Wallets are an essential item for securing cash, credit cards, and other essentials that we carry day to day. However, finding the best men’s wallet brands can be a difficult task. What material should you buy? What style suits your needs? Is there anything you should avoid?

Below we look at the things to consider when buying wallets.

Material

Not all wallets are made the same. While leather is the most popular choice of material there are many other options to consider. Let’s look at the most popular:

Leather Wallets

As mentioned, easily the most popular material, leather wallets are available in a range of hides. The most popular are cowhides which are both durable and look great, and alligator skin which is extremely distinct and usually handmade. Choosing between both is a personal preference as they exude similar qualities.

Cotton Wallets

An increasingly popular material for wallets is cotton. The positive of using cotton is the flexibility of the material, allowing designers to create patterns and fancy displays that are not found on leather wallets. While not as durable as leather, cotton is certainly becoming more fashionable.

Synthetic Wallets

Synthetic wallets can appear to look the exact same as both leather and cotton wallets. The only difference is they are made from a collection of random materials. These are a great choice if leather and cotton wallets are too expensive or if you want to use a material which has been recycled.

Types of Wallets

Once you have decided on the material, it is time to consider the type of wallet you wish to purchase:

Billfolds

The traditional style of wallet, a billfold comes in either bi- or tri-fold styles. It has enough space to carry all of your day-to-day items and is acceptable in any situation. A bi-fold is generally thinner than a tri-fold wallet, however, the space for cards is much smaller.

Slim Wallets

A trendy style of wallet over the last few years, slim wallets are great if you don’t like the bulk of a traditional billfold wallet. However, there is much less space for your cards and extras in this style. Of course, if you carry only some cash and a couple of cards this is an excellent option.

Passport Wallets

An occasional use wallet, the passport wallet is longer and provides ample room for travel documents when traveling. They are ideal for anyone who travels frequently. You can store boarding passes, itineraries, and other documents comfortably in this large wallet.

Long Wallets

A long wallet provides a huge amount of space for cards and notes. Unlike the billfolds wallet, a long wallet can fit bills inside without folding them. An issue with the long wallet is you will struggle to fit it inside your back pocket.

Once you have decided on a material and style, you are 90% of the way to finding yourself a great wallet which will last you for many years. However, there are a couple of other things to consider:

• Avoid zippered wallets
• Stick with classic colors for a leather wallet
• Check the stitching quality before buying
• Quality wallets will feature creasing from the hot iron

To conclude – a little bit of research and thought will go a long way when choosing a new wallet. There are so many different styles, brands, and materials available it can be initially overwhelming. However, understanding your own style will help you when selecting a new wallet and ensure you will find the right one for you.