Pioneer Flyfold 2.0 Review

The Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0’s tough yet thin 10XD fabric minimizes bulk in your pocket, although its two-slot layout provides slow access to cards.

Our Verdict

8.5 /10
Great info

Form

90/100

Design

83/100

Value

83/100
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Pros

  • Solid build quality improves on original
  • Material has little to no stretch, keeping its shape with use
  • Cards stay in place thanks to slots’ sideways orientation

Cons

  • Card access is slower than layered slot designs
  • Two-card slot organization is relatively minimal
  • Tall banknotes protrude

Technical Details

  • Weight (oz)

    1.16 oz (32.9 g)

  • Dimensions

    8.27 in x 3.15 in x 0.1 in (21 x 8 x 0.3 cm)

    When open

  • Notable Materials

    Nylon, Polyethylene, DWR Coating

  • Manufacturing Country

    Vietnam

  • Warranty Information

    FAQ

Full Review

In this review, we’re looking at the Pioneer Flyfold Wallet’s successor, the Flyfold Wallet 2.0. We like the original’s simplicity and lightweight design, though it has minimal organization. It’s more or less the same story for the Flyfold Wallet 2.0, though small improvements here and there make a big difference.

Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 Review
Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 | It’s the sequel to an already good wallet.

They’ve cleaned up the stitching, giving the Flyfold Wallet 2.0 a much more solid and refined quality. At the same time, though, the fabric isn’t as stiff as the original, so you can really feel your cards inside the minimalistic material.

The Rundown

The key ingredient making the Flyfold Wallet 2.0 so thin is the 10XD material. According to Pioneer, this fabric is ten times stronger than steel and has a DWR finish that gives it a bit of water resistance. While it’s the same material as the original, we think the implementation is much cleaner in this iteration. The colorway of the sample we’re testing is Forest, by the way. It’s one of the two colorways that have RFID protection, with the other being the Onyx version.

Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 Brand
Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 | It’s also available in 3PN fabric but in other colorways.

First of all, the stitching is now much tidier. You can see a tiny bit of loose threading on the original, and Pioneer made sure to color within the lines on the Flyfold Wallet 2.0. The original also has visible bartack stitching on the inside, which is not present on the 2.0. That said, the 2.0 doesn’t feel lacking in terms of durability. If anything, it’s much tougher.

It’s also worth noting that they’ve smoothed out the corners on the Flyfold Wallet 2.0. The original has pointy corners, which could snag when you pull the wallet out of a pocket. And if there’s anything we know about pants pockets, there’s usually a loose thread or two just waiting to get snagged, so good job paying attention to detail here, Pioneer.

Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 Material
Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 | Less pointy corners mean fewer chances of snagging.

There are no magical mechanisms here, folks; the Flyfold Wallet 2.0 is simply what you’d call a billfold wallet. It unfolds, and voila! Everything is right in front of you with no loop and hook patches, snap fasteners, or zippers—not even magnets. Plenty of folks, ourselves included, dig simple and straightforward designs like that.

Inside, you get two inside-facing card slots and a lengthwise compartment for your banknotes. Apart from those pockets, however, there are no others to speak of, just the three. It’s the same basic layout as the original, and it’s admittedly minimal for those who travel with a lot of cards.

Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 Full Studio
Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 | Two inwards-facing card slots and a place for your cash—that’s it.

Fortunately, you can snuggly fit six cards in each card pocket, so there’s really no issue of capacity. We also like the inward-facing orientation since it prevents cards from falling out. The 10XD material is relatively slippery against PVC- and metal-based cards, so having the pockets’ openings up against the hinge makes sense. If the card pocket layout were horizontal and cascaded (and was made of leather that loosens over time), the chances of them falling out would be higher.

Accessibility is the reason we say the organization is minimal. Having six cards stacked on each side can leave you sorting through them to find the one you need. It’s one area where a cascaded card pocket layout has a clear advantage since you can see more of them at a glance.

Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 Money Studio
Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 | Tall currencies peek out just a tiny bit.

The slot for your banknotes is a full-length compartment, so there’s no need to fold them. Note that taller banknotes, like the Japanese yen, may stick out a tiny bit. Pioneer left a relatively large amount of slack on the outer fabric. With room to expand when you open the wallet, you have a ton of room for cash despite its minimalist wallet-like size.

Packability

While the original Flyfold Wallet was already a thin wallet by most standards, the Flyfold Wallet 2.0 takes it up a notch. While overall thickness isn’t all that different, the softness sticks out to us. Unlike the original, you don’t need to break in the Flyfold Wallet 2.0 for a month. It’s ready to flex and bend right out of the box.

Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 Bag Pocket
Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 | Its slim size makes it easy to squeeze into tightly packed spaces.

Out of the box, this wallet already takes the shape of the banknotes and cards inside. Once you have it in your pocket, the bulk almost entirely depends on what you want to carry. Whether it’s six cards and ten bills, or no cards and no bills, it rarely feels crowded because of the wallet itself.

Quick Comparison

The Flyfold 2.0 is far from the smallest wallet we’ve used. The NOMATIC Wallet and RE:FORM RE:02 (Card Holder) are clearly tinier. On the other hand, they’re not billfolds, so you’ll have to fuss around with folding and unfolding cash each time you pay with them. We’d say that wallets like those are more suited for users who rely more on cards than cash.

Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 Comparison
Pioneer Flyfold Wallet 2.0 | Also pictured is the original Flyfold, though you can’t see most of the improvements to build quality.

On the other hand, the Bellroy Slim Sleeve is a more traditional wallet made of leather and a good point of reference for those who may be thinking of leaving or staying with leather wallets. We like the Bellroy’s vertical orientation of the card slots, although they did stretch over time, leaving us wary that cards may fall out by accident. It’s also a much thicker wallet because of its leather construction—good if you dig the premium feel of it, but not if you’re looking to cut back on bulk.

Usage Timeline

Initial Usage

Condition: Excellent

  • Considerable improvements on the first iteration—feels a lot more refined
  • Wallet is very slim and minimal for a billfold and takes the shape of whatever is inside
  • Curious to see how the two card slots will feel during use
2 Weeks of Use

Condition: Excellent

  • Material feels great in the hand
  • No issues with cards falling out like other wallets with different card pocket orientation
  • Didn’t stretch out
mm
By Tom Wahlin
Created February 2, 2023 • Updated May 12, 2023
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