Sleek and solid is the name of the game for hardshell cases—there’s just something about solid-feeling gear that’s reassuring once you get your hands on it. For the Flip Case, there’s good structure despite what the all-leather look might suggest. It’s thanks to the plastic shell lying underneath—it’s not as rigid or tough as, say, metal, but it definitely gets the job done. The stiff, tough hardshell ensures that your credit cards aren’t the toughest part of your wallet. Bellroy Flip Case | Just a simple debossed logo that’s not in-your-face. The card and cash insertion test was performed with five cards and two slips of cash folded in thirds or fourths. All currencies work if folded. Three is minimal card accommodation, while five is probably reasonable. The company states that the wallet can hold up to eight cards with no cash, or six cards with some cash. However, it does not seem practical to insert more than two notes and still allow it to be usable as it starts to get too tight. The need to include cash should probably be limited to storing emergency cash, as it cannot be considered equal to the cards. A hard case doesn’t have the benefit of being soft like nylon, polyester, or leather-based wallets that can bend and flex. That said, the materials Bellroy used here exhibit minimal flex, and they didn’t snap or break apart during testing. Durability-wise, the Flip Case gets a solid pass from us, and the materials do achieve the signature Bellroy aesthetic as well. Rather than a fixed construction, this bifold comes with a removable magnetic cardholder. You can choose to either carry it on its own should you want to travel light or in the wallet for additional space.

It also happens to make for a lovely gift, especially for those who’re still a little hesitant to give up their trusty dad wallet. Perhaps it’s time to take the plunge and break out the wrapping paper? Here’s a view of the larger compartment. I have 4 smooth cards with 2 folded dollar bills. I could add a 3rd dollar and maybe even a 5th card, but the fit would be so tight that it would be difficult to remove the cash or cards without a lot of effort. Less is more when it comes to minimalist wallets. As the only hard case wallet in the Bellroy line, there were high hopes for the Bellroy Flip Case, but after using it for just a short time, it became disappointing. Capacity: 8 card slots, outside ID slot with thumb hole, removeable money clip for several cash bills Choose a card holder that’s easy to use and has enough room to carry your essential cards. Make sure the card holder is also built with quality materials that are durable enough to carry every day. Also, consider the aesthetics of the card holder and how it matches your personal style. What are some of the benefits of a card holder wallet?The Vaultskin Manhattan Card Walle t is an elegant, Bellroy alternative that’s not to be missed out on. It has all the finishes and intentional touches you expect in a Vaultskin offering. These include fantastic RFID protection, supple top-grain Italian leather, and a sleek design that effortlessly balances form and function. We’ll start with the outer ridge. It’s the portion on the middle divider that runs along the edge, albeit not a very noticeable one. It has a bit of a lip that causes cards in the rearmost position to snag when you slide them out. Of the two causes, this was a relatively minor culprit, all things considered. Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

The other main difference is that the 1.S has one front access slot and a smart-pull tab inside to reduce bulk. They’re relatively small tweaks, but they do add up to make the wallet feel unique despite any comparisons. The Nodus range of wallets is built with innovation and quality in mind. My personal favorite has always been the Nodus Compact Wallet that is incredibly well designed to accommodate huge amounts of cash, cards, keys, and coins all within a wallet that measures not that much larger than a typical credit/debit card. Other features very much present in Nodus’ range include RFID shielding, Micro Suction (in their phone cases), and even magnets in some cases. Here’s a side view to give you a better idea of how the trapdoors fold down from the center of the Bellroy Flip Case wallet. Note: This wallet provides RFID protection, so yay. Capacity: 14 cards (12 accessible with Wally pull tabs plus inside money clip for 30 or more cash bills Along a similar vein to the other bifolds on this list, the Distil Union Wally Bifold 5.0 is all about getting the essentials right and leaving the unnecessary bits behind. This offering features a stainless steel custom money clip, a 14 card and 30 bill capacity, and a streamlined, slim profile that isn’t big or bulky or otherwise irritating to deal with day to day.The Design of the Bellroy Flip Case is pushing in two different directions. Firstly, the wallet is in a hard case or hardshell style. This means the wallet, at its core, is made from a hard and durable polymer material and stores cash and cards internally in a way that protects your belongings providing a safer more secure way to carry your cash, cards, or anything else you can squeeze inside. Externally, this hard casing is wrapped in Bellroy’s signature eco-tanned leather that is high in quality and with a deep rich coloring. This affordable slim wallet is exceptionally similar on paper: 8-card capacity, built-in money clip, full-grain leather, and handy front compartment are all accounted for here, although some small differences distinguish it. Photo: Kim Stone The Ekster Modular Bifold was created to handle more than just the basics, making use of a proprietary modular design to offer some user customizability.

Funnily enough, the first alternative brand on our list also originates from Australia. Status Anxiety was founded in 2004 and has created a brand based on high quality, minimalist yet affordable leather goods. This is actually why they named the brand what they did. Status Anxiety is actually a made-up social condition meant to describe the way compare ourselves to those around us, and the idea that tangible possessions (like designer brands) play a part in this. To combat this, Status Anxiety tries to create the highest quality products possible while offering them at affordable prices. The Flip Case’s overall style is undeniably Bellroy all throughout. Leather material on the outside adds a coat of class to match most other leather wallets. They’ve debossed a small Bellroy logo at the front, and there’s an owl like on the Apex Slim Sleeve—it’s a tiny one next to some text inside the rear compartment, but it’s there alright. The corners and edges are rounded to give it a smoother look while also making it less harsh to handle. But there are two features that catch the eye the most: The slanted cut and the blue color. Bellroy Flip Case | Bellroy has some eye-catching colors that they work with.It still folds the same as your beloved bulky relic. And it has the interior card slots you’ve come to expect, but it also offers up a couple of interesting changes. Photo: Kim Stone

The general aesthetics of Serman Brands’ offering is the most obvious one. Where the Bryker Hyde 1.0 goes for a plain, bare-bones look, this wallet has a touch more rugged, masculine character. I’d say that Harber London provides a range of wallets the most similar to Bellroy in design providing a huge variety from slim, minimalist, zip, and travel wallets. They offer some really innovative features in their wallet including magnetic clasps that keep your wallet closed, hidden card slots that really make Harber London stand out from the crowd when it comes to prioritizing the functionality of their wallets. My favorite wallet in their range is the classic card wallet which you can read our full review of here. Bellroy seems to be always trying new wallet designs, which is insightful and shows their innovative nature as they are always tinkering with matters related to wallets, trying to find new one’s that work. Both compartments are lined with soft fabric that makes sliding cards and bills out smooth—mostly. There was some difficulty getting cards out of the rear compartment. We can break down the cause of the difficulty into two things: the Flip Case’s outer ridge and the rigid nature of a hardshell case. Now, the Bryker Hyde 1.0 gets major brownie points for its twist on the traditional, but they’re not the only one doing that. Among their competition? Serman Brands 1.S.Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for every trade, industry, and budget. What is Everyday Carry? The downside? It can only hold about 6 cards and a few bills, meaning it’s probably not the best option if you’re still holding on to ancient membership cards and too many credit cards that keep getting you in trouble. Much like Bellroy, Status Anxiety also practices in providing sustainability to their wallet range. The manufacturers have chosen my Staus Anxiety are all family-run businesses that have fair working conditions and strict environmental controls for sourcing their leather. One of the main reasons why I included Status Anxiety in this list is they produce a great range of leather wallets made from high-quality materials. Each wallet has a very clean and minimalist appearance with a huge variety to choose from including slim cardholders and larger bi-fold style wallets. My favorite in their collection is their ‘Magic’ Wallet which is highly innovative in the way it allows for access to cash and cards.