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This Velez leather wallet features a classic bifold design that is perfect if you carry lots of cash or paper receipts. Reviewers adore its smooth low-knap leather and vintage design. Read More
This slim, minimalist wallet is perfect for someone that just needs to carry the basics—an ID, cards, and a few cash bills—and nothing else. Read More
This wallet is billed as a “front pocket” wallet but its bifold design makes that tricky, unless you can really limit yourself to just a handful of cards and bills at once. Read More
This front-pocket wallet has more storage than most, but it can also be a bit bulky as a result. It’s a solid wallet, but the smooth leather design will show scratches quickly. Read More
This is the wallet for the classic guy who wants a classic way to hold all of his stuff. Read More
Wallet. Phone. Keys. It’s the mantra every guy says before they walk out the door, but we don’t put nearly enough thought into the wallet we use to carry all of our most important stuff. I spent years with a bulky, classic bifold design that—in retrospect—I actually hated. It was too tempting to stuff receipts and other junk in there I didn’t need, which was actually causing me back pain.
Every guy has different needs from their wallet, whether it’s a bulky carry-everything bifold or a slim, minimalist front-pocket wallet. We’ve got recommendations for every type of wallet for men, based on our extensive research, personal experience, and combing through literally thousands of reviews online of the best wallets for men that you can buy right now.
Classic bifold design holds cash well
Plenty of room
Real leather
Too bulky for front pocket
No RFID blocking
Slim front-pocket design
Lots of card storage
RFID blocking
Little room for cash
Slim bifold design
Sturdy leather make
Plenty of storage
Bulky for a front pocket wallet
Slim front-pocket design
Money clip
RFID blocking
Scratches easily
Bulky when full
Slim front-pocket design
Magnetic money clip
RFID blocking
Only fits a few cards at once
When picking out the best wallet for you, there are a few things to keep in mind. Consider what you carry every day: Cash? Only credit cards and IDs? Coins? Receipts? You’ll want a wallet that can comfortably accommodate everything you normally carry. You’ll also want to take into account what materials best suit not only your personal style but your needs as well. Take them all into account and you’ll find a high-quality, durable, and most of all practical-for-you wallet that you’ll enjoy using.
There’s a wide variety of materials used for men’s wallets, but some of the most common include:
** - Leather:** The most traditional choice, leather offers not just great durability for everyday wear, but a classic, timeless look. Full-grain leather offers the highest quality and durability, with a patina that will only get better with time. Top grain and genuine leather are descriptors for different grades of leather, both of which sit below full-grain, but offer many of full-grain leather’s advantages at a lower price point.
** - Synthetic:** For men who don’t use leather, synthetic leathers (also known as faux leather or vegan leather) can be a good option — most synthetics aren’t as durable as leather, but are often much more affordable. Depending on the specific material used, synthetic fabrics can also offer additional advantages like waterproofness, special finishes, and a wide variety of colors and textures.
** - Canvas:** Canvas is lightweight, often made with recycled materials, and has a playful, casual appearance. It’s usually very affordable, but may not last as long as metal or leather options.
** - Carbon Fiber:** Popular for minimal wallets and money clips, carbon fiber is lightweight, blocks RFIDs, and very durable. It has an industrial, modern appearance and is available at a variety of pricepoints.
Not all wallets offer the same things — finding the features that make the most sense for you is the key to picking the right wallet.
** - Card slots:** The more cards you carry (credit cards, IDs, store loyalty cards, or membership cards), the more slots you need – make sure the wallet you’re buying has space for your daily needs. Card slots add bulk, however, so knowing how many you need (and how many you don’t) will keep your wallet as useful but compact as possible.
** - ID window:** If you need to show your drivers license, work ID, or any other card with some frequency, having an ID window for easy display can save you time (and your wallet some wear and tear).
** - Cash compartment:** Whether full-length or folded, cash compartments are at the heart of most wallets. If you routinely carry a lot of cash, then a full-length cash compartment will give you easier access to your bills. (Some wallets have two cash compartments, even better if you carry multiple types of currency or you like to keep things organized.) If keeping things compact is your top priority—and you only carry a few bills at a time—then a folded cash compartment will serve your needs. Folded compartments aren’t as easy to access as full-length versions, but they keep wallets small and tidy.
** - Coin pouch:** If you carry change, then finding a wallet with a coin pouch will keep all your cash together (and not jingling in your pocket). If this is important to you, bifold and trifold wallets are your best bets.
** - Digital tools:** Even if you still prefer to pay the old-fashioned way, there are some useful digital tools to consider. If you carry a number of contactless cards, carbon fiber wallets are often RFID-blocking by default, and many other wallets have RFID protection as well. Other wallets will include slots where you can tuck an AirTag or other digital tracking device, and some even have integrated tracking themselves. There are even wallets that allow you to show off a favorite picture or image with e-ink display, making your wallet truly customizable.
No matter what your money-carrying preference, there’s a wallet style for you. Here are some of the most popular.
** - Bifold Wallet:** This is probably what you think of when you think of a classic wallet: A space running the length of the wallet designed to hold cash and receipts paired with slots for several credit cards, and a design that folds up in the middle to fit nicely in your back pocket. The bifold wallet is useful, streamlined, and perfect for everyday use for most guys, and comes in both leather and synthetic options, as well as other fabrics like canvas.
** - Trifold Wallets:** The same basic design as a bifold wallet with two folds, making making it a more spacious option for men with a large number of credit cards or other things to carry. Trifold wallets offer more space than bifolds, but are thicker and bulkier.
** - Money Clip:** On the other end of the spectrum, money clips are for guys who want to carry absolutely nothing but the essentials. As the name suggests, these are clips that clasp folded bills and cards together to be tucked into a pocket for the absolutely lowest-profile way to hold your essentials.
** - Minimalist Wallets:** For men who want one step up from a money clip but less than a billfold wallet, minimalist wallets are a smart option. Most models can comfortably carry two to six cards and a small number of bills. They’re often made of durable materials like carbon fiber or anodized aluminum, and some have elastic bands or magnetic closures to keep the wallet compact.
** - Zipper Wallets:** Worried you’ll lose some of your bills or cards — or tend to carry around coins? Zippered wallets might be for you. Most wallets either have a zipper that completely encircles the wallet or a portion to keep all the contents contained. They’re generally bulkier than bifold or minimal wallets, but they’re excellent for men who travel and like to stay organized.
Radio-frequency identification technology uses radio waves to identify and track objects, with RFID tags broadcasting data and RFID readers reading the information stored on the tags. It’s what powers contactless payments or tap-to-pay functionality in your credit cards, allowing your cards to communicate with the payment terminal.
The convenience of RFID cards comes with a downside: Anyone equipped with the right handheld scanner can read the information your RFID-enabled cards transmit, collecting your payment information for their own use without ever laying hands on your card.
To counteract this, some wallets advertise themselves as being “RFID-blocking,” meaning they are constructed with an integrated layer of mesh or another fabric that prevents RFID readers from being able to communicate with the chips in any cards in your wallet.
Most experts agree: While it’s theoretically possible for a bad actor to steal your data using RFID, it’s highly unlikely. If you travel or commute frequently, you may find that having an extra layer of protection in your wallet will give you peace of mind; however, the odds are very strongly against you ever needing it to foil identity theft.
TJ is the former Director of Content Development at Reviewed. He is a Massachusetts native and has covered electronics, cameras, TVs, smartphones, parenting, and more for Reviewed. He is from the self-styled "Cranberry Capitol of the World," which is, in fact, a real thing.
Lily Hartman
Staff Writer, Search
Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.
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