Even though NOMAD is known to release some of the most rugged products, you will not find any difference in durability compared to other leather products. In the post about the new wallets, I spent a fair amount of time on Nomad’s use of “Thermoformed leather” to mold and shape the wallets. The result is a soft curve as the leather approaches the seams. It looks and feels nice, but I suspect it has the added advantage of increasing the wallet’s strength while still allowing the leather to stretch just enough to hold the cards securely in place. The soft curves are unlike anything I’ve seen on a leather wallet, and I appreciate Nomad taking this extra step when designing the products.

The leather used on the Slim Wallet is vegetable-tanned, but you'll notice that NOMAD also offers a limited-edition Shell Cordovan Wallet. It's a different material. The truth is that there isn't such a thing as a perfect wallet for everyone. It comes down to what you are looking for in a wallet. Functionally speaking, the NOMAD Slim Wallet is a better choice with more organization and the leather being easier to handle. It's also easier to maintain as shell cordovan usually needs specialized products to keep in tip-top shape. On the exterior of the wallet, there is a single “easy access” card slot. I use this for my credit card since it's the one I access most frequently.

Size matters

While most slim wallets can hold what I need them to, the organization has also made sense for me to adopt it. As with many Passport wallets, functionality is key and you’ll want enough space to accommodate a range of items. Size is also important and although passport wallets are always going to be larger than most, the Nomad Passport Wallet does a great job of keeping this slim with the wallets total size only just coming in at slightly larger than a passport itself (dimensions: Width: 12.6cm x Length: 17.7cm x Height: 2.4cm). For example, while I usually dump any loose change I get during the day into a 100-yen-shop coin case by the entrance of my home, I still need to hold on to them during the day.

I found a 100 year old company that would create these heirloom quality canisters for me. They are handmade and will keep your tea leaves, coffee beans or anything that you need dry for years to come. Unless you are a leather aficionado that truly appreciates the beauty and longevity of shell cordovan and has extra cash lying around, the Slim Wallet would be the reasonable choice for most. Conclusion There are so many so-called travel or slim wallets out there, but whether they work for you comes down to the balance between form and function. The ultimate goal is to elevate (or at least, not distract from) your everyday and travel experiences. Being a leather wallet, the NOMAD Slim Wallet will not be anything new if you've had any experience with leather products. Leather ages beautifully, and the patina of a leather product is the main appeal to many.Do you like to have your ID easily visible in a clear window? Do you carry a lot of cash? Are you more of a minimalist, or do you want to carry everything? These are some of the most important questions to ask yourself when shopping for a smart wallet. When I got into onebag travel, the TOM BIHN Nik's Minimalist Wallet was the first I took to, but I ultimately settled on the Aer Cardholder. After a good run, I'm ready to move on to the NOMAD Slim Wallet. Alex Kwa, hoarder of wallets. As someone who wishes to experience travel without babying my belongings, I abuse my travel gear in various ways. Nomad’s “Card for AirTag” helps the AirTag fit comfortably in traditional wallets. Samuel Polay / Input

HORWEEN, founded in 1905, is one of the oldest running tanneries in America. If you know anything about the leather world, HORWEEN is the name to drop for leather products, similar to brands like GORETEX, Cordura, or YKK. Simply using materials from HORWEEN, in itself, is a selling point. Usage Some cards are used more than others; therefore, being able to access them easily is important. In my case, it's my credit card. Both of our leather options are naturally and minimally treated and will therefore easily scuff and mark within the first weeks days of use. With time, scuffs and marks will buff out into a rich and lustrous patina. If you’re after an authentic leather patina that evolves with time, this is absolutely the wallet for you. Don't get me wrong. I couldn't care less about what the guy next to me thinks when he sees my wallet. It has to look good to me. How I feel when I see the objects around me is what matters. Therefore, it's only natural that I want to surround myself with only the most beautiful objects I can find. Capacity While regular leather can be made from most parts of a horse, each horse can only produce a small amount of shell cordovan. The tanning process for shell cordovan also takes up to six months and takes significantly more skill. This is why the material fetches a premium and is widely considered a “holy grail” material in shoemaking. Functional differencesThe real advantage of shell cordovan is its durability. The smaller pores are what makes it have a smoother finish and a more brilliant luster. The functional advantage to the smaller pores is that they are more water-resistant.

In front of that slot is another slot, but with a cut-out at the corner to allow you to pull out the card easily. While the corner cutout was meant for easy access, it's ironic that this slot was a tight fit because of the extra elastic cutout in the slot behind it. It is harder to pull your card out of this slot than the other slots. Durability Thermoformed Leather: Our signature Horween leather is bonded to a thin layer of reinforcing fabric and then molded into shape using intense heat and pressure. This thermoforming process creates space to store your cards without requiring the leather to stretch out, keeping your cards securely in place and your wallet looking new for longer. Wallets, no matter how minimal the design aims to be, need to hold coins. Period. It would be much less minimal if you have to bring along another coin pouch to hold loose change. Durability Over the years, I progressed through a series of wallets which, in some ways, represented phases of my life. When I was into streetwear, I splurged on a Porter X KAWS wallet on my first trip to Japan. Then, I moved on to a Supreme X Comme Des Garcon wallet, marking the peak of my Supreme obsession. The last thing I want is to worry that something will break down mid-travel, especially since you'll be unlikely to bring along a replacement wallet. StyleSo, you probably don't need this wallet for those who feel that they are fully enjoying your experiences right now. But, for those who, like me, have too much time on their hands willing to go through every single slim wallet on the market to find the perfect one, this review is for you. These are the cards and currency that have a permanent fixture in my wallet. There are also some things that come and go.