The Micro Wallet started with a summer of music festivals. I spent most of it in shorts, and I didn't want a full wallet bouncing around in a pocket, or worse, falling out in a field somewhere. All I really needed was a small amount of cash I could clip to my belt loop and stop worrying about. I couldn't find anything I liked, so I made one.
Most of us hardly carry cash any more. Phone, card, done. That works right up until it doesn't: the card machine is down, the car park only takes coins, your phone dies, or you need a £1 coin for a shopping trolley and there isn't one anywhere.
The KeyChain Micro Wallet is my answer to that. It's the smallest thing I make, and it's built to sit on your keys or your belt loop and be forgotten about until the day you need it.
What it holds
Closed, it measures just 40mm x 40mm, about the size of a matchbox lid. Inside there's room for:
- 2 x £1 coins, for a trolley, a parking meter or a locker.
- 2 to 3 folded notes, enough for a taxi home, a round, or anywhere that's cash only.
That's the whole idea. It isn't trying to replace your wallet. It's a small emergency stash that goes wherever you go, so you're never completely stuck.
It attaches with a split ring, so it can go on your keys or straight onto a belt loop, and it won't slip off in a pocket or bag. A press stud keeps it shut, so your coins and notes stay safely inside, but it opens with one quick pull when you need them.
Where it comes in handy
Festivals were where it started, but I've found it useful in more places than I expected:
- Festivals, markets and car boot sales, clipped to a belt loop when you're in shorts and card machines are hit and miss.
- Out walking or running, when you don't want a wallet in your pocket but still want a bit of money for a coffee or the bus back.
- At the supermarket, with a £1 coin always ready for the trolley.
- Travelling, as a backup in case a card gets blocked or lost.
- For teenagers and students, as a bit of just-in-case money that won't get left behind, because it's on the keys they always take.
The leather
I make the Micro Wallet from Badalassi Carlo wax leather, a pull-up leather from one of the best-known tanneries in Tuscany. It's full of wax and oils, so it feels rich in the hand, and it's tough enough to cope with life on a key ring or belt loop, being dropped on tables, rattling in bags and living in pockets.
It also ages beautifully. Wax leather lightens where it's bent or rubbed and then darkens back as it's handled, so after a few months yours will have its own pattern of wear and a soft sheen. Small scuffs can usually be rubbed back in with a warm thumb.
Each one is cut and hand-stitched by me in my workshop in Cornwall. On something this small every stitch matters, so I take my time over them.
Five colourways
You can choose from five options:
- Bone, a pale, natural shade that darkens nicely with use.
- Green, a deep, earthy green.
- Tobacco, a warm mid-brown.
- Green and Bone, a two-tone mix of the two.
- Tobacco and Bone, a two-tone mix of the two.
Because I make everything in small batches, the colour and grain will vary a little from piece to piece. That's the character of real leather. If you'd like something different, just drop me a message.
A good small gift
With Christmas coming, the Micro Wallet makes a good gift for someone who has everything, or a stocking filler with a bit more thought behind it. Tuck a note inside and you've got a present and a card in one. And if they're already booking next summer's festivals, it's a gift they'll actually use.
If you're looking for more ideas, have a look at my key ring accessories or my gifts under £25.
Price, delivery and guarantee
The KeyChain Micro Wallet is £30, so it comes with free UK delivery (orders over £25 ship free; otherwise it's £3.50). I dispatch within 24 to 48 hours.
You also get no-questions 30-day returns, and because it's made from pull-up wax leather it's covered by my lifetime repair warranty on faulty leather or stitching. For tips on keeping it looking good, see my leather care guide.
You can see more photos and order yours here: KeyChain Micro Wallet.
Mark
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