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A history of wallets

Wallets have been an essential accessory for people for centuries. The history of wallets dates back to ancient times when people used simple pouches made of animal skins to carry their valuable belongings. Over time, wallets have become more sophisticated, with various materials, designs, and features.

Wallets and their accessories

As wallets have evolved over time, so too have the accompanying accessories. From coin purses to keychains, these accessories have become an integral part of our daily lives.

Coin purses have been around for centuries, originally used to carry small items such as coins and needles. They were typically made of leather or fabric and often had a drawstring or snap closure. Today, coin purses are often incorporated into modern wallet designs, with a separate compartment or zippered pocket for coins.

Money clips were introduced in the early 20th century to carry cash without the bulk of a traditional wallet. These simple devices were often made of precious metals and could hold a small amount of folded cash. Today, money clips are still popular, often combined with cardholders or incorporated into slim wallet designs.

Keychains are another popular accessory for wallets. They allow us to keep our keys organized and easily accessible. Keychains have existed for centuries, but the modern keychain was first introduced in the early 20th century. Today, keychains are often incorporated into wallet designs, with a separate loop or compartment for keys.

Dango’s wallet accessories

At Dango Products, we love to think outside of the box when it comes to the wallet world. Because we focus on everyday carry products and not just wallets, we feel the responsibility to develop products and accessories that can assist you on your daily adventures. Below is a list of some of our most compelling wallet accessories that we offer:

1. Dango Multi-tools: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/clips-1?pf_t_refine_by_type=Product.Exact.Multi-tool

   We offer a variety of multi-tools that have several functions such as which may be handy in certain situations. These functions include All of our multi-tools are slim and card-size to pair with Dango wallets and are compatible with most general wallets.

   

2. Dango Tether: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/tether

   The Dango Tether is a handy accessory that is used like a wallet chain to prevent loss or theft when you secure one end to your Dango wallet and the other end to your body. Since it is made of 550 paracord, it can be handy in emergency situations when you need to unravel it for rope or flammable thread to start fires!

   

3. Dango Compass: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/compass

   The Dango Compass can be attached to your wallet via paracord lanyard to make sure you are always on the right path in your navigation.

   

4. Dango Capsules: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/storage-solutions?pf_t_refine_by_type=Product.Exact.Capsule

   Our everyday carry also comes in small sizes such as medication, vitamins and small tools. Dango Capsules can be tethered to your Dango Wallet to help you keep these small everyday carry items organized.

   

   

5. Dango Pen Slot Card: Turn your Dango wallet into a pen wallet with the versatile pen slot card. Simply slip into a horizontal pocket for a great addition to your horizontal wallet. Compatible with D01, D02, T01, T02, P01, P02, and S1 Wallets.
https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/dango-pen-slot-card

Sources:

• "A Brief History of Wallets" by The Wallet Shoppe (https://www.thewalletshoppe.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-wallets)
• "The History of Wallets" by The Wallet King (https://www.thewalletking.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-wallets)
• "The Evolution of the Wallet" by The Gentleman's Journal (https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/article/the-evolution-of-the-wallet/)
• "The Evolution of Wallet Accessories" by The Wallet Shoppe (https://www.thewalletshoppe.com/blogs/news/the-evolution-of-wallet-accessories)
• "Wallet Accessories: A Brief History" by The Gentleman's Gazette (https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/wallet-accessories/)
• "A History of Wallet Accessories" by Wallets Online (https://www.walletsonline.com/a-history-of-wallet-accessories/)

The history of leather wallets dates back to the early days of human civilization. In ancient times, people used leather pouches or bags to carry their belongings, including coins, food, and other small items. These pouches were often made of animal hides tied to a belt or hung from a cord around the waist.

Over time, leather wallets evolved to become more sophisticated and functional. During the Middle Ages, leather craftsmen began to create wallets with multiple compartments for holding coins, bills, and other important documents. These wallets were often decorated with intricate designs and symbols and were considered a status symbol among the wealthy and elite.

In the 19th century, mass production techniques allowed leather wallets to become more widely available and affordable. Men's wallets in particular, became popular during this time, as the rise of industrialization and urbanization created a need for a portable and convenient way to carry money and other essentials.

Today, leather wallets remain a popular accessory for both men and women. They come in various styles and designs, from classic billfolds to modern minimalist wallets, and are available in various colors and finishes. While synthetic materials are also used to make wallets, leather remains a top choice for its durability, style, and timeless appeal.

Why do people choose minimalist leather wallets?

1. Durability: Minimalist leather wallets are made to survive everyday use and to be scratch- and damage-resistant. This implies that your wallet won't deteriorate over time even if you use it frequently.
2. Functionality: A minimalist wallet is designed to hold only the essentials, which makes it a highly functional and practical accessory. It typically has space for a few cards and cash, making it slim and easy to carry. The metal and leather construction also ensures that your cards and cash are safe and secure.
3. Style: They have a sleek and modern look that is perfect for anyone who wants to make a statement with their accessories. They are available in a variety of colors and finishes, so you can choose one that complements your personal style. Leather also ages well, and patinas over time, giving your wallet a beautiful distressed look. Additionally, the combination of metal and leather creates a unique texture that adds to the wallet's overall appeal.

Tips for cleaning a leather wallet

• Remove loose dirt or debris from the wallet by wiping it down with a dry, soft cloth.
• Dampen a clean cloth with lukewarm water and wring out any excess. Gently wipe down the leather surface of the wallet to remove any remaining dirt or stains.
• Apply a small amount of leather cleaner or conditioner to another clean cloth. Rub the cleaner or conditioner into the leather surface of the wallet in a circular motion, covering the entire area.
• Let the wallet dry completely for at least 15-20 minutes. Avoid using a hairdryer or placing the wallet in direct sunlight to dry, as this can damage the leather.
• Once the wallet is dry, buff it with a soft, dry cloth to restore its shine and texture. Repeat the cleaning process to keep your minimalist leather wallet looking clean and fresh.

Leather Accessories for your Dango wallets

With Dango leather wallets, we have designed them to be your companion for the long run. They are made to last a lifetime with their metal chassis’; however, because leather does not last forever, Dango Products always sell accessories and leather pockets to renew your Dango Wallet in case your leather gets damaged. Some users also buy different colors just to customize or modify their wallets to fit their occasions! For most of the Dango wallets, we offer 3 leather colors to choose from: Whiskey Brown, Raw-Hide and Jet Black. Below are links to the leather accessories offered at Dango Products:

1. A-Series Leather Pockets:
   • Single Pocket (Horizontal): https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/a10-single-pocket-adapter
   • Single Pull Pocket (Vertical): https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/a10-pull-pocket-adapter
   • Bifold Pocket (with Pen Pocket Cavity): https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/a10-bifold-pocket-adapter
2. D-Series Leather Pockets:
   • Single Pocket: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/leather-pocket
   • Bifold Pocket: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/3-pocket-bifold-leather
   • Bifold Pen Pocket: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/3-pocket-bifold-leather-with-pen-cavity
   • D03 Leather Bifold Pockets: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/d03-3-pocket-bifold
3. M-Series Leather Pockets:
   • Single Pocket: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/m1-maverick-leather-pocket
   • Bifold Pocket: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/all/products/m1-maverick-bifold-leather-pockets

Sources:

• The Smithsonian Magazine - This article from The Smithsonian Magazine provides a brief overview of the history of wallets, tracing their origins to ancient times and exploring their evolution over the centuries. The article includes historical images and illustrations to help bring the story to life. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-wallet-180970406/
• The Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal - The Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal is a publication dedicated to the art and craft of leatherworking. This article from the journal explores the history of wallets in more depth, discussing their various styles and designs throughout the centuries. https://www.leathercraftersjournal.com/the-history-of-wallets/
• The British Museum - The British Museum is home to a vast collection of artifacts and objects from throughout human history. This page on the museum's website explores the history of wallets and purses, including examples of ancient coin purses and medieval wallets. The page includes detailed descriptions of the various items in the collection, as well as images and historical context. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/galleries/purses-and-wallets

THE DANGO PRODUCTS A10 ADAPT WALLET CAN TRANSFORM TO MEET YOUR EVERYDAY-CARRY NEEDS
You can change its capacity and functionality in seconds.

There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.

On Trial: Dango Products A-Series Adapt Wallet with Modular Design

The Tester: Stefan Vazharov — a senior tech editor obsessed with pocket-friendly gadgets

The Brief: This cool and durable wallet by Dango Products can instantly transform to meet your exact needs.

Wallets are typically not designed with change in mind. They stay as-is, even though one’s needs might fluctuate on a daily (or hourly) basis. That’s why when Dango Products — a California-based maker of everyday-carry accessories that I’ve been following since its Kickstarter inception in 2015 — launched a wallet with modular design, I was thrilled to give it a try.

The A-Series Adapt wallets by Dango Products definitely live up to their name. Depending on your needs, every wallet can instantly transform from a minimalist, all-metal card holder to an elaborate bifold with a host of optional accessories. Like all of the brand’s wallets, the A10 Adapt style has a design that's both cool and utilitarian in equal measure.

Dango Products has accomplished this feat by equipping the aluminum chassis of the A10 Adapt with a clever rail mechanism, which allows users to instantly add on a single or a bifold pocket to expand the wallet's capacity. The process takes seconds, and it doesn’t require any tools.

Starting at $79, the Dango Products A10 Adapt without a pocket adapter is as spartan as a wallet can be. It is machined from aerospace-grade aluminum, and it has space for up to five cards — enough to carry just the essentials.

A quartet of cards have RFID protection via a removable aluminum plate. The fifth slot is ideal for storing cards used for quick scanning (making it great for office IDs).

The single pocket adapter can expand the capacity of the A10 Adapt wallet to a total of seven cards. The bifold adapter, on the other hand, holds up to nine cards for a maximum total of 13. Both accessories are crafted from a durable DTEX material, and they attach to the wallet’s metal chassis via a sturdy polycarbonate sliding plate, using the fifth

And then there are all the additional accessories for the A10 Adapt. Depending on your needs, you can deck out the wallet with a pocket clip, a paracord tether, or an awesome metal pen with a notepad, among many others. The last two bits are sold alongside a bifold pocket adapter. All of the brand's wallets are made in the United States and are backed by a lifetime warranty.

Closing Argument: I enjoyed using the pared-down A10 Adapt Wallet without its adapter during my daily walks and while running errands. Its single pocket adapter came in handy during several trips with a rental car, while the bifold adapter with the pen and the notepad were useful during outdoor virtual meetings and telehealth appointments — these accessories were also great for jotting down ideas on the go, bringing back memories of times with fewer screens.

Dango Products is the maker of one of our favorite tactical wallets, and the A10 Adapt is an excellent addition to the brand’s impressive lineup. Part cool gadget and part essential everyday-carry accessory, this wallet is convenient, fun, and totally worth it.

How bad is it to have a thick wallet?

Often called “front pocket wallets”, minimal wallets are meant to be slim enough to fit in your front pocket. They ditch the storing of unnecessary items in a typical bulky wallet. When you load your traditional wallet with all your cards, cash, receipts, and other small items, it adds extra weight and bulk, which studies have shown can be harmful when stuffing all of that in your back pockets. Putting your bulky wallet in your back pocket can cause an uneven distribution of weight on one side of your body, which can cause the pelvis and spine to become misaligned and lead to pinched nerves and back pain (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6204659/). Also, over time, bulky traditional wallets in your back pocket can press against the sciatic nerve, leading to pain and numbness from the lower back to even your legs!

Why do people prefer a slim wallet?

Slim Wallets, the Dango way

 At Dango products, we understand that a ”slim wallet” may be subjective because different people are required to carry a range of things in their wallet depending on their lifestyle and/or occupation. This is why we offer wallets that range from super minimal to moderately minimal while utilizing materials and manufacturing processes that keep our wallets as slim as possible. However, one of our core values is to “only carry what you need” and get rid of junk that has built up in your wallet. After all, our main objective is to help you be efficient in your daily carry. In addition, we focus on highly designed wallets with function and style in mind to elevate your lifestyle. We truly believe that feeling good also has a lot to do with looking good!

Below are some of Dango Products’ slimmest and most minimalist wallets:

• D01 Dapper Wallet (Single Pocket): https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/d-series/products/d01-dapper-wallet
• D02 Dapper Wallet: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/d-series/products/d02-dapper-wallet
• D03 Dapper Lite Wallet: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/d-series/products/d03-lite-dapper-rail-wallet
• A10 Adapt Wallet: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/a-series/products/a10-adapt-wallet
• S1 Stealth Wallet: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/s-series/products/s1
• M1 Maverick Wallet (Single Pocket): https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/m-series/products/m1-maverick-wallet
• M1 Maverick Rail Wallet: https://www.dangoproducts.com/collections/m-series/products/m1-maverick-rail-wallet

If you’re not familiar with Dango Products, they’re a SF-based brand hell-bent on redefining the EDC wallet, taking the classic form and upgrading it with metals and machining and in-built multi-tools.

And today, we’re reviewing their Dapper Pen Wallet in Whiskey Brown and the brand-new limited edition 007 themed edition, with gorgeous black leather and an anodized gold aluminum chassis. 

I often need a pen; I usually carry a cheap one in my bag as I often lose them, but this wallet has a small pen held along the spine and includes a small notebook inside. I attend several expos a year and find the need to write a quick note with a vendor or about a potential client, so having a small notebook and pen handy is essential.

Who It Suits

If you like unique design and are a minimalist carry when it comes to cards, this would be a great choice. The chassis of the wallet is aluminum, so it does take up a bit of room, but it also allows for a rigid back when using the notebook. I carry 5-7 cards and my ID, which is about half the amount Dango claims it can hold. The wallet ends up being slightly larger than I would prefer, but the ability to have the notebook and pen around is worth it. 

Who It Doesn’t

If you tend to carry every card known to man, or stuff in receipts, photos, and all sorts of things, this wallet is not for you. Even with a pen and notebook, one could consider this a minimalist wallet. 

If you carry your wallet in your back pocket, then the hard frame is a bad time when you sit down.

The Good

The build quality of the wallet is outstanding. The leather mixed with the CNC’d aluminum chassis makes for a long-lasting and good-looking wallet. The pen is refillable, so you can keep it for the life of your wallet and beyond. They did a fantastic job with the pen slot on the spine. During my time using this wallet, there was never a time where the pen got loose and fell out.

It has has a few handy extra tricks, like a bottle opener for when you need to crack an ale, and Dango’s MT02 & MT03 Multi-Tools (sold separately) also slip inside to give you extra functions like Hex bits, chisel, a phone stand and more, so you can notch up your preparedness.

The wallet is also TSA compliant. I had no issues with security when I traveled with the D01. The other benefit is that the wallet is RFID-blocking so you can carry and maintain peace of mind. 

Not So Good

There was the occasional time where the tip of the pen cap could get uncomfortable if the wallet adjusted wrong in my pocket. Other than that, I have not had any issues or complaints with the wallet, notebook, or pen. I liked the Dapper Brown colorway so much that I picked up the 007 edition as well. 

As I stated up top, this is a hard case wallet, so it isn’t comfortable to sit on, and does stand out in your front pocket with a bit of bulk, so if you want to keep your wallet placement subtle or discreet, then this probably isn’t the right option for you.

Verdict

If you are in the market for a unique, well-built minimalist wallet, check out the Dango lineup. The D01 Pen Wallet is an excellent option if you find yourself needing to jot something down on the go. The quality and design are outstanding, and the fact that Dango Products are made in the USA makes this a great product. 

If you’re anything like us here at Dango, you’ll be pretty serious about your EDC line up and, needless to say, you won’t have your accessories on your person at all times so will be in the market for the ideal storage solution. Well, you can call off your search because you’ve just found the perfect candidate in the shape of the DANGO EDC Tray. This classy number from one of our favourite gear brands will keep all your accessory essentials neat and ordered on your desk, bedside table or by the front door.

The all American made Dango EDC Tray is has been cleverly designed to organise and help protect your most prized everyday carry items all in one convenient space. Each one is machined from a robust, solid piece of aluminium, and it houses four different sized cavities to ideally compliment and store items such as your wallet, keys, coins, watches, headphones, capsules, clips, knives or cellphone.

An organisational marvel, the DANGO EDC Tray (from $129) is right up our minimalist loving street here at Coolector HQ. The hefty EDC Tray comes equipped with anti-slip rubber footing on the underside to help protect surfaces and keep it safely in place without sliding or being easily moved around. In addition, cable management and multiple positioned tablet/phone stands are thoughtfully positioned into the tray, which makes it a great item to support your tech requirements.

If you’ve got a lot of pieces of EDC on your person on a daily basis, it can be a mission to keep them all close to hand and not lose them when they eventually come out of your pockets. The EDC Tray from DANGO is the perfect product for tackling this issue and for those with a need to keep their workspace and home as clutter-free as possible, it will come as an absolute godsend.

A Brand With EDC At Its Core

DANGO are a brand that have been on our radar for years now here at The Coolector and we never cease to be amazed by the quality of their EDC orientated products. The latest addition to their accessories family is the ace looking EDC Tray which superbly compliments many of their other products by giving them the ideal place to reside on a daily basis when they’re not in use.

With prices starting at a thoroughly reasonable $129, we’ll certainly be adding one of these EDC Trays from DANGO to our accessory line up here at Coolector HQ this summer. Great functionality and aesthetic appeal combine to make this an EDC essential in our book and it’s little wonder why they’re already flying off DANGO’s digital shelves.

By: Leo Davie The Coolector

There are many reasons why having a RFID protected wallet is an important consideration for anyone who carries contactless cards.