Men's Wallets

Styles of Men’s Wallets

At first glance, men’s wallets are a folded leather contraption to hold money and credit cards. In reality, they actually come in multiple styles. Each one is designed to service the different needs of the man who carries it.

Common Types of Men’s Wallets

• Bifold

A wallet that essentially folds directly in half, the bifold provides one bill length pocket for cash and additional small pockets for cards. As this wallet only folds once, it tends to be less bulky, but a little longer than some other types. Extra features found in some bifolds include zipper pockets, photo holders, and snap closures.

• Coat Wallet

A longer narrow wallet, designed to fit inside the pocket of a dress coat or overcoat. As it doesn’t fold, your cash will lie flat, creating a thinner style. Due to the sleek design, this wallet usually only contains a money pocket with a few card pockets. Rarely do they include change or accessory pockets.

• Credit Card Case

For the man who only carries the bare essentials amongst his business cards, this is the wallet. A small card-sized case with multiple pockets to store cards of all types. The thinnest type of men’s wallet there is, many also include a money clip.

• Checkbook Cover

Combine a checkbook cover and wallet in one with a checkbook cover style men’s wallet. A specialty cover for your checkbook that includes additional pockets for cards, money, photos and more.

• Money Clips

For the man who loves to flash his cash, a money clip is for you. Plain and simple, money clip wallets contain that wad of cash with a strong clip. Some also provide one or two additional pockets for your license or credit cards.

• Trifold

Similar to the bifold, except the wallet folds twice into thirds. This style tends to be bulkier, but more compact. Due to the extra fold, the wallet can be slightly longer when unfolded to include additional space for extra pockets or a change case.

Within each of these types of men’s wallets, there are three main categories: luxury, standard, and casual. The luxury wallets are made from finer materials including top-of-the-line leathers and unusual animal skins such as lizard, ostrich and alligator. They tend to be dressier with a classic clean line. Casual wallets are formed from tougher materials with a more rustic image. A standard wallet includes everything in between.

Leather tends to be the most common material for most men’s wallets, but you can also find denim, nylon, canvas, microfiber and even metal. Depending on the style, brand, and materials, wallets range in price from $10 to $70 for the most common and $50 to $400 for the designer brands.

Brands

Almost every manufacture of men’s accessories, women’s handbags, or any other type of leather goods creates some version of a man’s wallet. When you throw in the luggage companies and outdoor outfitters, the market is completely saturated with different brands to try. To help narrow it down, the following are mainstream manufactures of men’s wallets across the three main price points.

Luxury Brands

• Bosca
• Dopp
• Royce Leather
• Gucci
• Coach
• Prada

Standard Brands

• Gravis
• Johnston & Murphy
• Fossil

Casual Brands

• Timbuk2
• Pocket Paq
• Columbia Sportswear

What to Look For

Whether you are selecting a men’s wallet for yourself or as a gift, there are some basic concepts to keep in mind. A man’s wallet is an important accessory, so it should fit his image and personality. This is important both in the appearance and the functionality of the wallet. Small details set a wallet apart, as their general appearance tends to be consistent.

Ideas to consider are:

• Where will the wallet be carried? Are you the front shirt pocket or back pocket kind of guy? Maybe you prefer to not carry a wallet at all, but rather toss it into a briefcase or bag.
  
• What size and shape works best for you?
• Do you need additional accessories like a belt chain or specialized pockets?
• How thick is too thick for you?
• What items do you plan to carry in your wallet?
• Is black, brown, or some sort of stylish color your preference?
• How do you want the wallet to feel? Rough like an unshaven face or crisp and smooth like fine leather shoes?

Price is also a consideration, but it is even more important to evaluate value. If a man tears through his wallet every year, it might be worthwhile to invest in a designer brand for longer life. Maybe you have the kind of man who loses his wallet at every turn and a cheap throwaway style is best.

Buying

Finding a decent men’s wallet selection is one of the easiest shopping experiences there is. They are available almost anywhere from drugstores, to thrift stores, to fine department stores.

When shopping online:

• Ebags.com – offers some of the best selection.
• Overstock.com – offers some of the best deals.