :idiot2: Not worried about the room for cash since I always carry my money in a Titanium money clip made by A&M Draper. The wallet is just for tossing during a robbery attempt if I need to get my gun.

One more thing about the pocket clip, to me and every other police and some criminals in the world it screams badge. Don't be surprised if you get some strange looks or someone asks you if you are "on the job". Just wanted everyone to be aware of that since they are exactly the same clips found on most badge holders.

I will report back on the wallet.- George