Hey, it's Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, we're doing a review of the Nodus
Compact Coin Wallet. A versatile wallet that's perfect for travelers and those
of you that carry a lot of credit cards.
(light chiming music)
First off, I want to thank Jerry P. for recommending that I check out this wallet.
As you all know, there aren't many quality minimalist wallets out there
that cater to the needs of us point collectors who usually carry multiple cards
in our daily lives in hopes of earning free travel. So when Jerry told me about
the Nodus Compact Coin Wallet, I was definitely intrigued. I reached out to
Nodus and they generously sent us a wallet to review and also another wallet
to give away to our audience. But before we get started, if you're new here,
welcome to our channel. Trip Astute is a travel channel that is focused on
sharing ways to make travel easier, affordable, and more enjoyable. Traveling
can be stressful and expensive, so we're looking for ways to help you maximize
your experience through travel tips, points and miles, and innovative gear. If
that sounds interesting to you, please consider subscribing. Nodus is a company
based in the UK that started in 2013. They wanted to create products that
improve the interaction and experience with items that we use most often. These
include things like wallets, phone cases, and even tablet cases. They're also known
for using extremely high quality Italian leathers. The leather is top grain,
vegetable-tanned, and ethically and sustainably produced
and sourced. High quality leather is not only more durable and desirable, but also
ages well, often developing a patina that is more beautiful than when it's
brand new. While Nodus sent us wallets to review, I
want to emphasize that this is not a paid review. We're not being influenced
to review these wallets in any way. As always, we want to ensure the integrity
of our channel and be able to share our honest opinions and thoughts. So, let's
jump into the highlights of the Nodus Compact Coin Wallet.
Number 1: Capacity for up to 17 cards. The wallet can accommodate up to 17
cards in the main center pocket. While I don't recommend carrying that many, it's
nice to have the flexibility when carrying credit cards in your wallet.
Also, I prefer this style of wallet since it allows me to rotate cards in and out
without worrying about stretching pockets, which is a common problem with
leather bifold and trifold wallets. Number 2: RFID protection. While RFID
isn't much of a threat here in the US, it seems to be a bigger concern outside
of the US with contactless payment cards. The wallet has RFID shielding built into
the main pocket so you can be assured that your card information is safe.
Number 3: Two external pockets. I think this feature is very useful. The
two external pockets do not have RFID protection which makes it perfect for
metro passes, office badges, and even hotel keys. Number 4: Internal
organization pockets. While the cards are meant to occupy the center, the wallet
has an expandable pocket on one side that can hold coins. Those of you in the
US may not care very much about coins, but they are a lot more common when
traveling, especially in Europe and in the UK. Also, you can use the pocket to
hold a few additional cards or small items. The other side has a shallow
pocket for your cash. Keep in mind, it's like other minimalist wallets. You'll need
to fold your notes into thirds in order for it to fit in the wallet. This isn't
an issue for me at all since I use cash less and less every day. But if you
happen to use cash often in your daily life, you may want to find a wallet that
allows you to bi-fold your cash instead. Lastly, the cash pocket has a slot for a
key. I love this feature. Even if you generally carry your keys in your pocket,
it's nice having a place to put a spare key like a bike lock or mailbox key or
even a room key when traveling. I've only seen a few wallets with this feature,
so it's nice seeing it in this wallet. Number 5: High quality leather. I know we
already covered that Nodus uses vegetable-tanned Italian leather, but I
have to say that the leather does feel and look very premium. It has a bit of
texture which gives it a more luxury feel than other wallets. This wallet will
definitely age well and will likely even look nicer as it develops its patina.
Number 6: Compact size. Though it's probably obvious, the wallet is perfect for
front pocket carry. It measures 2.7 inches tall and 4 inches wide. The
thickness will depend on how much you put into the wallet. Number 7: Packaging
and branding: Lastly, the packaging used by Nodus is very impressive. The wallet
arrived in a micro fiber pouch inside of a nicely decorated
cardboard box. Nodus' brand symbol is an octopus and the branding is discreetly
marked on the wallet. It looks like it was stamped or iron branded into the
leather, which is a nice touch. In terms of things I wish it had or were different, I
think the only thing I wish it had were more robust zippers. I would love to see
Nodus add water-resistant or locking zippers to their wallets. It's definitely
not a deal breaker, but more of a wishlist item for me. This wallet is
available off the Nodus website for £60, which is about $75 to $80.
That may seem expensive, but keep in mind the quality of the leather
and craftsmanship. The company offers a generous five-year warranty on their
products which shows that they stand by their customers. Also, Nodus offers free
worldwide shipping on orders over £30. I'll include a link in the video
description below. In summary, I think the Compact Coin Wallet is a great choice
for those of you looking for a daily or travel wallet. It has the capacity to
hold a lot of cards which is very useful for those of you in the credit card
points hobby. The wallet is similar to other minimalist wallets that we've
reviewed, but it does have some unique features that sets it apart from others.
After trying got this wallet, I'm actually excited to learn more about
Nodus and even check out some of their other products. Lastly, we're going to do a
review of their Compact Card Wallet soon, which is more of a traditional
minimalist wallet. While this sort of wallet tends to be too small for me in
my daily life, I do generally carry a lot less with me when I'm actually traveling.
For me, it's usually cash, one credit card, a debit card, a copy of my passport, and
an ID. So I'm looking forward to trying the wallet out and seeing how it fits
into my travel routine. Finally, Nodus would like to give away one of their
Compact Coin Wallets to our audience. As always, you'll need to visit our website
and enter using the contest link. I've included a link in the video description.
You don't have to purchase anything and there's multiple ways to enter and gain
entries. All you have to do is click on any or all the options to enter. The more
options you complete, the more entries you'll earn. And of course, there's no
pressure to enter. The contest runs until Friday, November 9th. and we'll randomly
select one lucky winner on November 10th. Nodus will then ship out the prize to the
winner. Also, the giveaway is open to everyone, not just US
residents. What are your thoughts on the Nodus Compact Coin Wallet? Let us know
in the comment section below. If you enjoyed this video or found it useful,
please give us a thumbs up and consider sharing our video with others who might
benefit or enjoy our content. Until next time, travel safe
and travel smart.