Pioneer Matter Bifold Review

Upon first glance, the Pioneer Matter Bifold looks like a standard billfold. However, upon further inspection, you’ll notice that it has a more minimalistic design, incredibly durable materials, and a small footprint. Will this stripped-down version of a standard wallet support your travel endeavors, or will you be left wanting more? Let’s dive in and find out.

The Rundown

There are three material options for the Pioneer Matter Bifold. First, there’s 10XD™, which Pioneer describes as ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene. Then, there’s 3XD™, which is 3-ply nylon. Last, we’ve got Baby Ballistic™, which is ballistic nylon. All three will offer ruggedness, water resistance, and a sleek look. We went with Baby Ballistic™ because we’re familiar with the material and were curious to see it used in a small bifold wallet.

The material we chose isn’t the most malleable, so breaking in can take a while. Even after two weeks of testing, the wallet still pops open when you set it on a flat surface. This isn’t the end of the world, but if you often put your wallet on a table, it might bother you. While traveling, you probably shouldn’t be doing that, anyway! It’s like back in grade school; don’t set yourself up for wandering eyes to look at your paper!

The exterior is incredibly sleek; there’s no logo or marks of any kind. We dig this look, and it’s the kind of subdued thing you might see on the Digital Nomad Packing List.

The interior has a small Pioneer Carry logo on the bottom right; however, it isn’t in your face, and we enjoy its placement.

As for organization, there isn’t a lot going on here. We’ve got four slider pockets, two on each side. The sides are identical.

There’s a top slider which is quicker to access than the side access pocket below. This is an ideal place for cards you use often because they’re easier to grab quickly. The side access slider isn’t as quick, though it doesn’t take much longer. This spot is ideal for cards you don’t need all the time but still need to carry, like an insurance or TWIC card.

In total, you can fit up to around 15 cards inside this wallet at the maximum. If you bring cash, this will take up some of the space, and you won’t be able to fit as many cards.

To fit cash inside, you will need to fold it. Even though this may look like a billfold travel wallet, it doesn’t have a dedicated cash slot. We’ve found that having one of the top sliders for cash and the other for cards is handy, but everyone will use this wallet differently. After a week or so, you’ll be able to find a method that works best for you.

This wallet is designed like a billfold for people who only carry a little cash or want to cut out extra weight and size. Even the product’s name cut out a few letters to become a Bifold! How small is this thing, anyway?

Packability

When closed, this wallet measures roughly 82-by-98 millimeters or 3.22-by-3.585 inches. This will fit in most pockets, but some on the smaller end might struggle.

After you open it up, it measures 164-by-98 millimeters or 6.46-by-3.585 inches. This isn’t huge, either, but it doesn’t matter as much because you will have your wallet closed more than it’s open…hopefully!

The Pioneer Matter Bifold comes in at 34 grams or 1.1993 ounces, which is fairly lightweight for the materials’ durability. These measurements are for the ballistic nylon model, so if you’re counting ounces, check what the other two weigh before you purchase.

This thing is small, lightweight, and easy to use; however, even if all of those things are true, it might not be the wallet for you. It isn’t a great shout if you like to carry a lot of cash. However, there’s a close relative that could help.

Quick Comparison

The Pioneer Altitude Billfold 2.0 could be seen as the older sibling of the Matter Bifold. It’s almost the same wallet but with a dedicated cash slot. In addition to offering more space for stowing your financial and identification items, it weighs more and is a tad larger. How much, though?

The Altitude comes in at 48 grams (1.69 ounces), slightly larger than the Matter’s 34 grams (1.199 ounces). That’s 1.4 times heavier.

When it comes to size, when open, the Attitude is 175-by-104 millimeters (6.89-by-4.09 inches), which is a tad bit larger than the Matter’s 164-by-98 millimeters (6.46-by-3.858 inches). This might not seem like much, but the Matter feels comfortable in your palm, whereas the Altitude feels like a handful. Some users won’t mind this, but it is a different handheld aesthetic.

The Altitude is marginally heavier when you’re using it but feels slightly more significant when compared side by side. If you’re set on having a wad of cash with you at all times, the Altitude is for you. However, if you enjoy minimalist travel gear and try to keep your currencies digital, plastic, and metal, the Matter Bifold is worth your time!