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Cost: $89
Card Capacity: 12 Cards
Size: Under 74 mm (LO)
Dimensions: 4.6″ x 3.38″ x 0.5″ (117 x 86 x 13 mm)
Weight: 1.8 oz (51 g)
Materials: 70% Leather; 25% recycled polyester
Bellroy Hide & Seek Wallet
After a recent trip to Portugal and Spain, I wanted to share some of the gear that I used during the trip. So in this article, I’m going to share a review of my wallet, the Hide and Seek by Bellroy.
Now, the first reason I wanted to test this wallet during my trip is because of the style. It looks really nice. Not only that, but it’s large enough for cards, banknotes in multiple currencies, and has a nice security feature where you can store bills behind a hidden flap.
But let’s break down the Bellroy Hide & Seek Wallet, the dimensions, and my final thoughts on the actual product.
Bellroy Hide & Seek Wallet: Dimensions
This wallet is great for Europe because it comes in two sizes. This means that when you’re traveling, you’ll be able to hold various bills of different sizes and denominations. But I live in the United States, so I opted for the smaller versions.
The wallet I have fits all US bills and everything except the largest Euro notes; however, it does come in a larger version that maxes out at 9.5 cm, which will hold the largest bills as well as all your smaller, everyday items.
Functionally, for me, the wallet ends up being around 86 mm tall. The usable bill section minus the stitching is about 76 mm, meaning you can hold up to a 50 Euro bill in here. For any larger denomination, you’d need the bigger size wallet.
Security Flap
Now, let’s talk about the security flap on this wallet.
The way the security flap works is that there’s a small leather tab folded on top, with a thin fabric divider behind it. I used it to keep the larger denomination bills hidden behind the flap.
So when you open your wallet to pay for something, it just looks like you have a few smaller banknotes. When you run low on these or need a larger bill, just open the flap and transfer it to the front section.
You could also use this if you’re moving between countries with different currencies, and use the flap to keep them separated, so you don’t get them mixed up.
Card Sleeves
For the card sleeve section up front, Bellroy says it can hold from 5-12 cards. You could probably fit that many in here, but it would be very bulky. Instead, a more reasonable number is around 5-8. I’ve been carrying about 7 cards in mine, and it’s worked well.
The organization on this wallet is also very impressive. On the right side, you have 3 card slots—here I put my most often used cards. The bottom one has a slanted sleeve for easier access.
On the left, I put my driver’s licence and identification. You can fit multiple cards in these slots, but it’s leather and I don’t want to stretch it out, so I’ve only been keeping one card per slot.
The final card sleeve on the front is on the back left. Deeper, wider, kind of like a dump sleeve—it holds multiple cards, and it’s wider so it won’t stretch out.
I use this for storing extra cards, debit cards, insurance, receipts, or cards I don’t use as often. They tuck all the way in, so you don’t see the pile of cards and papers sticking out; this keeps the card section nice and clean.
Secret Card Sleeves
Now, let’s get to the actual reason that Bellroy calls this the Bellroy Hide & Seek wallet. There are two extra secret sleeves: one located on the back, behind the security flap, and a second one in the main bill section. You could store cards in here, or use it as a small coin pouch.
It’s a nifty little addition to an already usable wallet that really takes it to the next level, especially if you’re traveling often.
Overall Impression
This wallet is very simple and straightforward, so that’s it as far as the features go. For my use, I’ve been carrying the Hide & Seek daily for about two months.
It’s a very nice, clean-looking, and easy-to-use wallet. It’s showing some slight signs of wear on the corner, but that’s to be expected.
One of the biggest pluses of this wallet is the style and design. The card sleeves make sense and are easy to use.
I like the security flap feature because it’s important to keep large bills out of sight or separated when you travel. I also like that it has options for hiding cards in at least three sleeves that aren’t easily noticeable, which is especially useful for hiding an extra credit card and identification.
But now, let’s talk about the downside to this design. While it’s perfectly usable, it doesn’t force you to downsize your card collection. So if you fill this wallet up with the maximum cards it can hold, you’re going to end up with a pretty fat wallet.
Downside
Other than stacking too many cards and ending up with a heavy wallet, my only real con with this wallet is the Bellroy owl logo on the front. It looks great, but it is metal and sticks out a little.
Also, because of the security flap and the way all the card sleeves compound towards the top, the wallet ends up being slightly fatter towards the top, and mine developed a noticeable ridge about 1 cm from the top edge.
However, neither of these issues is large enough to notice when I’m sitting with the wallet in my back pocket.
Final Words: Bellroy Hide & Seek Wallet Review
Ultimately, the Bellroy Hide & Seek Wallet is a very simple, easy-to-use wallet that has its place when traveling or even for daily use. Mine is in the LO size and the caramel color.
While there are several small, extremely minor annoyances using it, like the logo and the ridge on the top edge, this is nowhere near enough to take away from the wallet.
It’s a secure, roomy wallet that’s easy to travel with, and comfortable enough to sit on when you’ve got your wallet in your back pocket.
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