Now, the Bryker Hyde 1.0 gets major brownie points for its twist on the traditional, but they’re not the only one doing that. Among their competition? Serman Brands 1.S. Sleek and solid is the name of the game for hardshell cases—there’s just something about solid-feeling gear that’s reassuring once you get your hands on it. For the Flip Case, there’s good structure despite what the all-leather look might suggest. It’s thanks to the plastic shell lying underneath—it’s not as rigid or tough as, say, metal, but it definitely gets the job done. The stiff, tough hardshell ensures that your credit cards aren’t the toughest part of your wallet. Bellroy Flip Case | Just a simple debossed logo that’s not in-your-face. Here’s a view of the larger compartment. I have 4 smooth cards with 2 folded dollar bills. I could add a 3rd dollar and maybe even a 5th card, but the fit would be so tight that it would be difficult to remove the cash or cards without a lot of effort. Less is more when it comes to minimalist wallets.

It also happens to make for a lovely gift, especially for those who’re still a little hesitant to give up their trusty dad wallet. Perhaps it’s time to take the plunge and break out the wrapping paper?Rather than a fixed construction, this bifold comes with a removable magnetic cardholder. You can choose to either carry it on its own should you want to travel light or in the wallet for additional space. It still folds the same as your beloved bulky relic. And it has the interior card slots you’ve come to expect, but it also offers up a couple of interesting changes. Photo: Kim Stone The Design of the Bellroy Flip Case is pushing in two different directions. Firstly, the wallet is in a hard case or hardshell style. This means the wallet, at its core, is made from a hard and durable polymer material and stores cash and cards internally in a way that protects your belongings providing a safer more secure way to carry your cash, cards, or anything else you can squeeze inside. Externally, this hard casing is wrapped in Bellroy’s signature eco-tanned leather that is high in quality and with a deep rich coloring.

Choose a card holder that’s easy to use and has enough room to carry your essential cards. Make sure the card holder is also built with quality materials that are durable enough to carry every day. Also, consider the aesthetics of the card holder and how it matches your personal style. What are some of the benefits of a card holder wallet?Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media. The other main difference is that the 1.S has one front access slot and a smart-pull tab inside to reduce bulk. They’re relatively small tweaks, but they do add up to make the wallet feel unique despite any comparisons.

In the world of wallets, hardshell cases have their own characteristics that make them appealing. A good example of this is Bellroy’s Flip Case. It has its own ups and downs compared to more typical wallets that are “soft” and made mostly out of woven fabrics. As more often is the case with Bellroy products, the styling on this wallet is on point, but what are the pitfalls to look out for? Materials & Aesthetic Along a similar vein to the other bifolds on this list, the Distil Union Wally Bifold 5.0 is all about getting the essentials right and leaving the unnecessary bits behind. This offering features a stainless steel custom money clip, a 14 card and 30 bill capacity, and a streamlined, slim profile that isn’t big or bulky or otherwise irritating to deal with day to day.

The Ekster Modular Bifold was created to handle more than just the basics, making use of a proprietary modular design to offer some user customizability. The Vaultskin Manhattan Card Walle t is an elegant, Bellroy alternative that’s not to be missed out on. It has all the finishes and intentional touches you expect in a Vaultskin offering. These include fantastic RFID protection, supple top-grain Italian leather, and a sleek design that effortlessly balances form and function. Here’s a side view to give you a better idea of how the trapdoors fold down from the center of the Bellroy Flip Case wallet. Note: This wallet provides RFID protection, so yay.

I’d say that Harber London provides a range of wallets the most similar to Bellroy in design providing a huge variety from slim, minimalist, zip, and travel wallets. They offer some really innovative features in their wallet including magnetic clasps that keep your wallet closed, hidden card slots that really make Harber London stand out from the crowd when it comes to prioritizing the functionality of their wallets. My favorite wallet in their range is the classic card wallet which you can read our full review of here.

What I like

Both compartments are lined with soft fabric that makes sliding cards and bills out smooth—mostly. There was some difficulty getting cards out of the rear compartment. We can break down the cause of the difficulty into two things: the Flip Case’s outer ridge and the rigid nature of a hardshell case.