Every man should have a wallet. Any man who doesn’t have one probably stopped carrying it because it got too old, or maybe because it got lost or stolen.
Buying a wallet is quite a simple thing.
However, you need to know exactly what you are looking for, and what the trend is in the world of wallets.
Otherwise, any salesperson will sway you into buying poor quality products, or even less stylish/ convenient ones for very high price.
So what exactly do you need to look for in a wallet?
1. The material it is made of
For many reasons, this is the first thing you need to consider when buying a wallet.
- Leather
Good quality wallets are made of leather, although the choice really is yours.
Most are made of cow leather, although you can still find more expensive ones made of alligator leather. Sheep leather is also used for such purposes.
Many fake forms of leather exist in the market, and telling the difference can be quite difficult, especially if it is your first time purchasing leather products.
Fake leather products typically last for a shorter time compared to real leather, although the difference is also usually made up for in the price.
A good way to tell real leather from fake leather is to check the edges of the wallet. Real leather has rough edges while fake leather has smoother edges.
Real leather also has inconsistently placed pores on its surface, while fake leather has consistently placed pores on its surface.
If you have the time, you can also learn the difference in smell between real leather and fake leather.
Most wallets made of real leather also advertise the same on the wallets. Fake leather wallets might leave out the issue of the material entirely, or simply say it is made of manmade materials.
Leather wallets usually come in black or brown colors.
- Cotton
Cotton is used to make much cheaper wallets.
Cotton wallets come in a larger variety of colors, making it great for matching whatever you wear.
On the flip side, cotton wallets do not last as long as leather wallets.
Ideally, you should not wear tight clothes or place the wallet in tight pockets since this will cause the wallet to wear and tear faster.
- Silk and Nylon
Silk and nylon are more rarely used materials in the making of wallets.
Silk wallets are among the more expensive wallets, although not as expensive as leather wallets.
On the other hand, nylon wallets are very cheap, and regarded among the least classic wallets to own.
- Random materials
Random materials are used to make wallets that imitate leather or cotton.
The actual material used to make the wallet could be old tires or vehicle seat belts.
Of course, such wallets are sold at a fraction of the cost of a similar real material wallet.
However, the resulting wallet is always a cheaper imitation which wears and tears very fast.
The type of wallet
The second thing you need to consider is the type of wallet you need.
Wallets have all sorts of features, some even having zipper pockets for the storage of coins.
Here are the different types of wallets:
- Foldable wallets
Foldable wallets are the most common wallets for men.
They could either be bi-fold or tri-fold.
As you might have guessed, bi-fold wallets can only fold once, while tri-fold wallets fold two times.
Tri- fold wallets have three sides, which fold over each other.
Foldable wallets have been the standard wallets for men for many years, and are your best bet when it comes to any environment where style matters.
- Minimalist wallet
Minimalist wallets are very slim and meant to carry very few items.
At most, a minimalist wallet can carry four cards.
Minimalist wallets are great for people who like to wear well-tailored clothes.
Other wallets easily cause a bulge in the pocket because of the size of the wallet. A minimalist wallet eliminates this problem.
The downside is that you will not have the capacity to carry around a lot of money.
If you need to carry coins, a minimalist wallet will probably not be the best for you.
With that said, you can find an alternative place to keep your coins, and comfortably walk around with your minimalist wallet.
- Travel wallets
A travel wallet is the exact opposite of a minimalist wallet.
Such wallets are meant to accommodate all documents you need when travelling, including your passport. This clearly explains why such wallets are larger in size.
Travel wallets can save you a great deal of stress when it comes to storing your documents.
In your bag, the documents would probably get scattered and lost.
Travel wallets are also good for the storage of coins, which will probably be necessary to have on you when travelling.
In many countries, coins are still used a lot.
- Breast Pocket Wallet
Long wallets are meant to store bills without any folding.
Usually, these are meant to be kept in the pocket of a trench coat, the breast pocket of a jacket, or simply in a bag.
Long wallets are also slim, but can store several cards and bills.
- Accordion Wallet
An accordion wallet is similar to a long wallet, except for the size.
Accordion wallets are bigger in size and are meant to hold more items.
Such wallets also have zippers to keep the contents more secure.
However, zippers in wallets are not considered very classy.
Extra Tips
- Don’t bother searching for a wallet that can also carry coins. You can simply keep your coins in your pocket.
- Classic wallets do not have zippers.
- The most common colors for wallets are black and brown.
Conclusion
With these guidelines, you should be able to find a wallet that suits you.
Whether male or female, wallets are not just a means of carrying money and cards.
A wallet is also a show of your style and class, and you should always go for one which appropriately expresses your style.
I like how you mentioned travel wallets being able to reduce the stress of finding your documents. My brother’s birthday is coming up, and I’m not sure what to get him. It would be nice to choose a travel wallet because he is going out of the country next month.