The wallet

This is the 2nd of three re-releases of wallets originally put out by Outlaw Effects. As far as I can remember, this is made of nicer leather than the original – it’s a beauty made to Tony Curtis’ usual high standards. According to Alakazam it also has a few design tweaks – though from memory I can’t see what they are.

The Hideout Wallet is styled as an ordinary bi-fold hip pocket wallet – a trifle on the large size for my own use as an everyday wallet, but perfect for its purpose. (Dimensions – approx. 120x104x14mm when folded and empty.) Depending on how you are using it and what you’re loading in it, you may not want to use it as an ‘everyday’ wallet anyway.

As its name suggests, the original primary function of the wallet is for multiple outs. I got mine when I was in my first flush of enthusiasm over Kenton Knepper’s classic Kolossal Killer. It has 20 slots which are big enough for poker sized playing cards plus a bill compartment and one further pocket which is almost the height of the whole wallet and would be good for larger predictions etc.

But this is only the start. It also has a clever magnetic feature which enables it to act as a switch wallet, and there is a concealed peek facility with a clever ‘cloaking’ facility which gives you even more cover.

The switch feature is very clever and enables an incredibly innocent handling where the spectator can actual handle the wallet themselves. You could actually use it rather like a Horwitz Wallet – and I’m going to be checking out my Horwitz books to get some ideas.

The routines

One of the things I was anticipating with the Alakazam re-release was some high quality routines – this is the sort of area they usually excel in. I was therefore a little underwhelmed with the DVD. It runs at around 33 minutes, introduces the wallet and then teaches you 3 effects. It is, as ever, very clearly shot and recorded, and the effects are all strong, but I would have like a little more.

On the Money – is a serial number revelation – where you borrow a note from the spectator and then can reveal the number. Clever, easy to do, strong effect.

ESP – is an ESP prediction. The spectator chooses one of 5 ESP cards – and this is the one you have already shown them to be predicted in the wallet. Again, this is fairly clear, though not ground breaking.

Spectator is the MindReader – this combines the wallet with a book test to enable not just you to read the spectator’s mind but them to read yours. This is a great routine – well put together so that all the ‘moves’ are hidden in the blocking – but of course it also requires an additional book test to complete the effect.

As I’ve already said, I was hoping for a little more than 3 effects, especially given the reasonable investment the purchaser has made for the wallet. This may be rectified in the future – since Alakazam you can register your product online at their website (it doesn’t matter where you actually buy the item from) and they will give you access to new ideas and videos as they are produced. At the time of writing there aren’t any extra routines up – but I presume more will be added before too long.

All that being said, it is such a versatile beast that you should be able to adapt other effects and come up with new ideas easily.

The verdict

I think this is a great wallet. Beautifully made with a great combination of features which enable some devastating mentalism, this would be a great investment for any magician or mentalist. I’m looking forward to setting it up for my latest favourite version of Kolossal Killer, and also to playing further with the switching feature. More than worth a peek…

The Hideout Wallet V2 is available from Merchant of Magic for £111.50 (at the time of writing)

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

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I have a real fondness for this kind of effect – as you will gather it falls in the line of effects like Kolossal Killer, Bang On, On the Mark, etc. – and I have used and owned almost all of them at one time or other. The creators of the Lynx Wallet credit Marc Oberon’s Bang On as the inspiration – and it shares the similarity that it really can be any card and it really will be the only card in the envelope. But it is fair to say that in terms of actual mechanics it is closer to Kolossal Killer.

Let’s talk about the wallet

I like this very much. It is made of a very nice quality leather which I suspect will age well. It feels like a quality product. Size is everything – or so they say – and in an effect like this size affects both pocket space and the strength of the effect.

The pictures tell the story, but in comparison to my everyday wallet it is about 50% longer but almost identical height – and when the wallet is fully loaded the width is comparable. Have a look at the pictures for more detail – in the side by side images the Lynx Wallet is the one on the right (notice in the bottom one it actually looks thinner than my normal wallet – due to a clever bevel effect – but even on the ‘wider’ end it is no fatter than my normal wallet) and in the other image the Lynx Wallet is the one on the bottom. So I think they have done an excellent job on size.

I think it is unlikely to become my everyday wallet – but I don’t think that is a deal-breaker for me. Some people have made comments about the size of the credit card slots. They are a fraction larger than they need to be, but my cards seem to be staying in ok at the moment. Some have suggested taping (old) cards in if that is a real concern, but it hasn’t been for us so far.

The instructions

There seems to be a growing trend to provide links to online explanations rather than providing physical media (either DVDs or printed instructions). There are a number of advantages to this – in that presumably they can be updated and added to more easily. We see two live performances – one in a close up setting and one in a stage setting. All the explanations are clear – the only negative is that someone has made an editing mistake which means the ‘What you have received’ section is repeated at the beginning of the ‘Preparation’ section which is a little tedious.

Setting up will take you only 10 minutes – and unlike Bang On doesn’t require any ‘craft skills’!

The routine

There is much I like about the way this has been put together. The advertising speaks about the spectator ‘examining the wallet’ – and that statement is true within certain limits – but the fact that they clearly see one envelope in your wallet at the start of the routine helps to sell the effect massively and I think makes it a stronger effect for that. The wallet can be in full view throughout – even in the spectator’s hands – which is very convincing. The stage routine is an amusing one which has been built into 5 minutes of fun with a strong climax – I could see myself using a variation of this routine in my own stage set.

You will require a little bit of memory work to do this effect – not an impossible amount – but it does require some effort – but the practise to get this smooth is well worth it. It does what it says on the tin, and there are obviously an infinite number of directions you could take this in. They teach an ACAAN variant and a little thought will no doubt give you plenty of other ideas.
In conclusion, this is not a radically new idea or departure, but it does have a number of advantages over similar products on the market and it is very nicely made which means it gets a top recommendation from us.

Available in the UK from magicshop.co.uk £87.50
Review copy kindly supplied by Murphys Magic – to whom all dealer enquiries should be made.

The post Lynx Wallet Review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

The plot, of course, is familiar – the spectator names the only card in an envelope in your wallet. Presentational possibilities are various – but the suggested one works well. No real surprises here.

And the same could be said of method. You are not buying a radically new idea here. If you have been in magic any time at all you will likely be familiar with the various elements of the method. However, they work really well together! There is some good thinking here, and some subtleties which, in my mind at least, make this a stronger effect for the spectator than some of the alternatives. The method is straightforward, which means you can concentrate on selling it – which is the way I like it! I am fully expecting to put this into my ‘working routine’.

A word on the supplied props. The wallet supplied is of a good quality and will readily slip into use as an every day wallet. You don’t have to use this wallet – but it works well for the requirements. Can’t say more than that. The envelopes are fine – and could be replaced if you preferred a different colour. I was a little disappointed with the quality of the cards – but not to such an extent that it would put me off using them.

The bottom line is I think this is a great little effect. If you like strong card magic with a mental leaning grab it’s time to get On the Mark now!

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