I don’t know if anyone else with motor issues due to PD has suffered the embarrassment and frustration of struggling to pull out a credit card from a traditional wallet while a line of irritated and impatient customers waited behind you at the register. I know I did.
Sick of breaking out in a sweat as I tried to pinch and pull the card out with my index finger and thumb, I elected to give a try to a wallet made by Ekster. I purchased the Parliament Fortuna wallet:
I did not receive any compensation for the review that follows.
I’ll admit, the Ekster wallet was more than I cared to spend at over $100. However, it was worth the price.
First and foremost, the wallet works and alleviated the problem I was having removing a card from my wallet due to motor issues I was experiencing in my right hand. As you can see in the photo above, there is a small button on the bottom left of the wallet that you push in, which fans the cards out. I comfortably keep five separate cards inside. I have never had any difficulty retrieving a card once deployed, and my cards have never fallen out whether deployed or not.
Second, the wallet has two pockets and an elastic band to hold cash. I use the two pockets for my driver’s license and insurance cards, which I need to take out less often than my credit cards. I do have a little difficulty removing these cards due to my PD, but that’s no fault of the wallet. As for the elastic band, it tightly secures my cash, and is easy to use.
Third, not depicted is an additional pocket on the back of the wallet. I use this pocket to hold Ekster’s tracker card seen in black below.
The card is credit card size, and can be used to emit an audible ring or to be tracked using an App on your phone in the event you misplace your wallet. Given the memory issues that come with PD, I find that tracking devices are quite useful.
Fourth, the wallet looks elegant, and it is holding up quite well since I purchased it a few months ago. The leather is not wearing at all. It also easily fits into my pocket.
In sum, I am happy with my Ekster wallet and recommend it to anyone else having motor issues from PD.