The Goods LA – The Hit & The Clique Review – $80 & $25

We always mention that we see a lot of wallets here at BestLeather.org, but it’s true. We see A LOT of wallets. So it’s always fun to see one that stands out a little bit or has a slightly different look. The Goods, based in LA, definitely has a unique offering with The Hit. Let’s take a look at it.

The Goods The Hit The Clique 8 — Top notch packaging

ABOUT THE GOODS

The Goods is a Los Angeles-based lifestyle brand that creates essentials for the modern man. Their product line is full of simple, sophisticated products for stylish people on the go. Founded in 2013, The Goods keeps things minimalist, selling only a few products on their website, all of which will be reviewed here on Best Leather. I recently reviewed The Loop, an awesome Macbook cord keeper that I adore, and The Crew, an earbud holder. Today I’ll be reviewing The Hit, their wallet, and The Clique, a key ring.

CONSTRUCTION & FUNCTION

The wallet, known as The Hit, is made in the USA, of 5 oz. black veg-tanned leather. The dimensions of the wallet are 4″ x 2.75″ x 0.375″. This is a very very thin wallet, less than half an inch thick, holding up to four credit cards/IDs and a few bills.

There are three distinct pouches, one of which is divided all the way across the top and the other with a little tab for quick access to your cards without looking. Each divider is a piece of cowhide leather lined on one side with black dyed snakeskin. This gives a very cool offset texture, but the snakeskin has started to peel off a little bit at the top. The rest of the wallet has held up quite well, but you have to be pretty careful with your cards so as not to peel off the snakeskin.

The keyring, the Clique, is also constructed in the USA, of 6 oz black veg-tanned leather. It’s a small stainless steel jailer-style keyring attached to a leather case with an elastic loop. You attach your keys to the ring and The Clique holds your keys straight so they don’t create a bulge in your pocket.

I liked The Clique at first because of the way it held my keys snug, but I ended up taking it off after a while. I found that the jailer-style ring kept coming undone with pressure from my heavy front door and all my keys would fall off. If it had a split ring or some kind of locking mechanism, I think it would stay much more secure. If you have fairly lightweight doors or use a remote control, I think this particular keyring would be a lot more functional. Just keep in mind that the weight of a heavy door might pop open the ring if you’re not careful. I noticed that The Goods recently added a new product, The Clip, which features a 1-inch CLASH hook and looks quite a bit sturdier than The Clique.

CONCLUSION

The Hit is a really sleek wallet. The snakeskin lining makes for a unique texture that I haven’t seen on any other wallet. If you rarely use cash and only carry around a few cards, this wallet is the perfect size because it keeps a low profile in your pocket and holds everything snug. The front pouch holds a few folded bills easily. The Clique definitely looks cool on your keys with the matte black leather, and when you pair it with the wallet and headphone wrap, you feel pretty fancy. These two products, though, The Hit & The Clique, are a bit more style than substance, especially compared to the other products, The Loop and The Crew. They look fantastic, but I think a bit of refining is in order. Looking forward to seeing what The Goods do next, because they have a great aesthetic.

May 21, 2015November 28, 2021

Shinola Journal Cover for iPad Mini Review – $150

Should I write that down or try to type it in on my iPad Mini? Do you ever have those thoughts run through your head in the midst of a meeting or class? I do. It’s a first world quandary. Fortunately, there’s a stylish chunk of leather that will house both paper and electronic tablet for you. Enter the Shinola Journal Cover for iPad Mini.

About Shinola

This is the second piece we’ve reviewed for Shinola. The first being their beautiful Envelope for iPad Mini. Shinola is becoming a powerhouse brand, gaining momentum all of the time as a top notch, high-end design and crafting firm based in the USA. Everything they make is proudly made here.

Construction

As with Shinola’s other fine leather goods, the Journal Cover for iPad Mini is crafted in St. Genevieve, Missouri. The premium leather is sourced from Horween of Chicago, IL. My Journal Cover is black with black thread. It’s expertly cut and stitched together. In fact, Eric Scott built it. I know this because of the impressive metal card included with my Journal that has his name stamped in the “Built By” section.

Function

The Journal Cover for iPad Mini exudes luxury. The leather is soft and supple to the touch. It’s thick and protective of my iPad Mini, but it’s not bulky in the least. When I first received the Journal Cover, I only used it to contain my iPad Mini and some business cards. Without a paper journal in it I found the cover to be too floppy and kind of a nuisance to handle. So, I ordered a set of Shinola’s Medium Paper Journals. Once I had one of their 72 page premium journals in there, the Journal Cover suddenly became the perfect meeting companion. I now carry it all of the time. If you want, you can probably insert your favorite type of journal in there without issue (i.e. Rhodia, Moleskine, or others of similar size). The only thing that’s glaringly absent is a pen or pencil slot. I wish this was integrated into the design, but at least there is space to secure a writing utensil within the cover.

Aesthetic

The Shinola Journal for iPad Mini is available in 14 different leather colors. And, you can order their very useful journals in 8 colors. The black leather of my Journal Cover, combined with the grey journal and my Space Gray iPad Mini combine for a trifecta of visual awesomeness. It looks good…really good. And, it generates comments. Also, people want to touch it and hold it. I don’t mind.

Conclusion

If you are like me and need/desire/want to have the ability to jump on the Internet, check your email, or perform other functions in our technology laden world, but still yearn for the ability to write things down, and you want to keep it all organized and looking good, consider getting yourself a Shinola Journal Cover. At $150, it’s a great way to protect your technology, keep your business cards at hand, and still have a spot to keep good old fashioned notes written down.

May 20, 2015December 19, 2017

Leather Built’s The Franklin Kit Review – $99

**Update June 17, 2015 – So, I’m appreciating this kit more and more as time goes on. Recently my daughter and son-in-law had college graduations that occurred on the same day, just at different times. Both of these events were held outside in a large stadium. Needless to say, it was a bright sunny day…perfect weather for graduations. But, that sunshine started baking my ginger haired crew’s fair skin. Did anyone have sunscreen? Nope. Oh wait…I DID because it’s in my Franklin Kit!! Since the graduations were a few hours a part, we decided to have a picnic lunch on the university’s campus too. Did anyone bring sanitary wipes? Nope. Oh wait…there are Wet Ones packets in my Franklin Kit! So, the Franklin Kit came through twice big time for us in the same day. I’m now sold on this thing never leaving my backpack when I’m out and about!

Benjamin Franklin, a hallmark of American history was a very interesting guy. In addition to being one of the founding fathers of our great United States of America, he was also a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. And, I’m sure I may have missed one or two things in there. One of my favorite things about him was his list of 13 Virtues: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity, and Humility. Oh that those were exercised in full force daily among the masses… Anyhow, in keeping with Ben’s 13 Virtues, we present you with the Franklin Kit – full of 13 very useful items when you’re in a “tight spot” (yes, that was a no-so-subtle reference to the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?).

About Leather Built

The Franklin Kit has been graciously supplied to us for review from Leather Built. “Leather Built was founded upon the principle of showcasing the highest quality leather goods built in the U.S.A. From our location in Meridian, Idaho, we have scoured America in search of only the best leather goods and have found some amazing companies and products that are sure to surprise and delight. Everything is backed with our Made for Life Guarantee so you can be completely confident in your purchase.”