My Child's First Wallet [Montbell Mini Zip Wallet]

This summer, my eldest son, a first-grader in elementary school, was going on an 'expedition' to his grandmother's house far away by himself, so I was busy preparing various necessary items.

One of the things I purchased for this was a 'wallet'.
In this post, I would like to write about the points I struggled with when choosing a wallet for my child and what I ultimately chose.

What I look for in a child's wallet

When I was in elementary school, the first wallet I used was a tri-fold type.
However, I remember the coin purse was very small and difficult to use.
Especially in the lower grades, I wasn't used to handling money yet, and I struggled to take money out of the narrow, deep coin pocket.

The 'zipper-style wallet that opens wide' that I started using after that was truly revolutionary.
I could see the contents at a glance, and I could take out coins smoothly. I still clearly remember that I no longer felt stressed about my wallet.

Because of this experience, I believe thatthe first wallet a child owns should be a 'type where the coin purse opens wide'is the only choice.

The discomfort I feel with wallets for children

However, when I actually looked for a child's wallet that met those conditions, I couldn't easily find an ideal one. I am particularly concerned about the design.

Many of the wallets for children on the market have characters or brand logos pushed to the front, and to be honest, I don't really like them (sorry, son).
If possible, I wanted to choose a design that is simple and can be used for a long time, but those wallets were sold out and unavailable.

Can an adult nylon wallet be a substitute?

So, I changed my perspective and decided to consider wallets for adults as well. I narrowed my search to materials that are easy for children to handle, such as light and durable nylon or polyester.

The first thing that came to mind was a wallet from an outdoor brand. Light, durable, water-resistant, and you don't have to worry about a little dirt. I started looking with the expectation that it might be ideal.

However, I hit a wall here again.
Many outdoor brand wallets are designed to be as compact as possible, and there are almost no 'types that open wide' for the coin purse.
Small pocket types or tri-fold/bi-fold types are mainstream, and it seemed like they were designed on the premise that you wouldn't carry many coins in the first place.

The 'Montbell Mini Zip Wallet' that was close to my ideal

In the midst of this, I finally found a wallet close to my ideal.
That is the 'Mini Zip Wallet' from Montbell.

The coin purse opens wide, and you can see the inside at a glance.
It is exactly the structure I was looking for.
However, since the overall design is minimal, you need to fold the bills to put them in, and the disadvantage is that it can only hold 2 to 4 cards at most.

Nevertheless, since the purpose this time was a 'wallet to use when buying drinks and snacks,' the main thing used is coins. Bills are just for backup, and it's enough if it can hold one insurance card, so it fulfills all the necessary functions.
However, it might be inconvenient when carrying a lot of bills, such as at the beginning of the year.

There are tabs on both ends of the wallet, which is a reassuring feature as you can attach a strap and hang it around your neck. Because it is a small wallet, measures to prevent loss are also important.

The price is also affordable at 1,700 yen, so even if it were to be lost, the mental damage would be minimal. However, because it is a popular item, it is already sold out for this season. I really wanted it, so this time I bought one in good condition on Mercari.

Finally

For a child, the experience of using money is a form of "learning."
That is why I feel I don't want the first wallet they own to be something that is "difficult to use."
By being able to smoothly take out and put away money, small success experiences of "I did it!" accumulate. I believe such experiences will eventually lead to the ability to think and act for oneself.

This is also a wallet to be used for a "solo trip."
As a tool to support their first challenge, I hope this wallet will lead to even a little bit of confidence for my son.

Extra Edition | Wallets I was curious about

[kukka ja puu] Bi-fold kids' wallet with a coin pocket that opens wide

The top choice I was aiming for initially.
It has no unnecessary decorations, a structure where the coin pocket opens wide, and bills can be stored without folding.
It was an ideal design, but it was out of stock and I couldn't buy it.

[PAAGOWORKS] TRAIL BANK M

A candidate I considered when I was struggling because I couldn't find a type that opens wide.

A tri-fold type.
The coin pocket is mesh and easy to see, and bills can be stored without folding.
The fact that it comes with a carabiner and can be hung around the neck if you attach a strap is also a plus.
The wallet itself is very light at about 35g, so it is not a burden for a child to use.

*Personally, I prefer the design of the S, but the coin pocket is small and has no gusset, so it might be unsuitable for use as a child's wallet.

[Discontinued Item] [MUJI] Travel Wallet

A bi-fold type.
The coin pocket is mesh, and bills can be inserted without folding.
It comes with a D-ring and is compatible with straps.

However, because it is a discontinued item, the drawback is that obtaining it on sites like Mercari costs more than the original retail price.

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