When talking about EDC essentials, one of the most basic items is the wallet. I’d venture to say that everyone owns (or has owned) some form of wallet. An item to hold your cash, identification card, driver’s license, and bank or membership cards. It’s something you carry all the time and utilize every day.
When facing such decision, there are plenty of things to take into consideration. Wallets come in a myriad of materials, sizes, and forms. The design you select should match your style and personality. Consequently, choosing the right wallet for your needs is paramount. Let’s take a look at the key factors to consider when you choose your ideal wallet.
Table of contents
Wallet materials
Leather
I’ll admit it, there is nothing more elegant than a leather wallet. Chances are this is the kind of wallet most people own. Leather is very flexible and tends to adapt its form over time. Perfect if carrying a wallet on the back pocket is your preferred choice.
The classic appeal and feel of a wallet developing a beautiful patina is timeless. Patina (if you’re not familiar) is the term used to describe the aging of high-quality leather. A reflection of how time and use has made your leather products more aesthetically appealing.
Brands like Andar, Bellroy, Hardgraft, Nomad, and Wingback specialize in leather wallets only.
Fabric
A more eco-friendly option would be opting for a wallet made of nylon or vegan leather. Some brands have even introduced a material called MIRUM (plant-based, recyclable leather alternative) into their wallet lineup. They provide some of the benefits of leather, like flexibility and appearance (in the case of faux leather).
Manufactured with less carbon footprint and animal-friendly – if that’s important for you. Usually, wallets made of these materials are also cheaper in comparison to real leather or metal. Another benefit if you’re trying to get the best bang for your buck.
Brands such as Alpaka, Black Ember, Greenroom136, and Pioneer offer fabric wallets exclusively.
Metal
If you’re aiming for a more modern or rugged look, you should definitely go for metal. Plenty wallets in the market are made of metals such as steel, aluminum, brass, and even titanium. Such wallets have become fairly popular with certain brands in recent years. Numerous minimalist wallets are manufactured with one or more of these metals.
If strong protection is your main requirement, a metal wallet will protect its contents effectively. This is crucial if you want extra protections for your cards, for example, as opposed to bills. Major downside with these though is, obviously, the heavier weight. Specifically with steel or brass, not so much with lighter metals like titanium or aluminum.
Brands like Aviator, Dango, Ridge, Secrid, and Trayvax manufacture wallets in various metals.
Plastic
One last, although uncommon, alternative is plastic. You can find the rare Hypalon (chlorosulfonated polyethylene), TPU (thermoplastic polyurethanes), or Ultem (polyetherimide) wallet in the market. These are pretty elastic, as well as resistant to smudges and abrasion.
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers however, are quickly gaining popularity as a wallet material. It is extremely strong and rigid, which makes it a great alternative for metal.
Brands such as Aviator, Dango, Re:Form, Ridge, and Secrid also produce wallets in some of these materials.
Wallet types
Classic
Maintaining that more traditional approach, this is where you’ll find your normal bifold and trifold wallets. Regardless of the material, this type of wallet generally contains lots of room to hold several cards.
A separate section for holding bills is also pretty standard in these wallets. Only problem with all the extra capacity: It’s a slippery slope towards carrying a bulky, overstuffed wallet.
Card holder
In this category we’ll find our typical minimalist wallet, in either a case or sleeve format. These wallets basically provide a space for holding your cards. Commonly accompanied by a spring, pull, or other type of mechanism, to simplify accessing your cards.
Some also provide room for a few additional items besides your cards. Bank notes, coins, multitools, or even keys can be counted within these items.
Slim
More than a type, it refers to slim versions of any wallet type. A number of brands produce slimmer case wallet or card holder variations. Or some brands also offer smaller alternatives of their classical bifold or sleeve wallet.
If you wish to carry a wallet without visible pocket bulks, this is the best way to proceed. Particularly if you favor wearing skinny jeans or slim fit coats and jackets.
Wallet features
Card slots
Most important feature a wallet should have is card slots. A typical sleeve wallet can contain between 2 – 8 standard sized cards. A case wallet can increase that capacity to up to 16 cards, depending on the brand. Another feature often present in both is an external slot for frequently used cards.
Bill section
Second most important feature in a wallet would be a bill section. Assuming you still like to carry cash around. Bifold and trifold wallets typically have a separate section precisely for this purpose.
In sleeve wallets, however, an external pocket may provide this functionality. And in case wallets, this could be present as a money clip or cash strap additament.
Coin pocket
Third most important feature, though a diminishing feature in this day and age, is a coin pocket. A few case, trifold, or travel wallets may provide such option. In most cases, in the form of an external zippered pocket. Or alternatively, as an add-on feature, like a slim tray in some case wallets.
ID card slot
And last in importance, a few wallet designs include a transparent ID card slot. In some instances, it could be similar to a lanyard ID holder. This would surely come in handy if you’re a student or in law enforcement.
Otherwise, I’d wager it may not be truly necessary for you. Thus, I’d exclude such feature from your wallet search parameters.
RFID-blocking
This last feature is more of a recent novelty. Its inception is derived from the necessity to protect wallet contents from unauthorized scanning. If you’re keen to avoid such potential scenario, I’d give more weight to this feature during your wallet search.
Granted, it’d only apply to cards and passports embedded with certain chip technologies. I’m referring here to RFID (radio-frequency identification) or NFC (near-field communication) chips.
Useful tips
Here are some tips to aid you in your search for an ideal wallet. Or, if you’ve selected one, to help you keep it as bulk-free as possible.
Keep it small
Simply select a slimmer or smaller wallet. The less space at your disposition, the less temptation to overload your wallet.
Keep it simple
Try going through your wallet contents regularly to dispose of unnecessary things. Carry only the essential cards. Throw away the receipts you’ve been transporting around for years. If you can use a card, then get rid of the cash (specially coins).
Get a spare
If you must have a lot of cards or IDs on you, then acquire a secondary or multiple wallets. This way you can take one with just the essentials, say when you go out or to the gym. Then take another one, filled with everything else, whenever you need it. You’ll have options to meet different occasions and settings.
Go digital
Nowadays, you may also exploit your mobile device. Digitize receipts and documents and easily access them through cloud file storage. Or save card and ID information, or business card data, using mobile applications.
Do your research
If there’s a particular brand that piques your interest, go to their website. Browse their product offering and see more detailed information about product characteristics. If you’d like to compare wallets from multiple brands, then visit an online retailer like Amazon or Mukama. Product selection will be more varied, and you’ll easily find the combination of materials, types, and features you’re going after.
Buy wisely
Some brands offer a discount for your first purchase, provided you subscribe to their newsletter. Many will also have discounts on occasion to get rid of their older inventory. Both manufacturers and online retailers will advertise special sales and promotions on holidays like Father’s Day, Black Friday, and Christmas.
Key takeaways
Here are the key points you should be aware of in order to choose your ideal wallet:
- Wallets come in different materials like leather, metal, plastic, fabric, or a combination of these.
- Most common wallet types are classic (bifold and trifold), case, sleeve, and slim.
- Key wallet features to take into account are card slots, bill section, coin pocket, ID card slot, and RFID-blocking.
- Useful tips to help your wallet stay bulk-free are to keep it small, keep it simple, get a spare, go digital.
- When buying a wallet is important to research properly, and know when/where to buy.
I trust you’ll find this information helpful during your quest for that ideal wallet. Stay tuned for future posts (check out our recent posts here). Should you have any questions, please leave a comment below or reach out to us. Until next time!