Updated on 21 March 2023
This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.
Fa.Volmer #VO19
In our opinion, this Volmer model offers the best value for money in terms of finish and overall practicality.
This RFID-protected tri-fold model is in brown leather but is also available in camel and black. It is quite large (2 x 12.5 x 9.8 cm), but we still managed to fit it into the front and back pockets of a pair of trousers (with a deep front pocket). We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of its materials at this price point. In addition, the generous storage space proved to be a real advantage. For example, you can fit up to three cards in each of the eight slots, as well as a regular ID card (10.5 x 7.4 cm) in the mesh slot, coins in the mesh and various documents and banknotes in the two large slots.
A good wallet should be compact, have enough compartments for cards and be of good quality. The more folds your model has, the more space it will take up. There are so many wallet designs that you are sure to find the perfect one for you. Leather is the most popular material because of its durability and chic, elegant and versatile design. There are different sizes to suit everyone's needs. A good finish will make your wallet last longer. Adapt the size of your wallet to your needs (lots of cards, coins, etc.).
Flintronic Slim
Although it looks more like a cardholder, this RFID-protected model is simple, small and practical. With its 8 slots, it can hold up to 14 cards and banknotes folded in the middle.
This model is very flat and quite compact (11.3 x 8.3 cm). In our tests, we found it ideal for people who carry only the essentials: an ID card, driving licence, 2-3 bank cards, a few other cards (cheques, business cards, discount cards) and 2-3 folded banknotes. During our tests, we found it to be very light and noted that it is possible to fit two cards per slot. It was also easy to slip into any pocket.
Bellroy Hide & Seek
Made from high-quality, environmentally-certified leather, this wallet has a great-quality finish and a beautiful design. Simple yet practical, it also features RFID protection.
This model has space for up to 12 cards. In addition, it has a large slot for banknotes, documents or cards of other formats (ID cards), as well as a hidden slot. In our tests, we found the latter to be easily accessible when you know where it is, but it requires a bit of precision to close it properly. We liked the fact that it smells like real leather, rather than the more chemical smell of other models. And although it is a bit large (11.7 x 1.3 x 9.5 cm), we were able to fit it in the front pocket of several pairs of trousers. However, it doesn’t have a specific place to put coins.
Bellroy Leather Slim Sleeve
This slim wallet has been designed with the environment in mind. It also has a tab to remove lesser-used cards, proving its great functionality.
It is very popular with male users, and its quality is commensurate with its price. Not only does it have an extremely compact design (8 x 9 cm), but it also has an environmentally certified premium leather case. During our tests, we noticed that it smelled like real shoe leather, unlike many others. It has two flaps, with two slots on the inside and a compartment for notes. Our tests have shown that it can hold up to 8 cards in total (2 per slot and 2 per pocket). However, it does not have RFID protection.
Our selection
| Our choice, Best mid-range | Best budget | Best high-end | High-end alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| | | | |
| Fa.Volmer #VO19 | Flintronic Slim | Bellroy Hide & Seek | Bellroy Leather Slim Sleeve |
| In our opinion, this Volmer model offers the best value for money in terms of finish and overall practicality. | Although it looks more like a cardholder, this RFID-protected model is simple, small and practical. With its 8 slots, it can hold up to 14 cards and banknotes folded in the middle. | Made from high-quality, environmentally-certified leather, this wallet has a great-quality finish and a beautiful design. Simple yet practical, it also features RFID protection. | This slim wallet has been designed with the environment in mind. It also has a tab to remove lesser-used cards, proving its great functionality. |
| £ 33.36 on Amazon | £ 9.99 on Amazon | £ 85.00 on Amazon | £ 74.71 on Amazon |
Why trust us ?
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How did we do the tests?
To test the wallets, we first checked the finish and the quality of the material of each one. Then, we analysed their cut and what they could contain (number of flaps, number of slots, number of cards per slot, the possibility of inserting an old format ID card, possibility of inserting coins…).
Finally, we put them in different trouser pockets, front and back, to see if they were easy to put in. We also sat with each of them in the pocket to see if it was possible to maintain the position without being uncomfortable.
How to choose your wallet?
Whether in a trouser pocket, shirt or jacket, the wallet is an indispensable element in everyday life. More than just an accessory, it represents the owner’s personality to a certain extent.
Although the market is full of different types of models, it is often difficult to find a model that satisfies us both functionally and aesthetically. Before deciding on one, you should know that there are four main types of wallets:
- The two-compartment wallet: this is probably the model most chosen by men, especially because of its compactness. In general, it can hold banknotes and cards. Some even have a coin pocket.
- The three-compartment wallet: shares the same capabilities as its two-slot counterpart, this one differs in that it has a slot or space, usually for papers or other documents. However, it is a bit bulkier.
- The four-compartment wallet: is perfect for people who travel frequently. Its four compartments are designed to hold a passport, ID card, visa, and other travel-related documents.
- The five-compartment wallet: they usually feature slim fabric pockets on the inside, plus the classic see-through mesh for photos. Despite its ample space, its lack of compactness relegates it to a smaller use.
Having identified the type of portfolio that best suits your needs, here are the criteria to which you should pay particular attention:
- The material: we can find them in leather, fabric and plastic. Leather is recommended for its strength, comfort and design. This does not mean that the other formats are not resistant, but they are less elegant.
- The size: in addition to the classic format, which allows even car papers to be inserted (without folding), there is also the European format (11 x 15 cm), the Italian format (11 x 9 cm) and the square format (11 x 11 cm).
- Finishes: as these directly affect the overall quality of the wallet, do not hesitate to inspect it thoroughly. Pay particular attention to the stitching lines of the compartments and the different slots.
Other models we recommend
Travendo Amsterdam (£19.95 upon publication): a minimalist model. This model is closer to a cardholder than a wallet. However, we found it quite interesting during our tests, as it can hold up to 20 cards (three in each of its six slots and two on the front) and hold banknotes or documents thanks to its clip. And with its compact size, it’s easy to slip into a front trouser pocket.
Travendo Dublin (£21.95 upon publication): practical, but too large. This large model proved to be very practical during our tests. It can hold an ID card in the old format, coins, documents and banknotes and up to 24 cards. Its main drawback is its large size (12.7 x 9.4 x 2.2 cm), which makes it necessary to have large pockets if you want to attach it to the front of your trousers.
Levi’s Vintage Two Horse Vertical (£32.18 upon publication): our 2nd mid-range option. This is the largest model we tested (13 x 10 cm). It has many different slots (including a coin pocket, two slots for banknotes and eight card slots for up to three cards each), but we were a bit disappointed with the finish, as we noticed the glue in some areas… Also, it has no RFID protection.
Other models tested
Eono by Amazon (£8.99 upon publication): an inferior model that smells very bad. Of all the ones we tested, it smelled the worst. It is also impractical and has no RFID protection.
Teehon DHS-01 (£13.91 upon publication): could be improved. Although this model can hold a large number of cards, we preferred to leave it out of our selection because of its poor finish and ergonomics. In fact, it includes a snap button that was unpleasant when placed in the back pocket of the trousers.
Fa.Volmer #Ph3 (£19.90 upon publication): lower quality. Although very practical, we found the slots on this model to be of lower quality. We found them much more fragile than in other wallets. We, therefore, prefer not to recommend it.
Donbolso NextGen (£47.99 upon publication): quite expensive for what it is. During our tests, we found it to be less practical than it seemed. Indeed, its coin slot is anecdotal, and one of the slots does not allow two cards to be inserted so only 10 cards in total can be inserted.
Translated by Selectos
