Trib Tested: Big Skinny Metallic Collection

The Big Skinny wallet is made from soft, flexible leather; there's no waiting to break it in. The maker claims that the pockets hold more cards than an average wallet. My skepticism disappeared when I fit all my cards and had plenty of room left over. And I was surprised that it still closed and latched. How did they do that• It seems durable and well-made, and is amazingly thin and light.

I tested the limited-edition Trixie Trifold, and I loved the colors: bronze metallic outside and robin's egg blue inside. I personally would shy away from the $48.95 price tag, but if you have the cash and are looking for a place to put it, take a look at the Big Skinny line. Its regular line of wallets includes smaller bifolds and larger checkbook wallets, priced from $7.95 to $29.95. There's a men's line as well.

-- Christine Zirngibl

If your wallet is stuffed to capacity with cash, card and coins, you might be tempted, like I was, to trade in your current wallet and try a Big Skinny. The idea of fitting the same amount of plastic into a smaller design is mind-boggling, especially since the idea of carrying less plastic is un-American.

I tried out the wallet known as the Taxicat. It looks more like a luggage tag than a wallet, and the metallic blue leather reminds me of my very first wallet -- in all its eighth-grade glory. The company advertises the wallet as capable of holding up to 16 cards while remaining super-thin. With 16 cards (the national average), the wallet was more than an inch-and-a-half thick, immediately rivaling my old wallet. When I added coins (3 dimes, 2 nickels) the wallet looked as though I had enough silver to fund a Laundromat.

Thinking I'd overstuffed the wallet more than it was intended to hold, I stripped the card count down to my ID, debit and credit card, a gift card and cash, only to watch the cards fly out of the nylon pockets at the slightest bounce.

Take my advice: Skip the Skinny.

-- Caroline Hirt

I have been a Big Skinny fan for a few years, proudly carrying my hot pink microfiber wallet, which revolutionized my cash, receipt and plastic organization. I was delighted to try out a new product style and get a look at the Metallic line.

My version is the Monte Cougar (unfortunate name!) in nickel hybrid leather with navy microfiber interior. It features a foldover flap with snap, which I worried would add bulk. (Really, my handbags are stuffed to the gills.) But once I filled the new wallet with cards, IDs, cash, postage stamp book, receipts, Post-Its of important-yet-temporary phone numbers, Christmas wish lists, parking meter coins and that ripped-out magazine page of the hairstyle I want my stylist to replicate, it folded up and remained "skinny" as ever.

Big Skinny is well worth the price for its durability, attention to design detail -- and now, a classy, shimmery look.

-- Sally Quinn

Additional Information:

Big Skinny Metallic Collection

The claim : Big Skinny, maker of the world's thinnest wallets, introduces its limited-edition Metallic Collection of wallets and clutches in hybrid leather with microfiber interior. The extremely thin wallets weigh just 2 to 4 ounces. They have extra-wide pockets that can hold 3 to 4 cards each, allowing you to reduce your wallet size by 50 percent to 75 percent, depending on the model. Metallic Collection wallets are available in bronze, silver, nickel, burgundy and sky blue.

Cost : $45-$59.95

Where : Online