For better or worse (almost definitely worse), pretty much every experience in your life involves carrying some cards. Whether you’re paying for something, getting cash out, or getting carded (congrats on those youthful looks), a wallet is required. Yes, our tech overlords have created digital, contactless wallets, but holding up an illuminated screen in a dimly-lit restaurant waiting for your turn to tap the card terminal is, frankly, an immediate aura loss. Cary Grant never asked a waiter to charge his wallet, and the best wallets for men make sure you won’t have to either.
Let me be clear: I’m not saying you should pull a George Costanza and carry decade-old receipts and business cards everywhere you go. Just that a beautiful, practical wallet is a terrible thing to lack. Your wallet can, and should be manageable, organized, sleek and handsome. But with thousands of options out there, it can be daunting to go shopping for one. After surveying the crowded field and polling GQ staffers, here are the best wallets that’ll complement you every time you trot it out.
The Best Men’s Wallets, According to GQ
In This Shopping Guide
Best Wallet Overall
There aren’t too many brands that have been around as long as Smythson, which first opened for business in 1887. The company’s impressive longevity alone inspires some confidence that you’re getting a quality item, but when you add in that multiple GQ editors have owned their Smythson wallets for over a decade each, all doubt goes out the window. Their Folded Card Case is an icon for a reason: The croc embossing drips with luxury, and the clever interior design means the cash and coin pocket is both subtle and secure, thanks to the simple snap closure. There are also three card pockets, and an exterior card pocket. And that’s before we talk about the handsome personal monogram options.
Best Leather Wallet
People who know about leather goods know about Lotuff — an American brand that’s on a mission to preserve the art of leathercraft from their Providence, RI studio. GQ has loved their weekender for years, which is just as thoughtfully designed as this very wallet. Handmade from soft, vegetable-tanned leather, it’s available in fifteen colors that run the gamut from classic to adventurous (jet blue, orchid pink). Whichever finish you go for, the entire package is classic in every way and will age like Paul Newman.
Best Minimalist Wallet
For the purists out there, you won’t find a better option than Guidi’s EN01. There’s not much to it, but that’s sort of the whole idea. It’s made from a very soft horse leather direct from their Italian tannery (founded in 1896), while the interior has a grippy suede finish that will make sliding your stuff out smooth but secure. The unfinished edges add a touch of rugged charm to the design, and the whole thing shuts with a simple post closure. No muss, no fuss.
Best Slim Wallet
If you want to really streamline things, go as lean as you can with a cardholder. There’s no folding required, unless you want to fold some cash into one of the dividers. The André by A.P.C. gives you two slots in the front and a larger pocket in the back for some folded cash, and is made from a smooth, quality cowhide leather, without an egregious price point. Make the move from stuffed bifold to stealthy card case, and never have a wallet-shaped bulge in your suit pocket again.
Best Bifold Wallet
The wrong bifolds might look like your grandpa’s wallet, but the right ones are as contemporary as they come. Take the Super Fluo by Comme des Garcons. Its electric green exterior unzips (hello, security) to reveal a bright blue card stash, an orange coin pouch and a standard bill pocket. This is all the functionality a wallet could ask for, zipped up in a bright and shiny Rei Kawakubo package.
Best Designer Wallet
Stockholm’s Acne Studios has traded on cool Swedish minimalism for years. Their calf leather bifold—the wallet I personally use—follows suit with a simple construction and nearly invisible color-matched topstitching. On the inside, you’ve got two pockets for cards and ID, and a larger pocket for folded notes that runs the full length of the wallet. The fun thing is that unlike most bifolds, this one folds horizontally, rather than vertically, making it feel more like an expanded card case.
Best Luxury Wallet
When you’re going hard on a wallet, you want to be sure it’s an upgrade that you won’t regret. You want timeless, cool and quality. In other words, you want Loewe. The chevron pattern on the exterior here doesn’t just strengthen the leather, it also gives this otherwise simple black wallet an easy and elegant touch. And inside, it’s got all of the essentials, including a satisfying coin (or Advil) pouch, and four card slots for all your big spending. You may age over the next ten years (sorry), but this wallet barely will.
Best Affordable Wallet
It stands to reason that if you’re excellent at making belts, you’re excellent at making wallets. Well, with some research, we proved it out. The leather-loving crew at Maximum Henry have blessed us with yet another well-crafted accessory in their card case, which clocks in at just $50, and is available in a whopping 18 colors. It’s an affordable and easy way to have a handmade piece of your own, from one of the coolest accessory designers currently out.
Best Wallet for Active Lifestyles
If you spend a lot of time rushing and running around—whether that’s skiing the slopes and climbing rocks or simply juggling commitments in the city—you’ll want a wallet that can keep up with you, and keep your cash and cards safe and dry. For that, consider Porter Yoshida and Co.’s Black Capsule Wallet, from the legendary Japanese accessory makers. It’s got an O-ring and two lanyard hooks to attach to whatever loops you’ve got, while the durable nylon body is reinforced by a full grosgrain trim and easy access via a velcro closure. The Olympic athlete of wallets, you might say.
More Wallets We Love
What to Look for in a Wallet
There is no one size fits all when it comes to wallets. One man’s eight-slot bifold might be another’s overkill. Before you even open the browser tabs, do a little bit of background work. First, take stock of what you’re currently packing into yours: Do you need that business card from a job interview in 2018? Do you actually carry cash? Whittle the stack down to only what you need, and use that as a rubric for your next wallet’s requirements. Extra space is easily filled with junk, so it’s best to stay as true to that criteria as you can.
Beyond that, the classicists among us will typically opt for a leather wallet in brown or black. But there are almost limitless color options nowadays, from neon to bright red. Leather holds up well over time and, with use, it will develop a little bit of character. Do keep in mind, though, that smooth leather is more susceptible to scratches, whereas a full-grain or pebbled leather will hold up a bit better. (And there are plenty of vegan leather options to be had as well.)
If leather is not to your taste, fear not. More active types may want to go for something more rugged, like a nylon or a ripstop material, often found with easy-access velcro closures (very handy in the winter). These have the added bonus of being more impermeable in case of inclement weather or sweating. The list goes on: canvas, waxed canvas, even straight-up rubber.
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