Sometimes it’s easy to dismiss a leather product as poor because of a low price, but that’s the notion Albatross is trying to dismiss with their Natural Bifold and other aggressively priced, full grain, vegetable tanned leather goods.
ABOUT
The Albatross Brand was founded in 2013 over a glass of bourbon. A leather maker and industry insider decided to team up. They aimed to use their combined experience to offer economically priced leather goods without compromises. Costs are kept low by cutting out typical cost creating factors such as retail sales and advertising designs. They stand behind their products, too. Each design is used for six months to a year before release and comes with an impressive three-generation guarantee.
CONSTRUCTION
The Bifold is made of 3-4oz full grain, vegetable tanned, USA sourced leather. Thread is thick, 3 cord waxed polyester. Assembly is done in Mexico, stitched on Campbell sewing machines. Leather is die cut for accuracy.
Construction quality is overall very good, and materials are all top quality. One corner of a card pocket wasn’t set perfectly flush with the rest of the burnished edge. My finger would occasionally notice this, but overall it wasn’t an issue. Stitching is uniform and sturdy. Edges are mildly burnished, giving some smoothness but with the grain still showing.
FUNCTION
While bifolds are great for holding everything you need, the primary drawback is that they can be quite thick. The Albatross Bifold is designed to be about as thin as a quality leather bifold can be. The 3oz interior leather is very thin (though still strong enough for a wallet), and the card pockets are specially designed to allow cards to lay flat. As a result, the closed wallet is noticeably thinner than many other bifolds I’ve used.
The cash pocket needed a bit of wear-in to be at its best. I rarely use cash, and the new, unfinished leather interior makes sliding in cash a bit tricky. However, quality leather wears in over time and will adapt to your usage. The interior slowly starts to smooth out and becomes easier to use.
The feel of the leather and overall usage of the wallet is highly satisfactory. Card pockets are easy to use, and the hidden pockets are great for some extra less-used cards. As a big fan of minimal card wallets, the relatively thin design of the Natural Bifold appealed to me.
AESTHETIC
I’m a sucker for the natural leather look. The full grain leather used for the Natural Bifold is beautiful. The grain is highly visible, and the patina development is very satisfying.
I eventually decided to use some conditioner to speed up the process a bit…
…then decided to have some fun with a cut-out stencil and tanning.
The edges are gently burnished and the thread is nice and thick. The overall aesthetic is slightly rugged due to the natural coloring and mildly burnished edges. I think the thick stitching almost gives it an islander feel. However, the quality of construction and material wouldn’t leave you feeling out of place using this wallet in a formal environment, though.
CONCLUSION
Often if the price of a leather product is low, we would call it a good “entry-level” product, best for those just wanting to wet their feet in the leather world. I suppose you could say that about the Albatross Natural Bifold, but it’s rare to see an entry-level product carry a three-generation guarantee. Despite the low price, this wallet is skillfully constructed with some of the most durable materials you could hope for. You and your great grandkids will enjoy the patina develop over a lifetime. We recommend the Natural Bifold as a Buy It For Life wallet at a fantastic value.
