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Sure, metal minimalist wallets, with their sandwich designs or pop-up ejectors, are gaining in popularity, but there is just something special about a good bifold wallet. That said, even the bifold has seen some advancements over recent years, giving us thinner versions, magnetic versions, and more. We’ve had a chance to test out quite a few of them and put them through their paces.
These ten bifold wallets have stood the test of time and abuse of daily usage and are currently the favorites we’ve ever used in person.
Quick Note: Every wallet on this list was gifted to us by its respective brand.
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1. Nomad Goods Card Wallet Plus
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- Horween leather build
- Separated card slots to help with damage to cards
- External card slot
- Large card capacity
- A bit larger than the competition
There’s no burying the lead here; the Nomad Goods Card Wallet Plus has stood out as our all-time favorite bi-fold here at Gear43. Its leather build allows for a sleek yet quality feeling to finish the perfect patinas with usage. Its internal card storage offers just enough storage for most people’s needs (including individually sleeved card slots) while also maintaining a thinner structure (so that it isn’t as noticeable in your pocket).
One of my favorite features? The external card slot on the wallet gives you easy access to one of your favorite and most used cards (I go back and forth between my debit card and my Costco card). The only downside to the wallet I can think of is that it’s a bit too large to be a true minimalist slim wallet while also being too small to be a full-fledged bifold that most people would expect. Regardless, I think it might just be the perfect in-between.
2. Double Oak Cloud Wallet
- Full-grain leather is high quality
- Very compact for a bifold style wallet
- Fantastic value for the price
- Has interior cash storage
- May not have quite enough room for some
It’s hard not to allow this wallet to top just about any one of my favorite wallet lists (I’d have it at the top of my favorite metal wallets; you know, it had metal). The only reason that I don’t have it at the top is I believe most people searching for a bifold are likely not looking for a super slim bifold like this one.
The full-grain leather on this wallet is by far one of my favorites. You can easily see scratches and patina buildup over its usage, and the build quality is amazing. This wallet presents itself as an amazing front pocket wallet with a classic design.
You have just enough storage on the inside, with an extra card slot on the outside. Cash is stored behind your cards (and is folded only once) but is still extremely easy to access. Your lesser-used cards are accessible via a pull tab, meaning you don’t have to pry them out.
This is all topped off with a magnetic closure that is just strong enough to keep the wallet closed but weak enough not to be annoying.
3. Distil Union Ferris ModWallet Kit
- Completely modular and customizable
- High quality, full grain leather build
- Pull tabs eject most used cards quickly
- Longer build than it needed to be
- Falls apart a bit too easily
This is one seriously cool wallet. Sure, its full-grain leather, 14-card capacity, and high-quality build are awesome, but its party trick is what gets it up higher on this list. Every component of this wallet is magnetized, meaning you can swap out plenty of different accessories to make this wallet exactly what you want it to be. I’m talking about money clips, cardholders, key organizers, and more.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen a wallet built like this, and I was quite impressed! The only downside or drawback I have with this wallet is that the magnets make the wallet longer than it would normally need to be. This makes it bulkier than more people would be comfortable with in their front pocket, making this a primarily back-pocket wallet (which isn’t my personal preference).
4. Distil Union Wally Bifold
- Very well thought out design
- Pull tabs for easy access to most used cards
- Well thought out interior cash clip
- Pull tabs and card storage make it thicker than it needs to be
Now, this bifold is a classic and extremely bifold, and for good reason. If the ModWallet above is just a bit much for you, but you like the style, this is going to be your best choice (and personally, it is the more reasonable choice for me). The pull tabs found on the end of the wallet (same as the ModWallet) allow you to quickly access one or two cards per side (without opening the wallet). This gives you quick access to minimalist wallets but the styling and capacity of a standard bifold.
I very much enjoyed the built-in money clip for easy access to cash (without adding a ton of bulk), and the additional card slots work well and are well thought out. The only downside I found with the wallet is due to the pull tabs and the need for additional layers of fabric; it still felt thicker than it needed to be. It’s not too thick to keep it out of your front pocket, but I feel like it could be thinner.
5. Dun Wallet Black Edition
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- Extremely thin for its size
- Looks simple and great
- Cool way of storing cash
- Smaller card capacity
- Leather isn't quite as nice as some competitors
I’ll be 100% honest: when this brand offered to send me this wallet, I did not have high hopes for it. It looked like every other wallet, and their claims of being the thinnest bifold weren’t impressive, that is, until I pulled it out of its packaging and held it for the first time. This thing is seriously thin yet still extremely well thought out.
With a capacity of 8 cards, along with cash, it’s going to be perfect for just about anyone. The cash is stored behind a cash strap, which not only works well but looks fantastic as well. The only reason why I don’t have this wallet higher up on this list is purely because it just doesn’t have much going on in the aesthetics department. It may not be cheap, but it does look a bit bland.
6. Bellroy Hide & Seek
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Much like the Wally Bifold I mentioned earlier, the Hide & Seek from Bellroy is a big-time staple in the bifold industry. It offers plenty of color options, is made of high-quality leather (which patinas well), and is relatively thin for its size. As for the interior, you can fit up to 12 cards and cash. It even comes with a hidden cash pocket for those people who want a little extra precaution.
This wallet is a seriously nice wallet that we have thoroughly enjoyed. If you are looking for a wallet that stands out as the industry standard, this has to be it.
7. Bellroy Slim Sleeve
- Great build quality
- Awesome color options
- Very compact, slim design
- Pull tab for easy access to lesser used cards
- Not quite as nice as some direct competitors
If you liked the Double Oak Cloud Wallet earlier in this article but prefer a sleeker leather build (rather than a more obvious patina), this wallet would be perfect for you. It keeps the same minimalist bifold build, with plenty of card slots, and even has a similar pull tab for your lesser-used cards that are hidden in the back.
The wallet feels amazing, the leather is clean and high quality, and I don’t have many complaints about this front pocket bifold. However, when compared to the Cloud Wallet, I wish this one offered the same magnetic closure, as it gives you a bit more confidence.
8. Harber London RFID Card Holder
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- Very high quality leather
- Pliable leather feels great in the pocket
- Extremely thin build
- Magnetic closure
- Pull tab for easy access to lesser used cards
- Wish it had an external quick access pocket
I’m a really big fan of these small, leather bifold cardholders. Sure, they don’t have the capacity of a full-fledged bifold, but their ability to slip into your front pocket while still being malleable and damage-free after spending hours in your pocket with your keys is an amazing thing.
This specific cardholder from Harber London is very similar to others on this list, with a pull tab for easy access to your lesser-used cards and quick access slots for those you do use often. Much like the Double Oak from earlier, it also comes equipped with magnets that help keep it closed. This is a rougher (in a good way) leather than the Double Oak, but it doesn’t patina quite as easily or as quickly. It’s really up to you and the feel you are looking for.
9. Pioneer Carry Altitude Billfold
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- Waterproof design works well
- Well thought out interior design
- Fabric feels and works well
- Is not very malleable
This is one of the few non-leather bifolds you’ll find on this list! Luke (who reviewed this) enjoyed its water-resistant, cleanable build and the fact that it could hold just about any form of denomination, making it a perfect world-traveling wallet. The material in the wallet patinas (much like leather), so it’ll become “your” wallet from the years of usage.
The wallet offers a magnetic closure, is RFID-protected, and can fit up to 8 cards! What wasn’t he impressed with? Luke wished that it offered a bit more flexibility. The wallet is just a bit too stiff for his liking, so it likes to show through your clothing. Otherwise, it’s a fantastic bifold.
10. Nomad Goods Bifold Wallet
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- Lined slots for your cards and cash.
- The design is super nice and clean.
- The leather.
- The exterior pocket.
This wallet is available in both standard leather and Horween Leather. We highly recommend getting the Horween leather; it’s definitely worth the upgrade in feel and quality. The Card Wallet Plus does an awesome job at straddling the line between a minimalist wallet and a true bifold. It may be a bit on the larger side of a minimalist wallet, but it does still reasonably keep its size down enough to be a front-pocket wallet.
That said, it has plenty of awesome bifold characteristics (like the Horween Leather), card slots on the interior (and a bonus card slot on the exterior). This thing looks awesome and feels awesome, and with its quality leather, it should last a lifetime (and patina while doing it). I think the only real downside comes down to cash storage, as it doesn’t really have its own dedicated area.
