The Wallet Shoppe
What’s better than the feel of a well-worn, high-quality leather wallet? We’ve compiled some of our favorite handmade, high-quality leather wallets. This list of nine includes money clips, bi- and trifold wallets, and even a few travel wallets built to hold passports and notebooks.
If you’re on the hunt for a beautiful full-grain leather wallet, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our selection of the best handmade wallets! And if British craftsmanship catches your eye, don’t miss our Harber London wallet review either.
Bespoke Materials & Design
Every one of these has smart design features that put function first, keeping you organized in style. Full-grain and bridle leathers develop real character with use. A fair number of them are crafted with the slimness necessary for front-pocket carrying in mind too. Enjoy!
Our Favorites - 9 of the Best Handmade Leather Wallets
Buffalo Jackson, Bison Leather Field Notes Travel Wallet
Are you the kind of guy who’s always looking for a new adventure? The older Bison Field Notes Travel Wallet pairs textured leather with space for your cards and cash. Its right-hand sleeve takes a passport or a field notebook, so choose which one you need close at hand.
Separate cash pockets are especially convenient for travelers handling two or more types of currency.
This wallet is both useful and stylish. Its rich, mahogany leather is stamped with the company’s logo, a small buffalo, in the bottom right corner. Pair it with a pocket notebook to record your adventures.
Because really, what true adventure fits in only one notebook?
Holtz Leather Company, Logbook
Maybe you’re so adventurous that a field wallet without a closure is a non-starter.
In that case, Holtz makes this gorgeous logbook wallet using full-grain American leather, and it features a snap closure to keep everything in place. With two card slots that hold 2-3 cards each, it keeps you organized without inviting you to overstuff it.
On the opposite side, there’s a pocket perfectly fitted for a field notebook, which Holtz includes with your order. They’ve also included a pencil loop (complete with pencil!) so you’ve always got one handy, no matter where in the world you find yourself.
Holtz also offers personalization, so this wallet makes a fantastic gift for any guy in your life with a travel bug.
American Bench Craft Hammer Riveted Wallet
For a more traditional wallet design, this model from American Bench Craft is a solid bet. Constructed from a single piece of full-grain leather and fastened with rivets, this wallet is truly a work of art.
The two front pockets hold 2-4 cards each, while the two rear pockets hold cash folded once. The Hammer Riveted Wallet uses vegetable-tanned leather, so your wallet will become more supple and fitted to your needs over time.
As it ages, this leather will develop its own unique patina, giving you a one-of-a-kind wallet.
American Bench Craft also traded standard stitching for metal rivets so there are no stitched seams to fray. You can choose from black or brown leather and silver or gold rivets and optional heat-embossed personalization on the inner left pocket.
Go Forth Goods, Standard Wallet
Another classic bifold wallet, this standard from Go Forth Goods is handmade in Marietta, Georgia from American-sourced, full-grain vegetable-tanned bridle leather.
Go Forth Goods’ wallet is hand-stitched with waxed polyester thread. The Standard Wallet’s five pockets hold 12–14 cards and folded cash, and the card slots employ a distinctive triangular design. Go Forth Goods also offers initials on the lower back corner.
Ezra Arthur, Cash Fold
While it might look like a standard wallet, this cash fold from Ezra Arthur is in fact a folded money clip. It folds around up to thirty bills without any hardware (though by bill thirty, “Costanza wallet” syndrome starts creeping back in).
As an added bonus, this fold does not use any metal like most money clips, so it won’t pinch or poke you.
Ezra Arthur uses high-quality leather from one of America’s oldest tanneries out of Chicago, Horween. Their Chromexcel full-grain leather is beautiful, developing a unique patina as it ages. But it’s also durable, having been enriched with waxes and oils; surface marks and patina are part of its character.
You can monogram it, too. It only holds cash, so you’ll want a separate card holder.
JooJoobs Handmade Leather Wallet
Perfected after years of experimenting with different leathers and designs, JooJoob’s wallet is made from beautifully distressed leather. This high-quality, super slim leather is durable but just thin enough for a front pocket if you don’t overload it.
Classically designed as a bifold, this wallet has four pockets that can hold 12 or more cards, giving you plenty of room for all your necessaries. And its saddle stitching and quality leather make it especially eye-catching.
Considering that your wallet will develop its own distinct patina, you’ll have no trouble picking yours out of a crowd, but you can also get this personalized.
Norm Cahn, Cabrio ID Money Clip Wallet
Can’t choose between the beauty of a classic, full-grain leather wallet but the slim profile of a money clip?
Never fear! Norm Cahn’s Cabrio ID Money Clip Wallet is just what you’re looking for. Made from Horween’s Chromexcel leather, this clip incorporates over 100 years of quality tanning experience to give you optimum durability and beauty.
Norm Cahn uses a trifold design that secures with a snap, keeping your cards and cash together. They’ve even introduced an ID window on the back for extra storage and convenient access.
Mr. Lentz, Men’s Wallet (Updated)
As its name suggests, this wallet from Mr. Lentz is no-nonsense.
Sporting a classic bifold design, it’s made from full-grain leather and secured with beautiful brass rivets. This wallet has two horizontal card slots and two pockets; the maker suggests 6–8 cards initially and up to about 12 after break-in. A separate bill pocket holds a medium stack of cash, but it’s also slim, fitting easily into your front pocket.
The full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather develops its own patina with age.
You can choose from three colors (suntanned, western brown, and desert night dark) and add an optional chain. This wallet also gives you personalization options: hand-stamped or branded. Mr. Lentz also makes it easy to care for your new wallet, including “spiff and shine” conditioner with each order.
This wallet style has been updated to add new interior rivets for extra durability.
One Star Leather Goods, Park Sloper Junior
Looking for a wallet that will keep you and your thoughts organized?
One Star’s Park Sloper Junior is worth a look. Choose the leather you like from the maker’s individual listings; the leather and finish vary between versions.
Did we mention that this is a dream wallet for the minimalist? On its left-hand side, it sports two card slots that hold 1–3 cards each, as well as a larger pocket for folded bills. On the right-hand side, the Junior fits a compact 2.5 x 4-inch notebook.
The pen sleeve fits a Fisher Space Pen (which can write literally everywhere, even in zero gravity) or a Kaweco Liliput. The pen is an optional extra.
Think this version might be a bit too small for you? Check out the aptly named Park Sloper Senior that fits a 3.5 x 5.5-inch Field Notes notebook. The Park Sloper Medium fits a 3 x 4.75-inch A7 notebook. The bigger page is useful if you do more than jot down a quick reminder.
As you can see above, these handmade wallets are beautiful, uniquely made, and come in a variety of wallet styles. A hand-stitched, high-quality leather wallet from a real craftsman will last for years if you take care of it.
Special Feature: Make Your Own Leather Bag or Wallet
If this article has whetted your appetite for handmade leather goods, maybe you’d be interested in having a go at making your own? A beginner’s leathercraft book with templates and step-by-step instructions is the place to start, and a simple card holder is a good first project.
