In terms of must-have items the average man wants in his wardrobe, a passport holder is not exactly ‘priority boarding’. In fact, a little canvas or leather jacket for your passport to wear is probably at the bottom of the list alongside things like ‘chocolate teapot’ and ‘underwater fish tank’.
However, if you spend a lot of time airborne, forking out for something to keep your travel permit from looking like it’s done five rounds with Conor McGregor may not seem like such an unnecessary expense. If you care about your holiday style, it’s the finishing touch to your travel wardrobe.
Passport holders have been protecting the travel documents of frequent flyers since someone first had the good sense to start making them. If you don’t have one already, you may want to think about coughing up and joining this alternative (and admittedly less exciting) mile high club in a bid to stop your ticket out of here from getting all dog-eared and coffee stained.
But before you get your wallet out and use it to buy another slightly bigger one, check out our rundown of the best passport holders out there. That way you’ll wind up with something jet set and stylish, as well as functional enough to keep your passport safe the next time you take to the skies.
The Best Brands For Passport Holders
Aspinal of London
In an industry as historically-rooted as leather, Aspinal of London is a relative youngster. However, what the luggage brand lacks in years under its beautifully crafted Italian calfskin belt, it more than makes up for with its products.
Having proved its worth in the market off the back of its premium-quality products, Aspinal is now well established as on of the premier providers of luxury leather on the face of the earth.
Fjallraven
It may be best known for its rugged luggage and quintessentially Scandi outdoor apparel, but Fjallraven can also help you to get from one adventure to the next without your passport taking a battering.
Choose from leather or canvas options, the latter of which is constructed from the brand’s famous G1000 fabric, just to make it that little bit extra travelproof.
Moleskine
When it’s not busy making notepads for hipsters to jot their thoughts down in over a coffee that costs more than a beer, Moleskine has a sideline in luggage, and more importantly for the purposes of this guide, passport holders.
For quality assurance and almost guaranteed satisfaction from your new travel document accessory, hit up a brand that knows a little more than most about keeping bits of paper stylishly housed.
Smythson
London-based Smythson is a luxury leather label that has been churning out some of the finest stationery, diaries and other leathery trinkets since it first set up shop back in 1887. Today things are no different, and while prices may be a little steep for most budgets, splash out that extra cash and you’ll be rewarded with a level of craftsmanship that is in a league of its own.
For a passport holder with some serious British heritage behind it, this is the brand to entrust with your money.
Asos
You can always rely on gargantuan etailer Asos to quite literally deliver the goods when it comes to anything clothing-, footwear- or accessory-related. The online multi-brand megastore has everything you could possibly need for your next trip to the Riviera, including passport holders.
Expect a mixture of simple, uncluttered designs and, well, the complete opposite, both at price points that will leave you with some extra spending money for your next break.
Cambridge Satchel Company
In what some might call a classic case of ‘Ronseal’, Cambridge Satchel Company is a company from Cambridge that specialises in making some of the finest satchels around. However, its talents also extend to wallets, purses and passport holders. And very nice ones at that.
For real leather, beautiful finishes, European manufacture and very reasonable prices, why wouldn’t you give it a go?
Fossil
Fossil may have a reputation for being worn by, well, fossils, but this classic American brand actually makes some of the most rugged leather products around, and they look good too.
Great for high quality, solid construction and unrivalled durability – if you struggle to keep your passport in shape, a wallet from Fossil will do the job for you.
Shinola
Detroit-based leather goods manufacturer Shinola is known for two things: 1. Producing some of the best leathery items and luxury watches, and 2. Being extremely expensive.
With that in mind, you can definitely get a passport holder for much less elsewhere but if you have the money to do it then why not go the whole hog?
Herschel
Founded in 2009 by brothers Jamie and Lyndon Cormack, Herschel Supply Co.’s bags have become a common sight in towns and cities all over the world. Considering it’s less than a decade old, that’s a pretty impressive achievement.
As well as bags, Herschel makes some rather nice accessories. Chief among them are its passport holders, which will keep your valuable little booklet protected in style and won’t bankrupt you in the process.
Carhartt
There are few American brands that come with the same level of heritage appeal as veteran workwear manufacturer Carhartt. Since the 1800s the company has been kitting out workers and more recently fashionistos out in the kit they need to get by. For quality, ruggedness and history, there’s no other label quite like it.
