Not a review, not a plug, just a solution I wish I’d discovered years ago:

I became a convert to Getting Things Done by David Allen some time back, and to really work the system I needed pen and paper with me all the time. I tried the Hipster PDA, but I just wasn’t making it work — partly because the last thing I needed was one more thing to carry around. I had long since switched to front pocket wallet carry (better for the back, the Aeron chairs at work chew through pants if you have something in the rear pocket, etc.). So when I stumbled across this slick little wallet with a small notepad, high-quality little pen, and slots for minimal carrying of cards and such, I thought it was worth a try. Boy, am I glad I did! Here’s a link to the wallet on the Retro 51 site.

The left side has four credit card slots with a full-length pocket behind it. The right side holds the small pad of paper and also has a full-length pocket behind it. The pen (which writes really well, by the way) goes in its own little pocket in the center, so the wallet folds around it. And the whole package is smaller than most wallets!

You have to be disciplined about what you carry, but I was already trying to do that. I have:

• ID, debit card, credit card in left side slots
• CPR faceshield and emergency cash in back left pocket
• Paper tablet (with front cover removed for slimmer profile) on right
• Business cards in back right pocket
• Retro 51 Tornado pen in center

I usually just slip spending cash in my pants pocket behind the wallet — it stays OK folded in half. I can carry my Surefire E2E next to the wallet in most all of my pants and the wallet holds it upright.

I’ve been using this for a couple of years now, and I couldn’t go back to a regular wallet. No pics handy, but you can see it at the Retro 51 site link above (note: they have some crazy colors, but I have plain ol’ black leather).

Anyway, thought I’d share since it’s such an essential part of my EDC.