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Welcome to Buy Choice, in which we pick one everyday item, cut out all the noise, and present you with nothing but the best options on the market.
It might be 2019, but you’re still carrying too many cards and using cold, hard cash (until Bitcoin becomes the norm … cue laughter.)
While you might not give your most important everyday carry much thought, we have: Herein, our 13 favorite wallets you can buy right now.
One you can never lose. One that’s been dubbed “the thinnest and strongest wallet ever made.”
And a whole lot of leather handsomeness, the kind of Horween-crafted billfolds that get better with age.
If you like almost no wallet: Airo Stealth
Hyperbole aside (it’s not quite “thin as a razor” and we can’t prove it’s the “thinnest, strongest wallet ever made”), this military-grade bifold is supposedly 15x stronger than steel and lighter than a nickel. It’ll also carry eight cards and offers RFID protection and quick-card access.
For American pride: Filson Card Case
I received this card case as a gift this past Christmas, and I must admit it took some getting used to. The leather is so thick that it never quite wanted to close entirely, and it made for an unsatisfying experience in the hand. But man, as I’ve used it over the past two months, it’s broken in beautifully. It holds everything I need it to, and it feels like I’ll have it forever.
For denim fans: Coach New York Trifold Card Wallet
This is your pretty standard wallet: a classic trifold made of Cowhide leather that will fit all your cards and cash. But what really has me swooning is the color. It’s listed as denim but I’d argue it’s more of a turkish blue —regardless, it’s enticing.
For a colorful story: Tony the Ant
Hailing from Chicago’s Ashland Leather, these bifolds are the creation of two long-time Horween tannery workers who craft cleverly-named and designed billfolds (the bill slot here is in the back, with four large card slots in front) in colors like dark green, marbled black and ultraviolet.
For making your money stand out: ‘Beach Sketch’ Print Billfold
Crafted in Italy from calf leather with a very colorful motif. As our Creative Director attests: “I like Paul Smith wallets because they’re not only really well-made (had my last one for the better part of a decade), but they’ve also got a little bit of joie de vivre — parting with money sucks, so why not temper that with a dash of color?”
For quick impressions: Jaqet FlipV2
Jaqet is the moonlighting handiwork of Jaques Flynn, an auto designer at Mazda. Handmade in California, this striking leather wallet features contrasting natural thread and a spring-loaded money clip. (Says our Editor in Chief: “My last two wallets came from here, and this brand kicks ass.”)
For your cards: Small Brick Card Case
Hardgraft has been one of our favorite accessory companies over the years, and the UK brand’s duotone card holder is a veg-tanned Italian leather beauty with a hidden bill-holder in the back and a satisfying, tactile snap closure.
For car enthusiasts: Mercedes-AMG Cash Men Wallet
As part of the “BurnOut” collection, the material here is placed on the tarmac of a racetrack and run over by an AMG GT R, leaving a distinctive rubber streak on the fabric.
For truly decluttering your pockets: Bellroy Bifold Wallet + Key Cover
This slim bifold is crafted from full-grain leather and features an RFID blocker to keep credit card marauders at bay. And when you buy now, you’ll also get a full-grain leather key cover that can house up to eight keys.
For a great price: DAKA Everyday Wallet
Built from reinforced polymer-infused material, the no-slip-grip EW is water-, dirt-, fire- and pretty much everything-proof. Plus, it’s damn cheap.
For owning a piece of the world: Tactile Craftworks
Beautiful handcrafted/handtooled leather wallets, journals and accessories inspired by the world’s greatest cities and parks. We’re particularly fond of their Passport wallets, which feature antique maps of global cities (say, a 1903 rendering of Brooklyn’s borders) etched on beautiful leather covers.
For smart money: Ekster 3.0
A solar-powered GPS tracker (with Alexa/Google Assistant integration) means you’ll never lose your wallet. Plus, one click of card slider pops up your six most frequently used cards.
For those who do everything with their phones: Nomad Rugged Tri-Folio
It’s your Horween leather phone case (for the latest model iPhones, compatible with wireless charging) that can survive a six-foot drop, as well as a four-card, two-cash slot wallet. For older iPhones, their Bi-Fold offers a built-in emergency charge.
Additional reporting by Danny Agnew, Eli London and Logan Mahan
Photos: (Top to bottom) Stealth Wallet; Filson; Ashland Leather; Paul Smith; Jaqet; Destroy vs. Beauty; Huckberry (2); Tactile Craftworks; Nomad
We've put in the work researching, reviewing and rounding up all the shirts, jackets, shoes and accessories you'll need this season, whether it's for yourself or for gifting purposes. Sign up here for weekly style inspo direct to your inbox.
