The Rookie is a front carry bi-fold wallet made in the USA by Recycled Firefighter.
It’s designed to carry a small number of bills and a handful of cards in a very slim package.
I’ve previously bought a few backpacks from Recycled Firefighter which put me on their email list. I wasn’t in the market for a new wallet but they sent an email out with a pretty nice discount code so I ended up grabbing two.
I figured the compact nature of them would be nice for both GORUCK events and weekend trips where I don’t need the other things my normal wallet carries. I have a few credit cards and then some which is why I’ve always carried a regular sized bi-fold.
For colors I went with the “Black & Multicam Black” and the “Yellow & Multicam” wallets. I figured it would be nice to have a black wallet for myself but I also wanted to see what one of the traditional wallets looked like in person too.
The deal was so good I figured I could just give the yellow one away after checking it out.
First Look Video
First Look
Let’s get into these wallets!
The Outside
The Recycled Firefighter Rookie wallets have a very minimalist design. On the outside you can see that there’s a label (which says Recycled Firefighter) and a band for money.
Underneath the label is their website in the event you forgot where you bought the wallet from.
The elastic is fairly stretchy and I’ve had no issues keeping 8 bills in there without adding any extra bulk.
The company is called Recycled Firefighter because they use recycled firefighter hoses in their products. They’re not called Brand New Firefighter or Pristine Firefighter… the wallet you’ll receive will most likely have a little bit of wear on the hose.
If you have a job where you need to impress clients with the fanciness of your wallet when you buy them things then this might not be the best wallet for the job.
Don’t get me wrong they are awesome wallets it’s just that they’re unique and the person you’re with will most likely notice it.
Speaking of noticing things it’s nice that Recycled Firefighter used different colored labels for the two wallets. The black definitely goes with the black better and the white looks great on the yellow.
The Inside
The inside of the wallet features pieces of leather sewn into each side.
According to the product page you can fit 4 to 6 cards on each side (8 to 12 total) but that seems excessive. I’ve found you can make that happen but, to me, it sits better with 2 to 3 cards per side.
Here’s another picture of that leather used on the inside of the wallet.
And here’s what the inside of the black wallet looks like. Black leather was used which looks great with it.
The inside of that credit card slot if you were curious.
When you have some cards in the wallet you can see how it folds closed. Even with a few it still sits nice when closed.
More Observations
These thoughts don’t really fit anywhere else but they’re some initial observations on the wallet. Most bi-folds are heavy enough that they’ll sit closed on their own.
Because of the materials used the Rookie wallets here don’t stay closed on their own yet. I’m guessing after some more use they might however Recycled Firefighter does sell special bands for $2 to keep these closed.
The materials were cut the same size which is always great to see. The two leather pieces lined up perfectly.
Flipping them over you can see that the elastic bands are sewn in at slightly different locations but they’re not “off” enough to make a difference. They both hold cash very well.
Final Thoughts
I bought this wallet to use at GORUCK events but I’m finding myself using it more often than my regular wallet. I’m not sure if that’s because this one is “new and exciting” or because I actually like it more.
Only time will tell if that’s the case or if it stays closed on its own eventually. Either way I’m excited to have this wallet and use it. So far I really like it which surprised me quite a bit. If you are in the market for one of these you can pick them up, in a variety of colors, at Recycled Firefighter.
Giveaway
That yellow wallet is up for grabs! Just fill out the form below and a winner will be chosen on 7/11/2019!
When I saw that giveaway I had to enter. My 9y/o is obsessed with multicam. Told me yesterday that he needs a wallet too. Fingers crossed that we win, but if not, he’s likely to add to his chore-list in order to earn one.
That is so great! My son (who’s five) is so excited about firefighters. I offered it to him first (because of course) but he said his wallet was more of a firefighter wallet than this one was. For reference his wallet is in the shape of a firetruck so he may have a point.
These are excellent wallets, and it’s great the way Jake from RF recycles while doing a ton to give back to the first responder community. I own several of his products, and am looking forward to the new line of belts he’s launching soon.
Brian, I would recommend if you want a super thin wallet, try the Sergeant. I keep my driver’s licensce, my insurance card, a couple credit cards, and a couple paper coffee club cards in it, plus cash in the elastic band. Slips right in the front pocket, and you really forget it’s there. Their Notebook covers are very good as well, and they have a couple models that fit Field Notes (which I know you’re fond of).
Once again, great content and keep up the good work.
The Sergeant looks like a great wallet but I need to make the transition slowly 😂 the Rookie has been a great wallet so far and I’m finding myself using it more than I expected.
What do you currently carry?
I carried cards, cash, and a notebook in the Hypalon Field Notes wallet for 2 years and it held up great. Last year i started using a calendar planner and started carrying it and the notebook in my laptop bag. Switched over to the Sergeant (and added a Field Notes Band of Rubber for a little extra security against cards falling out); pockets are nice and light!
That sounds pretty perfect! It’s a new feeling having light pockets 😂