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8 Best Chain Wallets For Men – Stylish Upgrade For 2024

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Ideal for fumbling fingers and followers of fashion alike, the best chain wallets are one of this season’s must-own accessories. As stylish as they are functional, they hook onto your belt, or belt loop, for easy access and secure storage that’s impressive enough to rival bifolds , cardholders , and zipper styles .

Thanks to an increasing number of options now readily available, it’s never been easier to find a design you like. The only issue is separating the good from the bad. Which is where I come in.

So, stop digging in your pockets and treat yourself to the upgrade you deserve.

Key Takeaways

To save you from purchasing a dud, I’ve researched countless sites and made a list of eight of the finest chain wallets that should be on your radar. Whether you need an everyday beater or a new weekend companion, there’s sure to be a wallet that’ll tickle your fancy.

If you’re ready to pick up a chain wallet, rest assured you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to be highlighting the best chain wallets for every preference, budget, and lifestyle. You’ll discover a range of unique and luxury designs , including Dickies’ trifold and Saint Laurent’s stylish splurge .

• Buying Considerations

Why You Should Trust Us

• Final Verdict

1. Best Overall: Dickies Men’s Trifold Chain Wallet

View It On Amazon

Why it’s great: If you can count on anyone for a reliable bit of kit, it’s Dickies. The popular workwear brand has come up trumps to offer this versatile and durable trifold chain wallet that can be used for the weekend and your 9-5. Subtly stamped with the label’s iconic logo, it comes with a spacious interior that can fit six cards, coins, bills, and more. There’s also an ID window for added convenience.

How to use it: The slim wallet features a silver-tone keychain that easily attaches to the loops on your favorite pair of pants . Take it out of your back pocket and open it up to reveal the multiple compartments and slots for your cash and cards.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The leather is coated so it doesn’t quite have the charm or texture of a grained leather design.

Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.25 | Colors Available: 2 | Material: 100% Polyurethane | Chain length: 35.5cm

2. Best Budget: Marshal Trifold Biker Wallet

Why it’s great: Whether you’re a biker or city dweller, you’ll love this classic chain wallet. It’s handcrafted from quality leather that’ll only get better with age. Inside you’ll find an ID window, cash compartment, and slots for your cards. The RFID-blocking technology keeps everything safe from fraud.

How to use it: Once you’ve clipped it onto the loops of your pants, you simply pop open the wallet using the snap clasps. Place the wallet into your back pocket (or the front if you’d prefer) and let the chain hang loose.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: There’s no room for coins on this one—strictly cards and notes only. You’ll need to keep spare change in your pocket or choose an alternative.

Dimensions: 4.25 x 3.5 | Colors Available: 1 | Material: 100% Leather | Chain length: 35cm

3. Best on Amazon: F&L Classic Trifold Chain Wallet

Why it’s great: Packing some tough guy attitude and bundles of space, this RFID-blocking design is the perfect partner for a pair of selvedge denim jeans. Made from a cowhide leather that’s bursting with character, it’ll be your companion for many seasons to come (and will only end up looking better with age). Use it to store your credit cards, ID, coins, and bills. I’m giving top marks for an extra long chain.

How to use it: The trifold style is opened using the popper buttons and attached to your belt loops with the single clasp. Put it into your back pocket and let the chain hang naturally.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: I’ve noticed a few people question its durability, yet the majority of reviews are positive. Don’t overfill it and I think you’ll be just fine.

Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.3 | Colors Available: 2 | Material: 100% Leather | Chain length: 43cm

4. Best Everyday: Bill Heart Double Zipper Chain Wallet

Why it’s great: With space for 12 cards, multiple notes, and coins, this chain wallet is perfectly sized to keep your daily essentials close by. The leather construction ensures a tough exterior, while the RFID-blocking technology is there to keep you safe from identity fraud.

How to use it: Fill it with your monetary essentials and keep them safe by fasting the press-stud closure. Then, simply choose the pocket you want to keep it in (I suggest back, left) and let the chain hang freely.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: There’s quite a few zippers, so it can feel a little over complicated at times. However, it does make it extra secure.

Dimensions: 4.3 x 4 | Colors Available: 5 | Material: 100% Leather | Chain length: Not specified

5. Best Travel: UTreers Chain Wallet

Why it’s great: Whether you’re spending the weekend in your favorite city or outdoor exploring, this travel wallet option helps you keep everything close by (and safe thanks to the RFID-blocking tech). It holds up to seven cards, plus your bills and ID card. When you’re not using it as a wallet, you can turn it into a badge holder thanks to the removable lanyard strap.

How to use it: There are two ways to wear this men’s wallet with a chain. You can clip it onto your belt loop and keep it in your pocket or attach it to a backpack or bag.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The length of the chain isn’t specified but it looks fairly short. I’d say this design focuses slightly more on form than fashion.

Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.3 | Colors Available: 1 | Material: 100% Leather | Chain length: Not specified

6. Best Leather: CAZORO Vintage Leather Chain Wallet

Why it’s great: CAZORO’s trifold wallet has a slightly vintage appearance that looks great with any pair of jeans. It’s durable as well as stylish and can house up to seven credit cards plus plenty of bills. My favorite features are the ID window and RFID technology that’ll prevent your details from falling into the wrong hands.

How to use it: Fill it with your cards and cash and then snap it shut with the pop-buttons. Fasten it to a pair of jeans and put it into your back or front pocket for a look that’ll give your ensemble a subtle point of difference.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you’re planning to make use of all of its slots and compartments, the wallet can feel a little bulky.

Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.5 | Colors Available: 1 | Material: 100% Leather | Chain length: 45cm

7. Best RFID Blocking: HUMERPAUL Chain Wallet

Why it’s great: This chain wallet doesn’t just provide a stylish home for your cards and cash. It also keeps them safe from unauthorized scans thanks to the RFID-blocking tech. The sturdy chain gives you further security, while the zipper pocket is the perfect place for loose change.

How to use it: Make the most of the large capacity and fill it with your plastic, bills, and coins. Once you’re happy, attach it to the belt loops of your pants and place it into your pocket. The chain should be visible and not twisted.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Be careful not to overfill it as the wallet can get quite heavy if you use up all of the space.

Dimensions: 4.75 x 3.75 | Colors Available: 2 | Material: 100% Leather | Chain length: 30cm

8. Best Luxury: Saint Laurent Chain Wallet

View It On Farfetch

Why it’s great: If you’re all about the big names, then this version from Saint Laurent will definitely be of interest. Not just super luxurious, it’s versatile too—you can wear it with a shirt and jeans or keep it casual with khakis and a graphic tee. As you’d expect, it’s made from 100% leather that has a subtle texture and the brand’s classy logo embossed on the front. In terms of storage, there’s a coin pocket, two receipt inserts, three card slots, and a section for your bills.

How to use it: Use the two snap hooks to secure the wallet in place and then pop open the fasting to reveal the compartments inside. Keep it in your back pocket (left or right) and ensure the chain is hanging on the outside.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: At just under $500, you can forget about it if you’re working with a tight budget. Apart from that, there’s nothing I can fault.

Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.9 | Colors Available: 1 | Material: 100% Leather | Chain length: Not specified

Buying Considerations for The Best Chain Wallets

The material plays a big role in the overall quality of any product. The most reliable chain wallets are durable and able to withstand everyday use. Leather is the most popular and reliable choice. It’s durable, ages well, and gives the accessory a classic look that gets character over time. Look for full-grain or top-grain leather, as they are the highest quality. If you prefer something different, there are also chain wallets made from materials like synthetic leather or metal.

Consider the size and functionality of the chain wallet. Think about what you’ll be carrying in it and make sure it has enough compartments and slots to hold your essential items such as cash, cards, and ID. The best chain wallets should be compact enough to fit comfortably in your pocket but spacious enough to accommodate your necessities. Some chain wallets come with additional features like a coin pocket or a clear ID window, so consider these options based on your preferences.

Chain Length

It may sound obvious, but the chain is an essential feature of any chain wallet—especially its length. Some people prefer shorter chains that are less intrusive, while others may want longer chains for added security and style.

I haven’t just found the best chain wallets by chance. My experience as a fashion writer and embarrassing passion for research have gotten me here. This list was the result of endless hours of scrolling and some pretty heavy research. But I’ve not done it all on my own. I also checked out heaps of reviews to get a better idea of what makes each wallet great and whether or not there were any flaws you should know about.

Final Verdict 

Just like metal or MagSafe designs , the best chain wallets offer a unique combination of style, practicality, and security—making them a popular choice for fashion-forward individuals and those seeking functional accessories.

Whether you want to add some individuality to your style, appreciate the vintage charm, or simply value the added protection for your valuables, adding Dickies’ chain wallet to your everyday outfit is a shrewd sartorial move. Versatile, durable, and easy on the eye, it comes with a spacious interior that fits you cash, cards, and more.

A chain wallet is an excellent option for those looking for a stylish accessory that offers added security and convenience. However, it’s not necessarily the best type of wallet for everyone. You may prefer a more traditional or minimalistic design such as a bifold or pop-up wallet .

Unlike EDC or AirTag wallets , chain wallets can be attached to your pants. Making them a highly practical and convenient way to carry your cash and cards. For easy access and secure storage, you’ll struggle to find a better option.

Fashion trends are constantly evolving, and what is considered ‘cool’ at any given time can change. While they won’t be to everyone’s taste, the best chain wallets are definitely still a cool and unique accessory that can add personality to your overall look.

Billy is a content specialist and social media manager. His portfolio includes articles for publications such as British GQ, Esquire and Men’s Health. A self-confessed lover of luxury streetwear, he admits to an unhealthy obsession for baseball caps and high-end sneakers.

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The 13 Best Travel Wallets for Men in 2024, Tested by Gear Editors

Here's the easiest way to keep tabs on your papers and cash, no matter the adventure.

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?

We've pulled together a guide to the best travel wallets as we embark on peak travel season. Our editors and writers are constantly traveling all over for assignments and vacations, allowing us to test wallets suited for all kinds of environments. And while there are a number of travel wallets we highly recommend, the very best travel wallet we keep turning to is the Pioneer Passport Wallet . You'll learn more on why we believe that is below, but what it comes down to is the Pioneer Passport Wallet has great style, an excellent use of space, and a rugged build that's ready for any adventure.

Best Travel Wallet Overall

Pioneer passport wallet.

Best Bifold Travel Wallet

Bellroy travel wallet.

Best Zippered Travel Wallet

Fjallraven passport wallet.

Best AirTag Travel Wallet

Lumberjack plaid genuine leather airtag passport holder and wallet.

Most Stylish Travel Wallet

Alpha passport case.

Best Value Travel Wallet

Polare original rfid blocking leather passport holder travel wallet for men and women (dark brown).

Most Secure Travel Wallet

Alpha keeper money belt for travel passport holder.

Smartest Design

Bellroy apex passport cover.

Best All-Leather Travel Wallet

Shinola utility passport wallet.

Most Unique Travel Wallet

Tecovas alligator passport case.

Read more: How Men's Health Tests Products

We found travel wallets that are great for navigating old cities around the clock, and travel wallets that can handle all sorts of rugged adventures. We curated all our travel wallets with durability and design in mind, but we also considered features that make each wallet unique in and of its own. The one quality you'll find in each travel wallet? They all are sized to hold an American passport nice and snug. After all, it wouldn't be a travel wallet if it didn't hold your most important papers.

Best AirTag Wallets | Best Card Holder Wallets | Best Slim Wallets | Best Magsafe Wallets | Best Travel Gadgets

Pioneer's Passport Wallet is wonderfully simple in design and tough as nails thanks to its waterproof ripstop fabric construction. In fact, we found the waterproof ripstop fabric is great for handling humid environments, staying dry and and stiff, as opposed to getting all slimy and flimsy as other travel wallets can become in these climates. As far as stroage goes, it comes with a full length cash pocket, pockets to store up to 8 cards, and a 3D molded passport pocket designed to fit an American passport perfectly snug.

Due to this wallet's construction. look, and function, we found it to be our favorite pick when taking to warm weather vacation and cold weather trips. The material is simply just too good, and you never have to worry about any of the contents sliding out. Simply put, the Pioneer Passport Wallet is capable of all kinds of trips and adventures. This is a quality investment we'd recommend over and over again.

Read more: Best Travel Pillows

Bellroy makes several great travel wallets, but the wallet we found most like the wallet you probably already carry is the bifold Travel Wallet. It's got a fine all leather make and will hold a passport, cash, train tickets, and up to 10 cards. What's cool is the wallet comes with a micro pen that hangs inside the wallet's spine, which we found to be useful when wanting to write down recommendations of places to visit from friends and other travelers.

Looks can be deceiving due to the wallet's traditional bifold design. It measures 3.8-inches tall by 6-inches wide, so it is big. Overall we find it to be a great minimalist travel wallet with a classic style that blends in nicely in all environments.

Read more: Best Travel Backpacks

This reasonably priced wallet from Fjallraven is made with a durable waxed waterproof canvas and a YKK zippered closure to protect all your documents and cards from the elements. Inside are 5 card pockets, 2 cash pockets, and 1 zippered coin pouch. Looking for the passport pocket? That would be behind the coin pouch—it's a nice and discrete design note, we know.

If you're looking for a rugged wallet with waterproofing and protection but don't want to pay over $100, this is a solid option. Fjallraven fans will see this wallet has the same quality construction like the brand's other gear, which is a great sign because the maker is one of the best valued outdoor brands out there.

Read more: Best Travel Pants

The design of a good AirTag wallet is still being perfected, but that doesn't mean we don't like what's already on the market. If you're looking for a travel wallet you can store your AirTag in, this one from Lumberjack Plaid is our latest favorite.

It comes in a sleek and stylish leather (3 colors available) and features a passport pocket, a long pocket for tickets and cash, and 3 card slots. You get all this for $40, which is an excellent value for such a quality wallet. Just be aware the leather can show scratches pretty easily; most notably on the dark leather.

Read more: Best Travel Gadgets

Made to fall in line with all your other Tumi luggage, the Passport Case comes in a sleek, all-black look with more interior space than one might think. We're talking a passport pocket, a billfold compartment, an ID window, 2 slip pockets, and 8 card pockets. You get the best of both worlds with this wallet: great style and high functionality. Well done Tumi, well done.

Read more: Best Luggage Brands

We get it, many of us aren't jet-setting out of the U.S. several times in a year. Nonetheless it's important to have a passport wallet even if you're only getting out of the country once in a blue moon. For overseas trips that are few and far between, this RFID-blocking leather travel passport case for under $30 on Amazon will do the job. It will also give off style points, as the leather has a nice rich look to it that holds up well when used sparingly.

Due to the stitching and overall quality of the materials we'd say this wallet might not be suitable for high levels of use. But because it carries a high durability and functionality for the price, we recommend it as a great travel wallet for those who might need to take a passport with them only once or twice in a year.

If you want to go with a more secure wallet, this thin travel pouch can be strapped around the waist and hold your passport, cash, cards, and more. The pouch itself has RFID tech built-in so you get another level of safety. Plus the pouch is made from water-resistant ripstop, so you won't have to worry about any of your items getting soaked from rain.

One note to point out is even though the price point of this belt is incredibly good, we believe the thin fabric could wear down faster over time than some of the other wallets on this list.

Read more: Best Travel Shoes

The Apex wallet is made with fine leather that's heat bonded instead of being stitched. The result is a unique design that, when closed, fully encases the inner contents of the wallet from the outside elements. The Apex will hold a passport, cash, and 2-4 cards. And just like the Travel Wallet, you get a small micro pen that can be stored inside on the wallet's spine.

Read more: Best Over-Ear Headphones

Handcrafted from USA heritage leather, Shinola's Utility Passport Wallet is truly made to age like fine wine. When opening up the wallet, one side contains a passport pocket while the other has 5 faille-lined pockets for your cards. It's not the most feature-loaded travel wallet on this list, and it's certainly not the cheapest, but if you're looking for something simple and timeless then this is the one.

You're not going to find another travel wallet like this one, and that's the point. Texas boot-maker Tecovas went and took the same authentic American alligator leather it uses for its boots and crafted the material into a passport case. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece with a passport pocket and 4 exterior card pockets. What's cool is you can even monogram it.

Of course the price point on this wallet is almost like buying a luxury good, but really the only qualm we have with the wallet is its availability. Sometimes it's popularity gets the best of it, and so you might have to turn to the Ostrich Passport Case or the original Passport Case —two excellent alternatives, no less.

Malbon Golf Yacht Club Passport Holder

The streetwear-inspired golf brand Malbon Golf has been turning out tons of cool pieces this year. One of its products that has flown under-the-radar is this pebbled leather passport holder. We were surprised to open it up and see tons of card space to go with the passport pocket. And as far as style goes, it comes with cool embossments on the front and inner pocket and is available in three colors.

Read more: Best Golf Clothing Brands

Tanner Goods Leather Passport Travel Wallet

If you liked the full leather of the Shinola travel wallet but wished it had a different interior configuration, then this travel wallet from Tanner Goods is a great alternative. Inside is a passport pocket with a small card pocket on top of the passport flap, plus two additional card slots on the other side.

The wallet might not hold a lot, but if you want a minimalist leather wallet with great style and a thin silhouette, then you'll be happy with this choice.

Zero Grid Travel Wallet Passport Holder

Similar to the belted travel wallet we featured earlier, this passport holder can be used as a sling bag and is made with waterproof ripstop and covered with RFID blocking material. What's cool is it zips shut, closing in the passport and up to 10 cards that can fit on the inside. You also get a small stylus that you can hang on the wallet's spine.

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Buying a quality travel wallet is going to look a lot like buying your everyday wallet, but the two are not the same. Here's what you need to know.

• Durability: Making sure your travel wallet is tough and made of good materials is of utmost importance. After all, this is your last line of defense to your passport—the most important document you need when traveling overseas. This prior notion is why we loved reviewing travel wallets made from tear-resistant and water-resistant materials (like the Pioneer Travel Wallet). Premium leather is also a good material to protect your passport, as the leather provides a thick layer to keep moisture and dust from getting to your papers.
• Security Features: Some travel wallets comes with RFID (radio-frequency identification) lining to help prevent RFID theft. It's true this type of crime doesn't happen a lot, but it is possible, and so buying a travel wallet with RFID lining does add a level of security to your essentials. Another security feature to look for are zippered or snap closures that help keep your passport and cards sealed off. We like these closures because it helps limit the chances of any items accidentally falling out when traveling—which happens more than one might think.
• AirTag Tracking: Although we only have one AirTag travel wallet we like right now, we anticipate more of these types of wallets to hit the market in the coming year. AirTag wallets have become a huge hit thanks to their tracking abilities, and so any travel wallet that can incorporate an AirTag in a slimming and discrete way should be considered on your shortlist of what travel wallets to buy.

Can You Use a Passport Covers as A Wallet?

Travel wallets, also sometimes referred to as passport wallets, are the best possible choice for carrying your passport and your cash and cards. Travel wallets are not to be confused with passport covers, which are simply covers you can slide over your passport to add a level of protection.

Passport covers do theoretically have space where you could slide some cash plus 1-2 cards inside, but those spaces oftentimes make your valuables prone to falling out. A passport cover is not designed to hold anything more than a passport, and so whatever else you put in there is going to be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Stick to a travel wallets for cash, card, and passport carry.

Why Trust Us

In order to keep up with new new designs and releases, the MH tech and gear team is continually testing all of the latest everyday carry accessories to make sure our recommendations reflect the top products within each space.

When it comes to travel wallets, we acquire and call in the latest releases to test, and then we take them out into the real world. At any given point, writers and editors in our office are traveling, and so we plan accordingly whenever we are going to be up in the air to take one or two travel wallets with us to see how they perform. Lastly, we take a hands-on look at the travel wallets up close. We inspect everything from the material to the build of the wallet to determine it's durability and whether or not the price point reflects the overall quality.

How We Selected

Our MH commerce team thoroughly researched and tested dozens of the best travel wallets, from budget to designer to premium, gift-worthy models. We noted everything from how snug the wallet fit an American passport to how the interior card slots were organized. We also considered fabric quality (especially when it came to leather) and price. The list above represents our honest picks for the best travel wallets of 2023.

Christian Gollayan oversees e-commerce content for Men's Health and Women's Health. Previously, he was the Associate Managing Editor at TheManual.com. Christian's work has also been featured in Food & Wine, InStyle, the New York Post, and Tatler Asia.

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The Best Wallets for Men of 2024

While cash and cards may be losing the long game to digital transactions, for now we still need to carry ID, cards, and occasionally some cash. Pick right, and this maybe the last wallet you will ever need to buy.

Wallets are the original everyday carry. Right next to our keys and phone, as guys we bring wallets everywhere we go. It keeps our ID, cards (and sometimes cash) organized and easy to find.

To find the best wallets for 2024, we browsed brand offerings, spoke with industry insiders, and scoured the internet to find the best options available. We then narrowed our search by capping our spend at $150. A good wallet can last a lifetime and it should reduce financial stress. We’d rather keep more cash in the wallet instead of on the purchase.

What makes the perfect wallet? We look at materials, cut, construction, and general usability. To test the wallets, we study the technical details then slot them full with cards and cash, and pocket them to tease out their strengths and weaknesses. A good wallet keeps everything in reach and secures your cards without being too fussy. In short, it should be an extension of your everyday life that works with your lifestyle.

Our wallet buyer guide focuses on bonafide wallets — the heavy hitters for carrying cards and cash. It’s fair to say the 400-year tradition of carrying a wallet is likely following the trend of petrol automobiles, Necco wafers, and Huy Fong Sriracha. So let’s make the best of it. Bi-fold, tri-fold, mid, trucker — we’ve curated the top wallet options available for men in 2024. And if you buy right, this may very well be the last wallet you’ll ever need.

With more options than ever to keep your cash these days, our guide culls the best from the spare change, pointing you in the right direction. If you’re just coming into the age where a wallet becomes necessary (or have avoided one until now), consider reading up on the finer points in our Buyer’s Guide and FAQ sections, or weigh your options with our Comparison Chart . Otherwise, settle up and read on.

Best Men’s Wallets of 2024

• Best Overall Men’s Wallet: Bellroy Hide & Seek
• Best Budget Men’s Wallet: Herschel Roy
• Best Leather Men’s Wallet: Tanner Goods Utility Bifold
• Best Synthetic Men’s Wallet: Pioneer Carry Flyfold
• Best Minimal Men’s Wallet: Distal Wally Bifold 5

Bellroy Hide & Seek

• Material Premium eco-tanned leather
• Card Slots 7, plus extra
• Cash Sleeve 2
• Slide Pockets N/A
• Weight 2.0 oz.
• Size 4.5 x 3.2 inches
• RFID Blocking Yes

• Hidden sleeve stores large bills and coins
• Fantastic leather feel
• Slim design remains slim when filled
• Folding flap covering hidden cash sleeve is fidgety
• Coin purse feels bulky when filled with currency and is cumbersome to access

Any good wallet can hold your cards and cash. A truly great wallet does this with thoughtful, user-inspired design. A bellwether of minimal, modern design, the Bellroy Hide & Seek ($89) packs a lot of cool functionality in a slim wallet, making it our top wallet for 2024.

Open the wallet and your high-use cards are on display like a museum. Three on the right, one on the left, there are no slide pockets under the middle panel, so the cards card sleeves sit front and center on an uncluttered, smooth, one-piece panel.

True to the name, the Hide & Seek utilized spaces you didn’t think you needed. An extra stealth card slot hides inside panel with the cash sleeve. Open the cash sleeve, and a second cash sleeve tucks under a leather flap, with an additional card sleeve tucked hidden away. A multipurpose card sleeve is sewn into the cash sleeve divider and can hold a handful of second-tier cards–those cards you occasionally need, but want to have on hand. The sleeves are all cut with minimal tolerance, securing the cards in place.

The combination of quick grab-and-go sleeves plus hidden sleeves makes the Hide & Seek a great choice for those who carry large bills or high-limit business cards that only see occasional use.

Our lead wallet man-on-the-ground, Steve Grapel, recently traveled to Sayulita, Mexico where cash is king. Credit cards simply aren’t taken, and Steve had to carry a stack of bills to pay his way through the week. He would tuck the larger $500MXD in the back panel and keep the smaller bills up front — limiting potentially dropping a $500MXD when fumbling for cash and ensuring discretion on the street.

The rub is that if you need to access those extra hidden sleeves regularly, these far-away corners in the wallet can be cumbersome to reach. There are plenty of options to cache bills and plastic, so this shouldn’t be an issue. The hidden coin purse tucked away is similarly tough to wrangle change from, and we generally avoid keeping much in there.

The premium leather is constructed from environmentally certified leather sourced from Leather Working Group gold-rated tanneries. In short, its a consortium of tanneries that keep high environmental and labor standards. We particularly liked that the wallet’s edges are cut on the round, resisting catching on pockets.

Even though the wallet holds a substantial amount of contents, the Bellroy Hide & Seek remains a svelte wallet, even when fully slotted. Which, in the end, is what we all want anyway.

Herschel Roy

• Material 600D recycled EcoSystem nylon
• Card Slots 6
• Cash Sleeve 1
• Slide Pockets 2
• Size 4.2 x 3.5 inches

• Durable recycled outer material
• Thin profile
• Bargain price
• 15 color options
• Synthetic material is less formal

The lowest price can bring a lot of surprise and compromise. We were pleased to see the quality of build and stoutness of Herschel’s Roy in a wallet frequently selling well under the list price of $30.

On the outside, the Roy looks like your traditional wallet. Open the wallet and you will see the cash sleeve and slide pockets lined with a bright candy stripe material. A small tag of the stripe material is sewn into the edge of the wallet for just a touch of flair.

We often see bright liners sewn inside backpacks and bike packing bags. The lighter color brightens dark spaces, making it easier to see the contents in dim conditions. It’s a nice touch and the Roy is the only wallet on our list that does this.

Six slots are horizontally sewn into the wallet, over two larger multi-use slide pockets. When opened, the cash sleeve yawns open like it should, making it easier to access your cash.

This synthetic wallet feels like a heavy Cordura, but it’s not. The Vancouver, B.C. brand incorporates environmentally conscious materials and sources the fabric from recycled water bottles. Fortunately, we don’t have to pay a lot to reduce our carbon footprint.

The Herschel Roy retails for $30 but can be found on Amazon for just under $15, which makes this an easy decision if pennies are tight. Herschel also sells the Roy in vegan leather ($40) and a TPU-coated weatherproof wallet ($38) — either are an excellent buy.

Tanner Goods Utility Bifold

• Material 3.5 oz. natural tooling leather 
• Card Slots 4
• Cash Sleeve yes
• Weight 3.0 oz.
• Size 4.2 x 3.2 inches
• RFID Blocking No

• Full grain veg-tanned leather
• High quality build
• Handcrafted by machine in U.S.A.
• Takes a while to break in
• Trends bulky

At some point in your life, you should own a high-quality, vegetable-tanned leather wallet. We recommend one from Tanner Goods, and the Utility Bifold ($130) is about as good as it gets.

“Veg-tanned” leather is treated with natural tannins found in bark and grasses that preserve the leather. Using organic agents, the tanning process skirts toxic chemicals and is better for the environment. Instead, organic tannins adhere to the collagen proteins in the hide, leaving them less water-soluble and more resistant to bacteria.

The hide looks untouched, and ages over time. The leather eventually gets that aged patina look from the oils on your hands and rubbing against the material in your pocket.

The Utility Bifold is your standard, ‘traditional’ bifold wallet. With four card sleeves, two hidden multipurpose slide pockets, and a large cash sleeve, this shouts ‘dad wallet.’ The Utility Wallet is great not because of all the whizbang design, but because it’s holding onto the tradition of fine leatherwork.

The 3.5-grain leather is stout but flexible. The slots and sleeves are machine-cut and sewn together with a hearty nylon cord. All the edges are burnished and waxed, giving them longevity and a smooth edge to pocket. The stiffness out of the gate is pretty stout, so it will take some time for the leather to break in.

This is a burly wallet, but by no means the fattest of the wallets we’ve seen. For one, it is still a bifold and the leather feels pliable in the hand. Over time, the leather feels smooth and supple. The limited card slots also prevent you from overstuffing the wallet with too much credit.

At $125, the Tanner Goods Utility Bifold is not a cheap wallet. But if you admire traditional craftsmanship and the finer things, this wallet becomes part of your personality and will do so for years to come.

Pioneer Carry Flyfold

• Material 10XD — ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene that is 10x stronger than steel
• Card Slots 2 slide pockets, with room for 8 cards each
• Weight 1.2 oz.

• Very durable
• Waterproof material with a DWR finish
• Inwardly facing card slots can hold lots of cards (up to 16)
• Minimal and futuristic
• Also available in a matte 3-ply material
• Slick material did drop a card
• Maybe too deconstructed for some
• Thin material takes away from the structure, making handling cash harder

Stripping down the bifold to the basics and wrapping what’s left in a durable synthetic material, the Pioneer Carry Flyfold ($85) is a cool-as-hell wallet that is virtually indestructible.

Pioneer Carry’s North Star is textile science, and this shows in the material choices made with their bill-folds. The Flyfold is constructed from a proprietary ballistic polymer that is reputedly 10 times stronger than steel. We’re no man of steel, but it clearly feels like a high-strength cash slinger. And it made for a good daily carry while logging hours in the saddle this spring.

A touch narrower and much slimmer than a traditional leather wallet, the Flyfold is a more minimalist wallet. With two card slots and a single cash sleeve, it’s on the edge of minimal. That said, the card sleeves can slot a stack of plastic. In fact, it works better with more cards than less. We filled ours up with nine on each side, and there was still room to spare. Loaded, the wallet takes on more form and locks in your credit more securly.

If you want a more insular card-carrying slot solution, we recommend looking at Pioneer’s Division wallet. The rub is, we found the synthetic material to be slick. One card popped out while testing the Flyfold. The saving grace is that all of the card slots face inward on the Flyfold. The Division slots the cards in horizontally stacked sleeves, which exposes cards to slide out.

Being synthetic and ultra-thin, the Pioneer Carry Flyfold feels futuristic. Pure functional need drives the deconstructed form. It’s a back-to-the-basics bifold that shouts brutalist inspiration. It’s also very easy to carry a stack of plastic and incredibly durable on the road. We like to carry this wallet while backpacking and on bike rides that involve sweat, wear and tear, and a potential rain shower that might work against a more traditional leather wallet.

Distal Wally Bifold 5.0

• Material Full-grain leather 
• Cash Sleeve Clip
• Size 4.2 x 3 inches

• Pocketable size fits great in front pockets
• Very secure
• Easy to count cash
• Magnet system can be hard to work with
• Can be hard to pull cash out from under the clip

GearJunkie has an entire buyer’s guide dedicated to minimalist wallets , where we listed the aluminum Ridge Wallet as our favorite of the bunch. This guide punches a little higher in carry-ability, and one of the cooler — but still minimal — designs we saw this year comes from Distal, with its Wally Bifold 5.0 ($89).

A truly minimalist wallet, the Wally doesn’t have a cash sleeve, and clips currency under the center stainless spring clip. Open the Wally and it’s impossible to miss it.

For more everyday carry, the Wally has two card sleeves on the inside. Each can slot four cards with no problem. But you don’t even need to open the wallet to access more frequently used cards. Color-coded nylon tabs sit on the outside of each side of the wallet — one matches the wallet color, and the other is red. Pull the tabs to extract another set of 4 cards tucked away inside the wallet sidewalls. Color coding helps visual learners recall what we tucked away where. And we loved that these pull tabs are magnetic as well, preventing them from flopping around or inadvertently pulling out.

The Wally is also the most secure wallet we tested. From time to time, we found a card popping out of a slot in other wallets. But that’s impossible with the Wally. MagLoc magnet tabs snap the wallet sleeves shut, keeping everything safely tucked away. When slotted with cards, you can bypass the pull tab and simply squeeze the wallet to open up the outer slots. The wallet automatically snaps back shut.

This minimal bifold is wrapped in a buttery soft leather hide and sits a good half-inch shorter than the standard 4.5” x 3.5” size wallet. The combination feels great in the hand and slides easily into the front pocket without feeling too unsubstantial (one gripe we have with the Ridge is that it is both small and yet bulky).

If you primarily carry cards and only occasionally use cash, this is a great wallet to split the difference with a bias towards plastic. Pinned under a clip, tender is easy to sort through and see what you have on hand. It can be a little difficult to pull paper bills out of the clip. Being the minimalist type of guy he is, the Distal Wally Bifold 5.0 will likely become the new everyday carry of our wallet expert.

Distal Union thrives in exploring better solutions for everyday carry and have a knack for classy, useful product design. In addition to the Wally, we have been looping their MagLock sunglasses , and magnetic KeyLoop kit into our daily EDC rotation.

Claasico Slim Bifold RFID Wallet

• Material Leather
• Card Slots 7
• Weight 2.3 oz.
• Size 4.5 x 3.5 inches

• Lots of storage, including hidden sleeves
• 12 color options
• Clear ID card slot
• Leather feels slick and unnatural

With multiple slots and a pair of cash sleeves, the Claasico Slim Bifold ($28) is a solid upgrade from a canvas wallet. The full-grain leather is a big contributor here. Sure, it may be your first job, but with this leather wallet, you can still join the team for lunch and look good paying for it.

With nine card slots in total, there is ample room to keep your credit. Additional cards can be tucked in the hidden multipurpose sleeves that sit under the card slot panel. For more card storage, a pair of “hidden” card slots hide behind the second cash sleeve.

While not truly hidden as Bellroy’s Hide & Seek , the additional slots and sleeves help itemize your currency. And given the Hide & Seek doesn’t have a multipurpose slide pocket for extra cards, the Claasico gives you more flexibility to store receipts and extra cards.

But it’s still a $30 wallet. The leather feels a bit unnaturally slick, and the sidewall has a semi-ridged insert that makes it feel stiff. It’s just not as refined a wallet and doesn’t feel as comfortable in the hand. But if you are on a budget, the Claasico Slim Bifold is a great choice that still leaves more cash in the wallet.

Fossil Derrick RFID Flip ID Bifold

• Card Slots 10
• Weight 2.5 oz.

• Ample card of storage
• Clear flip ID flap with two slots
• Free embossing if purchased online
• Easy to overload, making it uncomfortable to carry

Fossil is a mega umbrella brand that owns everything from watches (Zodiac) to luxury handbags (Kate Spade) to designer clothing (DNKY). So it is no surprise that the Fossil Derrick RFID Flip ID Bifold ($60) caters to the mall shopper, though you will find better prices on Amazon.

With the Derrick, you get decades of design and quality that goes into this leather upgrade. The 10 card slots include two clear ID slots that hide in an FBI-style flip-panel. A single cash sleeve holds the bills.

We did find that a stack of slotted cards limits how far and easy it is to open the cash sleeve. And the ID flap adds extra volume to the otherwise slim wallet. It ends up being a lot of leather and plastic, which restricts access to the cash sleeve and adds to the overall thickness of the wallet. Fully loaded, it’s uncomfortable to sit on.

If you can show restraint from overloading it, the Fossil Derrick is a well-constructed wallet and a great choice for those who just want a traditional wallet with slots for every card, including that stack of half-used gift cards from Macy’s you used to buy the wallet.

Silca Borsa Eco

• Material Recycled leather
• Card Slots 1 zippered inside pocket
• Slide Pockets
• Size 7 x 4 inches

• Holds your phone
• Water resistant
• It’s a large wallet is best in stowed in the cycling jersey
• Relatively sport-specific

A non-traditional wallet from our cycling friends at Silca, the Borsa Eco ($40) is like a modern trucker wallet — just for those making the long haul on the steel pony.

It is long enough to stash flat bills, has a zippered pocket for coins and keys, and holds our iPhone in the main sleeve. The contents are padded with Silca’s buttery smooth leather outer, and the entire wallet zips shut, securing all the goods. 

Silca makes some of our favorite seat bags and cycling tools, so it’s no surprise they make a quality wallet. The Borsa Eco is too unwieldy for most to carry it as a daily wallet, but it’s a great zip up bag when you are playing outside and will likely stuff it in a top bag or jersey. And at just $40, it’s kind of a no brainer for those who ride with a device.

Flowfold Traveler Trifold Wallet

• Material Composite racing sailcloth
• Card Slots 3
• Weight 0.9 oz.
• Size 3.2 x 4.2 inches

• Ample storage
• Roomy cash sleeve
• Slim profile for a tri-fold design
• Not suitable for formal use

We typically don’t like trifold wallets. While they can store a lot, they end up folding to about a third more in thickness. And when stacked with cards, this is exaggerated even more so. But we love the thin sailcloth material Flowfold uses to make its Traveler Wallet ($45). It’s light and durable, and it folds up thin.

Unlike many Flowfold wallets, the Traveler only uses the clear composite racing X-Ply sailcloth on the inside card sleeves. The outer shell is made from a traditional nylon-type fabric that keeps outside eyes from looking in. But all the sleeves remain clear and visible so you can better see what you have stacked where.

That sailcloth is rugged stuff, too, and being a composite material it’s got legs when it comes to long-term durability — even after a life being folded along the same lines day after day. And if you’re after a greater measure of the stuff, the Traveler is also available in a full sailcloth variation , all for the same price. These wallets don’t have the classy look we’re after to compliment our formal attire, but for casual kicking around, they fit the bill.

Because the wallet is a trifold, you get the added benefit of extra length which means you have more room to access the cash sleeve. This also gives the Flowfold Traveler more room to stash receipts — as well as accommodate odd-shaped foreign bills. We just recommend frequently cleaning out the wallet to reduce the amount of bulk.

Filson Bridle Leather Bi-Fold Wallet

• Material 5.0 oz. vegetable-tanned bridle leather

• Handcrafted in Seattle
• Durable construction with bonded nylon thread stitching
• Limited card storage

For a while, tester Steve Graepel carried a €50 note in his wallet. It was a keepsake from a trip to Italy that he needed to cash in years later on another bike ride in Slovenia. It was dark and raining, his crew was running late, and he needed a round of beers. The legacy note was tattered from bumping around for years, and while frayed bills often get declined in the EU, fortunately, the barkeep exchanged the bill for two tall pints and change.

The takeaways are: 1) always have beer money, and 2) not a lot of wallets consider how to protect paper currency. Folded and stuffed in a pocket, overtime bills will wear away like any other paper. Filson’s Bridle Leather Bi-Fold Wallet ($150) is handmade from a fat-in-the-hand, 5-ounce bridle leather. In other words, it’s the good stuff. The classic bill-fold is simple in design, with no frills, and the accouterments amounting to six card slots and a large cash sleeve.

But what we love about this billfold is the strip of leather at the top of the cash sleeve. The overlapping smooth leather tab glued to the inner sleeve has only one singular function: to protect bills from getting worn down by the spine of the wallet — even those crisp bills that overstay their welcome in the wallet. You know, the Euro.

Like the Tanner Goods Utility , the Bridle wallet is made from veg-tanned leather sewn together with a durable nylon thread and finished with a burnished and waxed edging. Both are great and both run into the $125+ range, which is real money. The Utility wallet has the same number of card slots, but Filson’s begins to feel stout quickly. And we don’t recommend double-stacking cards, as they get tight in the leather slots, and are hard to extract (they will loosen up over time).

Both are great wallets. The Tanner Goods Utility wallet comes naked and untouched. It takes time and patience to break the leather in. We recommend Filson Bridle Leather Bi-Fold to those who are looking for a well-heeled look straight out of the box. It’ll cost you, but the rest of your cash will sure be sitting pretty once you spring for it.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Minimalist Wallet

• Material Dyneema composite fabric
• Weight 0.7 oz.

• Lightest wallet in our testing
• Very durable DCF150 fabric
• Inherently waterproof
• Cash sleeve is small
• Less formal

Treading back towards minimal territory, we wrap our roundup with the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Minimalist Wallet ($45). Constructed from scrap Dyneema composite fabric — a material we more often see in ultralight tents than wallets — the fabric is light, durable, and, dare we say, ballistic.

Another no-frills wallet, HMG’s Minimalist is a good keeper of everyday items you might want to throw in the rucksack or bring with you to the gym. It’s waterproof, durable, and readily holds the essentials. Four card pockets are flanked by two hidden ones, and we found these to load up and retain our plastic well.

Small design flaw we caught — the cash sleeve doesn’t open up as well as other wallets. This is partly because the two layers constructing the sleeve are too close to each other. Ideally, the cash sleeve should open slightly when you open the wallet. To make this work, the two sleeve liners need to be offset with the back panel just big enough to force the back wall to dimple out and open the cash sleeve. HMG’s two sleeves are very close in size, and the material has very little structure, so the cash sleeve doesn’t open great, and the wallet is just a few cm short of 4.5″ wide, which all works against good access to your cash.

But you are still getting a wallet measured in grams (all 20 of them) over ounces. And the gram counters in the room will overlook carrying cash anyway. If you’re fresh off your last thru-hike (or maybe midstream and need to keep the pack weight down), the HMG Minimalist Wallet makes the grade.

Wallet Comparison Chart

How we tested men’s wallets.

Testing History

Wallets were originally designed to keep our coins and paper currency close and easy to sort. Currency has changed forms — nowadays we reach for plastic more than paper — but the need remains the same. We like to keep our legal tender organized and easy to find.

To test wallets, our lead wallet man, Steve Graepel, reads reviews from top sites and contacts manufacturers directly. Graepel has pocketed over 30 wallets this year and the team at GearJunkie keeps a lively thread about what works best (and what doesn’t).

Testing wallets isn’t complicated. We look at the number of cards, the wallet slots, and the direction in which the cards stack. We also note how easy it is to extract contents and what backs up the line at the Co-op. We prefer a bi-fold style wallet that can hold a small amount of bills and keeps cards put. Wallets that spit cards need not apply.

Construction and materials may cut deeper in cost, but the investment in quality adds years (if not decades) to the backend of your investment. Vegetable (veg)-tanned leather looks bleached and raw out of the box, but earns a patina through wear and oils on the hands. The wallet ages a dark, golden brown as an expression of you. A wallet constructed from aero-grade aluminum, like Ridge, will likely outlast your personal taste.

We look at the stitching consistency and construction around the spine. Poorly constructed wallets will have exposed raw edges or unevenly cut material. These issues are mostly found in hand-made leather wallets, but are less of an issue with bigger brand wallets found on our list. This shouldn’t exclude handmade wallets. Some of the very best wallets are handcrafted with near-perfect execution.

The biggest change in billfold technology might be the reduction in size. With the increase in plastic (and digital currency), slim, minimalist wallets can slot upwards of eight cards. Just enough to case your ID, insurance, and a few credit cards. If this describes how you traffic in change, give our best minimalist wallet guide a look.

Steve Graepel has worked at GearJunkie as a contributing editor since 2009, testing everything from packrafts, to bike bags, cycling bibs, sleeping bags, winter boots, and trail runners. His latest beat is travel pants, flannels, and now wallets, which falls in line with his obsession with old Land Rovers and field watches. Before his time as a “fashion blogger,” he wrote for Travel Idaho, National Geographic Adventure, Patagonia’s Tin Shed, Trail Runner, and Gear Patrol. Graepel’s favorite wallet is the duct tape wallet made by his daughter, though you will usually find him pocketing a mid-bifold veg-tanned wallet from Stock and Barrel Co.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Wallet For You

Types of Wallets

Give a man an inch, and he’ll find ten ways to count it. The same goes for wallets. There are multiple forms to store your currency. The top contenders are as follows:

Tried and true, the bill-fold icon, the bifold wallet is as simple as it gets. Wider than tall, it folds once down the middle, slots cards horizontally with ease, and has a large single sleeve to hold paper bills. The benefit of the bifold is in its simplicity. A single fold keeps the wallet slimmer and is generally more comfortable to carry and sit on. And it does it without losing storage space. This makes it a great choice for the average buyer. Bellroy’s Hide & Seek , Herschel’s Roy, Tanner Leather Good’s Utility, and Pioneer Carry’s Flyfold are all great bifold-style bill-folds.

As the name implies, the tri-fold wallet folds three times. While this may buy you more card-slotting real estate, it loses ground with cash. Filled with bills, it can feel more bulky in the pocket. This inevitably causes wear on your bills and feels more uncomfortable to sit on. We only included on tri-fold wallet this round. Flowfold’s Traveler does a great job of folding into a tight, clean bill-fold.

Simple as it sounds, a card case has 4 to 8 slots for cards. We don’t include these on this list. But if you are interested in options, you can check them out on our minimalist wallet buyers guide .

Even though our lead tester carries a wallet daily, his phone case from Bellroy has a card slot that can carry a card or three. This is especially useful while traveling, where it can be used to keep hotel keys with the phone. Since we never go anywhere without my phone, we don’t leave the room without the door key. Easy.

Falling somewhere between the bifold and card case sits the mid-wallet. Taller than wide, the mid vertically slots between 4-8 cards and usually two hidden slide pockets that sits behind the card slots. The slide pockets can temporarily keep a folded bill or receipt. We usually keep a few extra cards in these slots.

With the spine on the vertical, the mid drops nicely in the pocket (either front or back), but it tends to be less comfortable to sit on. Since a mid is so small, they slide comfortably into the front pocket and are a good balance for those who carry less cash. Mid’s trend more minimal, so we didn’t include any mid-wallets in our roundup this year. The closest to a mid in our lineup is from Distal, and its Wally Bifold 5.0 snaps shut into a 4.2″ x 3″ card carrier with easy card access from the outside. It’s genius.

Trucker Wallet

If the card and mid-wallets are cash minimalists, the trucker is a max-cash wallet. Bills and receipts are sleeved flat on one side of the bifold-style wallet, with the other side gilled with card slots. These days, this style of wallet is often more of a fashion statement. They can be impressively embossed with detailed leather crafting, silver hardware, and a braided leather or metal chain that hook to your belt.

We included one wallet that qualifies as trucker in style. The Borsa Eco from Silca can carry cash, coins, and store a midsize device, making it a great choice to stow in the jersey while out on a long bike ride.

Zippered Wallet

Zipping the contents of the wallet closed prevents loose change from spilling out. These types of wallets are more popular in the EU, where coins are frequently used. Given we don’t use a lot of change on this side of the pond, we don’t see a lot of zippered-styled wallets in the U.S. market. However, we did like what Silca’s Borsa Eco, which zips shut.

Analyze How Much You Carry

Before you open your… um wallet, give some thought about how much you need to carry in said wallet, and how it’ll fit into your everyday carry system . Look at what you currently carry and what’s sitting on the shelf in short rotation. At a minimum, you’ll probably carry a state ID and a credit card and/or debit card. Add in an insurance card, Costco card, and maybe a corporate card, and you’ll need around six slots. If you carry cash, a paper bill sleeve is helpful. Pockets billowing with loose change? You might want a small coin purse with a snap or zipper closing the wallet shut.

A mid or bifold is great for mostly credit cards and a limited amount of bills. It’s a step up from the minimalist ‘no-cash’ policy, and keeps a curated set of credit and ID on hand.

If you use cash (or as a parent, dole out cash), a bifold or tri-fold wallet has a sleeve for paper bills and slots for cards. Rolling cash heavy and you want to make a statement (and have the selvedge denim to back it up), you might be a long, trucker-wallet-kinda guy.

What style you choose is up to you. But invest in the quality of materials, build construction, and details like slow-burnished leather sewn together with clean, straight synthetic stitching. Attention to detail pays you back in years of use.

Traditional wallets are made from either chromium-tanned or vegetable-tanned leather. Chrome-tanned leather is chemically cured. On the other hand, veg-tanned leather is processed with natural ingredients like tree bark and leaves. The organic tannins adhere to the collagen proteins in the hide, leaving them less water-soluble and more resistant to bacteria. The hide can look untouched, fair, and entirely vulnerable. That’s by design.

Like denim, the patina is earned through years of use, darkening over time by rubbing against the pocket and the natural oils on your skin, giving the wallet character. Both Filson’s Bridle and Tanner Goods’ Utility wallet are made from veg-tanned leather. The Utility is a raw leather, which will patina over time.

Where the leather has been sourced also plays into quality. A bridle leather from Europe or the States will likely have fewer bug bites in the hide, than a leather sourced from India, Nicaragua, or China. These bites can scar and blemish the hide. This isn’t a universal trait. Just be mindful and give the leather a closer look.

A well-made wallet crafted from high-quality leather is ideal for people who want a more classic look. With the right leather and construction, leather wallets can last for decades.

But leather isn’t the only game in town. Synthetic wallets can be constructed from bomber firehose cotton, recycled sailcloth, and even Tyvek, a synthetic fiber that is used in construction to weatherproof houses. If you’re lucky enough to get one, someone may spend the time to fold you a duct tape wallet.

A few — mostly card holders — are constructed from steel, aluminum, or titanium. While these are space-limiting, they feel comfortable in either the front or back pockets, and can last forever. The downside is a metal wallet can scratch against keys, so you may want to put a metal wallet in a separate pocket from your keys.

Construction

A huge part of durability is construction. A leather wallet can be made from the toughest rump of a rhino (don’t buy a rhino leather wallet), but are put together with shoddy craftsmanship. Cutting corners inevitably leads to the early retirement of a wallet.

While it’s easy to assume handmade implies be better. Cutting, punching, and stitching a wallet together requires years of accumulated artisanal skills to pull it off. Consistent patterns, stitched together with heavy gauge synthetic thread and burnished edges are much easier and consistently so by a machine. The rows of threads will be regular. The edges will be finished, and the card slots aligned straight and consistent.

We stopped by our local leather smith, Jared Greenwood , to chat up leather and hand-made construction. Greenwood meticulously cuts, punches, and stitches all his wallets by hand.

According to Greenwood, the money is on the construction. “A wallet always has friction in a pocket.” The best way add life to a wallet is through the stitch. Greenwood uses a saddle stitch. “It threads two needles to tie a knot between each stitch. If a thread breaks, it won’t fray or unravel. The longevity of a saddle stitch is far superior to a machine-sewn wallet.”

As you can guess, a handmade wallet isn’t cheap. The process can take between 6-10 hours to cut and sew each wallet, which can run into the hundreds of dollars. But it can be worth it. The investment usually brings a lifelong relationship with the wallet.

Poorly constructed wallets will have exposed raw edges or unevenly cut material. These issues are mostly found in cheap leather or synthetic leather wallets. A good wallet will finish all cut edges with edge dye or burnishing, a process that heats the edges, closes the pores and gives it that dark, seamless look.

All of the wallets on our list are well-built.

You get what you pay for — but only up to a point. It’s not a good sign if you invest more in your wallet than what’s left on the card slotted inside it. Steve picked up his first wallets at TJ MAXX for $15-20, and these wallets made a quick rotation through his pockets. “I was lucky to get more a few years out of them.”

The $15 wallet will likely use a lower-grade material and stitching that falls apart over time. A well-made leather wallet with higher-end materials will not only last longer than a poorly made one with inferior leather, but it will also look better as it ages. Steve’s current wallet from Stock and Barrel is over 10 years old and has many more left in the bank. No surprise — the key difference is in the materials and construction.

The same is true for other materials. Generally, you pay more for better build quality. That said, there are plenty of cheaper options out there. Just be prepared to replace a less expensive wallet sooner. Our bargain wallets start between $30-40, but can be found on sale for about half the price and will serve you well for many years before its time to upgrade.

RFID Explained

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. If your card is equipped with RFID, you can use it to tap or wave your card near a reader to make a purchase. This allows you to make transactions in seconds. An RFID card never has to leave your hand, so there’s no chance of you forgetting your card in the reader. If you’re not sure whether or not your card is RFID-enabled, look for a symbol that resembles a Wi-Fi symbol turned on its side.

As RFID technology becomes more prevalent, a trip to the grocery without waiting in a checkout line may be a reality. Semi-passive chips can be placed on anything to track inventory, associate the items in your cart with your card, and charge you before you walk out the door. While this technology has huge potential for streamlining shopping, it also raises some privacy and security concerns.

This convenience also makes it possible for a thief to find a way to skim your card with a portable scanner. Currently, many factors make this difficult for potential thieves. These include the necessary closeness, conspicuously wanding an NFC scanner next to another’s backside in public, and barriers between the card and the reader like a wallet with cash and other cards inside.

While the odds of your cards getting skimmed are unlikely, many wallets offer RFID blocking to completely eliminate any chances of this happening. This is mostly achieved by using materials that block or damp the signal put out from RFID-equipped cards and add a few extra dollars to the wallet’s price.

When your card is in the wallet, the material blocks the signal. When you take it out to use it, the signal is unfettered.

Is it worth it? RFID-blocking wallets typically only cost a few extra dollars. If it buys you peace of mind, you can’t really put a price on serenity. In reality, there are easier ways for thieves to swipe your data, and we recommend channeling your energy towards updating your passwords, regularly checking your credit reports for suspicious activities, and practicing safe online transactions.

Bellroy, Herschel, Distal, Pioneer Carry, Classico, and Fossil all have RFID blocking materials.

Organization

The only role of a card slot is to hold your cards, so they should do it well. In general, lesser quality, synthetic leather wallets can stretch and drop cards like leaves. But a high-quality synthetic card slot will resist stretching. That said, the Pioneer Carry Flyfold did shed a card while testing. The material is slick and when you don’t have a lot of cards in it, the cards sit loose. The saving grace is that the card slots face inwards, keeping cards from falling out.

Heavy-duty leather will mold their form around the cards, hugging them in place. The same rules apply if you double-stack your card slots. The leather will stretch to accommodate both cards. But if you remove a card from the stack, that stretched slot will drop cards.

Slots can stack vertically and horizontally. We’ve read some cases where mid-style wallets put too much stress on the stacked cards, causing cards to crack. The same could be said for sitting on your bifold if it’s dropped in vertically. We haven’t personally had that issue with our mid-wallets, but it’s something to keep in mind. It’s also another reason to consider carrying your wallet in your front pocket.

While cash is being used less and less in the U.S., it’s still common to use paper currency in other countries. And you still need something to protect and organize your cards. A wallet is the best way to do both.

An entire Seinfeld episode was dedicated to this discussion. And if we learned anything from George Castanza, less is more. It looks better and is more comfortable to carry.

A thinner wallet starts with reducing what you carry to just the essentials. Regularly remove outdated receipts and ask yourself if you need to carry that (for example) Costco card during the week, or if it sits next to your keys until the weekend.

Once you’ve culled the contents, consider a bifold over a tri-fold wallet. A tri-fold wallet folds paper bills three times as opposed to simply folding them over once in a bifold. In general, the ideal thickness should be about half an inch thick when full. A wallet should not be more than 3/4 of an inch thick. We loved how the Pioneer Carry Flyfold could rack up with a heavy set of cards and still have a thin presence.

Another contested debate, but studies show it’s better on your body and puts less stress on your cards when you carry your wallet in your front pocket. Plus your wallet is less exposed to would-be thieves when stored in the front pocket.

If you are traveling, take a look at our picks for best travel pants . We list plenty of options to comfortably and safely carry wallets on the go. For traveling to countries that dispense coins as change, we really like the Western Rise Evolution 2 Pants . It has a substantial coin pocket that’s easy to reach into.

It’s tough to beat an alloy wallet for longevity. Ridge uses aerospace-grade aluminum alloy. That said, a good leather wallet will last for years (especially if sewn together with a saddle stitch), look better over time, is more comfortable to handle, and easier to use when carrying cash.

Tanner Good’s Utility wallet is the most durable wallet on the list, with Filson’s Bridle a close second. If you prefer synthetic materials, Pioneer makes an incredibly durable wallet.

No. If it buys you peace of mind, it’s an inexpensive added cost. However, there are more effective ways to protect your personal data . Bellroy, Herschel, Distal, Pioneer Carry, Classico, and Fossil all use RFID blocking materials.

A simple card holder will be your simplest wallet. No folds, nor bulk; it can only hold a few cards, and that’s it. For a bit more room, we recommend a mid-wallet. While a small wallet, a mid-wallet has a small sleeve for cash (or extra cards).

Slim wallets are the most efficient bifold and we can’t fault anyone for using one. You just need to resist the urge to store unnecessary items in the slots and sleeves. We don’t have a true card or mid-wallet on this list. The Wally 5.0 from Distal comes close and is our favorite option for keeping your currency tight and tidy.

The Best Minimalist Wallets of 2024

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Steve Graepel is a Contributing Editor and Gear Tester at GearJunkie. He has been writing about trail running, camping, skiing, and general dirtbagging for 10+ years. When not testing gear with GearJunkie, he is a Senior Medical Illustrator on the Neurosurgery Team at Mayo Clinic. Based in Boise, Idaho, Graepel is an avid trail runner, camper, angler, cyclist, skier, and loves to introduce his children to the Idaho outdoors.

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The 8 Best Slim Wallets Will Last the Long Haul

These pocket-friendly styles get the job done.

Most Durable Slim Wallet

Carhartt standard front pocket wallet.

Best Slim Bifold Wallet

Leatherology thin bifold wallet.

Best Slim High-Tech Wallet

Ekster parliament slim leather wallet.

Best Slim RFID Wallet

Herschel supply co. charlie rfid card case.

Best Italian Slim Wallet

Il bisonte leather card case.

Coolest Slim Wallet

Celine homme logo-print embellished leather cardholder.

Best Minimalist Slim Wallet

Ettinger capra slim credit card case.

Best Luxe Slim Wallet

Berluti makore neo scritto venezia leather billfold wallet.

Instead of replacing it with a big, chunky wallet, stick to a slim design. This size will fit nicely into both the front and back pockets of your jeans , and the card slots will carry everything you need. What’s more, the best ones are deceptively durable, which is pretty much a top requirement. There’s a slim style for every type of money carrier out there; all you have to do is find the one that speaks to your personality and can fit into your pockets.

So to help, we rounded up eight stellar slim options, all of them different but all of them primed to last you for the long haul. Now go get the wallet (and the girl).

In terms of sturdy workwear, Carhartt always delivers. This sentiment also extends to its accessories, especially this wallet made of Cordura, a tech fiber that's heavy-duty and water-repellent. It’ll safeguard your ID, cards, and a few dollar bills. Plus, it’s designed to fit into your front pocket and features a handy D-ring for added security.

Leatherology’s ethos is based entirely on simplicity. The brand offers styles that are devoid of flash and gimmicks, instead focusing on sleek, quality designs. Case in point: This bifold wallet, which is made of soft full-grain leather and features fabric lining. Minimalist and effective, it does the job and looks good doing it. And if you want something to distinguish your wallet, Leatherology will do a personalized monogram up to four characters.

The point of technology is to improve a given situation. This is exactly what Ekster offers with its Parliament, a wallet that ejects cards (up to ten) according to preference with use of a push button. And if you’re prone to losing things, there’s also a tracking card (sold separately) that you can sync to your phone; it’ll emit a ring and display a map of where you last left the wallet.

Herschel’s time-tested travel bags are affordable and durable. The same can be said of the brand’s Charlie wallet, a compact card holder made of sturdy polyester with four slots that’ll hold the basics. All this and it’s equipped with RFID-blocking protection. Which means you won’t have to worry about someone stealing your identity when you’re traveling, preferably with one of the brand’s duffels .

This elegant card holder comes by way of Il Bisonte, an Italian label that crafts high-quality leather products. With four card slots and one ID slot, it’s got everything you need.

For the guy who likes to keep things cool and classy, Celine Homme is the way to go. With its all-over logo print, this sleek, slim wallet speaks louder than the money it’ll hold.

Don’t think twice about your wallet, or where you’re going to put everything that needs to fit inside. Ettinger’s simple goat-leather bifold comes with six slots for your cards, plus two pockets for bills, receipts, and any other junk you’re convinced you need to keep in your wallet.

If you want to pull a small dose of luxury out of your pocket every time you reach for your wallet, carry a Berluit bifold. With the brand’s iconic Scritto debossing, this high-end style has an elegance that’ll never fade away.

Other Styles We Love

• Buffway Slim Wallet ($16), for its RFID-blocking technology and affordability.
• Bellroy Flip Case ($89), for its secure hardshell and magnetic closure.
• ROYCE New York Personalized Leather RFID-Blocking Card Case ($75), for its minimalist design and RFID-blocking tech.
• Hermès Citizen Twill Cardholder ($470), for its timeless elegance and luxe craftsmanship.
• Tecovas Ostrich Bifold Card Case ($125), for its refined, rugged style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why opt for a slim wallet?

Not all things are better when they’re slim (e.g., pickings, wads of cash), but wallets certainly are. Yes, there’s a timeless luxury in slamming down a thick leather wallet and hearing that thwunk, but are thick wallets practical in an age when we’re always go-go-go?

Though people who carry cash are few and far between these days, everyone has cards on ’em. ID, credit, debit—maybe some punchable cards to redeem a free coffee. Storing them in a slim wallet built to keep things compact and tidy saves a lot of room in your pocket, whereas having a few cards in an otherwise mostly empty wallet just weighs you down all day.

Do slim wallets have RFID protection?

Some do! Options on this list, like the ones from Ekster and Herschel Supply Co., come with RFID protection, so you can feel secure even with a thin wallet.

How We Picked

There are thousands upon thousands of slim wallets on the market, so how did we possibly narrow it down to only eight?

Well—we’re hard to impress. Because our standards are high, the options here had to jump through some hoops to make it onto this list. From the cheapest wallet to the most expensive, we’ve done our due diligence in trying and researching all of these to ensure that the features, quality, and craftsmanship are worth the price. We want your wallet to last you for some time, so these styles are durable in both appearance and quality.

Plus, we know the modern man has a lot to carry, and the slim wallets we chose have a good carrying capacity for every day. Not to mention, they’re just damn stylish.

Why You Can Trust Esquire

We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.

When it comes to slim wallets, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our fashionable colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own wear. We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these slim wallets are the ones that are simply the best.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to start.

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

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