Bellroy All-Conditions Phone Pocket Review :: Drive By

The light spray parts before our pleasantly faded boat. Off our bow lays the rolling Inside Ekas Break. In the haze behind our stern the gnarly, smoking and very active peak of Mount Rinjani arises nearly 4,000 meters above the Indonesian island of Lombok. Tasked with putting the new Bellroy All-Conditions Phone Pocket through its paces the sun, surf and smoke of Lombok seemed to fit the M.O. quite nicely.

Who It Suits

Someone who is going to be getting wet, dusty, sandy or sweaty (preferably a combination of those). Bike commuters, skiers, surfers, hikers, cowboys. Someone who needs protection from the elements for their phone, cards and cash but wants their carry to look good.

Who It Doesn’t

Someone who only experiences the elements through a window or a computer screen.

The Good

The tactility. Not only are the materials that Bellroy has used to construct the All-Conditions Phone Pocket very good-looking and feeling, but the size of key points on the Phone Pocket means that it simply feels great in your hands. First there’s the molded YKK AquaGuard zipper. Aside from being more durable than standard coil zippers – and it won’t corrode in salt water – it’s buttery smooth to open and close and will never jam. Then there’s a sizeable zipper pull attached to the end of it. Gloved hands? No problem when trying to open the Phone Pocket. Finally, sleek weather-resistant, vegetable-tanned leather graces the exterior of the Phone Pocket.

“Not only are the materials that Bellroy has used to construct the All-Conditions Phone Pocket very good-looking and feeling, but the size of key points on the Phone Pocket means that it simply feels great in your hands.”

The simplicity. The All-Conditions Phone Pocket is, like all Bellroy wallets, refreshingly simple. On the outside there’s only the beefy ¾ length zipper. Unzipping this reveals more simplicity. On the right side there is a lining of microfiber cloth to cushion your phone. On the left there are two pockets. An angled pocket to catch bills and above that a sleeve to catch cards or keys. All very understated. The layout ensures a snug fit for your phone (an iPhone 6s/6 Plus), cards and cash so you won’t be left with a yard sale when you open the Phone Pocket.

“The All-Conditions Phone Pocket is, like all Bellroy wallets, refreshingly simple.”

The Not So Good

Despite being minimal, protection from the elements comes with a price. The Phone Pocket is bulky when compared with other wallets. If you don’t need to batten down the hatches on your phone, cash, cards and keys when you’re outdoors then there are much smaller wallets. Additionally, unless you rock cargo pants regularly then the Phone Pocket will be too big to fit into your pockets. Luckily you’re a carry-holic and have other bags to throw this wallet into.

“The Phone Pocket is bulky when compared with other wallets.”

As with all Bellroy wallets, you need to be already stripped down with what you carry in your wallet. When loaded with a phone, bills and a one too many cards, the Phone Pocket can become uncomfortably full. You won’t be getting away with squeezing any more EDC into its depths. And while the ¾ length zipper works fantastic, the interior of the wallet is so compact that you always need to empty all the contents to get at your last card. Granted there’s not a whole lot of stuff to empty but it can be frustrating when you’re on the run.

“As with all Bellroy wallets, you need to be already stripped down with what you carry in your wallet.”

Verdict

If you’re looking for a means to see your phone, cash and cards through the thick and thin of your encounters with the elements while maintaining an eye for style, the Bellroy All-Conditions Phone Pocket is it. If you’re not put off by the $109 price tag and are already stripped down with what you carry in your wallet, then grab this wallet, toss it into your bag and get out there.