Which wristlet wallet is best?

If you carry only a few small essentials in your handbag — or want to pare down from a bulky crossbody bag or shoulder bag — reach for a wristlet wallet. Compact and convenient, they’re ideal when you’re on the go and want to pack light.

Wristlet wallets come with a strap for easy carrying and hold more than many traditional wallets. While they’re often used on their own, some people use wristlet wallets with their handbags. In particular, Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Double Zip Wristlet is a versatile design that offers a high level of organization.

What to know before you buy a wristlet wallet

Style

Style often leads the search for a wristlet wallet, as many people invest in designs that are suitable for particular occasions.

Everyday wristlet wallets are versatile and ideal for casual use. Some people go bold and choose fun prints or colors, whereas others stick to classic designs that coordinate with most purses or outfits.
Professional wristlet wallets, which are simple and sophisticated, are often used in business settings. These designs usually stick to classic colors, such as black, brown or charcoal, and premium materials like leather or satin.
Special occasion wristlet wallets often have a touch of glitz and glam. They’re made with fancier materials, like satin or lace, and have bold embellishments, such as zippers or buckles. Other designs have shiny details, like glitter, rhinestones or iridescent material.

Size

Before you fall in love with a wristlet wallet, determine whether the size serves your needs. Slender or pared-down wristlet wallets are ideal if you’d like to pack light, but they may be too small to carry bulkier items like makeup or keys. Larger designs with spacious main compartments hold a wealth of items, from sunglasses to cell phones, but they’re typically heavy and bulky when filled to capacity.

Phone compatibility

If you’d like to carry your smartphone inside a wristlet wallet, make sure it’s compatible with the design. For example, certain wristlet wallets have touchscreen windows, but they only fit newer smartphones. Other wristlet wallets have zipper compartments that hold most phones; however, they may not accommodate larger models.

What to look for in a quality wristlet wallet

Organization

Unlike regular wristlets, wristlet wallets boast a higher level of organization. Many styles feature several card and currency slots and a series of compartments and pockets. Other styles are designed with special compartments that serve a specific purpose, such as holding passports, receipts or hand sanitizer.

Handbag straps

In addition to wrist loops, many wristlet wallets come with handbag straps. These straps, which are slender leather straps or chains, are usually long enough to wear the wristlet wallet as a crossbody bag. Some consumers, however, report that these thin, lightweight straps aren’t very durable and may, as a result, be prone to breaking after a few uses.

RFID-blocking

Many wristlet wallets geared toward travel use have RFID-blocking linings. These may be effective at warding off identity thieves who use skimming devices to obtain personal information stored on chip credit cards. However, several wristlet wallets only have a few RFID-lined compartments — as opposed to being entirely lined with RFID-blocking material.

How much you can expect to spend on wristlet wallets

Entry-level wristlet wallets made with cotton or synthetic materials cost $30 and below. Many designer wristlet wallets retail for $40-$125, and those of the finest quality cost between $150-$300.

Wristlet wallet FAQ

Which material is best for wristlet wallets?

A. Leather wristlet wallets remain popular because they withstand the test of time and have great curb appeal, but they’re rather heavy when filled. Those seeking lighter wristlet wallets may prefer synthetic leather or cloth designs. While they aren’t as durable as leather, they’re more affordable.

Can I use a wristlet wallet with a handbag?

A. You can, especially if you’re looking for a way to transition easily between carrying your handbag or just the wristlet wallet. However, remember that wristlet wallets are usually heavier than regular wallets. As a result, they may weigh down your handbag considerably.

Will keys fit inside a wristlet wallet?

A. It depends on the size of the wristlet wallet and how bulky your keys are. If you only have a key fob and a house key, they’ll fit inside most wristlet wallets. On the other hand, bulkier key sets won’t fit; instead, you may need to carry them in your pocket or on a lanyard.

What’s the best wristlet wallet to buy?

Top wristlet wallet

Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Double Zip Wristlet

What you need to know: This larger design has a built-in wallet with several card and currency slots.

What you’ll love: This model’s signature branded features and fine details, like brushed gold hardware, will make you fall in love with it. The compartments are long enough to hold unfolded bills, and it holds up to heavy use.

What you should consider: It’s fairly heavy when filled to capacity.

Top wristlet wallet for the money

Befen Leather Wristlet Clutch

What you need to know: Affordable and spacious, this wristlet clutch holds all your essentials.

What you’ll love: The main compartment has card slots, inner pockets and a cash compartment. Its wide design holds bulkier items like makeup and sunglasses. The bag includes an adjustable shoulder strap.

What you should consider: The crossbody strap isn’t as durable as expected.

Worth checking out

Travelon Phone Clutch Wallet Wristlet

What you need to know: This design is a travel favorite because of its RFID-blocking lining and high level of organization.

What you’ll love: Lightweight yet durable nylon construction. Equipped with six card slots and a large main compartment. The strap is removable, so the wristlet can be used as a clutch.

What you should consider: It has occasional zipper issues.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Which wine aerator is best?

Wine has two natural enemies: light and air. Although the best way to preserve your favorite vintage is to keep it in a dark, cool place, when you’re ready to drink it, letting it breathe for at least 30 minutes unleashes the wine’s delicious bouquet and complex flavors.

If you have neglected to decant the wine ahead of time and you’re ready to have a taste, a wine aerator can save the day. These simple tools swirl air through the wine to help develop its fullest flavor in just seconds. For effortless aeration at the touch of a button, the Aervana Original Electric Wine Aerator is a good choice.

What to know before you buy a wine aerator

Method of aeration

A wine aerator may seem like an odd expense. After all, doesn’t wine become aerated on its own with time? Yes, but sometimes you need a faster way to unlock the wine’s complex tasting profile.

The key is to choose the aeration method that works best for you. Budget aerators may not perform much better than simply letting a wine sit for a while. These have a small hole that introduces air into the wine but no method for swirling the air into the wine.

More expensive aerators push and blend air into the wine. You know it’s working when your wine gurgles. This method of multi-stage aerator also removes sediments that can influence the wine’s taste.

Full bottle aeration vs. one glass at a time

If you are a party of one, there’s no sense in introducing air into an entire bottle of wine. Look for an aerator that delivers one delicious glass at a time.

On the other hand, if you’re having a dinner party, it seems unnecessary to use a single-service aerator. A full bottle aerator is the best choice in that situation.

Materials

You have choices when it comes to wine aerator materials. They are commonly made from:

Acrylic
Stainless steel
Plastic
Rubber

Most high-end aerators are made from stainless steel, which is easier to clean and more durable. However, these come with a sometimes hefty price tag.

What to look for in a quality wine aerator

Solid construction

Wine aeration is not a full-contact sport, but the aerator you choose should still be sturdy and well-made. Look for seamless pouring spouts and sturdy attachment points built from high-quality metals and plastics.

Food-safe materials

Anything made from plastic and designed for food or drink service must be labeled as food-safe. If your wine aerator is plastic, it should be BPA-free.

Multiple uses

It’s a terrible waste of a beautiful vintage when an open bottle is spoiled by too much air. Look for a wine aerator that also doubles as a stopper or cork. This keeps wine fresh.

Universal fit

Although most wine bottles follow industry standards in terms of openings for easier corkage, some are slightly larger or smaller than others. Wine aerators with a flexible silicone piece that enters the mouth of the bottle are more useful than a rigid plastic insert that does not conform to variations in size.

How much you can expect to spend on a wine aerator

The price of an aerator will vary depending on a few factors  (e.g., if it’s electric or if it aerates a full bottle or single glass of wine). Expect to spend $10-$50.

Wine aerator FAQ

Do wines that are decanted still need aeration?

A. Yes. Heavy-bodied wines should be aerated as they are decanted and allowed to sit for a few more minutes.

If a wine is not fully in flavor after it’s decanted, aeration can help.

Do you have to use a wine aerator?

A. No. Nathan Myhrvold, author of the seminal molecular gastronomical book “Modernist Cuisine” suggests a simpler method that uses an immersion blender.

Pour wine into a bowl (or wide-mouthed decanter).
Use an immersion blender to aerate the wine for 30 seconds.

This is not the most sophisticated presentation of wine, but it does the trick in the pinch.

Alternatively, many people allow their wine to sit for longer. Air naturally enters the wine over time.

What’s the best wine aerator to buy?

Top wine aerator

Aervana Original Electric Wine Aerator

What you need to know: It is expensive, but wine connoisseurs swear by it.

What you’ll love: It’s electronic and aerates wine instantly with six times the aeration of non-electric gravity aerators. Plastic parts are food safe, and it comes with an easy operating manual. The design minimizes splashing and drips.

What you should consider: The tube is too short for large bottles.

Top wine aerator for the money

Haley’s Corker 5-In-1 Wine Aerator

What you need to know: It’s one tool to handle every aspect of wine service.

What you’ll love: It aerates and filters wine at the same time. You’ll have no more messy bits of cork floating in your final glass. The airtight stopper is spill-proof and keeps wine fresh. It’s also available in a screw-top version.

What you should consider: Even though this is billed as being leak-proof, you need to store wine bottles upright after opening, as some users report leaks.

Worth checking out

Rabbit Wine Aerator And Pourer

What you need to know: The Rabbit is a well-known tool recommended by wine pros and amateur oenophiles alike.

What you’ll love: It is silicone and stainless steel, which makes it both easy to clean and sturdy for years of use. An oversized bowl increases aeration for deeper, more complex flavors.

What you should consider: This fits most bottles but not all. Use caution if the opening is especially large.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump spoke heatedly in the presidential debate about wanting Russia’s war in Ukraine to be over — but twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted U.S. ally Ukraine to win.

Trump also falsely claimed Tuesday that the war had killed “millions” since Russia invaded Ukraine 2 1/2 years ago, while the United Nations says 11,700 civilian deaths have been verified. Trump also claimed without evidence that Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent, had bungled a diplomatic mission just days before Russia launched the invasion.

Trump’s comments are likely to heighten concern among Ukraine and its supporters that his return to the White House could push Ukraine into a losing peace deal with its stronger neighbor, Russia. Western-allied Ukraine depends on U.S. military and financial aid to keep up its fight against Russian forces, and it would have grave difficulty withstanding their attacks if the United States were to pull that support.

It’s “a very simple question. Do you want Ukraine to win this war?” moderator David Muir of ABC News asked Trump, in the first of two times Trump was pressed for a direct answer.

“I want the war to stop,” Trump responded. “I want to save lives,” he added, going on to claim falsely that “millions” were dying in the conflict.

Muir then asked again, questioning whether Trump believed “it’s in the U.S. best interest for Ukraine to win this war.”

The Republican nominee responded, “I think it’s the U.S. best interest to get this war finished and just get it done.”

Trump has said repeatedly he would have a peace deal done between Ukraine and Russia within a day if he is elected, although he does not say how. The fear of Ukraine’s supporters is that the kind of deal Trump is talking about would amount to the country’s democratic government capitulating significant territory and sovereignty to Russia’s harsh demands.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this year insisted Ukraine must give up vast amounts of territory and avoid joining NATO simply as a condition to start negotiations.

“The reason that Donald Trump says that this war would be over within 24 hours is because he would just give it up,” Harris said during the debate. She accused Trump of being in “what you think is a friendship with … a dictator who would eat you for lunch.”

Related Articles

Kamala Harris gives abortion rights advocates the debate answer they’ve longed for in Philadelphia

Trump repeats false claims over 2020 election loss, deflects responsibility for Jan. 6

To pumped-up Democrats, Harris was everything Biden was not in confronting Trump in debate

US commemorates 9/11 attacks with victims in focus and politics in view

Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president

Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said Wednesday that “the name Putin is used, let’s say, as one of the tools in the domestic political struggle of the United States.” He added: “We really, really don’t like this and we still hope they will leave our president alone.” Peskov suggested that both Harris and Trump have a “negative” and “unfriendly” attitude toward Russia.

Trump, however, has a long history of admiring comments about Putin, including calling his tactics in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine “genius” and “very savvy.” Trump expresses no such warmth for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “salesman” for his appeals to allies for weapons.

The Biden administration says a victory in Ukraine would embolden Putin to move against other Western-allied democracies in Europe. President Joe Biden and his top officials were key players in rallying international support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia since even before Russian forces rolled into Ukraine. The U.S. spurred allies into action by pointing to declassified intelligence showing Russian preparations for the invasion.

Just days before the invasion in late February 2022, Biden sent Harris to the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, a high-profile mission to consolidate support for Ukraine among European and NATO leaders. Harris met on the sidelines with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump during the debate linked the timing of Harris’ trip to Europe to Putin’s sending troops into Ukraine days later.

“They sent her in to negotiate with Zelenskyy and Putin. And she did. And the war started three days later,” he said.

But the U.S. government said the Russian troops massing on Ukraine’s border and intelligence assessments already pointed to an imminent invasion. And Putin was not at the security conference in Germany, and Harris didn’t meet with him.

By AMANDA SEITZ and LAURA UNGAR Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden gave bumbling remarks about abortion on the debate stage this summer, it was widely viewed as a missed opportunity — a failure, even — on a powerful and motivating issue for Democrats at the ballot box.

The difference was stark, then, on Tuesday night, when Vice President Kamala Harris gave a forceful defense of abortion rights during her presidential debate with Republican Donald Trump.

Harris conveyed the dire medical situations women have found themselves in since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national right to abortion in 2022. Harris quickly placed blamed directly on Trump, who recalibrated the Supreme Court to the conservative majority that issued the landmark ruling during his term.

Women, Harris told the national audience, have been denied care as a result.

“You want to talk about this is what people wanted? Pregnant women who want to carry a pregnancy to term, suffering from a miscarriage, being denied care in an emergency room because health care providers are afraid they might go to jail and she’s bleeding out in a car in the parking lot?” Harris said.

The moment was a reminder that Harris is uniquely positioned to talk about the hot-button, national topic in a way that Biden, an 81-year-old Catholic who had long opposed abortion, never felt comfortable doing.

Harris has been the White House’s public face for efforts to improve maternal health and ensure some abortion access, despite the Supreme Court ruling. Earlier this year, she became the highest-ranking U.S. official to make a public visit to an abortion clinic.

Dr. Daniel Grossman, a University of California, San Francisco OB-GYN, said he was glad to see Harris highlight the challenges people face in states with abortion bans. “People who have been unable to get abortion care where they live, who have to travel, people who have suffered obstetric complications and are unable to get the care they need because of the abortion bans,” Grossman said.

Harris still hedged, however, on providing details about what type of restrictions – if any – she supports around abortion. Instead, she pivoted: saying that she wants to “reinstate the protections of Roe,” which prohibited states from banning abortions before fetal viability, generally considered around 20 weeks.

Related Articles

Trump insists Russia’s war should end. But he won’t say if he wants Ukraine to win

Trump repeats false claims over 2020 election loss, deflects responsibility for Jan. 6

To pumped-up Democrats, Harris was everything Biden was not in confronting Trump in debate

US commemorates 9/11 attacks with victims in focus and politics in view

Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president

Trump, meanwhile, danced around questions about his intentions to further restrict abortion. He would not say whether he would sign a national abortion ban as president.

Anti-abortion advocates say they don’t believe Trump would sign a ban if it landed on his desk.

Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee, said her group hasn’t been focusing on a national ban “because it’s not going to happen. The votes aren’t there in Congress. You know, President Trump said he wouldn’t sign it. We know Kamala Harris won’t.”

Trump also falsely claimed that some Democrats want to “execute the baby” after birth in the ninth month of pregnancy.

Ungar reported from Louisville, Kentucky.