A man's wallet is a defining accessory. Too showy and you're branded as a bit flash. Too slim and slinky usually means a billfold - with all the security problems that entails. Zipper wallets hit the desirable middle ground, keeping your cash and cards safe while, given you choose well, adding a certain subtle style to your everyday. Which to choose? We’ve had a look through the best of the best zipper wallets available and come up with our edit of the top eight for you to select from. Where to spend it? We'll leave that bit to you.

From the Scandinavian minimalists at Mismo, their Card Wallet is all that you need and absolutely nothing more. Smooth, full-grain vegetable-tanned leather is used in construction, selected precisely because it will simply get better over time, acquiring the patina of your life. Slots to the outside cater for your credit cards, while the internal compartment caters for notes, coins, receipts and those little notes to yourself. Designed to last and last. Men Trifold Wallet

Slow, limited production are the essentials at Artisan Lab, where they define "essential" as "beautiful, functional, iconic". Their Leather Wallet is the very epitome of that, crafted in Italian full grain cowhide, with costola alla Fiorentina hand-finishing, considered the most luxurious there is, say Artisan Lab. Japanese YKK zip conceals internal Italian canvas-lined internal space large enough for up to ten cards. Five year guarantee underlines excellence of construction.

Designed and made in England, Campbell Cole's characterful Simple Zip Corner Wallet is an innovative piece of highly original design. The premium Italian leather will soften further over time, closure is through Riri zip and, should you choose, a hand-knotted paracord zip puller. The gusset allows the wallet to expand and take up to 20 cards, while a dot-embossed coin pocket also serves as a divider to keep notes and receipts separate. Quietly brilliant.

High quality, highly practical piece from the luxury goods specialists at Roderer in always-on-trend black Italian leather, soft grained. A secure zipped compartment for notes and all those private essentials, five slots cater for your credit cards, large exterior pocket for receipts and other paper essentials. Subtle embossed Roderer logo to the rear, classy Roderer crown to the front is in stainless steel. Two year guarantee, box and pouch seal the deal.

As you'd expect from the quality simplicity specialists at Unrecorded, their Corner Zip Wallet is a masterpiece of form-follows-function subtlety. Leather is Italian vegetable tanned cowhide, while the wallet's crafted by selected artisans in Portugal. Highest grade fully polished Excella YKK zipper opens to reveal dedicated folded interior compartment for coins and enough space for notes and up to eight cards. Age will simply add to character.

Desirable deluxe option from the Mediterranean luxury specialists at Aurélien. The rectangular "continental" shape is aimed at those of us who need a little extra space for our on-the-go essentials. Grained matte leather zips open to reveal highly detailed interior with two open slots for your smartphone, pen holder as well as 12 card slots, central notes section and separate zipped coin compartment. Perfect for luxe travel or to add a dash of something special to your day to day commute.

Classic design conceals protective hi-tech features in this reimagining of the zip wallet from the Australian on-the-go accessories specialists at Bellroy. Rugged zip opens to reveal flat notes section plus holder for three to five cards, Clever magnetic closure to internal coin pocket allows for super-easy access. For personal security, Bellroy have incorporated RFID protection, to make sure your cards can't be remotely skimmed and fraudulently used. Construction is from premium eco-tanned leather.

For more essential men's accessories, check out our pick of the best clear-frame sunglasses for men.

Women Handbag We'll keep you up to date.