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There’s just something about leather wallets that is special. It’s soft, you barely notice it in your pocket, it feels better than metal, and it doesn’t damage everything in your pockets. However, most leather wallets are big, bulky, and quite annoying to keep on you at all times. That’s why I put together this article, as I’ve tested so many different wallets, and these are the leather cardholders that I’ve ever used, which are more minimalistic options than bi-folds.
So with that said, stay tuned, as I’ll share which leather cardholders are the best, what I like about each, what I don’t like, and where you should buy them!
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1. Bellroy Card Sleeve
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- Easy access to my most used cards
- Reliable access to lesser-used cards
- Leather build
- Attention to detail
- Worry-free cash storage
- Compact sizing
- Larger than some competitors
- I miss fanned-out cards
- Dimensions: 4.05" High by 2.79" Wide
- RFID Blocking: No
- Card Capacity: 2 to 8
- Cash Organization: Rear Facing Cash Slot
- Coin Storage: No
- Weight: Unknown
Of course, the best option out there for a leather cardholder has to be one of the smallest options, which also just so happens to be fully leather. While many other companies have opted for a primarily metal cardholder (like every other option on this list), Bellroy has gone a different direction, and it has worked (extremely well). The Bellroy Card Sleeve (Paid Link) can handle up to eight cards, with seven in the interior pocket and one in the exterior quick access slot. Cash is easily stored on the flip side and has a reasonable capacity on that end.
I have used this cardholder extensively and have always been impressed at how little you are aware of it in your pocket. The leather is soft and forms in your pocket, and the lack of hard edges means it doesn’t wear out your pants or show through the fabric nearly as much as some alternatives.
The only major downside I have found with this wallet is that if you add too many cards or too much cash for any period, it will stretch out the leather and will never return to what it was before. That means that the cards move around a little more once you switch back to your normal capacity.
2. Double Oak Founder’s Edition
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- The cardholder is removable from the wallet.
- The top-grain leather feels awesome.
- The cardholder mechanism is reliable and clicks.
- MagSafe compatible
- The gold color looks fantastic.
- Cards can get jammed in the cardholder.
- With the leather portion, it is quite thick
- Dimensions: 4.1" High by 2.7" Wide by .75" Deep
- RFID Blocking: Yes
- Card Capacity: 1 to 10
- Cash Organization: Yes
- Coin Storage: No
- Weight: Unknown
While this Double Oak Founder’s Edition may not be at the top of my list of best “Leather Cardholders” it does top my list of overall minimalist wallets (you can read that article here). It truly is an amazing wallet in just about every way!
The top-grain leather on this wallet feels better than any other wallet I have ever tested (plus I really like the green color here (Paid Link), but other options are available as well). On the interior, you have plenty of room for cards within the leather outter wallet, along with some exterior storage. However, its biggest party trick, is its removable metal cardholder.
This seven-card capacity (gold) cardholder can be slipped out of the leather wallet and be taken on the go with you! Do you have a MagSafe-capable phone? Yep, it can do that too.
While I like just about everything about this wallet, the only real major downside I have had with the wallet is its bulk. While the gold-colored cardholder is slim and easy to take with you, when the leather portion is added, it definitely can be quite bulky, which is a choice you have to make whenever you use it.
3. Andar “The” Pilot
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- The top-grain leather is incredibly nice.
- I appreciate the quick access card slot.
- It’s a reasonable price for the quality
- The cash strap is one of the best yet
- I wish it had a metal ejector button and mechanism
- An additional card in its capacity would be awesome
If you are looking for a high-quality, full-grain leather-wrapped cardholder, this is the one to get! While the cardholder may not be removable like the Double Oak, it is considerably more compact than that alternative. It’s quick access slot is extremlye usable, its reasonably priced, and I was super impressed with its cash strap.
The major downsides I saw with this wallet were that its capacity was limited to seven or eight cards (six of which are in the cardholder) and the fact that the ejector mechanism and button are both made of plastic.
This is the perfect wallet for the professional who wants that full-grain leather look but still wants something a little more compact.
You of course can read my complete review of this wallet here!
4. Groove Life Groove Wallet
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- Very high quality
- Simple internal mechanism
- Satisfying click when it is engaged
- Compact sizing
- Small Capacity
- Hard to get cards in and out of front pocket
- Metal can damage things in the pocket
- Dimensions: 3.89" High by 2.48" Wide by .27" Deep
- RFID Blocking: Yes
- Card Capacity: 1 to 9
- Cash Organization: Strap or Money Clip
- Coin Storage: No
- Weight: 98 Grams
The Groove Life Groove Wallet is one of the most popular minimalist wallets out there right now, and for good reason! It’s one of the highest-quality metal wallets, and the sliding card ejection mechanism is special in its own right. However, if you add the leather “Go” portion to the wallet (which makes it a leather card holder), you gain a cash strap (which obviously holds cash) and one or two extra card capacities (it’s normally only six cards).
I’ve gone on record that this is my favorite wallet that I don’t use! Everything about it is high quality, it’s compact, and the ejection mechanism is top-notch. However, I tend to carry more than seven cards, meaning I can’t quite make this wallet work for my purposes. That said, if you are someone who doesn’t have that many cards (seven or less cards), you can’t go wrong with this one!
It should also be mentioned: This wallet works well as a fidget toy, as the sound of the sliding mechanism is so satisfying.
5. Ekster Wallet
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- One of my favorite cardholders
- The leather feels great.
- Reasonably priced
- Perfect for those who want leather on their wallets
- This minimalist wallet is THICK!
- The cardholder is a plastic.
- Capacity is sacrificed for leather.
- Dimensions: 0.4" by 2.5" by 4.1"
- RFID Blocking: Yes
- Card Capacity: 1-9 cards
- Cash Organization: Strap & Pocket
- Coin Storage: No
- Weight: 92 grams
Ekster is a huge name in the minimalist wallet industry! Their cardholders are one of my favorites, and for good reason! The brand recently changed the name of this wallet from the “Ekster Parliament Wallet” to just the “Ekster Wallet,” which made sense to me.
The wallet has a leather outter (similar to the Double Oak above), which offers some card storage on the interior, and exterior, along with some cash storage as well. The cardholder portion can handle up to six cards (which fan out when the button is pressed).
The price on this wallet is right, with it being one of the lower priced options on this list, and it’s impressive cardholder mechansim, means this is a compelling option.
This wallet isn’t higher up on this list, though, as the cardholder portion is built from plastic (rather than aluminum), and if you have literally anything in the leather portion, it struggles to close completely (meaning more bulk in your pocket).
