Which Wingback Wallet Is Right for You?

If you're trying to decide which Wingback wallet is right for you, the choice really comes down to how much you carry and the look you're after. They're all cut from the same full grain, vegetable tanned leather and hand-stitched in our London workshop, so the decision is less about quality and more about fit for your daily habits. If it's a pen you're weighing up instead, our guide to choosing the right Wingback pen works much the same way.

At a glance

• Card Holder: the slimmest option, best if you carry just a few cards and little or no cash.
• Card Wallet: a touch more room, for cards plus the odd folded note.
• Cash Wallet: holds 2 to 5 cards and 15 or more notes, ideal if you still like carrying cash.
• Travel Wallet: the largest of the Originals, made to keep cards, notes and travel documents together in one place.
• The Winston range: the Winston Card Holder, Winston Wallet and Winston Travel Wallet, the same making with a more tailored character.

A quick comparison

*There is also the Winston range: the Winston Card Holder, Winston Wallet and Winston Travel Wallet, covered below

The Card Holder: the least you can carry

If your ideal is a couple of cards and nothing else, the Card Holder is where to start. It's the slimmest of the range and disappears into a front pocket, which is exactly why so many people who thought they wanted a full wallet end up here. It's a lovely example of buying less and buying better, and if you'd like to read a little more about how it came to be, we wrote about it in Designs: The Card Holder.

The Card Wallet: a little more everyday room

The Card Wallet sits neatly between the Card Holder and the Cash Wallet. It keeps that slim, low-profile character but gives you a touch more room for cards and the odd folded note, which suits people who mostly tap to pay but like to keep a bit of cash to hand. If you're weighing up exact numbers, our guide to how many cards each Wingback wallet holds lays it out clearly.

The Cash Wallet: cards and notes, together

The Cash Wallet is the one for you if you still carry cash and want it in the same place as your cards. It holds 2 to 5 cards and 15 or more notes, and measures 69mm x 91mm x 12mm, so it stays compact whilst carrying a proper amount. One thing worth knowing: the leather feels stiff at first and then softens with use to hold its contents snugly, so you can gradually increase what it carries but not really reduce it. Start with what you genuinely need and let it settle around that. There's more on the thinking behind it in Designs: The Cash Wallet.

The Travel Wallet: everything in one place

The Travel Wallet is the largest of the four and the one to reach for when you want cards, notes and travel documents kept together and easy to find. It's less of an everyday pocket wallet and more of a considered companion for trips, the sort of thing that makes the moment at the gate or the desk feel a good deal calmer.

What is the Winston range?

Alongside the Originals sits the Winston range: three designs of its own rather than versions of the wallets above. It shares the same leather and the same hand construction, with a slightly more tailored character. The Winston Card Holder has one neat detail worth mentioning: a small sheet of steel inside that gently springs against both sides, holding anything from two to eight cards securely without any bulk. The Winston Wallet brings cards, cash and a passport together in a single piece, taking two to ten cards and ten or more notes stored flat or folded. And the Winston Travel Wallet is the roomiest wallet we make, with space for four to twelve cards, twenty or more notes and a passport besides.

So which Wingback wallet should you choose?

Start with how you actually pay. If it's cards and only cards, the Card Holder or a Winston Card Holder will serve you for years. If you like a little cash alongside, the Card Wallet or Cash Wallet is the natural home. And if you travel often and want documents in the mix, the Travel Wallet earns its keep. Beyond that, trust your eye. Leather is personal, it takes on a patina and ages beautifully with you, and the version you keep reaching for is usually the one you liked the look of from the start. If you'd like the wider case for choosing one good thing over several disposable ones, our note on buying less and buying better is a good read.

Whichever you choose, it's cut, stitched, bevelled and burnished by hand in London and backed by our lifetime guarantee. And once it's in your pocket, our guide on how to care for a leather wallet will help it age beautifully for decades to come.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the slimmest Wingback wallet?

The Card Holder is the slimmest, made for a few cards and little or no cash. If you want the same slim feel with a slightly more refined look and a sprung steel plate holding your cards, the Winston Card Holder is worth a look.

How many cards and notes does the Cash Wallet hold?

The Cash Wallet holds 2 to 5 cards and 15 or more notes. The leather starts stiff and softens with use to hold everything snugly, so begin with what you need and build up rather than overfilling it on day one.

What's the difference between the Original and Winston ranges?

They share the same leather and the same hand construction, and the Winston range has a slightly more tailored look with three designs of its own. The Winston Card Holder holds its cards with a sprung steel plate, the Winston Wallet carries cards, notes and a passport in one piece, and the Winston Travel Wallet is the largest wallet we make.

Do Wingback wallets come with a guarantee?

Yes. Every wallet is handmade and carries a lifetime guarantee, and because we design, make and repair them ourselves, we can look after them for the long haul.

The Wingback Team