Let's talk: Wallets/Purses/etc

My dream is that American merchants would all wake up and embrace contactless payments like they should have about a decade ago.

For now since I need to have something to carry cards and cash in, I need to have a wallet. I used to buy my wallets from Fossil since I can get the styles I like in a decent quality that will last for a while. But since then, Fossil has decided to only focus on the high end and stopped making watches. So for the moment I am getting them from Perry Ellis, which seems to past a bit longer but are not quite as nice looking in general.

My wallet can't be small enough. I got a great one, years ago, that's just suuuper slim and fits in every pocket. It's tiny and I love it! I actually bothered to sew it back together after some of the corners ripped. I need something that actually carries cash (I live in a country that's still oddly committed to cash and I admit, I like holding my money in my hands to spend). It holds coins and everything, it's just about as minimal as it can get.

I agree with @Akir about contact less payment. I have a galaxy watch and s10e and use Samsung pay on both. My wallet is a flowfold. I absolutely love this wallet. It can hold a surprising number of cards, and is almost as slim as possible. I carry my license, AAA card, Healthcare card, Costco card, debit card, current credit card of choice (just in case a retailer doesn't take Samsung pay), and my parents credit card. I would love to slim down further. Once I get Samsung pay setup again, I think I will try ditching everything except license, AAA, and Healthcare cards. If that goes well, I may try out just a license behind my phone case but I'm 22, so I still get my ID checked pretty often.

I've just got a plain, purple wallet for my cards and stuff.

I would probably do wireless pay if more places in the US would take it.

Good: I like having physical verification. Bad: I get worried I might get mugged.

Saddleback Leather got a well-deserved shout-out in the bags thread. They're amazingly well-built bags, but oh man they're expensive.

I got my wallet from them. Still expensive compared to other wallets I owned previously, but well worth it. I used to buy cheapo leather wallets that'd start falling apart after a year. I've had this one for (had to check my email for the order history) almost 3 years and it looks beautiful. Not a single fraying thread or stitch coming apart. I definitely believe this could be fought over when I'm dead like their slogan says.

I mentioned the wallet on a string in the previous thread. What I use (mine is a plain black) is somewhat bigger than a men's wallet, but much smaller than a purse. This design is expensive, made up for by incredible durability and exactly the organization and accessibility required.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time finding the absolute smallest attractive bag that could hold a full-sized Pixel 3 XL phone, ID/insurance/credit cards, and practically nothing else. Keys and EDC bits get attached with a carabiner clip that can also hang off a belt loop.

I'd dearly love it if women's pants were cut to include adequate pockets, so I wouldn't need to hang my most valuable belongings on a strap where any fool can grab them.

I have a secrid wallet and love it. Small, secure, and easy to use. Would buy another in a heartbeat if I ever lost mine.

I use the Ridge wallet. I don't need coins, as most of my payments happen with cards over NFC. The strap on the back keeps paper money in check in case I need it (happens rarely). Coins I carry in a separate pocket, collect at home and regularly pay them into my bank account. The wallet is extremely durable and Ridge offers plenty of spare parts for repair (which I have purchased and stored at home for surprise repairs). I love the size, how compact it is and that's something different rather than just a leather bifold.

The drawback of course is, that in a country where card payments aren't ubitiquous, a wallet like Ridge isn't very useful. I have my old leather bifold as a backup for that, but I don't plan on travelling to less developed parts of the world in the near future anyway.

I have a Timberland Trifold. It's a plain leather wallet, but effective. I store my license, Costco membership, Eagle Scout card, venmo debit card, Aspiration card, and two Bank of America cards.
I find I can comfortably carry 15 bills and a few business cards as well at any given time.

I've used a slim leather bifold from coach for about 15 years now. I keep my membership cards in a ratty 30 year old wallet in the car, and pull them out as required. I keep business & travel cards in a wallet I dont like in my briefcase at home, and pull them out as required.

I was gifted an Ekster Parlament Wallet at the start of 2018, so nearly two years of use. It's a nice front-pocket wallet, small enough that I don't notice it. Handsome leather body that has held up well. Holds quite a few cards in an RFID shielded case with a button that fans the cards out for easy access. There's a pocket on the back, and two on the front flap, that's aren't shielded to be used for something like metro card. There's an elastic band for holding cash.

There are a few drawbacks. Unfortunately, the bills in the country I'm living in now are a bit too long to fit with a single fold, so I end up double folding, which it can get a bit bulky and makes taking the bill needed out more difficult. The button is painted black and over time, the paint has mostly chipped off to reveal grey underneath.

Overall, I could definitely recommend it to anyone who carries in the front pocket (as you should for security and spinal health) and doesn't carry much cash.

https://mightywallet.shop/

I love these because they are thin, have tons of options, are super durable, and low cost.

I have what appears to be a random cotton-base trifold black wallet. It used to have "Russia" watermarked all over, but that's worn off after a while. Now it's just the eagle that betrays my origins wherever I go.

It's one of those "not perfect, but good enough" things I've had for a while. I'm used to it, and it rarely changes configuration. Has two compartments for bills (Russia uses lots of 'em), one change pocket (vertical, closed via button), three slots for cards, and one where the contents of the card are fully visible (for driver's license and such, I presume). There are also two secret compartments for card-sized things; I keep a pocket-sized metal tool in one and a few souvenirs in the other.

It also has a ring on top of it, which proves very nice when it's deep in the inside pocket of my coat.

I'd like to find something thinner, though not necessarily smaller. Leather doesn't suffice 'cause I'm overwhelmed by the kinesthetic sensation of it. Bifolds seem more wieldy, goofier though they look.

Not exactly what you're asking about but I recently got one of these: https://www.chromeindustries.com/product/dklein-sacoche/BG-283.html

I carry a camera all the time, and sometimes a notepad, kindle, etc... small things that don't really warrant using a large bag but also don't quite fit in pants pockets and this bag is perfect.

A few months ago, I decided to get a simple double-sided money clip, because the wallet looked too bulky in my pocket. I'm very happy with it so far.

Before buying the money clip, I had been using a Montblanc Meisterstück Soft Grain wallet, and it's definitely a great piece. I used it for a few years, and it still looks pretty good.

I need a slim wallet that can hold quite a number of cards and I've found slimfold wallet to be perfect for me.

Right now I'm carrying 11 cards (I know, I know) and a DIY card that I made to hold my key. The wallet maintains a slim profile by having 2 columns for cards on each side.

Like everybody else, I've got a Saddleback wallet — but mine is the thin one. Its got two card slots on the front, a main pocket for cash (or social cards), then the ID stuff on the back. It's well made, inexpensive, and fits in skinny jeans.

I try to carry as little as possible when I go out and I've been on a quest to find the thinnest, functional wallet that is also well-made. I tried the sail material, etc, but it's tough to top leather.