The Pioneer Ion wallet is a cardholder that’s minimalist but with only 2 card holders is it to simple or is that why it’s easy to use? With advanced materials that act like leather, but instead is heat molded nylon ripstop fabric that resists dirt, is waterproof and can take abuse and still look brand new, the Ion is great for active individuals
(if you want to see all the features and how many cards and cash it can hold, please watch the video)
Pioneer Carry has a very simple yet attractive packaging for it exhibits consistency in the design theme. Inside the package, in addition to the pouch, we get a thank you card from the founder. The pouch is black and goes along with the black interior. Its texture has a similar feel to their 10XD-type material. Our purchased Ion is slate, but it also comes in onyx, earth, navy, evergreen, and two checkered colors. Personally, I like the blue and white one.
All Pioneer Carry wallets use pressure and heat-formed material, and this one is no different. It does have reinforcement on all these four edges, as well as some heat sealing, and that is all there is to it, very simple, or is it too simple?
From a feature perspective, the exterior has nothing, while the interior surprisingly has two card slots. That’s it? This wallet offers a capacity of four to six cards. It measures 4 x 2.8 x 0.5 and weighs 28 grams, equivalent to one ounce. This wallet may be simple, but what else does it offer? The company recommends up to six cards. I inserted four cards and two slips of cash, one being a Euro, so the height is not an issue for tall currencies.
This wallet is designed in the United States and made in Vietnam. The slate color is made from 3PN, which is unlike the 10XD, which has a smoother matte finish and amazing hand feel. The 3PN is a three-ply nylon with dirt and water resistance, and it outperforms leather, except that, well, it is not leather. It has a tactile feel which is due to the 3PN, and I really like it. It feels more flexible compared to the stiffness of the 10XD material found in other wallets made by Pioneer Carry, yet it is perfectly fine in what it provides. This one is sweatproof and machine washable for all conditions.
This is an active-wear wallet that you can take with you, especially if all you need are a couple of cards and a couple of slips of cash. Moreover, like leather, it does break in over time, but the difference is that it never breaks down. Furthermore, it is non-RFID, however, they do produce one RFID-capable wallet in the Onyx or black color, and I do know from talking with the company that they only do that for demand. But they know, like we all do, that RFID-protection wallets are a marketing scam. So do not fall for that.
Over time, the wallet will form to your body due to the heat and pressure, which will soften it up a bit. But like I said, it will not lose its strength at all.
From a durability perspective, being waterproof means that you can wash it, sweatproof, and, as I mentioned, it is resistant to salt. So if you get spray, salt spray, water from the sea, ocean, etc…, then you are perfectly fine. I have shown in previous videos where I ran this underwater, and even submerged it, to no ill effects. It just runs off the back of it, like water off a duck. The heat-fused membrane, which I mentioned, gives the wallet its structure and kind of rigidity, but also the leather-like feel to the touch. Besides, the core technology helps the wallet break-in and molds to the cards without breaking down or wearing out prematurely. And because of that, they have a 10-year warranty if you purchase the wallet directly from them. This is quite amazing and a testament to the durability of the material and the build quality. Many customers who have owned these wallets for many years say they still look new despite everyday use. Simple is not a synonym for bad, and if you need a nice card wallet that can really handle the abuse, this is your winner.
The final score of the Pioneer Ion is 4 for quality, 2 for the price because it is a little expensive for a card wallet, features score a 3, usability scores a 4, and perception gets a 5. This gives this wallet a score of 3.7 out of 5.
We also did a review on the recent Pioneer Carry Altitude, make sure you watch it if interested.
The smallest and most minimal option, and the style that started it all. Slim, seamless, and secure for active users who demand simplicity. Holds up to 6 cards.
