Magic Tricks

So my much beloved and well-worn Alakazam/Peter Nardi Infinity Wallet fell apart. I thought about getting another one until I saw the French HWallet. It's among the most expensive gimmicked wallets--even more expensive than the Infinity here at Penguin--but my everyday carry wallet for mentalism is the single most important tool of my trade, like a farmer's combine harvester or a dentist's water jet, so I don't mind spending the money for something that does the job well. (And in case you are wondering, I also have the best mentalist wallet on the market, the Alakazam/Peter Nardi Stealth Assassin. I love it, but to me, it's a terrible everyday wallet. It's too small and currency hangs out in a weird way.) Here's my comparison of the Infinity and the HWallet:

First, the HWallet is easily as well made as Nardi's Infinity. It is a high quality billfold. (It even has a little leather protector for the zipper on the internal zippered compartment. Nice thinking.) The one thing immediately noticeable about the HWallet is that it's about three-quarters of an inch longer and wider than the Infinity. I realized that it's probably geared toward larger foreign currency. I don't like the extra size--the Infinity is just right for U.S. bills--but at least no one is going to pickpocket me. It takes effort to remove the HWallet from the back pocket. Also, the HWallet has an exterior buttoned pocket, very European looking, but not really essential. It has a tendency to snag when pulling the wallet out of a back pocket. (I am not a jacket or front-pocket wallet guy.) One small point: Neither wallets use magnets, which I like.

Now on to the features. The major selling point for both is the magician's CTW (or for us mentalists, the "Confabulation" feature). I think that both wallets are good if differently constructed. The Infinity uses a sl***; the HWallet does not. It's going to be simply a matter of your preference as both techniques work well.

The HWallet has an OTL feature, great for mentalists, the Infinity does not. Score one for France.

Both have the classic Shogun feature, but I like the HWallet design better. Unlike the Infinity, you can show one of the currency compartments as ungimmicked. Also, the credit card slots are vertical on the HWallet, rather than horizontal on the Infinity. This allows the HWallet to better disguise the Shogun feature. This design is lovely.

As for MOs, the Infinity wins with at least eight separate, uh, you know...while the HWallet has six. Britain gets a point.

Both wallets feature one internal peek. The Infinity's biggest weakness is the peek. It works, but you need audience management and time misdirection. The HWallet's internal peek is super clever and deceptive. It's so much better. In addition, the HWallet features two different external peeks, one using Mark Strivings SUC method, which is slick and excellent. The Infinity is limited to its adequate internal peek.

Finally, the HWallet's design allows unloading/stealing, which is to say, really a reverse CTW or mentalism "Cash Cabaret" feature, something that you can't really do with the Infinity.

Both wallets come with DVDs demonstrating the features and giving routines. The HWallet DVD stresses the CTW feature at the expense of things like OTL, but it's good. Peter Nardi is noted for instructional DVDs, and the one with the Infinity is excellent.

So in the end, the overall smaller form factor and design of the Infinity are better, but the HWallet has more features, especially the excellent peeks. (If only the HWallet were smaller and didn't have that exterior pocket. I loved the look and feel of my old Infinity.) If money is critical, the Infinity is cheaper, though if you are willing to pay these prices, the extra $30 is probably not going to be a deal breaker. Both wallets are fantastic, and clearly the HWallet is an upgraded copy of the Infinity. It's like comparing a Rolls Royce to a Bentley. It all depends on what you like in luxury.