5 hours ago
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As a longtime fan of Peak Design's Everyday Backpack in the 30-liter size, which has been a versatile companion on numerous conventions and weekend trips, I have confidence in the company's bag design and quality. So I jumped at the chance to try out its next foray into travel products, the Peak Design Passport Wallet.
My feelings are mixed, but if you need a simple cover for your most precious document that will withstand the rigors of international voyages, Peak's passport wallet will serve you just fine.
Retailing for $95, it's about as expensive as finer leather-bound competitors and twice the price of a simple budget passport wallet. (It's hard to believe that for three of Peak's passport wallets, I could buy my Everyday Backpack all over again.) It has drawbacks in its design that I didn't love, but it's rugged and built to last as well as slim and lightweight enough to tuck into a pants pocket. It comes in three sensibly muted colors: charcoal gray, faded maroon and forest green.
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Most passport wallets are simple bifolds large enough to fit the most important travel document, typically tucking it securely into a pocket or sleeve. Peak's product has several pockets to fit a passport, including one on the outside for quick access. You can also place it inside a right-hand pocket for a more secure hold, or stash it in a wide slot in the back -- think of the spot on a normal wallet where you store your cash -- which could also fit larger documents or papers.
The Peak Design Passport Wallet is made of Terra Shell Ultra, the company's proprietary material that's lightweight and weather-resistant.
Peak DesignWith the rugged neoprene-like canvas Peak used for its wallet, any of these pockets is a decent option for storing a passport to survive liquid splashes, dirt and grime (like when accidentally setting it down on a sticky table, ugh). The wallet folds closed securely with magnets, a favorite closure design from Peak that, in this case, is both easy to open and holds firmly when shut. The canvas is lightweight, and the stitching feels robust. I don't expect the wallet to fall apart anytime soon, let alone after multiple trips. It's RFID-shielded, too, to block errant card readers.
That lightweight design has downsides, though, including a lack of a zipper or other way to completely seal it. Drop the wallet in a puddle or a full bathtub for even a moment, and your passport will get wet. On the other hand, travelers who frequently have their hands full may appreciate a passport holder that they can flip open with one hand rather than struggling with a zipper at the front of an airport security line (who hasn't been there?).
What I dislike most is the lack of rigid structure in Peak's wallet, which similar products use to ensure the passport tucked inside survives pressure or bending. Without it, Peak's container feels flimsy, and its pockets billow outward, making it clear that the wallet is merely a collection of fabric straps stitched together.
The Peak Design Passport Wallet has exterior and interior pockets for two passports, along with an inner billfold to hold cash and other documents.
Peak DesignThe proprietary material Peak uses for the wallet's exterior (which it calls Terra Shell Ultra) feels like the weather-proof canvas used in outdoorsy jackets and tents. Its crosshatched look distinguishes it from other passport wallets, which are typically made of tan or black leather (real or fake). Personally, I dig the rugged outdoorsy canvas appearance, but it's not everyone's cup of tea.
Judging from most of the passport wallets that appear in a Google search, the leather look aligns with a jet-setting, luxury traveler vibe that many seek. I do wish the design had a bit more flourish, as some of my favorite aspects of the Peak Everyday Backpack are its subtle, refined touches, such as the tan faux leather tabs that add a touch of color to its austere gray-and-black palette.
A closer comparison would be the $65 Passport Wallet from designer outdoor brand Fjallraven, which features a water-resistant canvas exterior and a zipper to fully enclose it, ensuring no loose cards or documents slip out. It's something I wish the Peak wallet had, though the four small elastic pockets for credit cards and folded-up cash secure their contents well -- I just can't leave anything loosely hanging.
The Peak Design Passport Wallet has space for two or three passports (or more, if you can stuff them in the inner billfold) along with space for up to eight credit cards. It even has space for a small pen... or rather, a strip of fabric you can clip anything to.
Peak DesignPeak's passport wallet is not as tall or wide as other products, which is an advantage. I've been able to stick it in my front pants pockets without much trouble. As someone who switched from a big bifold to a small money clip for my everyday wallet, I really liked being able to slip Peak's passport carrier in a front pocket as a travel-friendly security measure. Given my trousers have ample pocket volume (like many designed for men), the passport wallet may not fit in pants with smaller pockets, sadly. But its small dimensions mean it doesn't take up much space in bags, purses or clutches.
Since most other passport wallets are large, rigid leather affairs, Peak's stab at a travel document protector is a neat, outdoorsy alternative that fits its brand identity -- and helpfully fits in pockets and small bags. But its lack of refined touches makes it feel more like Peak was looking for a way to repurpose scraps of leftover fabric rather than develop an inspired design. If you want a Spartan holder for your most important travel documents, Peak's option is worth considering.
