We’ve all been there.
You open up your wallet, unorganized and full of credit cards, scrambling for the one you want to use.
It doesn’t have to be this way, even if you refuse to go minimalist.
What you need, my friend, is a better wallet.
We could all use one, really. I’m a bit of a minimalist carrier, and recently picked up a nice one from Bellroy.
To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of 3 great options to fit every budget and style.
In a rush? Check out my top pick, the Bellroy Note Sleeve, over on Amazon right now.
Top overall pick: the Bellroy Note Sleeve
Australian leather goods company Bellroy has been absolutely killing it on top quality, slick looking items since their introduction in 2010.
Both spacious and externally slim, the Bellroy Note Sleeve is a bifold wallet that has a bit of a modern flair to it.
Available in 4 colors – charcoal, cocoa, blue steel, and black – the Note Sleeve is constructed of high-quality, full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather.
The interior is, as promised, highly compartmentalized. But not all the pockets are created equal. Rather, each pocket is carefully placed for maximized, streamlined functionality.
The 3 quick-access slots are designed to house the cards you use most often (so… probably not that gym membership card).
An inner pocket with a handy pull tab can be used to store the rest of them — insurance cards, business cards — or even notes, as the name suggests.
In total, the Note Sleeve can carry up to 11 cards. There is also a larger currency pocket for bills and coins.
Want one for yourself? Check out the best price for this great modern wallet over on Amazon now.
Best for Classic style: Ezra Arthur No. 6 wallet
Looking for something roomy enough to enable your card-hoarding tendencies (it’s okay, no judgment here!), but also sleek, slim, and minimalist?
It sounds impossible, but we’ve got just the thing for you. The No. 6 Wallet by Ezra Arthur is a classic, no-frills bifold wallet just suited for your tastes.
Manufactured by a company that prides itself in sourcing materials and labor from the United States, this wallet is expertly designed and handcrafted. You can rest assured that it is an investment that will last a lifetime.
Constructed from 100% high-quality leather tanned by the Horween Leather Company in Chicago, the No. 6 Wallet itself was hand-stitched in the USA.
The end result is a beautiful, durable product that is free from any glue and rubber. It’s truly meant to last through the years.
In case you still have any doubts, the wallet comes with a lifetime stitching warranty.
The interior (that’s what you’re here for, after all) features several interlocking pockets with the capacity for storing and organizing 12 cards.
Organized on the inside, sleek and elegant on the outside.
You can read more about this wallet and get the most up to date price over on Amazon now.
Best Budget pick: Big Skinny Slimline Bi-Fold
If your budget’s a little smaller, never fear! I’ve got you covered, with hardly any compromises in style or functionality.
The nearly symmetrical Big Skinny Slimline Bi-Fold is the most affordable and spacious option yet.
This version, available in black, brown, or graphite, is made of nylon microfiber, making it incredibly convenient. Not only is its waterproof material ready for any weather or adventure, but it can also be tossed in the washer.
On top of a large currency pocket for bills and coins, the Big Skinny sports 4 card pockets, 2 interior hidden pockets, and an ID slot with a clear plastic window.
In total, it can store up to 25 cards!
The interior of the pockets is lined with rubber for added friction to prevent your precious cards from sliding out.
If you’re looking for something a little more elegant, albeit significantly less waterproof, the leather and nylon hybrid version is slightly more expensive and available in black or brown.
The exterior is made with top-grain cowhide leather, and the interior is made from nylon microfiber.
Stylish on the outside, functional on the inside, and easy on your bank account!
Check out the Big Skinny over on Amazon by clicking here.
Choosing a wallet for lots of credit cards
We’ve all been there.
It’s the end of a long weekday. You’re on a quick grocery store run on the way home from work to grab milk, eggs, and some things for dinner.
The checkout lines stretch out nearly into the aisles, filled with tired, testy customers. Like you, they’re anxious to get home, in a rush to beat the traffic. When it’s finally your turn, the cashier slides your items across the scanner faster than you can blink, and suddenly the pinpad is prompting you to insert your card.
You scramble to flip open your wallet in search of your credit card. The right one. The red one. You push aside the blue one, the grey one…there it is! Nope, that’s a Target gift card.
The people behind you in line shift and shuffle impatiently. You can hear their mental murmuring, and the cashier is still looking at you expectantly.
In another blink of an eye, your cards have fallen out of your wallet and scattered across the counter. A couple of them tumble off the edge and bounce onto the floor beside your feet.
Eventually, you do manage to somehow locate the red credit card set aside for groceries, pay for your items, and make it out the door, pride barely intact.
You’re basically George Costanza:
What you need, my friend, is a better wallet.
Spacious, highly compartmentalized wallets aren’t necessarily just for people with lots of credit cards. We all accumulate baffling numbers of those plastic rectangles. Your driver’s license. Maybe you still have a student ID. Your insurance cards. A few well-intentioned gift cards for stores you never visit…but might. Paper punch cards from your favorite coffeehouse or ice cream shop. That gym membership card you’re totally going to use this month.
Here are 3 things to look for when buying a wallet capable of holding all those cards:
- Lots of organization: You’ve got a lot of stuff. So instead of just packing it into the billfold area, why not get a wallet that actually has different pockets to hold your things? Keep certain cards in certain areas of your wallet, so you never have to go hunting.
- Quality material: If you’re going to be stuffing this bad boy full of cards, you need to make sure it’s up to the task. That’s why I usually don’t recommend cheap wallets – you’re relying on inferior craftsmanship (stitching and material) to hold in your most valuable possessions. Don’t skimp on this!
- RFID protection: When your wallet is full of cards, you’re running the risk of possible RFID skimming. That’s why it’s a good choice to pick a wallet that has RFID protection built in, like the Bellroy above, or get some loose color-coded sleeves that you can stick your cards in. Either way works (I’ve got the separate sleeves).
So what are you waiting for?
Not all of us can (or want to) live that minimalist, 21st century phone cardholder-only lifestyle, and that’s okay! Even if you can’t bring yourself to pare down your wallet contents to the bare essentials, it’s possible to find a durable, elegant wallet to fit your needs and your budget.
Whether you’re looking for a lifetime investment in a worthy piece of leather craftsmanship, or would simply prefer the most affordable and practical way to organize and carry many cards, there’s something waiting for you.
Order a better wallet today and never have another checkout line fiasco again!
Organized wallet, organized life.
Can’t decide? Check out my top pick (and personal favorite brand), the Bellroy Note Sleeve, over on Amazon now.