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Whether you need to carry a ton of cash or prefer mostly cards, Insider Picks has you covered with our guide to the best men's wallets.
While our favorite is the Bellroy Slim Sleeve, each wallet on this list fits the bill as one of the best wallets.
I've always been obsessed with finding the "perfect" thing. Whether it's travel shoes, credit cards, flashlights or something else, I've always tried out different versions of each one, returning and getting the next one on my list until I found what best fit my needs and preferences.
Wallets are no exception. I think I've tried out more wallets than I can count. To be fair, it's hard to find a "perfect" wallet for every situation. In the winter when you're wearing a heavy coat, you can keep a hefty wallet in a breast pocket, while in the summer you need something that can fit in the pocket of a pair of jeans or shorts. If you're going to a wedding or meeting, you might want something that keeps a slim profile in a suit, while you might also need something that can fit cash for tipping at a bar or valet. And of course, you want to avoid being the next George Costanza.
Meanwhile, where you live, work, and how you commute can make a big difference, too. Do you feel comfortable keeping your wallet in a back pocket, or do you worry about pickpockets? If you live in a city with a metro or commuter rail, do you need something that lets you have quick access to a transit card? Do you travel internationally a lot and need something that can fit foreign currency?
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Insider Picks' choice for the number one wallet is the Bellroy Slim Sleeve. Of course, we realize that different people have different needs, so we've researched and tested plenty of other options. Below, take a look at the best men's wallets you can find for less than $100. We've listed choices for all kinds of users, including subway commuters, people who don't use cash that often, and people who want to go full-minimalist with a money clip.
Updated on 12/18/2018 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices and formatting. Added links to travel wallets.
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
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Why you'll love it: The gorgeous Bellroy Slim Sleeve Wallet fits everything you need in a slim, efficient profile.
Bellroy is a relatively young company that released its first product in 2010. Founded by a few friends in Australia who set out to design optimal wallets in terms of size and card positioning, Bellroy has since released several different series of wallets for just about any use. You may remember seeing some of those wallets mentioned on Insider Picks before.
The Slim Sleeve is the perfect example of the company’s design mission. The wallet is built using Bellroy’s “nude” approach, focusing on eliminating as much excess material as possible to keep the profile slim. There are no buckles, trimmings, snaps, buttons or fasteners. The only materials are leather and thread, with as little of each used as possible.
The Slim Sleeve is a bifold that can hold up to 12 cards plus cash. It has a total of four pockets: three for cards, one for bills. Two quick access card slots sit inside the wallet, visible when you just open it. Those slots are perfect for your everyday credit card or commuter pass — I can pull my Metrocard out without having to take the wallet out of my pocket. The third card pocket sits behind the right-side quick access card
The third card pocket sits behind the right-side quick access card slot and is perfect for less-frequently used cards like an ID, an ATM card, or a couple of backup credit cards. The cards are tucked away out of sight in this pocket, so a pull-tab helps pull them out. Behind the other quick access slot, a cash pocket has plenty of room for bills folded in half or thirds.
As far as materials go, the Slim Sleeve is excellent. Bellroy is a certified “B Corp,” a designation given to companies that meet rigorous standards for “social and environmental performance.” What this means is that Bellroy sources its leather and materials ethically and sustainably. The leather is high-quality top grain, soft yet sturdy, and comes in several different colors.
While the top review on Amazon suggests that there are quality issues, several members of the Insider Picks team, including myself, have been using the Bellroy Slim Sleeve as a go-to wallet for months or years without a problem. That, combined with the fact that the wallet has 4.5 stars over all and overwhelmingly positive reviews, suggests that the one user's experience may have been an anomaly.
Why you'll love it: The Nomatic BASICS uses a clever design to hold the basics, takes up as little space as possible, and keeps the essentials easy-to-reach.
Nomatic got its start on Kickstarter when cousins Jon Richards and Jacob Durham designed their minimalist wallet and crowdfunded its production in 2014. The Kickstarter campaign was a runaway success, and they met their fundraising goal of $10,000 in just a few days. By the end of the 30 day pledge period, Richards and Durham had more than 6,100 backers pledging $171,315. Since then, Nomatic has evolved to offer a few different products, as well as expand production.
The BASICS wallet has a little more going on than its name might suggest. Built from medical-grade elastic and canvas, it doesn’t even look like it can hold a credit card until you stretch it to fit. When it’s empty, the wallet looks more or less like a small fabric pouch, with openings on both sides and a pull tab sticking up.
There’s a main pocket on top that can fit a stack of credit cards and it's easily accessible by using the pull tab. When you flip the wallet, there’s a second pocket for more cards. Next to that slot, there’s a smaller, hidden pocket which can be used for cash that's been folded twice or a small object like a key or a few coins.
The key to this wallet is how you load it. Nomatic actually made a video showing you the most efficient way to use it. In each of the two card pockets, it’s best to keep your most used cards on the outsides of the stack of cards. That way, you can get to them quickest.
It’s worth keeping in mind that the bottom pocket — the one without the pull tab — is easier to get to. When I use this wallet, I put my Metrocard and main credit card in this slot. The wallet holds up to 15 cards, and Nomantic suggests putting at least four cards in it so that everything stays secure.
While it’s not as minimalist as using a money clip, the package is actually a bit smaller, since you fold bills in half twice when you put them in.
Pros: Minimalist, holds a lot considering it’s size, fun colors, easy access with pull tab
Cons: Only holds a little bit of cash, which has to be folded twice
Why you'll love it: The Rogue Industries front pocket wallet is the same shape as a jeans pocket, so it's comfortable to carry and has a low-profile.
When you first see the Rogue Industries front pocket wallet, you might be a little taken aback. It looks a little bit like a fin or flipper, rather than a wallet. That’s because Rogue Industries designed it to fit perfectly in the front pocket of your favorite pair of jeans. Go ahead and put it in your pocket pointing down — you’ll see.
Unlike many other front-pocket or minimalist wallets, the Rogue front pocket has a full-sized compartment for cash, meaning you don’t have to fold bills before putting them in. This is a big factor to consider. It’s always annoying to have to unfold each bill individually and count them up at the register, especially if there’s a long line behind you.
Because it's a bifold, the wallet has three credit card slots on one side when it’s open and an ID window on the opposite side. Each card slot is designed to hold up to two cards. You can always squeeze more in, but the wallet may become stretched out, misshapen, or not close properly.
One nice thing about the Rogue Industries wallet is that it’s available in a ton of different styles. There are several different kinds of leather, including bison and alligator, and it also comes in nylon. Many of the choices come with an RFID-blocking material integrated into the construction. Once you’ve settled on a material, there are plenty of color options, too.
Pros: Fits comfortably in front pocket, can fit cash without having to fold it
Why you'll love it: Simple, straightforward, and built to last, the Saddleback Front Pocket wallet will serve you well for years to come.
Sometimes, you aren’t looking for anything fancy or complicated. You want something simple, straightforward and guaranteed high quality.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for in a wallet, consider the Saddleback Front Pocket ID Wallet. There’s no folding or figuring out pockets, nor any kind of ergonomic design for your pockets. Instead, it’s a single unit, a small, flat piece of leather designed to be as thin as possible to fit anywhere. With a 100-year warranty, it’s built to last.
The Saddleback wallet has pockets on both sides and is constructed from full-grain leather, lined with pigskin, and sewn with marine-grade thread. On one side, the Saddleback wallet has two pockets for credit cards. Once you break the wallet in, each pocket can hold up to five cards. Be careful, though. When you add a new card to a full-grain leather wallet, the pocket stretches and molds to fit the card. That means that if you want to go back to carrying fewer cards, the pocket will be loose and cards may fall out.
When you flip the wallet to its other side, it has a side entry pocket with an ID window. You can also put a transit pass in here — that way, you can easily pull it out while leaving the wallet in your pocket. A slot just above and behind the ID window can hold folded cash or, if you prefer, an extra card or two. There’s also a pocket at the top of the wallet which fits cash.
Reviewers on Amazon testify to the wallet’s durability, with one person reporting back that after six years, the Saddleback Front Pocket wallet is still holding together well. Keep in mind, as several reviewers point out, that because the leather is so durable, it needs some time to break in. You might not be able to fit ten credit cards in when you first get it.
Pros: Slim, incredibly durable, built to last
Cons: Only fits a small amount of cash, needs to be broken in
Why you'll love it: More than just a folded piece of metal, the M-Clip V Series will last a long time and will never lose your cash or cards.
Money clips are so simple that you might not realize there is much difference between them. However, which clip you pick can mean the difference between having a money clip that bends or stretches after six months and starts dropping your cash, or one that lasts a lifetime.
The M-Clip V series falls into the latter category. If you’re looking for a money clip, you can do no better. More than just a simple folded piece of metal, the V series has an opening mechanism. To add or remove something, you just slide the lever bars back, making the clip look a bit like a clothes pin. You pinch them to open the clip, and when you’re done, slide them back down to close it.
The V Series money clip is a little bulkier than some flatter clips, but it makes up for that by using a lightweight aircraft grade aluminum. The spring mechanism is made with precision-machined stainless steel and is heat tempered to add to durability. The inside of the clip is padded with Neoprene rubber grips — between these and the opening mechanism, there’s virtually no chance of anything falling out of the clip.
M-Clip says you can hold 6-8 cards and at least 8-10 bills, which should be plenty for any need. According to several people who use the clip, even if you regularly stuff a lot into it, the clip doesn’t lose tension later when you’re carrying less. Reviewers also swear by M-Clip’s customer service — if you’re unhappy with your clip for any reason, M-Clip is happy to work with you to fix the problem.
Pros: Minimalist, holds a lot, well-built, great customer service
When you travel, you need a practical wallet that can hold your passport, boarding pass, and all your credit cards and cash.
I spent some time researching different options, trying a handful of different ones, and I'm happy to say that I found my favorite and new go-to: the Bellroy Travel Wallet. I've also found a number of other great travel wallet options if Bellroy's wares aren't for you. Read on to see which of put picks is the best for your travel wallet needs.
