There are a lot of makers who sell wrap wallets. I wouldn’t even say these too are all that similar. In the end it really is about who is the best. That goes to Craft and Lore.
I gotta say I like the Rafael more. I don’t like how the craft and lore has the extra wrap. But in my opinion, Mitchell Leather makes the best wrap wallet out of all of them. Nice and thin!
I have both, and the Raphael quality leather is better in terms of workmanship (not even close) however, craft and lore have their market and their marketing is significantly better. Craft and lore is also a tad wider, so the Raphael one is more slimline, but does have 1 less pocket. Craft and Lore was second for the design but the real issue was the word for word copying of the description of the lean essentials wallet that craft n lore added to their initial kick starter.
raphael looks much better. Nice stitching and polished edges, overall it looks more professional. Craft and Lore has poor stitching, no burnisihed edges, cutting is not even too. I think that it looks like work of man who tried leathercrafting for the first time on 2 hours lesson.
There are quite a few wallets that are so similar that one looks like a swipe of another. I personally like the Craft and Lore Port wallet. An extra slot. More rugged in design. Just a leather worker's opinion. I have tried my hand at a wrap wallet and getting the template perfect is a bear. Watching some of C&L's videos, it is a magnificent template that they developed.
If I recall correctly, the controversy for craft and lore in the leathercraft community isn't that he copied Raphael's design (although C&L's original Port design was close enough to Raphael's to be changed to this design here), but that he went after other crafters who made similarly designed wallets, filing DMCA notices and whatnot. I don't think the community responded well to this, especially considering how their own design came about. Regardless of all that though, wrap wallets are not complicated and wallet designs are never going to be novel enough to deserve patents. There's leeway to make similar things and market them to different audiences. And as you pointed out Mark, even though those two wallets are similar, their aesthetics are quite different.
I remember they used to do TH-cam Live videos a few years back and someone had asked about the inspiration for the Port wallet. I can't remember who they were inspired by but there was certainly inspiration. Either way, C&L Port is the wrap wallet perfected with many leather options, I own quite a few & absolutely love them. I would say of the current players in this space Open Sea Leather is probably one of the few that offer truly original designs. Them, JJ Leathersmith Lucais and Loyal Stricklin Johnny.
I don't think these wrap wallets are for me. But I like the looks of this Raphael Lean wrap. I like the green, I like the quality, and I like the size. It is the eventual stretch that I don't like, and the break in period.
Raphael wallet is slimmer and much tighter than the port. The port has extra room which is good for more cards, but does lead to loose cards if you only carry a few (which is where the Raphael one shines)
I have both, and the Raphael quality leather is better in terms of workmanship (not even close) however, craft and lore have their market and their marketing is significantly better. Craft and lore is also a tad wider, so the Raphael one is more slimline, but does have 1 less pocket. Craft and Lore was second for the design but the real issue was the word for word copying of the description of the lean essentials wallet that craft n lore added to their initial kick starter.
There are a lot of makers who sell wrap wallets. I wouldn’t even say these too are all that similar. In the end it really is about who is the best. That goes to Craft and Lore.
Great video Mark, please keep them coming! Hello from Australia :)
I gotta say I like the Rafael more. I don’t like how the craft and lore has the extra wrap. But in my opinion, Mitchell Leather makes the best wrap wallet out of all of them. Nice and thin!
Mitchell wrap wallet has a slot at the top that cards stick too much
I have both, and the Raphael quality leather is better in terms of workmanship (not even close) however, craft and lore have their market and their marketing is significantly better.
Craft and lore is also a tad wider, so the Raphael one is more slimline, but does have 1 less pocket.
Craft and Lore was second for the design but the real issue was the word for word copying of the description of the lean essentials wallet that craft n lore added to their initial kick starter.
The RL actually looks more like Popov's card wallet than the Port.
raphael looks much better. Nice stitching and polished edges, overall it looks more professional. Craft and Lore has poor stitching, no burnisihed edges, cutting is not even too. I think that it looks like work of man who tried leathercrafting for the first time on 2 hours lesson.
There are quite a few wallets that are so similar that one looks like a swipe of another. I personally like the Craft and Lore Port wallet. An extra slot. More rugged in design. Just a leather worker's opinion. I have tried my hand at a wrap wallet and getting the template perfect is a bear. Watching some of C&L's videos, it is a magnificent template that they developed.
If I recall correctly, the controversy for craft and lore in the leathercraft community isn't that he copied Raphael's design (although C&L's original Port design was close enough to Raphael's to be changed to this design here), but that he went after other crafters who made similarly designed wallets, filing DMCA notices and whatnot. I don't think the community responded well to this, especially considering how their own design came about.
Regardless of all that though, wrap wallets are not complicated and wallet designs are never going to be novel enough to deserve patents. There's leeway to make similar things and market them to different audiences. And as you pointed out Mark, even though those two wallets are similar, their aesthetics are quite different.
Thank you for the additional detail. I wasn’t aware of the DCMA requests that went on.
That right there is enough to make me never want to buy one of their wallets. Shows you what kind of people are running the company.
I remember they used to do TH-cam Live videos a few years back and someone had asked about the inspiration for the Port wallet. I can't remember who they were inspired by but there was certainly inspiration. Either way, C&L Port is the wrap wallet perfected with many leather options, I own quite a few & absolutely love them. I would say of the current players in this space Open Sea Leather is probably one of the few that offer truly original designs. Them, JJ Leathersmith Lucais and Loyal Stricklin Johnny.
I dig these wallets. Maybe I need one
I don't think these wrap wallets are for me. But I like the looks of this Raphael Lean wrap. I like the green, I like the quality, and I like the size. It is the eventual stretch that I don't like, and the break in period.
Raphael wallet is slimmer and much tighter than the port. The port has extra room which is good for more cards, but does lead to loose cards if you only carry a few (which is where the Raphael one shines)
That was a interesting video
Can you do reviews on the exentria city and the bi fold one? I notice you only have the trifold
popov was first
The Popov Card Wallet is amazing but I don't know they were the first to market with that design. They certainly do it better than most.
Really debating either Port Wallet or Opensea leather😢
I have both and they are both great. I like the C&L Port for card only carry & the OSL Houbei for travelling with cash & essential cards only.
@@panospalivos6381 do you have Kam+ by Opensea? Its either that or Port Wallet.
@@panospalivos6381 perfect response! I completely agree!
I don't think it will be easy to dig out the cards when these wallets are filled to capacity
I have both, and the Raphael quality leather is better in terms of workmanship (not even close) however, craft and lore have their market and their marketing is significantly better.
Craft and lore is also a tad wider, so the Raphael one is more slimline, but does have 1 less pocket.
Craft and Lore was second for the design but the real issue was the word for word copying of the description of the lean essentials wallet that craft n lore added to their initial kick starter.