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Our Wallet FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions]

Here at All the Wallets, we often get asked a variety of different questions every week. With many of these being questions we hear all too often we decided to create our own ‘FAQ’ to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ place for these sorts of common questions. Over time, we plan to expand on this FAQ to include more questions as we get them through. If you yourself have a question you’d like to ask you can do by getting in contact with us on our contact us page and filling out the form. 

How many wallets should a man have?

Some people view wallets as a simple necessity. After all, everybody carries cash and cards on them and everyone needs a way to carry them. That being said, over time, wallets have slowly transformed into a ‘so-called’ fashion item that means people enjoy having a collection of them much as people do with watches or shoes today. 

In the future, as we become less dependent on carrying physical cash (because everything will be contactless) the need for a wallet will transform into a true fashion accessory. Watches are an example of how we don’t really need them anymore (everyone has a phone that tells the time) but are still popular as a piece of jewelry. 

So how many wallets should you have? That’s entirely up to you. Don’t think you have to feel awkward or ashamed of owning more than one wallet. If wallets are something that brings you joy then buy them, collect them, and have as many as you feel necessary. Personally speaking, I created this website due to my own wallet collection and am lucky enough to get sent many free wallets on a daily basis. 

What is the size of Credit/Debit Cards?

Identification cards (also known as ISO/IEC 7810 identity cards) are the internationally recognized standard for credit/debit cards. Credit cards take the ID-1 format giving them the following dimensions (LxW):

– 85.60 mm × 53.98 mm

– 3.370 in × 2.125 in

– 8.56 cm x 5.398 cm

Have you ever wondered why there’s a universally agreed-upon size? Imagine if different companies, or bands, decided on making their cards a uniform size. You might consider credit cards to be a recent invention but this first credit card was actually developed by the Bank of America in 1958. As popularity rose and more companies jumped on the credit card bandwagon it was actually the ISO (International organization for standardization) that set the specific standards for the card dimension we know today. 

What is the difference between a bifold and trifold wallet?

Broadly speaking bifold and trifold wallets are very similar. The only difference between the two is the ‘number of times’ the wallet folds into each other. For example, bi-fold folds only fold once while trifold folds twice. The exact advantages and disadvantages of these types of wallets are open to debate. But generally speaking, it comes down to personal preference which one is best. Both Trifold and Bi-fold wallets are similar in how they usually present themselves, their size, and materials (always made from leather) so it really is up to you. 

My top recommendation for a tri-fold wallet is either the Frenchie Co Wallet or the Exentri Wallet. Each of these is a premium designer made wallets with a great level of personality (range of colors) and features. Generally, there are many more options for bi-folds on the market than trifolds. But my personal favorite bi-folds are ones made from top-grain leather. Such examples of these include Cafe Leather Supply or Wingback who consistently make some of the most beautifully handcrafted wallets in the world.

Should I buy a wallet with RFID Secuirty?

Do some research on how much your country uses RFID protection. If you’re in a country where contactless payment is rarely used then I wouldn’t say it was either worth considering RFID protection in your wallet, especially if the wallet you want charges an additional fee for the feature (which many do). 

Likewise, if you can from any country in the top 10, such as The United Kingdom, Germany, or China, then you should very much consider purchasing a wallet with RFID protection as your chances of being subject to this crime are statically higher. 

For example, I’m from the UK who has one of the highest usage rates in the world. But, personally speaking, I’ve never come across a situation where I found myself getting scammed or have ever gotten scammed (I also use contactless cards at least once per day). That being said, we aren’t considering the individual provinces of each nation. Areas of a country where crime is simply higher might be more susceptible. There’s no clear cut answer here. 

My recommendation is to do your own due diligence. Consider your own country, your town, and the crime levels there. Make an informed choice based on your life. If you feel at risk then its best to play it safe. If not, then you can save some money on RFID which usually comes at a premium. For more information on RFID and to view a comprehensive list of wallets with the technology check out our reviews with the link below.

What type of wallet should I buy?

We have a great article called ‘how to choose the perfect wallet’ that looks into the reasons why someone might consider one wallet over another. But for a quick synopsis keep reading here. At all the wallet’s we broadly categorize wallets based on three main criteria. This includes a wallet’s material (whether it’s made from metal or leather), a wallet’s functionality or features (have many cards/cash can it store), and a wallet’s size (it is large like most bifold or slim like a credit card). 

When considering a new wallet think about which of these three things are best for you (or combination of things). If you’re someone who carries very little with them then a minimalist wallet might be best for you. You can also combine that with a unique material like wood or metal as these suit smaller sized wallets better. Likewise, the same can be said in reverse. A leather bi-fold might be best if you carry many credit/debit cards and physical cash. Research is key so make sure to browse through our range of reviews to find what’s best for you.

Do Wallet’s Cause Back/Spine Pain?

I actually decided to look into some research to see whether there were any credible sources that prove that carrying a wallet in your back pocket can cause issues with your back or spine when seated. Googling the question brought up some interesting articles (from other wallet brands who aren’t exactly credible). It wasn’t until an article by Doctor Sean Peters, a Doctor of Chiropractic from Pittsburgh, PA,  who was able to give me so detailed rationale as to why a wallet could cause these issues.

A quick summary of this post (which you can read in full here) states that sitting on your wallet for long periods of time starts to change the alignment of your pelvis and spine creating an abnormal position that starts to become ‘normal’. This is based on a theory known as ‘ligament creep’ which states that it only takes around 14 minutes of abnormal positions for ligaments to start to adapt to the new ‘back inducing’ alignment. 

The way to compact this is quite easy. The best way to combat this is to simply stop carrying your wallet in a back pocket. This whole issue is caused by sitting on your wallet. If you still want to carry a wallet this way then you could always swap to a minimalist or thin wallet, one that is specially designed for being so thin it mitigates this issue entirely.

What type of leather is the best quality?

A common question we get is how do I know if a wallet I like is made from good quality leather or not? Before you begin your search for the perfect leather wallet you need to know a little bit about leather grades and the different quality leathers on the market. Not all leather is created equal with a universal system being created to categorize and grade certain leather types based on distinct range characteristics. We have a full article on the subject of leather grades, but for a general overview keep reading. Below are the rankings for best to worst in terms of leather quality. You might have come across these terms when researching your own wallets.

Best

– Full-grain leather

– Top-grain leather

– Split grain leather

– Genuine leather

– Bonded leather

Worst

What's your favorite wallet?

Mine specifically? Generally speaking, I carry a different wallet with me every month or so. This is because each of All the Wallets reviews is done impartially with rigorous testing over around a 1 month period. That being said, I do have a preference for my favorite wallets if I was to ever not be reviewing one. 

When I first started collecting wallets, back in 2014, I was a big fan of minimalist wallets and was fascinated by this new emerging trend of the time. I remember specifically stumbling across the Crabby wallet and TGT Wallet (both funded through Kickstarter) and immediately falling in love. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to review hundreds of different types of wallet and although I would still swap quite often, there was a clear winner that I would also come back to – the trusty leather bifold. I love good high quality, full-grain leather wallet one that develops patina overtime. One of my favorite of all times is the Cafe Leather Supply bi-folds which I consistently come back too. 

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