The LockBox Wallet is a lightweight, super functional and waterproof wallet perfect for cyclist or other outdoor sports. As in many of my articles I will combine a LockBox Wallet review with telling the story of the LockBox entrepreneurs and how they moved from an idea to a real end-product.
Design Basics – LockBox Wallet
First let’s have a look at the design of the LockBox wallet.
The LockBox wallet is just slightly bigger than my Garmin Edge 510. The exact dimensions of the LockBox wallet are 10.5 cm x 6 cm x 1.5 cm (L x D X H), which results in an easy fit, even in one hand.
The design reminds of a shell design you see in nature. Two parts slide over each other in a male-female design to make the LockBox wallet a real waterproof wallet that keeps your paper money and medical record safe. LockBox calls this the inner lips system, and you feel both parts snap together when closing the LockBox wallet. The jaw lock keeps both the LockBox parts securely together.
Although I’ve ordered the LockBox wallet in a complete black design, you instantly notice the two different materials used when you pick-up the LockBox for the first time. A hard plastic middle part that provides strength to the design, while the edges feel like a silicone material that adds the waterproof capability to the LockBox design.
When you open the LockBox wallet you will see both parts next to each other. In the right half you see room in the silicone material to store a 1 euro and a 2 euro coin. On top of the coins you can store two or maximum three plastic cards. For example an insurance card and a Maestro card to pay for a cup of coffee while out for a bike ride. In the left half you will see a pelican pocket. Personally I use the pelican pocket for my home key (no key chain) as well as some paper money.
Overall a simple but very well thought-out design. 🙂
LockBox Wallet – From an idea to a reality
It is great to read the background story on the LockBox website that provides you with the history and development of an excellent product like the LockBox wallet. Please keep the different building blocks of the Business Model Canvas in mind when reading the LockBox Wallet entrepreneurial adventures. 🙂
The initial spark
“[…] Whether on a road or mountain bike ride, those who practice this sport tend to carry some cash and identification in their jersey when they leave home. Taking money and documents in a jersey exposed to mud, dust, rain and sweat is not ideal. [..] Home remedies passed like traditional plastic bags, glass cases, freezer bags, and similar gadgets that helped to keep belongings together and relatively protected. […]”
The initial spark came from the cycling world, and I bet that fellow cyclist recognize themselves in using plastic zippers to carry some cash and items in case of emergency. I used the Ikea ISTAD zippers (0.4 L) to protect my smartphone from the elements and add some paper money to it. However putting coins and a smartphone in one bag is not a good idea if you would like to keep your phone scratch free. So I was looking for a resolution for quite some time on found the LockBox wallet online, after I wasn’t satisfied with the design of the Pokitt wallet.
Collaboration with the right people
“We had to convey all this wonderful theory to the real world, where there are millions of possibilities; to choose and discard options and thus move forwards. After facing the intangibility of ideas, we began to work in shaping the details that compose this piece. The premises were clear: a small piece, taken to a minimum expression but offering high performance, with simple and elegant lines: performance and elegance. […] That initial meeting was a give and take of ideas, possibilities and perspectives of how to deal with shapes and volumes of the piece, in addition to the potential it could offer to us as users.”
From this initial idea the Lockbox entrepreneurs needed to develop a unique value proposition, in this case the Lockbox wallet, for the specific customer segment of cyclists and outdoor sports that were identified as intended users for the Lockbox wallet.
“[…] we looked for the right person to work in the technical development of this design. The key was finding the industrial designer who shared our understanding about Lockbox and who could bring across this idea. After many evaluations we found the ideal partner. In this company, human value is basic and we needed to capture how he/her felt when presenting the Lockbox project. We were speaking the same language right from the beginning. Good vibrations that led to a partnership of which we are delighted.”
For the technical development a key partner was needed, with a unique skill set and network that could be labelled as key resources for the Lockbox entrepreneurs. But also the drive, enthusiasm and collective team efforts were striking facts when I read the background information on the Lockbox Wallet. The composition of an entrepreneurial team is known as one of the key success factors of a start-up/venture.
Innovation and prototypes
“And from that moment we began to define shapes and volumes, working together on the outside and inside of the piece. Both sections have been closely linked, fighting to create a piece whose exterior was as small as possible but with an inside offering a great potential. […] we began discussing the material we were going to use. We went for the silicone in its most advanced version, Platinum. It is a very complicated material to work with, but it offers impressive properties and, hence, to loop the loop, with much effort and ingenuity invested in the sealing system. […]”
The LockBox team decided to use Platinum silicone which is one of the key materials used for the product. Although it impacts the cost structure and operating activities to work with such a material, it also contributes to LockBox value proposition and create that high performing product that the team had in mind.
The picture of the business model canvas illustrates how you can use it to quickly analyse the entrepreneurial choices and how it could potentially impact the amount of value that can be captured. Most striking is the reasoning to use the platinum silicone. 🙂
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
I’m using the LockBox Wallet for a little more than 1.5 years now during my weekly bike rides. It’s a small, well designed and very waterproof wallet that every cyclist will love. I think it will be a very suitable wallet for hiking, outdoor- and water sports as well.
The best features of the LockBox wallet are the well designed closing lip that makes it really waterproof, and the holders for a 1 and 2 euro coin prevent the coins from making noise. Also the use of two very complementary materials (the hard plastic shell and the premium platinum silicone) is brilliant.
For the price point of 15,- euro you get a well designed waterproof wallet in a compact form factor. From the LockBox web store you can also order a lanyard specially designed for the LockBox wallet as well as different colored shells. Make your own unique color combinations now. 🙂
Would you buy this wallet as well?
Thank you so much for reviewing the wallet and appreciated to see honest and detailed review. Moreover, I am looking forward to seeing more blog posts about different products and their reviews. Keep up doing the awesome job, I am hoping forward to see more posts. I was looking for this product and after see detailed review, its really easy for me to buy.
Moreover, I would definitely recommend one bike wallet for everyone whose looking for affordable wallet having good quality. I am using from several months and quality is superb good. You can check this source as well to pick:
Again thanks for the good post, keep up doing the awesome job Remo. Waiting to see more good posts. 🙂