Clear Organizer Wallet questions

[MtnMan]

I have some questions about the Clear Organizer Wallet and related accessories.

My father and I work in construction. We are outdoors much of the time, for work and for play. In the summertime, he likes to wear thin-fabric athletic shorts. (The cloth kind with the elastic waistband.) In the winter, he wears denim jeans part of the time, but cloth sweatpants most of the time. With the exception of the jeans, most of his outdoor-wear does not offer the best pockets. (Often no rear pockets at all; only front-side pockets) He sees the shorts and the sweatpants as a necessity based on the season temperature.

My father stopped using his bulky old leather wallet years ago. The old wallet was so bulky it would only fit in his jeans. He never carries a wallet in his sweatpants or shorts. He has a nasty habit of carrying disorganized wads of cash, cards and ID in those pockets, and then he has to sort through them to find anything. I'm afraid he'll loose something valuable doing that. I was thinking any ordinary wallet might befall the same fate... and if he lost the wallet, he'd loose everything.

Then it occurred to me: what about the Clear Organizer Wallet from Tom Bihn? Could he hook a keystrap to the corner keyhook on the wallet, and then the other end of the strap to the outer edge of his pocket, to keep it secure? Would this work? Or maybe hook the strap to the elastic waistband?

I'd like to solicit comments from Clear Organizer Wallet owners, to see what they think.

(NOTE: most of his shorts and sweatpants do not have belt loops and he doesn't wear a belt with them as a result.)

Also: what do you use your C.O.W. for? Do you ever carry it without it being in another Bihn bag? If so, how do you use/carry it?

Thanks in advance.

[fdiaz64]

I have the wallet and use it almost exclusively inside of a bag. It's a little larger in area than a regular wallet and the fact that it has a zipper has made me not really carry it around in pockets. I just keep a bunch of work licenses, seldom used cards and other legal documents in it. I keep my money, driver's license, debit and a credit card in a pocket pouch that is usually tethered in my bag, but I will take it with me when I'm not carrying a bag. I'm currently trying to decide if I want to remove the snap hook as it gets uncomfortable sometimes if I sit on it when it's in a back pocket.

[monkeylady]

I use my COW exclusively as a wallet, carrying driver's license, a few credit cards, and paper money. I think its profile is 1.5 to 1.75 inches longer than a man's small folded wallet. Except the COW has a clip for securing and wallets usually don't. My concern would be keeping it clipped at the waist band. The heavier it is, the more likely the clip will come undone at the waist. I suppose you could rig it more securely with a large pin, but this will only be successful if he is willing to set this up every time he sports a different pair of pants. You could talk to the local dry cleaner about attaching rings in the waists if you/your dad don't sew. Fabric stores/craft stores sell them or you might be able to buy some of these from TB. The only other thing I can think of is a Tilley hat (if he wears hats). They sell a hat with a money pocket inside.


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[monkeylady]

Oh, I forgot to say that I usually carry my COW in a SE. Sometimes I put it in my coat or jacket pocket.


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[Canonsue]

I was also thinking that a Side Effect around the waist with the wallet in it would be more secure and comfortable.

Sue

[MtnMan]

I have a Side Effect. I love it, but only in certain conditions.

He isn't interested.

[K9TB]

Repurpose the neck/waist strap from the passport pouch?

[daisy]

He isn't interested.

Unfortunately this may be the answer - does he feel he has a problem in need of a solution? We long term TB'ers can be tempted to solve all world problems with little pouches and keystraps .. which sometimes, seemingly without rhyme or reason, is resisted by our victims .... errr.... friends and relatives.




I have a COW (why did I never notice that abbreviation before? how funny) which I use for my various cards that I do NOT carry daily - kind of a filing system. Actually I tell a lie, that one is navy cordura front and back.

I have a true COW (clear front) which I use as a mini FAK (carried in whatever TB bag is current).

My wallet (a couple of cards, licence, cash and a couple of panadol) is a plastic cheap bifold that I replace every year or so.

But I would probably have trouble carrying even that comfortably in the garments you describe, and there'd be nowhere for my phone.

I like the idea of the basics in a COW with a big safety pin ...

[bijoux]

Hi, had you thought of putting in an eyelet into the fabric of the pocket. Benefits are: lightweight, metal holes come in various sizes, can be positioned anywhere on the pants/shorts. Clip a keystrap on.
Eyelets are attached onto fabric with a hand tool... being in construction I'm sure it would be EASY for you!

[monkeylady]

Right! Grommets! And you can get a grommet maker at a craft store or order it on line.


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[Miking]

You could have a seamstress put in a hidden zippered pocket into his pants for a couple bucks. I have had these simple pockets added to travel pants, swim shorts and leather jackets. Even on my heavy leather biker jacket it only cost around $10 including zipper. Obviously for the track pants and shorts you can use one of the invisible zippers like they use on dresses. Another option would be to sew in an o-ring into the pocket.

[backpack]

Things attached by grommets would disturb the staying power of an elastic waist garment.

A better solution would be to use the Side Effect Simple Strap as a waist or neck "lanyard", both clips affixed to an O-ring clipped to the Organizer Wallet .

[Mare23]

I would clip the COW to a small suspender clip and just clip in onto the trouser pocket for safety.

ETA, or you could break off the COW clip and tie it to the suspender clip with a string or even a short metal strap so it's more flexible.

[MtnMan]

I would like to thank everyone for contributing to this discussion thread. It has been helpful, both in showing the many solutions that are available, and to showing that I need to take an entirely different approach to this problem. After thinking about it, I decided that what my father really needs is a minimalist money clip in his pocket. That would be low-profile and must useful. I intend to start another discussion about it here, in the "Not About Bags" section of the Tom Bihn forum.

If anyone here has suggestions for the new thread, you are welcome to participate there as well. See you there, and thanks again!

--MtnMan