Pioneer Matter Wallet Review
Pioneer's tactical 10XD material in a bifold thin enough to disappear in a front pocket.
Founded in 2018, Pioneer began with a successful Kickstarter campaign when their original Flyfold wallet raised over $250,000. They have gone from strength to strength since, using the tactical materials that helped usher in a wave of wallets going against the grain of traditional leather, and building a range of wallets, and now other EDC goods, made for the 21st century.
Recently the team at Pioneer got in touch to see if I would be interested in reviewing some of their latest offerings, including a wallet and their Panda backpack. Obviously I was delighted to say yes. I have been using the Matter for the past month, and here is my honest review. Let's jump straight in.
Ushering in a New Era of Tactical Materials
What makes the Matter different comes down mainly to its material. The vast majority of wallets on the market, especially bifolds, are made from leather. It has been used for hundreds of years and it is not going anywhere. But in the 21st century there are countless odd, unusual or technical materials that could theoretically be used in a wallet. Pioneer have gone a step further and developed their own range of so-called tactical materials, designed for strength and durability. The 10XD version is the one I was sent, though the Matter comes in two other materials, and it is made from UHMWPE, which according to Pioneer is the world’s strongest fiber, ten times stronger than steel by weight.
The specs are impressive, but it is not until the wallet is in your hands that you appreciate it. The first thing that surprised me was how beautiful the material is. I usually associate high quality with full-grain leather, and although other materials beat leather on plenty of attributes, leather normally wins on looks. 10XD is just as nice, in my opinion, whether that is the ripstop weave that creates a pleasant texture and pattern, or the slight sheen that catches the light.
Quality wise, I have been using this wallet for upwards of six weeks and I cannot recommend it enough. It has not aged a day. No scuffs, no scratches, and it has not even got dirty, which surprised me, because my prior experience with materials like this is that they are strong but they are dirt magnets. This one is like magic, and that is the aspect of the Matter I appreciate most. Will it last a lifetime? I see no reason why not. The only point of failure would be the stitching, and that is kept to a minimum, which keeps the look clean and means there is less to fail over time.
The Matter is available in that 10XD material and in two others Pioneer produce, their Baby Ballistic nylon and 3XD. I cannot comment on how the three compare in the hand, because I only have the 10XD version, but the table below sets them against each other.
| 10XD | Baby Ballistic | 3XD (formerly 3PN) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | 20% UHMWPE, 80% high-density nylon | 100% high-density nylon | 3-ply, 100% high-density nylon |
| Weave | Ripstop | Oxford | Ripstop |
| Coating | DWR | DWR | DWR |
| Finish | Semi-gloss | Satin | Matte |
| Feel | Smooth, luxurious | Refined, tighter than standard ballistic | Subtle texture, grippy |
| Look | Technical, slight sheen, jewel-like | Rugged and tactical, less bulky and shiny than regular ballistic nylon | Solid, vibrant colors |
| Strength | Pioneer’s strongest | Workhorse durability | Similar to 10XD, minus the UHMWPE |
| Thickness | Pioneer’s thinnest | Not stated | Not stated |
| Colors | Onyx, Forest, Black White | Black, Robusta | Navy, Slate, Earth, Paprika, Dry Blue, Warm Charcoal |
| Brand’s top pick | Division Billfold (Onyx) | Global Pouch XL | Matter Bifold (Navy) |
The Functionality at Its Core: What Is the Matter Wallet?
The Matter is a bifold in a medium size. Its design is simple in form, and I believe that is deliberate, to keep the wallet as thin as possible. Aside from Pioneer’s cardholder, which is smaller, the Matter is their medium-sized wallet: it keeps the classic bifold design people know and love, but streamlines it into a smaller form factor.
The wallet does not feature anything on the outside, so the inside is where the magic happens. There are four pockets in total: two vertical pockets that hold up to three cards each, and two side internal pockets that hold three each. Given the smaller form factor, that is a great capacity and more than enough for most people. Just keep in mind there is no full-width bill slot, so banknotes have to be folded into one of the four card slots, most likely one of the inner two.
Pioneer recommend between four and twelve cards, which is bang on. Each slot takes a maximum of three, but remember that storing cash in any of them eats into that.
The wallet also comes with RFID protection, though as I set out in my article on why RFID-blocking wallets solve a problem that does not exist, I would not let that feature sway your decision given the lack of evidence the crime happens at all.
Usability in Daily Life: 6 Weeks With the Matter
Having used this as my main everyday carry for six weeks, I am confident I have a good grasp of how it works. As I said above, the wallet is very simple, and it is that simplicity that makes it solid. With only four slots, access to cards is a breeze and I never struggle to find the one I need. At maximum capacity, three cards per slot, it gets slightly harder, since reaching the middle card takes some shuffling, but it was never really an issue. Two per slot was my preferred load, because you can reach the front or back of each pocket and get straight to the card you want.
We also have to talk about size. The overall dimensions are not especially small, but it is the thinness that took me aback. Even at full capacity the wallet never gets thicker than 1.7cm, which for this capacity is genuinely thin. That showed in the pocket feel: in a front pocket it basically cannot be felt. It melts away, and there were times I had to poke at my pocket to check it was still there. That can only be an advantage, and I think it is the sheer thinness of the 10XD that allows it.
If there is one negative, it is the lack of a full-width cash slot. Bills have to go in one of the four slots, most likely one of the inner two. That is not inherently bad, and cash is still easy to get at, but I am a big fan of full-width slots: they take more, the notes lie completely flat without folding, and they are quicker to use. That said, leaving it out is what allows the wallet to be this slim, and Pioneer do make a wallet with one, the Altitude Billfold, for people who want it.
Final Verdict: Do I Recommend the Pioneer Matter Wallet?
Overall I had a fantastic time with the Matter. The material far exceeded my expectations and it is probably my favorite wallet in the tactical material category. Strong and durable but also luxurious in quality is a rare combination. Add a thin design and good capacity and there is very little negative to say. At $79 it is surprisingly affordable compared with similar wallets and brands.
Just be aware that I cannot comment on the other two materials, nor on long-term durability yet. I will keep using this wallet and report back over time. For more information on the Matter, and to browse the full Pioneer range, check out their official website using the link below.
Our Verdict: TL;DR