How to Choose a Mini Wallet: A Thorough Comparison of Bifold, Trifold, and Long Wallets

A thorough comparison of the differences between standard bifold, trifold, and long wallets

General structural trends relative to three axes

This chart compares bifold, trifold, and long wallets based on three axes: size (smallness), thinness, and ease of use.
Trifold wallets are the most compact but tend to be thicker, while long wallets offer better visibility and accessibility. Bifold wallets are well-balanced and offer a high level of overall functionality.

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1. Size (smallness)

The small footprint directly translates into ease of handling in a pocket or small bag.

tri-fold wallet

A prime example of a mini wallet. It is close to the size of a card and has the smallest surface area. It is suitable for the front pocket, which is prone to pressure.

Bifold wallet

It's slightly larger than a tri-fold wallet, but about half the size of a long wallet. It's practically compact enough to fit in most pockets. It also fits well in jackets and hip pockets.

Long wallet

It's large, so you'll need to choose a storage location. If you try to force it into your pants, it will lose its shape and fall out easily, so be careful (it can also be pickpocketed). If you plan to use it as a bag, this is a great advantage.

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2. Thinness

Thinness is directly linked to comfort. It affects the stress of every action, from sitting to walking to taking out. The main cause of thickness is "overlaps (layers)."

tri-fold wallet

It's inevitable that all the stored items will overlap and become thick.

Bifold wallet

It's easy to balance thinness with capacity. If the design avoids overlapping of coins and cards, it becomes surprisingly thin.

Long wallet

They tend to be thick due to two factors: structural reasons that make it easy for dividers and parts to increase, and operational reasons such as putting in a large amount of cards and coins.

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3. Usability (accounting operations and visibility)

The fewer steps required to "open, take out, close," the easier it is to access and the better the visibility.

tri-fold wallet

The number of times you open and close the wallet increases, and there is a slight delay when inserting and removing bills and cards. The wires of bills, cards, and coins are also likely to cross. Bills tend to get folded up in threes, which can cause them to be rejected when scanned by a machine.

Bifold wallet

It only needs to be opened once, and removal is generally smooth. With the exception of money clips, bills tend not to bend easily, and are easy to insert into machines.

Long wallet

The biggest appeal is the high visibility and quick accessibility. The structure makes it easy to classify and organize, reducing confusion when paying.

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In the case of SYRINX

Why SYRINX doesn't have a tri-fold wallet

The tri-fold wallet is the epitome of a mini wallet. It has the appeal of being compact and easy to carry, but the disadvantage is that it is thick because all the items stored inside it overlap.
In addition, banknotes tend to curl easily, making them difficult to use at ticket vending machines or self-checkout registers.
Curled bills do not fit well in the register and are difficult to reuse as change, making them unfriendly not only to the machine but also to the cashiers.

The basic idea behind SYRINX is that if it can fit in the same pocket, it is better to have something thin rather than something thick and bulky.
And it's rare to find a pocket or bag that only fits a tri-fold size.
For this reason, we offer small, thin bi-fold wallets such as the Hitoe Fold as the next generation of mini wallets that are compact while maintaining their thinness.

Product Introduction: Small and Thin Wallet Hitoe® Fold

This bi-fold wallet is surprisingly thin even when packed, thanks to its Hitoe® structure that prevents cards and coins from overlapping.
The inner hook does not rely on metal fittings, so there are no protrusions and it opens and closes smoothly.
Its dimensions are approximately 86 x 89 mm, making it as compact as a tri-fold wallet, and it fits easily into most pockets.
The daily accounting process is short and stress-free, so much so that you might forget it's even there, since it fits in your trouser hip pocket.

Hitoe® Fold, the pioneer of small, thin wallets

Why SYRINX doesn't have a "small long wallet"

SYRINX aims to create a "small, thin long wallet," which is different from a "small long wallet."
Here, a "small long wallet" refers to a wallet that is designed to be as close as possible to the size of a 10,000 yen bill.
At first glance, this structure appears to be ideal and efficient, but it poses several dilemmas.
First of all, with a height of 10,000 yen, it is difficult to prevent coins and cards from overlapping, which increases the thickness when stored.
(Card 54mm + 500 yen coin 26.5mm > 10,000 yen bill 76mm)
Another problem is the placement of the cards.
You might be thinking, "If I spread the cards out to the left and right, won't that spread the thickness as well?" However, the dark red central band in the image below shows the area that will always be covered no matter where you place the cards.

All cards will inevitably overlap in this central area, meaning that a "small long wallet" cannot fundamentally avoid being thick.
As a result, the number of cards that can realistically be stored is limited to a few.
If you only need a few cards, there's no need to go to the trouble of using a long wallet.
Bifold wallets, such as the Hitoe® Fold, are more portable and convenient.

For this reason, SYRINX's long wallets are not "small long wallets," but rather aim to be "small, thin long wallets" that maintain the storage capacity appropriate for a long wallet.

Product Introduction: Small, Slim Long Wallet Hitoe® L zip-L

Double card pockets separate cards into two places, and Hitoe® structure prevents cards and coins from overlapping.
These two innovations make this a long wallet that is extremely slim even when it is packed full. Its width is roughly the same as that of a 10,000 yen bill.
The double zipper allows you to quickly access what you need without having to unzip it all the way.

Hitoe® L-zip L, the pioneer of small, slim long wallets

Complete minimalism

General brands aim to have a comprehensive lineup in order to expand their business.
SYRINX delivers only products that we believe are truly good. Based on this belief, we do not expand our lineup unnecessarily.
This is SYRINX's choice, which is based on minimalism.

Click here for a list of slim wallets and mini wallets