Pelican 0955 Micro Sport Wallet Review

If you think the Pelican 0955 Micro Sport Wallet looks familiar, it might be because you’ve seen it before. Well, a very similar product, anyway. The Pelican Memory Card Case is identical on the exterior but built for SD cards on the interior. We love how durable, portable, and reasonably priced that model is—will this translate into the sports wallet marketplace? Let’s find out!

The Rundown

The shell of the Pelican 0955 Micro Sport Wallet is polycarbonate, the same material used in rolling luggage, car interiors, and construction materials. It’s durable enough to handle the bumps and knocks of travel, and we trust it to store our precious memories and creative work on SD cards, so it’s likely good enough for some cash and cards.

The latch is made from ABS plastic, which is almost as durable as polycarbonate. We don’t say this to scoff at the ABS plastic; however, it’s noteworthy that the shell is more durable than the latch. It is easy to open and close, and we’ve had no issues with it popping open when we weren’t expecting it to. It isn’t the easiest wallet to open with one hand; however, if you’re looking for a sports wallet, you likely won’t find yourself in the position where you’ve got a latte in one hand and your wallet in the other. If you’re getting out your wallet, you’ve likely just put down your fishing rod or finished a long day of cycling.

The wallet comes with a lanyard; however, it isn’t very high quality, and we’d recommend replacing it if you plan to carry it that way. It’s easy to attach to a small eye on the wallet’s edge, and any strap should work fine.

The Pelican logo is large and contrasts deeply with the black shell, making it hard to miss. If this bothers you, it’s pretty easy to scribble over it with a permanent marker, though that isn’t the prettiest look either. We don’t mind it, as we aren’t going for high fashion when we use it. The goal is to keep your gear dry, and it does that well.

In addition to the latch holding things closed, a silicone rubber O-ring inside the seam ensures water doesn’t get inside. The wallet has an IP54 rating, meaning it has solid dust and water ingress prevention. The “5” means it’ll protect from most solids, though some tiny dust particles can still sneak inside. The “4” means water splashing against the wallet from any direction won’t creep inside. This does not mean it is submergible, though it handled accidental submersion in a puddle reasonably well in our testing. It was only under water for a few seconds, but everything inside was dry.

The pins in the wallet’s hinge and latch are nickel-plated brass. This material isn’t completely free from the threat of rust and corrosion; however, it’s highly resistant. So long as you don’t let them soak in water, you shouldn’t have an issue with them, and the wallet should open quickly and smoothly.

Inside, there isn’t much going on. However, you’ll be able to fit quite a bit of financial gear inside. Both sides are identical; a small, mesh webbing resembling a tennis court net that holds onto your cash, cards, and other small gear, like keys or a fob. You’ll have to fold money at least twice to fit inside the webbing; however, it’ll be dry when you pay for ice cream after a long day of floating on the river, which counts for something.

Thanks to the O-ring and clasp, this wallet is highly water resistant, so you shouldn’t overstuff it. If you do, you risk it not closing all the way, the O-ring failing, and your gear getting soaked.

Packability

If we’re talking specifics, the Sport Wallet feels similar to the size of a cased phone in your hand; however, that’ll depend on your phone size. It’s relatively flat and lacks depth, so it’ll work as a front-pocket travel wallet for many. However, if you’ve got small pockets, it might be too large for that.

We recommend stowing this inside your daypack or crossbody bag in a safe place or using a durable lanyard other than the one included with the wallet. If you’re fresh off a day of fishing and heading back to town or want a bite to eat after a long day of cycling across Iowa, it’s fine to put it in your front pocket, though it is noticeable.

Quick Comparison

The Pelican G5 Field Wallet is a similar wallet on the market that we’ve previously tested.

It’s crafted from aluminum, which is more durable than polycarbonate but weighs more. The G5 Field wallet weighs 5.4 ounces (153.1 grams) compared to the Micro Sport Wallet’s 3.52 ounces (99.79 grams).

The G5 Field Wallet measures 5 by 3 by 0.8 inches (12.7 by 7.6 by 2 centimeters), or 12 inches cubed, slightly less than the Micro Sport Wallet’s 15.43. Still, they feel the same size when compared side by side, though the G5 feels more substantial due to its weight.

The interior of the G5 feels more premium, with separate places for cash and cards and elastomeric straps for organization. Plus, it has an IP67 rating, which is higher than that of the Micro Sport Wallet. Still, the latter has handled everything we’ve thrown at it and will work for most people.

Whereas we think the G5 is sleeker and has better organization, we enjoy using the Micro Sport Wallet more. Plus, it’s more than $10 cheaper at the time of writing!

One last note on price—the 0955 Micro Sport Wallet is the same price as the Micro Memory Card Case, which it shares a body with. It’s nice to see that the same product sold in different markets costs the same price!