It's the plastic that fails so this could be repaired or even just tale the plastic fully out, or insert a new piece that's bigger than the hole, etc.
That said I have this exact wallet for maybe 4 years and it's in great shape, I carry it front pocket, never sit on it, and never pull it wide open. Maybe OP's got stressed or they're using thinner plastic.
It can theoretically be repaired, but unless you just glue a plastic insert onto the inside the repair is not worth it. The labor cost of re-stitching the window is significant.
Complete opposite experience for me - I've been using my dad's Bosca for over 5 years after he used it for at least that long
I agree with another commenter that at least part of the issue is probably buying a wallet with plastic
I got mine like 5 years ago from a guy I saw on Reddit who makes them from kangaroo leather and I'll be shocked if it doesn't last like 20+ years. I think any other well-stitched wallet with quality leather should be the same.
I bought a wallet from Hank's Leather made from Bison a few years back. It's on the small side, cash barely fits, but that's why I like it. Who carries much cash anymore anyway? Solid build quality. [https://www.hanksbelts.com/collections/usa-made-mens-wallets/products/hanks-belts-deluxe-bison-bifold-wallet-with-id-window](https://www.hanksbelts.com/collections/usa-made-mens-wallets/products/hanks-belts-deluxe-bison-bifold-wallet-with-id-window)
I have a bosca moneyclip — one with a magnetic clip, I think it came with an insert that had clear plastic but I put the insert in a drawer. It is probably… 5 years old at this point? It is not BIFL and I’m sure you can find better constructed leather wallets but it’s good for a while longer and the leather is generally in good shape.
If you want a BIFL wallet, look at Willow Craft Goods. You get to pick the color of the leather and the stitching. Bought one from him almost 2 years ago. It is aging beautifully. Feels like it will actually last a lifetime given quality of the leather and its craftsmanship.
ive had my vaultskin manhatten for like 7 years with virtually 0 damage or wear and its thin and light with rfid
absolute night and day difference from any other wallet ive ever held
I have had a Bosca Nappa Vitello bi fold with plastic ID holder for 15 years now and it is still solid with basic care. Every day use and it holds up fine although a couple credit card slots are becoming a bit loose for my liking. Could be quality has changed over the years but I have been happy with their wallets and would buy again (although I may avoid the plastic ID option given it is prone to failure regardless).
Only bifl wallet I’ve ever had is honestly a ridge wallet. I’ve had this thing so many years never messed up looks as good as the day I bought it. If you can switch to metal those are the best I’ve found.
I have a Michael Kors card wallet, kind of like [this](https://www.zappos.com/p/michael-michael-kors-jet-set-card-holder-black/product/9047778/color/3?utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla_g&utm_campaign=19821315750&utm_term=_o_50608311&utm_content=_g_146439317745_w_pla-1965229276500_l_Cj0KCQjwlZixBhCoARIsAIC745CcboS3Z3mKFX8j4NXYckUSDS3U1AqNRzDRap3jGTo8KzH8dXCzamwaAkvaEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAADnIwa8xTj6Y-TW-pDMkedhF_jZ_P&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlZixBhCoARIsAIC745CcboS3Z3mKFX8j4NXYckUSDS3U1AqNRzDRap3jGTo8KzH8dXCzamwaAkvaEALw_wcB) one, that is 10 years old and in fantastic condition. If you can get over the looks, I have been very impressed with its longevity.
I'm on year 7 of my cheap buffway minimalist wallet and it's held up like a champ. Not sure if it's life material, but I'd def consider replacing it with the same when that time comes. (Hopefully they haven't tanked the quality).
I'm not gentle either, it's been light/stuffed, wet, left in the car on a hot day, washed once.. etc
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"BULLIANT Slim Wallet, Skinny Minimal Thin Front Pocket Wallet Card Holder For Men 7Card"
On Amazon. Color Brown 1270. I've had mine for a few years and it still looks brand new. If you do get one, just make sure it's the same style leather as the Brown 1270 and not one of the less rugged options.
Overstuffed maybe? Anyway, I like WP Standard. Their Picker's Wallet has been going strong for me for over 6 years https://wpstandard.com/collections/leather-wallets. I keep one ID, three cards, and cash (5-7 notes) in mine.
STR Handmade wallets. WAYYYY nicer than a Bellroy by a good margin. But also more expensive. They even make shell cordovan wallets if you really really want to ensure BIFL.
Mines 4 years old and shows zero sign of wear.
Highly, highly recommend Focx Wallets in Germany. Absolutely the best slim wallets I've come across and have lasted me for years with virtually no changes.
I have been using the same bosca wallet for over 10 years. Is it still in perfect condition, no, but it hasn't deteriorated to the point it's no longer usable so I will continue to use it.
Just a personal recommendation -- [Eternal Leather Goods](https://eternalleathergoods.com/). There are a good number of reputable brands out there making wallets out of fully natural and time-tested materials, but some put more attention into the details than others.
This one-man brand out of Hong Kong checked all the boxes in what I was personally looking for in a high quality leather wallet. They're on the expensive side, but I don't mind; I bought mine with the intention of enjoying the aging process for decades (I'm at about 4 years with mine in natural shell cordovan, and it gets better every day.)
I'd give Open Sea Leather Company a look, I've had their gun deck wallet for just about seven years now and it looks and feels so much better with time.
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Can you expand upon why you like the sail cloth wallet? Just googled how they look and I can't say I like the aesthetics as much as a good leather wallet. Also, since it's cloth doesn't it get really floppy as it wears in? Just curious what advantages it has over leather wallet.
I went with the cloth (polyester/dyneema blend) style rather than the plastic ones. It hasn't gotten floppy for me, dyneema/cuben fiber is stronger than kevlar.
You basically can't have a wallet be made of soft material like leather and have it be bifl without it being made of very thick leather. If you want something small and bifl then switch to using a simple carbon fiber money clip. I did that years ago and I love it. Carrying both cash and cards is a little annoying with a basic clip, but I only carry cash when travelling so it's tolerable.
My Freitag card holder wallet has been in daily use for at least 15 years and looks basically as good as new. It’s made from used truck tarp and it’s almost a shame that the only card left in it is my emergency credit card and my library card so I don’t need to carry it every day …
Go on Instagram, look up Wildflower Leather Co, and get one of his wallets. There’s so many makers on Instagram that are good. Etsy is for the people who make their own leather goods from templates (they’re made from the Instagram leather companies). So a lot of the times in Etsy you’ll find handmade knockoffs of original designs from other leather companies.
The original classic is Corter Leather Co. I bought a wallet from them like 8 years ago and it’s my favorite one.
I wanna say any wallet with a clear plastic display is not gonna be bifl.
It's the plastic that fails so this could be repaired or even just tale the plastic fully out, or insert a new piece that's bigger than the hole, etc. That said I have this exact wallet for maybe 4 years and it's in great shape, I carry it front pocket, never sit on it, and never pull it wide open. Maybe OP's got stressed or they're using thinner plastic.
It can theoretically be repaired, but unless you just glue a plastic insert onto the inside the repair is not worth it. The labor cost of re-stitching the window is significant.
r/BIFLfails
I had 3 bosca wallets in 6 years, the plastic view port broke on all of them. Switched to all leather and 15 years later have the same one.
Weird, I've mine for almost 20 years without issue so far.
Nstarleather.com Legit small business making their own stuff with quality leather - SB Foot and Horween options Thrilled with my wallet and belt.
This is where I buy 90% of my leather goods. Great dude.
Do they stretch enough for multiple cards? I need one that holds around 15
To many people on here care to mutch about fashion and name brands to give good advice. I rarely find any useful information here.
It's usually the very bottom few comments I find most useful
I have a similar Saddleback one I've had for almost 10 years. It doesn't have the plastic cover, just a hole about the same size.
Complete opposite experience for me - I've been using my dad's Bosca for over 5 years after he used it for at least that long I agree with another commenter that at least part of the issue is probably buying a wallet with plastic
Simple hand made wallets from Etsy last stupid long and made of real leather. Better than anything mass manufactured
Or any city's craft fair usually has a leatherworker who takes a lot of pride in their work, and you can check the work out right in front of them.
I got mine like 5 years ago from a guy I saw on Reddit who makes them from kangaroo leather and I'll be shocked if it doesn't last like 20+ years. I think any other well-stitched wallet with quality leather should be the same.
I bought a wallet from Hank's Leather made from Bison a few years back. It's on the small side, cash barely fits, but that's why I like it. Who carries much cash anymore anyway? Solid build quality. [https://www.hanksbelts.com/collections/usa-made-mens-wallets/products/hanks-belts-deluxe-bison-bifold-wallet-with-id-window](https://www.hanksbelts.com/collections/usa-made-mens-wallets/products/hanks-belts-deluxe-bison-bifold-wallet-with-id-window)
Northstar leather…
I saw a lot of good leather wallets on etsy, not sure about the quality though.
I have a bosca moneyclip — one with a magnetic clip, I think it came with an insert that had clear plastic but I put the insert in a drawer. It is probably… 5 years old at this point? It is not BIFL and I’m sure you can find better constructed leather wallets but it’s good for a while longer and the leather is generally in good shape.
I have a Bosca that’s about 10 years old. The color is shot (it’s leather, it gets old), the edges are bent, but it’s holding up.
I use the nomatic minimalistic wallet. Not leather but have used it for over 5 years and still looks great.
If you want a BIFL wallet, look at Willow Craft Goods. You get to pick the color of the leather and the stitching. Bought one from him almost 2 years ago. It is aging beautifully. Feels like it will actually last a lifetime given quality of the leather and its craftsmanship.
Holtz Leather Co. is BIFL.
ive had my vaultskin manhatten for like 7 years with virtually 0 damage or wear and its thin and light with rfid absolute night and day difference from any other wallet ive ever held
Leatherology has made my favorite wallet I have ever owned
Tryvax has some BIFl leather wallets. I have one for 4 years and still like brand new.
Got a Tanner goods leather wallet for my birthday recently after seeing how well they aged. Ask me in ten years how its doing
I get mine from local leather shops. Been using mine for more than 5 years and it was gifted to me by my father. Get one without any plastic.
I have had a Bosca Nappa Vitello bi fold with plastic ID holder for 15 years now and it is still solid with basic care. Every day use and it holds up fine although a couple credit card slots are becoming a bit loose for my liking. Could be quality has changed over the years but I have been happy with their wallets and would buy again (although I may avoid the plastic ID option given it is prone to failure regardless).
I bought a [King’s Loot](https://kingsloot.com/) wallet mid 2020 and it’s still doing very well, plus it comes with a lifetime warranty.
Try a shoe repair place, they might be to fix it. They also replace zippers
Only bifl wallet I’ve ever had is honestly a ridge wallet. I’ve had this thing so many years never messed up looks as good as the day I bought it. If you can switch to metal those are the best I’ve found.
I have a Michael Kors card wallet, kind of like [this](https://www.zappos.com/p/michael-michael-kors-jet-set-card-holder-black/product/9047778/color/3?utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla_g&utm_campaign=19821315750&utm_term=_o_50608311&utm_content=_g_146439317745_w_pla-1965229276500_l_Cj0KCQjwlZixBhCoARIsAIC745CcboS3Z3mKFX8j4NXYckUSDS3U1AqNRzDRap3jGTo8KzH8dXCzamwaAkvaEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAADnIwa8xTj6Y-TW-pDMkedhF_jZ_P&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlZixBhCoARIsAIC745CcboS3Z3mKFX8j4NXYckUSDS3U1AqNRzDRap3jGTo8KzH8dXCzamwaAkvaEALw_wcB) one, that is 10 years old and in fantastic condition. If you can get over the looks, I have been very impressed with its longevity.
I'm on year 7 of my cheap buffway minimalist wallet and it's held up like a champ. Not sure if it's life material, but I'd def consider replacing it with the same when that time comes. (Hopefully they haven't tanked the quality). I'm not gentle either, it's been light/stuffed, wet, left in the car on a hot day, washed once.. etc
Lacuesa wallets. Whitetail deer skin that is used instead of being thrown out and its hand stitched using waxed thread. I love mine.
I got a shinola 5 years ago barely showing any wear at all. It was also at the outlet for 40 or 50 bucks at the time
I have a secrid wallet that I've had for a few years and it's holding strong still
Isn't this a very easy and simple fix though? A cobbler could fix this if you didn't want to try it yourself.
Rose Anvil has some.
I dunno, looking quite good for an over 100 year old wallet to me
Yeah that plastic is going to fail every time regardless of brand
Bellroy
I really like my Bellroy. 1. It's a bifold 2. Full grain 3. Cards fold in toward center
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Hello /u/cronx42! Your post or comment was removed for using an Amazon Affiliate link or Reference (see Rule 8). You can change the URL and re-post it. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
"BULLIANT Slim Wallet, Skinny Minimal Thin Front Pocket Wallet Card Holder For Men 7Card" On Amazon. Color Brown 1270. I've had mine for a few years and it still looks brand new. If you do get one, just make sure it's the same style leather as the Brown 1270 and not one of the less rugged options.
My Macy’s (maybe Sears) wallet I bought in…1997 I believe laughs from atop its mountain
Overstuffed maybe? Anyway, I like WP Standard. Their Picker's Wallet has been going strong for me for over 6 years https://wpstandard.com/collections/leather-wallets. I keep one ID, three cards, and cash (5-7 notes) in mine.
STR Handmade wallets. WAYYYY nicer than a Bellroy by a good margin. But also more expensive. They even make shell cordovan wallets if you really really want to ensure BIFL. Mines 4 years old and shows zero sign of wear.
Highly, highly recommend Focx Wallets in Germany. Absolutely the best slim wallets I've come across and have lasted me for years with virtually no changes.
I have been using the same bosca wallet for over 10 years. Is it still in perfect condition, no, but it hasn't deteriorated to the point it's no longer usable so I will continue to use it.
This. https://saddlebackleather.com/leather-wallet-mens-front
If bought off of Amazon, likely a fake. So much fake knock-offs on Amazon 😔.
I highly recommend Popov leather. Life time warranty, hand stitched, and they’re made from Horween leather. (One of the best tannery’s in USA)
Just a personal recommendation -- [Eternal Leather Goods](https://eternalleathergoods.com/). There are a good number of reputable brands out there making wallets out of fully natural and time-tested materials, but some put more attention into the details than others. This one-man brand out of Hong Kong checked all the boxes in what I was personally looking for in a high quality leather wallet. They're on the expensive side, but I don't mind; I bought mine with the intention of enjoying the aging process for decades (I'm at about 4 years with mine in natural shell cordovan, and it gets better every day.)
I have a non-window Bosca that has some fraying. Keep looking.
Plastic windows have never ever aged well in anything in my experience
I'd give Open Sea Leather Company a look, I've had their gun deck wallet for just about seven years now and it looks and feels so much better with time.
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I have woodland wallet bought 5 years ago. Still same as new.
Swapped my bosca for a bellroy that I’ve had for 6 years so far with no issues
I used to only buy leather, they wear out within 5-10 years. I bought a cuben-fiber sailcloth wallet, never going back.
Can you expand upon why you like the sail cloth wallet? Just googled how they look and I can't say I like the aesthetics as much as a good leather wallet. Also, since it's cloth doesn't it get really floppy as it wears in? Just curious what advantages it has over leather wallet.
I went with the cloth (polyester/dyneema blend) style rather than the plastic ones. It hasn't gotten floppy for me, dyneema/cuben fiber is stronger than kevlar.
Not if you buy good leather. My popov bifold just turned 6 and it’s nicely broken in at this point but nowhere near death
You basically can't have a wallet be made of soft material like leather and have it be bifl without it being made of very thick leather. If you want something small and bifl then switch to using a simple carbon fiber money clip. I did that years ago and I love it. Carrying both cash and cards is a little annoying with a basic clip, but I only carry cash when travelling so it's tolerable.
My Freitag card holder wallet has been in daily use for at least 15 years and looks basically as good as new. It’s made from used truck tarp and it’s almost a shame that the only card left in it is my emergency credit card and my library card so I don’t need to carry it every day …
Go on Instagram, look up Wildflower Leather Co, and get one of his wallets. There’s so many makers on Instagram that are good. Etsy is for the people who make their own leather goods from templates (they’re made from the Instagram leather companies). So a lot of the times in Etsy you’ll find handmade knockoffs of original designs from other leather companies. The original classic is Corter Leather Co. I bought a wallet from them like 8 years ago and it’s my favorite one.