The Best Wallets for Men, From Billfolds to Money Clips

Whether you’re looking for an ultra practical wallet that will keep your cards and cash organized, or something more luxurious that makes a statement when you pull it out, there are high quality wallets available for every type of guy. However, sifting through the different types of wallets, from traditional leather bifolds and slim card holders to pared down money clips and theft resistant trifolds, can feel like a bigger challenge than you want to undertake. Once you know what specifications fit your needs best, though, finding the best wallet to match your style isn’t difficult. Since you’re likely going to carry your wallet each and every day, it’s important that you settle on one that suits your unique needs and preferred aesthetic.

How to choose the right wallet

Material

Although the world of wallets is ever ionclucb one expanding, the most popular materials for high quality wallets are leather, metal, and nylon. Although leather tends to be the most expensive of the three, it’s not necessarily the best. Which material you choose should be dictated by what you want to get out of your wallet, and where you spend most of your time.

Leather: This is the most traditional mens wallet material on the market. Leather, and nylon as well, is ideal because it’s smooth enough to easily slide in and out of your pockets without catching on anything. Leather also ‘breaks in’ over time, resulting in a smoother, unique finish that represents the different experiences you and your wallet have shared. Leather wallets are also known for durability and longevity, so it’s not unlikely that you and your leather wallet will go through quite a bit together.

However, leather isn’t water proof and it’s not the thinnest material on the market, especially when it’s high quality. Also, if you want your leather wallet to last as long as possible, you have to properly care for it, which may involve cleaning and polishing a few times a year. These drawbacks may direct you to more rugged materials such as metal or nylon.

Metal: Metal wallets are becoming increasingly popular, especially as digital payments become more and more common while cash and coin payments are in decline. What metal wallets and card holders lack in elegance they make up for in durability and protection. High quality metal wallets tend to be made from strong, lightweight materials like aluminum or titanium.

Metal outperforms nylon and leather when it comes to physically protecting the contents of the wallet. Not only does the metal offer better protection from drops, the structural rigidity ensures that any documents within, such as checks or tickets, won’t be improperly creased.

Nylon: Although nylon isn’t the most luxurious material to choose from, high quality nylon wallets can strike a balance between the look and flexibility of leather with the enhanced durability and practicality of a metal wallet. Nylon is lightweight, thin, flexible, waterproof, and in many cases also slash resistant. Nylon wallets are also quite easy to wash, which makes them ideal for anyone who frequently finds themselves outdoors, for work or for pleasure.

However, like men’s metal wallets, nylon wallets usually don’t look as sleek or professional as their leather counterparts. On the other hand, this often makes them significantly cheaper. In fact, nylon wallets are likely to be the cheapest of the three.

Size

Before deciding on a new wallet, take into consideration the dimensions of your current wallet. Think about whether you want something larger or smaller. If you have a lot of cards to carry, for example, look for wallets that spread card compartments across the wallet footprint, so you don’t end up with unusually bulky sections where cards are piled on top of one another. On the other hand, if you don’t carry too much, you want to consider a smaller wallet with fewer pockets. Also, keep an eye out for wallets that make the most of their footprint by adding additional features, such as a single card-sized cardholder with an attached money clip for easy cash storage.

Capacity

Most standard wallets and card holders have space for 7-10 cards, in addition to a small amount of cash. Take stock of what you currently have in your wallet – whether it be old receipts or business cards, chances are you’re carrying around unnecessary items. Once you’re familiar with what’s currently in your wallet, try to get rid of whatever you can. What you’re left with should play a large role in determining what size wallet you get. Best practice is to get a wallet that has slightly more space than what you plan to put in it from the start, so you can add to it as needed.

Design

While there are countless wallet designs to choose from, there are a few that dominate the market.

• Bi-fold construction: Without a doubt, this is the most popular shape for a mens wallet. While you won’t find many metal wallets in this category, there are a number of leather and nylon options. Bi-fold wallets for men typically contain a cash slot and 4-8 card slots in addition to an ID window. Although bi-folds can be on the slim slide, they definitely aren’t the go-to minimalist option.
• Tri-fold construction: These wallets offer heightened security and storage over their bi-fold peers. The triple folding structure ensures that your wallet is completely sealed on the edges, which adds security and mitigates the risk of losing a loose card. However, tri-fold wallets tend to be bulkier than bi-folds, and they often rely on velcro to stay shut, which isn’t a very durable or elegant clasp material.
• Card holder: Although it’s not uncommon to see vertical bi-fold wallets advertised as card holders, these wallets don’t typically have any type of fold. Card holders are often the slimmest option, and are ideal for minimalist travelers and consumers who rely on digital payments. Another benefit of card holders is that you truly have the full spectrum of materials to choose from. Not only can you get leather, metal or nylon, there are high-end card holders that make use of multiple materials.
• Money clip: Don’t let the simplicity of the name fool you, as money clips are actually quite versatile. Ideal for men who subscribe to the age old ‘cash is king’ mentality, money clips offer a slim profile and easy access to your notes. While money clips can be slimmer than card holders in their most pared down form, which consists of the clip and nothing else, they are limited in what, and how much, they can hold. Money clips are also limited in the add-ons they can provide, such as RFID protection.
• Hybrid wallets: Hybrid wallets combine the best features of different designs to maximize practicality and ease of use. For example, you can choose a bi-fold construction with an internal money clip instead of a cash sleeve to hold your notes. Alternatively, there are tri-fold wallets with removable card holders so you can swap from maximal practicality to sleek minimalism without having to switch wallets. Be on the lookout for high-end hybrid wallets that offer versatility as well as practicality.

Security

Unlike buying luggage or other accessories where your main concern is durability (and, perhaps, style), you may have to consider the unexpected when it comes to buying a wallet: Can it thwart a criminal from afar? One of the drawbacks of relying on new technologies for payments is the presence of nascent threats to your personal finances. Hackers and other online criminals are constantly looking for new ways to exploit credit cards and other methods of digital finance. Thankfully, the wallet industry has adapted to offer wallets that can mitigate these threats.

Look for wallets that provide built-in RFID blocking, which prevents those with bad intentions from electronically swiping your credit information as you walk past them. Another great security feature that’s increasingly being incorporated into men’s wallets is built-in tracking ability or a dedicated space for an external tracker, such as an Apple Airtag. If you’ve experienced the sinking feeling of not knowing where your wallet is, you can appreciate the value of being able to track its exact location, even if it’s just lost under a stack of papers on your desk.

Our top picks for the best wallets for men

Best affordable wallet for men: Timberland Milled Leather Bifold Wallet

At this price, it’s hard to beat the quality of the Timberland Milled Leather Bifold Wallet. Although the leather isn’t as thin and supple as more expensive wallets, it’s durable and will wear well with time. The exposed double stitching further enhances durability while adding to the simple, but pleasing design. Plus, like most products from Timberland, it’s designed for use in rough conditions. But, that doesn’t mean the Milled Bifold Wallet can’t be used for everyday carry, formal or casual.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 4.3 inches long x 3.4 inches wide x 0.4 inches thick
• Capacity: 8+ cards, 10+ bills
• Material: Milled leather
• Colors: Brown
• Warranty: 1-year standard warranty
• Price: $38 from Timberland

What we like:

• Includes two ID windows, both with thumb slots for easy access
• Flip-up card slot offers privacy from prying eyes for cards with sensitive information
• Made from thick, durable leather

What we don’t like:

• The design is quite simple, and there is only one color to choose from

Best slim wallet for men: Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet

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.