The wallet is one of the oldest and most widely used of all men’s accessories. We can find traces of money-carrying rucksacks from the 14th century, and with each passing era, the wallet has become sleeker and more practical. And with the advent of credit cards in the last century, wallet design has seen new trends.
The modern card holder wallet, or simply cardholder, is smaller and compact, ideal for our minimalist, ‘less is more’ culture. And yet, the traditional wallet doesn’t seem to go out of fashion anytime soon. So which one is it? Continue reading to compare the pros and cons of wallets and cardholders. This will help you decide if you should carry one or the other (or both).
Size & Storage Capacity
One of the biggest differences between a cardholder and wallet is that the latter usually have more storage capacity. The average wallet usually has room for:
- Loyalty cards
- Credit cards
- Spare change
- Receipts
To store these items (many of which we hardly ever use), wallets come with slots, compartments, and concealed zips.
The cardholder, on the other hand, is usually smaller than a wallet. But while it may be lighter on your pocket, the cardholder may not be spacious enough to store everything you need on a daily basis, even if you don’t carry loose change. For instance, you will have to carry some kind of ID, and then all those loyalty and business cards.
Style & Design
For many people, a wallet is just an accessory. However, some people also consider it a fashion statement. The appearance and texture of a wallet do enhance your personal style, be it a vintage look or a contemporary design. Plus, wallets are also customisable, and you can print and emboss pictures, words, or logos on your wallet as well.
As far as style and design go, you can also get credit cardholders to match your sense of aesthetics. This is true even if you go for Radio frequency identification (RFID) wallet.
These wallets block what is known as ‘RFID skimming’, a type of digital crime that reads and duplicates information from RFID-equipped cards. An RFID wallet can block RFID signals using a Faraday cage (electromagnetic enclosure technology). But even these highly practical card holders are available in a choice of designs and colours.
Quality & Durability
Finally, while a wallet has a significant storage size, most users tend to cram everything they can into their purses. As a result, the wallet looks bulky, even inside a pant or jean pocket. And the constant squeezing of the wallet into the back pocket leads to creasing and ongoing wear and tear, even on high-quality leather.
And while cardholders are made from similar quality materials, they are more durable because these can easily fit into your shirt or even inside a jacket pocket.
So, what should you go for? Depending on your use, you will find wallets and cardholders come in handy in different situations and events, and it is ideal to have one of both.