What's a nice card wallet?

June 13, 2009 8:22 PM

I'm looking for a handsome credit card case.

I recently swapped my wallet for a money clip. I love it, but now my various cards have no home. Between credit cards, library cards, insurance and dental cards, business cards, and buy-9-burritos-get-one-free cards, I need a case or a wallet meant for a dozen or more cards instead of currency. It should be stylish (because I care about that sort of thing) and rugged (because this will live at the bottom of my bag.) Suggestions?

posted by sonofslim to clothing, beauty, & fashion (17 comments total)

I think this is pretty awesome. I just searched etsy for business card holders.
posted by amelioration at 9:23 PM on June 13

I've seen people use cigarette cases as wallet replacements. Some of them are very stylish. Because they are not flexible, it may not always be ideal, plus I think they are somewhat larger in dimensions than a wallet. But if you're keeping it in a bag, as you said, that shouldn't be an issue. And the cases I've seen are sturdy...after all, no one wants to crush their cigarettes.
posted by BradNelson at 10:41 PM on June 13

Not currency only, but perhaps also interesting to a fellow thick wallet hater. I use an ALL-ETT. It's so thin I hardly know it's there. Paper thin, but it's held up for about a year and a half so far great.
posted by floam at 11:00 PM on June 13 [1 favorite]

I meant not card-only.
posted by floam at 11:01 PM on June 13

If you do go the cigarette case route, you could try Urban Outfitters, as they have some cool ones that look like cigarette cases but don't have the annoying grooves or whatnot that real ones do. Just be aware that they don't hold everything. This one, which I have (and in case that URL isn't stable, it's the one pictured here as the last photo down on the right) only holds about 7 cards of credit card-y size. I found it was very freeing to cut myself down to bare essentials and then add the library card or grocery discount card only as necessary, but YMMV.
posted by librarylis at 11:16 PM on June 13

I use this Umbra card holder that I found at the Container Store. I've also seen them at Target.
posted by JenMarie at 12:36 AM on June 14

I'm a dog walker who hates schlepping stuff, but needs to have pristine business cards at the ready, in an un-crushed condition. Here's what I use; found it on eBay.
posted by BostonTerrier at 7:10 AM on June 14

I have a JimiX wallet. It holds about four cards (so not as many as you say), so has definitely forced me to focus on carrying the essentials (driver's license, debit card, credit card, and office building swipe card), which is a good thing. I've definitely received many compliments on it form cashiers and friends.

It's also rugged -- originally designed for more outdoors-y people than myself.
posted by midatlanticwanderer at 7:19 AM on June 14

Tumi makes a variety of handsome thin cases. I use a money clip case from them, although I'm annoyed after a year or two the metal from the clip is poking out of the leather.
posted by Nelson at 7:27 AM on June 14

I like this card case from ACM, but it's not for back or tight pockets.
posted by EnsignLunchmeat at 7:38 AM on June 14

Seconding the Umbra card holder. I have had one for about 3 years now.
posted by Danf at 8:13 AM on June 14

I use a stainless-steel cardholder about the size of the one BostonTerrier uses; I bought it from this boutique for $10. It holds three cards of credit-card thickness plus about a half-dozen business cards, so it may not be large enough to hold all of your displaced cards, but it's my go-to day-to-day wallet now. Very sturdy, unlike the aluminum cardholders I've seen out there.

I don't see it available to order on the website currently, alas, but if you dropped 'em an email, they could probably send you a photo and estimate how much shipping would be to your location.

I'm guessing, though, that something like the card wallet pictured in amelioration's Etsy link above might better suit your purpose.
posted by limeonaire at 8:15 AM on June 14

Not particularly nice, but I reuse the gum packaging from packs of Orbitz to hold license/credit card stuff. I do get a lot of comments that it is a neat idea, but I am not sure that is what you are going for.
posted by kellyblah at 8:58 AM on June 14

Seconding all-ett. I have the original ripstop cloth wallet, but I see they have a card-only product. You probably won't like the cloth version, but perhaps the leather.
posted by hungrysquirrels at 11:53 AM on June 14

If you're at all crafty, you can make your own. I modified this Instructables a bit for an accordion style wallet. I used a 3x5 card to make it sturdier, some vellum paper for the accordion part, some fancy paper I had on hand to make it look nicer, and scotch tape to keep the edges clean. I keep it closed with a medium size binder clip. For something made out of paper, it's surprisingly durable -- I've had mine for a couple of years, and I'm only just now thinking of rebuilding it. If you used different materials, it should last even longer (and probably look nicer).

I think mine has about 9 pockets, but I can double up on some of the thinner ones. I'm sure I have at least 15 cards in there right now.

It's easy to find one or two pocket business card cases, but I don't want to have to pull out and shuffle through all my cards to find the one I need -- the accordion folds keep everything I don't need in place.
posted by natabat at 9:14 PM on June 14

Etsy and Tumi have some lookers, thanks for the heads-up. I also like some of the products at Güs (too small for my needs, but great looking) and the Death Star of deliciously pretentious wallets, Braithwaite.
posted by sonofslim at 8:41 AM on June 15

Little late on this but Milkmuny wallets are ideal for cards and also uses recycled materials and gives proceeds to local shelters.

Disclaimer: I did some work on the website
posted by mnology at 6:08 PM on June 16