Finding a handy new wallet to hold all your essentials can make a big difference in your day-to-day. No more losing receipts, dropping cash, or someone stealing your card information. Are you in need of a wallet refresh? To help you get started, we’ve compiled a consensus list of the best men’s wallets, according to 15 experts.
While our cashless society is convenient, there are some drawbacks to contactless payments. One of them is RFID (radio-frequency identification) skimming. Many cards now have a chip that wirelessly transmits your payment information. RFID skimming is when someone uses an NFC (near-field communication) reader to steal that information during contactless payment. One solution is a feature known as RFID blocking, which prevents wireless theft. (The only wallet on our list that doesn’t include this feature is the Bellroy Slim Sleeve.)
You actually may want to use your new wallet to carry some cash. Why? Using cash may help you budget better, one survey finds. Fifty-one percent of those polled believe cash helps them better budget their money. Just over a third of respondents prefer to tip in cash. In fact, 77 percent say running out of cash is their pet peeve. And it’s always a good idea to have an emergency cash stash—three-quarters of respondents keep a stash averaging about $89.
Ready to find your new wallet to hold all your loot? Check out our list of the best men’s wallets, according to experts. You’re sure to find high quality and style among them! Know of a great pick that doesn’t appear on our list? Tell us about it in the comments.
The List: Best Men’s Wallets, According to Style Experts
1. Ekster Senate Cardholder
Appearing most often in our search and frequently coming out on top is the Senate Cardholder, closely followed by its similar counterpart, the Parliament Wallet. Both are technologically advanced and produced by a company that prides itself on sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Gentleman Within says it has the best technology, writing, “They are on the road to sustainability, having opted for recycled and sustainable materials and using solar panels instead of batteries. The Senate Cardholder is Ekster’s slim storage wallet. They call it a smart wallet that is perfect for slim storage and quick card access. It’s made of leather and has a nifty aluminum card holder that fans your cards out at the click of a button.”
Awarding it Editor’s Choice, Consumer Reports raves, “The Ekster also includes a very elegant-looking cash strap and single cardholder to hold your bills on the outside with the company’s logo emblazoned on the front and keep a card on the outside, such as a Metro card for tap-to-go. Thoughtfully, the company includes an extra strap without the cardholder, to slim things down even further, inside a very beautiful box. The cardholder comes with several user-friendly heavy cardstock infocards, including a QR code for the user manual, the company’s story, and a 10 percent discount code to give to a friend. The pricing puts this right between those other cardholder options, but the overall design and exquisite packaging makes it my top choice, especially because it’s regularly discounted on the company’s website.”
“Sustainably manufactured, this wallet can also be fitted with an optional Chipolo GPS tracker so you can always keep tabs on it should it get stolen or misplaced. The ability to receive a solar-powered charge also enables it to last 2 to 3 months before needing to be juiced up again,” notes HiConsumption.
2. Bellroy Slim Sleeve Wallet
The Bellroy Slim Sleeve may not hold much cash, but who’s carrying cash nowadays? In all other ways, this wallet excels, offering a durable product with a slim profile and a three-year warranty!
“Forgive us if you disagree,” writes DMARGE, “but a slim wallet is the best type of wallet worth having these days. With other things like keys and AirPods cases in your pockets, the last thing anyone needs is a wallet taking up more space than necessary and constituting a nuisance. Hence, our decision is that a slim wallet has to be crowned overall best, and none is better than the Bellroy Slim Sleeve.
Man of Many enthuses, “Bellroy is one of our favorite gear brands full stop but their selection of men’s wallets is one of the best on the market. The brand has a focus on precision craftsmanship that’s subtly visible in even the smallest details.”
Business Insider loves Bellroy’s responsible practices: “As far as materials go, the Slim Sleeve is excellent. Bellroy is a certified B Corp, a designation given to companies that meet rigorous standards for ‘social and environmental performance.’ This means that Bellroy sources its leather and materials ethically and sustainably. The leather is high-quality top grain, soft yet sturdy, and comes in several colors.”
3. Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet
A beautiful gift for yourself or someone else, the Leatherology Thin Bifold offers quality and tradition at an affordable price point.
Forbes touts the customization potential of the Leatherology Bifold: “This pick also comes in a variety of colors (such as Black Onyx, Espresso and Cognac) as well as three leather finishes that can be monogramed with your initials—which is especially nice if you’re giving it as a gift.”
Wirecutter loves the leather: “It’s made of extremely supple full-grain leather—which has been processed less and is higher quality than cheaper, corrected-grain leathers—and the stitching along the outside edges is tight and precise, especially compared with the widely spaced and somewhat amateurish stitches we saw on wallets from Phil’s Wallets and Thirteen50.”
“The Thin Bifold Wallet from Leatherology combines the versatility and function of a traditional bifold with the design of a modern, minimalist wallet. With six card slots, two interior pockets, and a full-sized bill compartment that can accommodate notes larger than standard United States bills, this wallet has ample room to carry your essentials. Even when it’s packed with cards, receipts, and other odds and ends, you will still be able to comfortably carry it in your front or back pocket. Another great feature is that the smooth leather lets it easily slide into and out of your pockets, so you won’t have to worry about fumbling around your pants when it comes time to pay,” praises TIMEstamped.
4. Fossil Derrick RFID Flip ID Bifold
Looking for a rugged bifold style with great quality and ease of use? Look no further than Fossil, a well-known name in the leather game. “When it comes to leather goods with a rugged bent (and at a price point that’s hard to beat), Fossil is the name to know,” writes Esquire.
Reviewed says it’s not going to fit in your front pocket, but as long as you realize that, it’s a good option. “Another traditional bifold wallet, this Fossil Derrick RFID Flip ID Bifold Wallet is billed as a ‘front-pocket’ wallet, though we aren’t quite buying it. Reviewers commented that it was slim when empty but bulkier when filled with enough stuff to take advantage of its extensive collection of pockets. It’s a great wallet either way, but better as a traditional bifold alternative than a bigger, bulkier front-pocket replacement.”
ACTIVE notes, “Available in a range of colors, this wallet offers the convenience of the bifold design along with an easy-to-flip window for your ID card. It’s also one of the best wallets on the market for elegance, sophistication, and longevity.”
5. Bellroy Flip Case
Australian brand Bellroy takes two spots on our top five list, leading us to believe it’s a solid choice!
“The problem with a lot of minimalist wallets is the metal feels and looks cold. This 3/8-inch thick, RFID-blocking slim Bellroy wallet comes in eight leather colors. Double-sided, it opens one-handed and snaps closed using magnets. Inside is a divider where each side holds up to four cards. Or, you can adjust one side to carry two cards and some folded cash,” writes Men’s Journal.
It’s well worth the cost, according to Men’s Health: “Like most of Bellroy’s accessories, this wallet is unlike almost any other traditional wallet or any other cardholder wallet for that matter. It’s sleek, handsome, and overwhelmingly well-reviewed by our writers and editors.”
ONE37pm adds, “Bellroy is one of the newer names on this list, established as recently as 2009. That just makes it all the more impressive that they’ve managed to build a reputation as a reliable brand for wallets in a shorter space of time. They put emphasis on building slim, sleek designs that can still carry as much as possible while sticking to that mantra.”
You might also be interested in:
Sources:
- Gentleman Within
- Consumer Reports
- HiConsumption
- DMARGE
- Man of Many
- Business Insider
- Forbes
- Wirecutter
- TIMEstamped
- Esquire
- Reviewed
- ACTIVE
- Men’s Journal
- Men’s Health
- ONE37pm
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.
The contents of this website do not constitute advice and are provided for informational purposes only. See our full disclaimer.