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What Are the Different Types of Wallets?
21 Different Types of Wallets
1. Bifold Wallet
A bifold wallet is one of the simplest and oldest types of wallet design with some historical examples dating back to the 17th century. A bifold wallet has a long pouch that holds paper money and it usually has several little pockets to hold credit cards, identification cards, and even keys in some cases.
It’s called a bifold wallet because both of the two sides (hence the prefix “bi-“) fold together. Bifolds may or may not have a zipper or snap to hold them closed.
2. Trifold Wallet
A trifold wallet is very similar to a bifold wallet and is actually sort of an extended version of that type. It contains a long pouch for banknotes and pockets for cards. It folds in thirds (there are 3 sections that fold, overlapping) which is where the name “trifold” comes from.
Because of the three folds, it’s more likely to bulge, especially when it holds a lot of paper receipts or other bits of paper. Trust me, I know – mine has been hard to close at times!
As such, a trifold wallet can become uncomfortable to sit on for any length of time in a back pocket and it may invite pickpockets or thieves by being obvious. In my personal experience, trifold wallets are very handy but can begin to tear or break under stress if they’re overloaded.
3. Slim Wallet
The slim wallet is often called the minimalist wallet. It’s designed to remove any and all unnecessary bulk, allowing you to carry the bare minimum of identification, credit cards, and perhaps some small amount of paper money.
It often has other features like RFID protection these days.
4. RFID Wallet
The appearance of RFID (radio-frequency identification) has given rise to a new style of theft. A thief can read cards and steal financial data by placing an RFID reading device in close proximity to foot traffic.
As people pass, the device notes their card data and the thief can then go to work. The RFID wallet prevents this sort of theft by protecting your cards from outside scanning. The RFID wallet contains a fine metal screen mesh, also called a Faraday cage, which completely surrounds your cards.
Electromagnetic impulses can’t get into or out of the mesh, and your cards are secured from prying eyes via radio frequency scanning devices.
5. Credit Card Wallet
Some wallets do away with a large pocket for paper money, notes, and receipts, instead simply offering credit card storage.
This is a good option if you prefer not to carry a lot of cash, as it allows you to carry your identification cards, together with your credit cards, in an easy-to-use, slim package.
6. Belt Wallet
A belt wallet is usually an elastic belt designed to fit under your pants and is especially handy if you’re worried about theft. Belt wallets usually come in dark or neutral colors as they are meant to be hidden.
They’re not usually meant for style and feature a pouch, worn in the front, which is held closed with a zipper or buttons. Most models I’ve seen have a snap buckle on the rear straps (the side which goes across your lower back).
The whole thing is designed to conceal a passport, cash, and credit cards securely and away from the spying eyes of thieves. Anybody who travels extensively should, at a minimum, have a belt wallet in addition to their regular wallet so that not everything is lost in the event of a robbery or theft.
Belt wallets are great when you’re in areas with petty theft and pickpocketing, although having a third wallet as a decoy is usually a good idea as well.
7. Minimalist Wallet
The minimalist wallet is sometimes called the slim wallet. It provides no space for cash and just has a thin space for a few cards. A minimalist wallet can fit nicely in a shirt pocket or in a coat breast pocket so it’s especially easy to deal with, even working well for blazers or suits.
Because of how slim and out-of-the-way they are they’re hard to pick from a pocket.
8. Cell Phone Wallet
The popularity of cell phones, and the need to provide them with a protective case, has led to a new style of wallet. The cell phone wallet has a central pocket to keep your cell phone snug and safe.
Some models even come with a little hole for the camera lens to peek through so you don’t need remove the cell phone entirely to take pictures.
Other pouches of the wallet contain space for cards and cash. Cell phone wallets come in a variety of colors and styles and can be very handy if you don’t want to carry both a wallet and a cell phone case, or if you tend to drop or damage your cell phone.
9. Passport Wallet
A passport wallet is designed to hold passports and other travel documents. It’s usually equipped with a zippered pouch to hold the passport and a larger pouch to hold other things as well.
The whole can often be closed with a clasp. There might be enough space to hold pens, a small notepad, and airline tickets as well. Because they can be somewhat bulkier than a standard wallet, I’d say they’re better kept in an inside coat pocket to avoid being targeted by thieves.
(Another alternative would be to keep only a photocopy of the first couple of pages of the passport in the passport wallet while hiding the actual passport in a leatherette passport holder in an inside coat pocket.)
10. ID Card Wallet
The ID card wallet is designed to hold only cards in a thin, compact, bundle. Though they’re sometimes found in a matching set with women’s purses, ID card wallets are heavily favored by men who dislike bulky wallets.
A full ID card wallet can fit flatly in the palm of your hand since the cards are held in a collection of thin pockets.
11. Zippered Wallet
A zipper wallet has a zipper stitched into the leather on three sides so that it can be closed. It comes with a pouch for bank notes, and space for cards and can also hold a fair amount of paper receipts or notes.
Because zippered wallets can be closed up, nothing will be lost. They fit neatly in pockets or purses and very often come in a wider range of styles, colors, or nice patterns.
Women often favor zippered wallets and matching zippered wallets are often included with women’s purses as part of a set.
12. Large Wallet
The large wallet is sometimes called the tall wallet. Unlike the bifold, trifold, or other compact varieties, a large wallet isn’t designed to fold.
Instead, it holds paper money flat and at full length. It has ample space for cards as well. Tall wallets are usually carried in an inside jacket pocket, by men, or in a purse, by women.
Their size makes them easy to take hold of and remove from the pocket or purse. Large wallets have fallen out of fashion in recent years and were more popular back in the 1970s or 1980s.
If you wear jackets fairly often or if you enjoy a more retro look a large wallet is definitely a nice option.
13. Travel Wallet
The travel wallet is sometimes referred to as the passport wallet. It’s designed to keep all of your travel documents in one place with a zippered pouch and a snap that holds it closed.
They’re usually fairly tall and have a fairly bulky design that unfortunately can make it an inviting target for thieves unless it’s kept carefully hidden (for example an inside coat or jacket pocket).
14. Neck Wallet
The neck wallet is designed to be hung from a cord around your neck and you’ll sometimes see them called a neck pouch. It contains pouches for money, and cards. Some are even large enough to hold a cell phone or passport.
If it is worn only around the neck, the string on a neck pouch can be vulnerable to being cut, or snatched. However, if you wear it around the neck and one arm, it will fit neatly under the shoulder, like a shoulder holster.
Wearing a neck wallet in this way makes it much more difficult to steal.
15. Wrist Wallet
The wrist wallet, and its smaller cousin, the wristlet, are both designed to fit neatly over your wrist. These are both great for people who are get into heavy athletic or outdoor activity and who are wearing clothing without any pockets.
The wrist wallet is made of cloth and elastic and designed to wrap around your wrist. Not to worry, though, you’ll still have enough space to carry money, keys, and cards in the pockets built in.
They’re usually made of cloth or synthetic material and come in a variety of styles and colors.
16. Taxi Wallet
A taxi wallet looks more like a small pouch. It usually has a flap that folds over the wallet to hold the contents. Taxi wallets can hold money, cards, and coins, but really aren’t meant to hold large amounts.
They can be easily concealed in a coat pocket or a purse.
17. Leg Wallet
The leg wallet is a cousin to the belt wallet and is uniquely designed to hide valuables. They’re usually made of cloth and elastic.
It has a zippered pouch that can be closed to hold money, cards, and a passport securely. When worn properly, it’s easily hidden from view and your valuables won’t be lost or stolen when traveling. Pair one with a belt wallet and you’ll have even more safekeeping space!
18. Shoe Wallet
A shoe wallet is designed for runners and other athletic people. Shoe wallets are usually made of cloth and are designed to rest atop your shoe. They come with cords that are attached to your shoelaces or on the top of your shoe.
Shoe wallets are perfect for people who either don’t have shoes or prefer not to put a wallet in their pocket.
19. Denim-Style Wallet
The denim-style wallet is designed to match denim clothing. As such, it’s usually blue, although it can be of a variety of materials, and needn’t be made only of denim cloth.
It can sometimes be found in leather or synthetic materials instead. Denim-style wallets can be of nearly any of the other types of wallets listed in this article and can be found in both men’s and women’s styles.
20. Money Clip Wallet
Early examples of something like money clips have been found in ancient Egypt where the wealthy used them to hold papers. They’re simply a very elaborate version of a binder clip or paperclip which holds paper money in a neat pile.
The drawback of a money clip is that it does nothing to protect the paper money in a pocket and so the money can be creased or torn. Also, they make a very obvious target for thieves.
Money clips are often viewed as a status symbol and so can be made of precious metal and have engraving or jewels on them. This also serves as a temptation for theft so you’ll have to be careful to make sure to keep your money safe.
21. Coin Pocket Wallet
Coin pocket wallets are zippered wallets with an additional pouch (often closed with a zipper) for coins and other small objects.
They’re very popular with women (more so in the past than today, although they’re still in use) and are often sold in matching sets with women’s purses. As such, they come in a variety of colors, styles, and materials and can often be found with printed patterns.
What Are the Different Parts of a Wallet For?
- A wallet will usually have a pouch running the length of the wallet to contain money. Since American paper money is smaller than that of other countries, American wallets may not be able to hold other countries’ banknotes.
- A coin pouch may be present.
- There may also be several slots for holding credit cards, identification cards, or other such items.
- Some have a small pouch for keys or even a miniature tool kit.
- Some or all of the wallet may be closed with a clasp or a zipper.
- For added security there may also be a ring or a hole to attach a chain or strap which can then be clasped to a belt loop or other part of your clothing.
- Drivers license/ID holder: for many, this is a thin “pouch” with a clear vinyl window that allows showing your ID card without having to remove it. For even more convenience some are separate and can flip outward.
Not all wallets will have all of the different parts so really it depends on the particular model.
What Is the Difference Between a Billfold and a Wallet?
In reality most people use the names interchangeably. However, a billfold is really a variety of wallets. A wallet is better understood as any small, usually rectangular, carrying case for money, coins, and small cards.
A billfold is a type of wallet that folds over. The term wallet was in use long before the term billfold came into vogue so somehow it gained acceptance as a generic name for a money-holding wallet.
What Type of Leather is Used for Wallets?
Wallets are commonly made from leather although other materials including cloth and synthetics are also used. Cowhide leather is one of the most common wallet materials although others like buffalo hide do exist but are somewhat rare.
Leather is a popular material because it is durable, can be made water-resistant or waterproof, and looks elegant. Synthetic (imitation) leather is very common with budget models but just isn’t as durable most of the time.
On a side note, some authentic models use suede leather and are left in their natural color or dyed to give you even more color options.
How Do You Choose a Wallet?
In choosing a wallet think of your needs and how best to meet them.
- If you’re expecting to do a great deal of travel, especially foreign travel, select a wallet that can carry your passport securely.
- You may also wish to have two or even three wallets; one for your passport and most of your money (to be hidden in an inside coat pocket), a ‘fake’ wallet with a tiny amount of cash, some old receipts, and some irrelevant or expired cards that can be carried in pants or coat pocket in case of a pickpocket attempt.
- A belt wallet underneath your waistband is excellent for carrying your emergency cash and a copy of your passport A leg wallet can also be hidden easily.
- If you frequently have to show your driver’s license or other ID card picking a wallet with an ID card holder is a must-have.
- If you’re usually saving business cards along with keeping bank cards handy a bifold wallet at the minimum is a must. Trifolds will offer even more storage space so I personally find them to be better for everyday use.
If you expect to do a great deal of running or other activity in athletic clothin, a shoe wallet may be more convenient.
Looks and style considerations
Your wallet will say a great deal about your status and your personality. A serious business professional may wish to have a wallet with more muted colors like gray or brown. If you’re in a design field or wish to make a statement, other colors may be better.
Synthetic wallets (even those with a Velcro fastener) can be good for everyday works doing a lot of manual labor or who don’t want to spend a lot.
One final piece of advice: buy the best quality you can afford. A good quality wallet can last for many years if emptied if you clean it out regularly so that it folds up neatly or doesn’t bulge.