Open Sea Leather Launch new Topsider 2.0 Wallet
The Topsider gets a second version. The changes are subtle, but they are the right ones.
The Topsider Bifold LT has been one of Open Sea's most popular designs, and it has now received an updated version: the Topsider LT2.0. This is not a ground-up redesign. It is a considered refinement, and all the better for it. Let's check out this new wallet and see how it compares to the original topsider wallet.
Open Sea Leather Co. is not a brand that needs much of an introduction in the minimalist leather wallet space, but for those who have not come across them before, here is the short version. The brand was founded by Michael, a US Navy veteran who started making leather goods for friends and family while stationed in Honolulu as a foreign language analyst, studying Mandarin Chinese, of all things.
What began as a creative outlet turned into a full business, and today Open Sea Leather operates out of Hawaii with every wallet still designed and made by Michael himself. The brand has built a serious following off the back of that hands-on, one-person approach, and its commitment to full-grain leather sourced from respected tanneries.
What Has Changed with the Topsider 2.0
The LT2.0 introduces four specific changes over the original. First, the construction has moved from a single piece to a two-piece build. Second, the front flap now features a notch for a better fit when the wallet is closed. Third, a relief cut has been added to the interior pocket to make card access easier. Fourth, the Quickdraw pocket has been redesigned for improved security and functionality.
Of these, the front flap notch is probably the most immediately noticeable improvement in daily use. A better-fitting close is one of those details that sounds minor but makes a real difference to how the wallet feels in hand and in pocket. The redesigned Quickdraw pocket is also a meaningful change, given that the Quickdraw feature is one of the wallet’s primary selling points.
The relief cut on the interior pocket is a subtler addition but a sensible one. Easier card access without any increase in bulk is always welcome, and it speaks to the kind of small quality-of-life improvements that only come from a designer who is paying close attention to how the wallet actually gets used.
A Note on the Construction Change
The move from a single-piece to a two-piece construction is the one change that I have some thoughts on, and it is worth being transparent about that. I am a long-standing fan of stitch-free wallet designs (examples include the Johnny Wallet or Wask Wallet for example). In my experience reviewing wallets over many years, stitching is often the first thing to show wear on a leather wallet. It becomes a weak point in the construction over time, and a single-piece, stitchless design removes that vulnerability entirely.
The LT2.0’s two-piece build does introduce stitching where the original did not have it. That gives me a degree of pause, and it is worth flagging for anyone who, like me, prioritises longevity above all else. Whether this is an improvement or a trade-off will depend on the individual.
The full-coverage interior that comes with the new construction has its advantages in terms of how it feels and functions, and Michael clearly had good reasons for the change. But for those considering whether to upgrade from the original Topsider, it is a factor worth weighing up.
The Leather: Always the best quality
The LT2.0 uses Buttero vegetable-tanned leather from Conceria Walpier, an Italian tannery that is well regarded in the leathercraft community for producing premium full-grain hides using traditional vegetable tanning methods that trace back hundreds of years.
Walpier is a member of the Pelle Vegetale Consortium, which certifies adherence to those traditional processes. Buttero is their top-grade leather: full grain, with a balance of suppleness and firmness that ages well and develops a patina over time.
For a wallet that is positioned around longevity and craftsmanship, the material choice is consistent with everything else Open Sea Leather stands for.
Early Verdict: Should you get the Topsider 2.0 Wallet?
The Topsider LT2.0 is exactly what a second version of a well-regarded wallet should be: not a reinvention, but a thoughtful series of improvements that address the details without losing what made the original good. Open Sea Leather has a track record of listening carefully to feedback and acting on it, and the LT2.0 reflects that approach.
The original Topsider is not going anywhere, it remains a great wallet in its own right, and existing owners have no urgent reason to upgrade. But for anyone coming to the design fresh, the LT2.0 is the better version to buy.