Harland Handmade Archer Wallet Review

Like the majority of handmade wallets I end up reviewing, I first discovered Harland Handmade a few months back on Instagram. Whether it was the beautifully shot photography or the unique range of wallet designs, I knew I had to take the plunge and purchase one for myself.

Handmade wallets are notorious for being expensive, and it makes sense when you really think about it. Usually one person, taking potentially days to handcraft each and every wallet, and that is without even mentioning the cost of raw materials like leather, which is easy to overlook. So when a handmade wallet comes along that is both that and genuinely affordable, it feels like discovering a hidden gem. And naturally, I had to find out for myself.

Look and Design: Embracing that Traditonal Asthetic

The Archer Wallet is what I commonly refer to as a pouch wallet. It is worth noting that the wallet is almost entirely stitchless, meaning it is constructed more like origami, where leather is folded into place and secured using leather flaps that tuck into one another. It is a cool approach to construction, and the stitchless design gives it a very clean, minimalist look and feel which, while down to personal preference, I really like. There are also some practical benefits worth mentioning.

The first is that the absence of stitching is actually an advantage when it comes to the wallet’s overall durability. Put simply, there are fewer points of failure when no stitching is involved. With most wallets, after a certain amount of time and entirely dependent on the quality of craftsmanship, stitching can fail. Thread can loosen and fray, and it can render a wallet unusable after years of use. That is not a concern with a wallet like the Archer.

It is also my speculation that the stitchless design is one of the reasons a handmade wallet like the Archer can be sold at such a competitive price. I do not claim to be an expert in leathercraft, but what I do know is that stitching is one of the most time-consuming parts of making a wallet. Remove that from the equation and wallets like the Archer can be produced significantly faster. Time is money in the eyes of a leathercrafter, and I believe the stitchless construction is, at least in part, why this wallet comes in at $70.00.

Whether you love or hate the stitchless design, it definitely has its advantages, and when coupled with great quality leather it is really hard to go wrong. It is that quality leather that Harland Handmade have chosen to use, a premium Italian Buttero Leather, that really elevates this wallet. The leather is fantastic, and taking it out of the box for the first time you are pleasantly met by the unmistakable scent of real leather. In the hand it feels substantial and hefty, like you are genuinely holding something that was once part of an animal. This comes down to Harland’s choice of 3oz leather, which refers to the thickness of the hide, and aside from how it looks and feels, can only add to the wallet’s overall durability.

I should also mention this wallet’s potential to develop a leather patina over time. For those who are not familiar with the term, it is simply the process by which leather ages naturally, absorbing the oils from your hands, moisture from the air, and even dirt from wherever your wallet ends up. The result is a wallet that gradually changes colour and develops its own unique scuffs, scrapes, and patterns from daily use. It is a genuinely lovely quality, and the majority of people who purchase full-grain leather wallets are doing so at least partly in the hope of experiencing exactly this.

So does the Archer Wallet develop a patina? Of course it does. To be honest, I have not owned it long enough to show that through my own photos at the time of writing, having only used it for around six weeks, but Italian Buttero Leather is without question known for this quality. Having had the pleasure of using this type of leather before, you are definitely in for a treat.

Functionality and Usability: A Clever Utilisation of Space

The Archer Wallet is simple by design. It has one main slot on the front, covered and secured by a leather flap that keeps everything in place. That slot has enough room to store up to 13 cards, though at that capacity the wallet becomes a little cumbersome to use. I found the sweet spot to be somewhere around cards, which to be fair is what Hardland recommend themselves. At that range the cards lie flat, feel secure, and there is enough room either side to easily leverage individual cards out without a struggle.

Having only one slot is very typical of stitchless wallet designs, and it is something you will either embrace or find frustrating. The single compartment can be fiddly at times, and there are occasions where it is easier to remove all the cards first, fan through them to find the one you want, and then return the rest rather than trying to sift through the stack in hand.

It takes some getting used to and, as I said, will not suit everyone. But overall it is a pleasant way to store and access cards once you adjust to the format. Just do not overstuff it, because as mentioned, there is a fine line between an enjoyable wallet to use and one that will frustrate you to no end.

On the reverse side of the wallet is a slit in the leather designed as additional card storage for your most frequently used card, the one you need to access quickly. It is a really cool addition and such a simple thing that adds much needed functionality for separating cards. It can store up to three cards before the leather becomes too tight, but personally one is the ideal amount for me, as the majority of the time I am always reaching for the same card for payments anyway.

Finally, onto my favourite aspect of the wallet: cash storage. This wallet was built for storing banknotes, and it is this simple yet ingenious design that makes it such a pleasure to use. Behind the main card slot is a half-open pocket that is accessible from two sides. It is a brilliant detail. It allows banknotes to be slipped in horizontally, lying completely flat and extending upward toward the tip of the leather flap that secures everything in place.

I have talked before about how storing notes flat in a traditional bifold remains my favourite way to carry cash, and this wallet replicates that design effortlessly and to the same effect. With the bills in place, you fold both the bills and the leather flap downward together, securing everything as one. It feels like the bills are an extension of the leather itself, and it all works together seamlessly.

Access is just as intuitive. Unfold the flap and your bills are immediately revealed. Sift through them, find the one you want, and you are good to go. It really is one of the more intuitive ways of storing cash I have come across, and without question my favourite feature of the Archer Wallet.

Value & Final Verdict: Do I Recommend the Archer Wallet?

So what is my overall opinion of the Archer Wallet? I would be lying if I said I did not have a soft spot for stitchless leather wallets, but that is for good reason: they just work. Over my many years of reviewing wallets I cannot think of a single stitchless leather wallet that I did not give a positive review. You only have to look at the Johnny Wallet or the Wask Wallet to see that.

But in its own right, the Archer Wallet is a very competent wallet, whether that comes down to its craftsmanship and quality or its functionality. As I mentioned earlier, stitchless wallets often come with functional trade-offs that can put people off. The single large slot for all your cards definitely takes some getting used to, and in many cases that alone would be enough to deter a lot of buyers.

But Harland Handmade have been clever with the design, whether that is the single slit in the leather that doubles as a quick-access slot, or the ingenious flap that both secures the wallet shut and keeps bills lying flat for easy access. It just works, and out of all the similar style wallets I have reviewed, the Archer holds its own comfortably.

Affordability is something that is often overlooked in a market where wallets can cost anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds, even thousands in some cases. So when a wallet comes along that is handmade, well constructed, and priced at $70.00, there is very little negative to say about it. For more information on the Archer Wallet by Harland Handmade, check out their official website using the link below.