The Woodland adventure wallet

The Woodland is a compact wallet, and the two things worth knowing before you buy one are whether it will hold what you carry and how the leather will look after a year of use. So here's a proper look at it: what it holds, how big it is, what it's made from, and who I think it suits.

What it holds and how big it is

The Woodland takes 8 to 10 cards, over time my personal one now holds 12 cards plus folded notes. That's enough for a bank card or two, a driving lenience, a few loyalty cards and some cash, without needing a second wallet for the overflow.

It measures roughly 90mm × 70mm. To put that in perspective, a standard bank card is about 85mm × 54mm, so the Woodland is only a little bigger than the cards it carries. It sits comfortably in a front trouser pocket, a jacket pocket or a small bag, and it doesn't leave a big lump in your jeans.

A tip if you're switching from a bigger wallet: start with the cards you actually use and add the rest over a week or two. New leather is firm, and pockets loosen to fit their contents with use. If you pack it to the maximum on day one it will feel tight; give it a little time and it settles in.

The leather: Italian pull-up

I make the Woodland from Italian pull-up leather. Badalassi Carlo wax Pull-up leather is loaded with oils and waxes during finishing, and that's what gives it its character. When you bend or stretch it, the oils move about and the leather lightens where it's flexed. That's the "pull-up" effect, and it's why the edges and folds of the wallet show a lighter tone against the richer colour of the flat panels.

It also means the leather changes quite quickly compared with some other types. With regular use, the colour deepens and the surface picks up a soft sheen from your hands and pockets. Light scuffs and marks are part of the deal with this leather, but many of them can be softened by rubbing them with a warm thumb, which moves the oils back into the mark.

The result is a wallet that looks noticeably different after a few months than it did on the day it arrived. Some people love that and want it to look lived-in. If you prefer something that stays exactly as it was when new, pull-up leather probably isn't for you.

Each Woodland is hand-stitched here in my workshop in Cornwall. Hand stitching with a strong thread is slower than a machine, but it holds well and it's repairable if anything ever does go wrong.

Who the Woodland suits

I'd say the Woodland is a good fit if:

• You've outgrown a card holder but don't want a full-size bi-fold. Eight to ten cards plus notes is a sensible middle ground.
• You still carry some cash. Plenty of slim holders are cards-only; the Woodland has room for notes too.
• You like leather that shows its use. Pull-up leather wears its history openly, and that's half the appeal.
• You're buying a gift for someone outdoorsy or practical. It's a compact, hard-wearing everyday wallet that doesn't need much fuss.

If you carry very few cards and no cash, have a look at the card holders instead, as something smaller will suit you better. If you want more room for receipts and coins, the larger options in the wallets collection might be the better choice.

Looking after it, and what's covered

Pull-up leather doesn't ask for much. Use it, keep it out of direct heat (radiators, car dashboards in summer), and if it gets wet, let it dry naturally at room temperature rather than next to a heater. Every so often, if it starts to look dry or dull, a very light coat of a good leather balm will put some life back in. Less is more; you don't want to soak it. My leather care guide goes through conditioning and drying in more detail, and the same basic approach works well here.

The Woodland comes with no-questions 30-day returns, so if it isn't right for you, send it back. It's also covered by my lifetime repair warranty on faulty leather or stitching. If a seam I stitched lets go, I'll put it right.

It's £70, orders are dispatched within 24–48 hours, and UK delivery is free on orders over £25. If you've got any questions about whether it will fit what you carry, just get in touch before you order and I'll help you work it out.