Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
Billfolds, cardholders, and money-clips are great for those of us who only carry a few cards and a little cash, but they’re far from ideal for those who carry less standard items. If you like to keep lip balm, a flash drive, loose change, or any manner of other everyday carry items, but don’t like them floating around in your pocket, a zip wallet can be a great choice. While you’ll have to plan carefully to ensure you’re buying a wallet that will work for your life specifically, the outcome is a greatly reduced number of small items getting misplaced throughout the day.
1) A.P.C.: Emmanuel Wallet
Though most think of A.P.C. as a selvedge denim brand, their leather goods are top notch. Today we’re looking at their Emmanuel Wallet, which features a gusseted, zippered pouch intended for coins. In addition to this space, there are 5 cards slots and 2 larger receipt pockets to ensure you can carry all that you need. These portions of the wallet close with a snap, so nothing will fall out regardless of where it is stored.
Available for $255 at End Clothing.
2) Tanner Goods: Universal Zip Wallet
Tanner Goods is one of the best-known names in wallets, and their Universal Zip Wallet shows us why. It’s impeccably designed, with a RiRi zippered pouch that contains a larger central pocket and two card slots. The wallet is made in the USA from English bridle leather, which ages beautifully. Don’t let it’s small size fool you: this wallet has room for a serious amount of cards, coins, and other goods.
Available from $130 at Division Road.
3) Hender Scheme: L Purse
In recent years, Hender Scheme has gone far beyond the homage sneakers they became famous for. Their L Purse is a great zippered wallet, which features their top-notch construction, a gold-leaf embossed tag, 2 card slots, and the aforementioned zippered pocket. While it isn’t overly complicated, this wallet has everything you need from an everyday carry wallet.
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Available for $208 at Canoe Club.
4) Iron Heart: Zippered Cowhide Wallet
Iron Heart’s jeans are some of the heaviest and most durable on the market, and their wallets are no different. These Zippered Cowhide Wallets are constructed from a paraffin leather that offers improved water resistance, and features 2 nested zippered pouches and 2 card slots. This design is something that only the owner will see, unless you flash the inside of your wallet to people on a regular basis, but it’s these small design quirks that make some of us have extensive wallet collections.
Available for $235 at Self Edge.
5) Makr: Slim Canvas Zip Wallet
I have a soft spot in my heart for leather wallets, but for many canvas is a superior material. It’s softer to sit on, lighter, and is aesthetically superior for some. That said, Makr’s Slim Canvas Zip Wallet is built to last, and features an interior leather divider to give you more organization options. Available in multiple colorways, this is one of the best choices out there if you want a canvas, zippered wallet.
Available for $80 at Unionmade.
Plus One – Kapital: Butterfly Chain Zip-Around Wallet
Kapital’s Butterfly Chain Zip-Around Wallet isn’t just special given the wallet itself, but because of the silver-toned brass butterfly chain that it comes with. While such a piece is certainly not something that many would wear, I could see myself rocking this on a daily basis if not for the fact that I’ve evolved beyond back-pocket wallets. This wallet has two internal pockets, like many of the other wallets on this list, but make sure it’s big enough for all your needs — or just change your wallet’s contents to make way for that beautiful chain.
Available for $440 at Mr. Porter.
