Types of Wallets: How To Find the Right Wallet

Wallets are one of the most commonly handled parts of our everyday lives. We have been carrying them since our uncles gave us a velcro wallet in the holiday season of 8th grade. However, we’ve now replaced those nostalgic velcro accessories with something a little more upscale. 

The evolution of the wallet can be traced back many years and iterations. At one point, people built huge castles to store their money and valuables. They had knights and squires for holding their money pouches and chests full of gold. 

Wallets, like any accessory, have gone through many fashion trends and been our lifeline through the pages of history. “Wallet” comes from the word “kibisis,” which is Greek for “sack.” While we don’t wear our wallets around our necks like the ancient Greeks and Romans, we still think they would enjoy our modern interpretations.

We are going to lay out some of the most common leather wallets that we see in the industry. We hope that this can help you understand what is out there. Read on as we break down how to narrow down the options to find the best type of wallet for whatever your needs are.

Hopefully, by the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of both the field and what you like so that if you decide to ditch the chain wallet, you find exactly the right wallet to fill that giant hole in your heart.

The Most Common Types of Wallets

The first wallet that was ever discovered came from 3,300 B.C. on Otzi, a glacier mummy. Otzi clearly understands that a good wallet will last thousands of years. 

If you are looking for a wallet that Otzi loved as much as his, consider these more modern styles:

Bi-Fold

This is the most common and trusty wallet on our list. It has been around for generations and is commonly the wallet shown in the movies. The bi-fold is truly the movie star of wallets.

Because of its compact size yet its ability to house a plethora of cards, money, and pictures (along with a good deal more if you get creative), this wallet is known to be a real top standard wallet. Its fold is the only area that really wears as the rest of the wallet is not exposed too much at all. Unlike other wallets, it acts like a turtle in itself.

Especially with full-grain leather bi-fold wallets such as our Ambassador, its exterior really can soak up a lot of abuse and still look great. Even better, our full-grain leather will turn that rough and tumble into a beautiful patina that you can be proud of. 

Slim Wallet

While the bi-fold might get all the attention from the masses, one of the more quickly growing types of wallets is the slim wallet. These generally are only the size of a standard credit card yet can house a lot of things, from credit cards to pictures, without getting too bulky. 

Slim wallets are becoming more popular because of the stress that bulkier wallets are placing on your spine when you put them in your back pocket. These slim wallets are designed to fit comfortably in your front pockets to take the pain off your back. Don’t let the slim design fool you: they can really carry a lot. 

Take our Scout, for example. It houses up to ten cards and still has room for cash in the small center pouch as well. Slim wallets are really becoming more and more popular as people are trying to cut down on the bulk of what they carry with them in general. Style is moving to a much more minimalist aesthetic. If you are looking for something that does not appear bulky, look at the Scout. 

Money Clip Wallet

Technically any wallet can have a money clip attached, but the vintage feel of a money clip wallet is making a strong comeback. Some wallets can have many different types of clips to keep your cash ready at hand. It is one of the more popular types of wallets on the market today. 

For example, our Apollo has a small money clip on the inside of the fold. It is technically a bi-fold, but the money pouch is replaced by a clip, thus making it much more accessible in your everyday life. Plus, doesn’t it feel amazing when you flip open a money clip to pay for something? It is undeniably cool! 

Passport or Travel Wallets

This type of wallet might have a bit of a niche use, but they still are important to talk about as some use them for more than just when they are traveling. A passport or travel wallet is much bigger than the average wallet in order to hold a passport or plane ticket for travel. They are almost a hybrid between a billfold and a wallet. 

While they may seem niche, they are actually quite nice to have when you are traveling because of all the documents and papers required of the wanderlust lifestyle. They are normally either kept in your bag or in a side pocket of a jacket or similar apparel. Our Atlas was designed to hold your passport securely through any adventure.

Front Pocket Wallets

While this may seem similar to a slim wallet (and, of course, there is some overlap), it is not fully the same.

A front pocket wallet is actually originally designed to fit in a shirt pocket for those who want absolutely zero heft from their wallets in their front pants pockets. They are the smallest and slimmest wallets that are also increasing in popularity because people are using fewer credit cards on average. 

We at Andar love the idea of decreasing bulkiness, so we have worked hard to craft many wallets that can achieve this goal, but one of our more popular and proud items is our Pilot. With an extremely minimal design and look, the Pilot is perfect for you if you want a small wallet that is a little bit off the beaten path. Plus, its two-tone color scheme allows it to mesh with any look or level of formal and casual dress.

Other Considerations When Finding the Right Wallet

Wallets are part of an everyday carry that you really can’t go without. However, there is more needed than just a beautiful leather patina and high-quality endurance. While Greeks and Romans wore their wallets around their necks to outsmart pickpockets, 21st-century pickpockets have stepped up their game.

Read about why you need RFID protection in this digital age: 

RFID Protection

Like tech and fashion, credit cards are “smarter” than ever. Unfortunately, the same things that offer up easy transactions make them susceptible to scammers.

All of Andar’s wallets are RFID protected, meaning that our wallets block the modern pickpocket’s ability to read your card’s info through your wallet. 

How Many Cards Do You Need?

We would say that the most important question you could ask yourself when searching for wallets is the one above. Since a lot of the wallets vary in the amount that they hold, it is important to know how many you generally carry. Slim wallets are great if you do not carry a lot on you, but if you do, perhaps a bi-fold is more up your alley.

Full-Grain Difference

Many of our wallets are made with full-grain leather, which is the top quality of leather. They will last a lifetime if cared for properly and will genuinely get better with age. Since your wallet is so commonly used almost every day, find a material that can keep up with this wear and tear and age like a fine wine. 

Find What Works For You

Wallets are used so often that we rarely stop to think about what type of wallet we have and what advantages or disadvantages they present us with. Your wallet should be able to keep up with you, but not have you think about it all the time.

Once you buy one, you should rarely think about it while out in the world. Andar has crafted beautiful wallets that aim to do just that: keep your information safe while offering a great fit for wherever you store them. 

Sources:

What Are EDC Essentials – The Must-Have List For Everyday Carry | Tech Writer EDC. 

IS YOUR WALLET CAUSING YOU LOW BACK PAIN? | Somerset Hills Chiropractic. 

Ötzi the Iceman's Wild Wardrobe Revealed | Scientific American

A Brief History of Wallets | Old Timey