Best Minimalist Wallet for 2025: I Tested Dozens of Different Shapes and Sizes -- Here Are the Very Best

2 days ago 18

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James Bricknell Senior Editor

James has been writing about technology for years but has loved it since the early 90s. While his main areas of expertise are maker tools -- 3D printers, vinyl cutters, paper printers, and laser cutters -- he also loves to play board games and tabletop RPGs.

Expertise 3D printers, maker tools such as Cricut style vinyl cutters and laser cutters, and traditional paper printers Credentials

6 years working professionally in the 3D printing space / 4 years testing consumer electronics for large websites.

As the years have gone on, wallets have slowly changed. Back in the 90s, it was all about velcro and chains. Then in the 2000s, I had this huge wallet just to hold all the receipts I thought I might need “just in case.” But these days, with everything being digital, you really don't need a wallet that can fit everything in there, particularly if you don't carry cash anymore. All you need is enough room for an ID, a couple of cash cards and a medical card. There are some exceptions, of course, but for the most part, the modern wallet is ultra-thin and fairly minimalist, fitting into our pockets with ease.

I have dedicated hours to testing a wide range of wallets to thoroughly assess their feel, fit and functionality. As a result, I can confidently assert that the options below represent the very best minimalist wallets on the market. Whether you’re seeking a robust metal design or a luxurious full-grain leather wallet that feels amazing each time you use it, you’ll find the perfect choice here.

What's the best minimalist wallet?

For our money, the Ridge wallets are the best minimalist wallets you can buy. Sure, they aren't the cheapest, but they are sturdy, good-looking and can be customized to fit your needs well.

Although there are plenty of bifold and trifold thin wallet options, we're mostly focused on one-panel design wallets here. These usually hold between four and 10 credit and debit cards, although some do it more artfully than others, and there is a variety of fabrics and colors to choose from. Some are hybrids, which combine a wallet and money clip or elastic band. Most offer some RFID blocking technology, which is advertised as a protective measure against electronic pickpocketing, like scammers skimming data stored on your contactless credit cards. (That may be an overblown concern.)

Tactical wallets also have built-in multitools, should you be the type to be randomly kidnapped and ditched in a forest somewhere. Just remember that you'll need to take any bladed multitools out before you fly, because TSA confiscating your wallet isn't fun. At all.

Best minimalist wallet of 2024

Of all the rugged, minimalist wallets I tested, I found the Ridge to be the most flexible, ironic for a wallet made of titanium (or aerospace-grade aluminum if you pick a different color). The sandwich design of the Ridge wallet securely accommodates one card as easily as it can 12, and the durable but pliable money clip holds one bill as tightly as a bigger wad. The cutout provides quick access to all of your cards, and the tough elastic strap that holds everything together inspires confidence.

This wallet is almost comically overdesigned, and you can use the included screwdriver to disassemble the pieces, remove the money clip and bring the money strap to the exterior. Ridge makes this wallet in China but backs it with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects, which seems about right for the price. This burnt titanium Ridge wallet is probably my favorite color, although it's a little pricier than some of the other color variants, which start at $95.

The Ekster's mechanics, along with its slim profile and lightweight materials, make it an elegant solution. The button used to raise the cards is really well done, with a hefty feel of a mechanism that will last as long as the wallet. The money belt is tight, keeping his small cash pile safe, and the wallet is plenty big enough for a few cards and Ekster's neat little Finder Card, so I could track it if the wallet did get lost. The finder card and its Android counterpart are so good that I recommend adding them to your wallet purchase. There's even a discount if you buy them together.

I gave it to my son to use at his prom, and it perfectly matched his maroon prom outfit though I have already noticed some wear in the paint, which is not ideal. If you keep it away from your keys, you should be OK, but the paint should last longer, even in a back pocket.

Groove Life already makes excellent mechanical wallets, but the Trace takes that a step further by adding a long-lasting, built-in battery that powers an Apple Find My tracker. It's surprisingly helpful for someone like me who constantly takes his wallet out of his pocket and leaves it in his office, car, bedside table or [insert anywhere he sits down here].
If you are looking for a wallet with extra smarts and you are using an iPhone, iPad or Mac, then this is the wallet for you. If you are using Android then the standard Groove Life wallet is a good choice, too.

Luxury wallets can be expensive, but with that money, you hope for a level up in quality, too. That's what you get with the Bosca bi-fold minimalist wallet. The leather is of excellent quality, and the stitching and finish are fantastic. I've been carrying it around for months now, and it's only getting better looking the more I use it. The slight blemishes in the leather that it has picked up and the shinyness from being polished in my pocket only highlight the beauty of it, and that's rare.

This particular one comes with an extremely strong magnetic money clip on the outside. It can handle 25 banknotes as easily as it can handle one, and it never feels like the money will slip out. I wish it had a window slot for my ID, but apart from that tiny issue, this is the wallet I love to use when I'm out for dinner with my wife or just looking to add a touch of class to my outfit.

Five of the 12 wallets we tested had essentially the same basic design, and there are dozens — if not hundreds — of nearly identical models, all made in China, listed on Amazon. Prices start at just $7, for the Chelmon model, and other models generally cost between $13 and $20, although some colors, patterns and fabrics are more expensive than others. They're all about the size of a deck of playing cards, though they measure about 0.25 inches thick. The five we tested all have their brand names embossed on them:

Each of these slimmer wallets had the same basic elements: two or three card holder pockets on each side, a transparent window that lets you flash your ID without removing it, an inner space that can be used as a cash pocket or to stow a few more cards, RFID blocking on its card sleeve to block electronic pickpocketing and, in the case of the slightly pricier Zitahli, a magnetically attached money clip. (That company claims this money clip wallet can safely hold up to 25 bills, but when I put in just 10 folded bills, the magnets failed to connect.) My top choice overall is the shorter, wider Hammer Anvil. I don't mind that it lacks the ID window, which I find tacky and not befitting of our top wallet list.

I also really like the Kinzd, which has a slightly broader design that separates it from the cookie-cutter field. It has a terrific inner pocket — which is closed on one side only, allowing you to open it up wide — that comes together firmly with a satisfying magnetic snap.

Employing "more than 200 people in Tennessee," Groove Life has created a precision-made wallet with a balanced weight that feels great in your pocket. Designed for five cards to fan easily, I found it could fit four credit cards and two insurance cards nicely, with an ID in the front leather sleeve.

The mechanism for releasing the cards is really nice, too. The entire front of the wallet slides up to help fan the cards out with a spring-loaded action that is satisfyingly mechanical. Like all metal wallets, the Groove wallet is RFID blocking, so you can have some peace of mind on that score. It's rugged too, so dropping it doesn't pop your cards out; at least it hasn't yet.

I always thought that having your wallet and phone together was risky, but I am far more likely to lose my wallet in a back pocket than I am to lose my phone in my hand. The Bluebonnet Magsafe wallet holds only one or two cards, but it sticks to the back of the iPhone so well you would think it was part of the case. The leather is premium, and the blue band that acts as a money clip is tight enough to use as a phone grip, too.

The Ridge wallets are fantastic, and while the titanium series can be a little pricey, these NFL-branded ones feel well-priced for what you get. The solid aluminum constructed feels good in your hand and the powder-coated surface adds to that premium feel. If you love your football team and you want a way to show it stylishly and ruggedly, go for an NFL Ridge.

You also get a spare elastic and a money clip in the presentation box, making it the perfect gift for the football fan in your life. If I had one complaint it would be the lack of dynamic artwork, but if all you want is to show your team colors and logo, they work for that.

Not all of the minimalist wallets we've tested get to be called the best. Some of them are OK. Some of them are really not OK. Here are some of the wallets that did OK at testing but didn't quite make the cut.

I really like the aesthetic of the Discommon Wallet 3.0. The vacuum-formed shape and little hints of color look good and can hold six cards comfortably. It's also very well made and feels like it would stand the test of time. What keeps it out of our best choices is the clamshell. No matter how hard I try, the wallet doesn't stay closed enough to be entirely safe. I wish that there was a small magnet near the front to hold the edges closed so that it didn't open by itself.

Vaultskin's tasteful Notting Hill wallet manages to cram a lot into a small package. The defining feature here is the zipper. For some, it will be a deal-breaker — for its bulk, or whatever it connotes, style-wise — while others will find the security of a zippered compartment appealing for containing their credit and debit cards and money. If you're pro-zipper, there's much to like. The exterior features three slots that can accommodate cards or money. A fourth hidden slot can store two or three more cards, which you can eject out the top using the genuine leather pull tab. The inside has two pouches, one of which snaps down, and a strap that can stow several more cards. There's also a small key hook. Although it says "London" on the packaging, this wallet is made in China.

Trayvax's Armored Summit Wallet delivers an appealing combination of ruggedness and extra features at a reasonable price. It can hold up to seven cards and five bills, and like the Dango, it's built from sturdy materials — steel and melonite in this case — in the US. Also like the Dango, it has an integrated bottle opener. Still, Trayvax's buckling strap is a deal killer for me. It's nylon, not elastic, and I found it quite difficult to adjust when I needed to remove a few cards or make more room for additional money.

The Thread Wallets Elastic resembles a fancy Ace bandage or compression sleeve. It's made of a stretchy material, and can easily hold 10 cards and some money. It also has a small key ring. Although it's billed as specifically "for women" — and it was my 10-year-old daughter's favorite of the bunch — that seems a bit reductive. This would be an excellent wallet for anyone. The only drawback to this simple, stylish wallet is that the excess material on the interior bunches up into a lump, a minor but considerable design blemish.

There are many factors to consider when buying the right minimalist wallet. I've tried to boil it down to a few key ones but remember, we are all different, so your mileage may vary. The top things to consider are:

How many cards do you really need?
Are you worried about RFID blocking?
Are you taking cash along with you?
What material do you want it to be?

The most important factor in this list is the first one and will often dictate what your minimalist wallet looks like. Do you only need two to five cards? then a no-folding wallet, or possibly a mechanical opening wallet could be a good choice. If you need more than that then a bifold or even trifold wallet may be your only option.

Most minimalist wallets these days come with RFID blocking as standard, so it's more than likely you will have that. Double check on the listing to make sure, if it's important to you, but know most do come with it. That's also true for some kind of money clip or elastic strap to hold a small amount of cash. If you are looking to take a large amount of paper money with you, a minimalist wallet may not be for you.

The size of the wallet will also dictate the materials used. A mechanical wallet will be made of a metal of some kind, while other minimalist wallets will be made of leather or a vegan leather substitute. Deciding on the material and the number of cards you want to carry will likely give you the best indication of the type of wallet you'll want to buy.

Testing wallets is, as you might imagine, a fairly subjective process. These wallets come in many sizes, shapes and materials so it's important to test on those merits. Trying to jam 10 cards into a wallet designed to hold three is pointless and not a true test.

All wallets are subjected to a vigorous shake test where we try to dislodge the cards from the inside, and if they have a money clip/strap on the outside, I try to get that to fall out too. Then it's time for my least favorite test: sitting on the wallet in my back pocket for an entire workday. Mostly, I am making sure the wallet doesn't bend, or otherwise damage the cards inside, but I am also checking how uncomfortable it is to sit on for eight hours a day.

Any of the wallets that claim to be RFID blockers are subjected to a test using an Android Pixel phone and an RFID card that has my Twitter link on it. If the card can be read through the wallet and my Twitter bio opens on the phone, then the wallet fails the test. Finally, I spent a week using the wallet as my main cardholder in the real world. There are very few tests better than that to give you a clear idea of whether or not it is worth your money.

Do minimalist wallets damage cards?

If you use a minimalist wallet correctly, it will keep your cards safe and sound. If you overstock it, then you run the risk of damaging your credit cards. Remember, the whole point of a minimalist wallet is to only take the few cards you need for the trip you are on. Most can hold five to 10 cards, so keep that in mind when you choose your wallet.

What pocket should you hold your wallet?

Despite the traditional notions of holding your wallet in your back pocket, it probably shouldn't be there. Not only does it make it much easier for pickpockets, it makes it harder for you to get to it when you need it. If you've ever tried to get your wallet while at a drive-through you know what I mean. Having your wallet in your back pocket can also damage the cards inside. It has the full pressure of your body as well as the other cards and metal parts of the wallet pressing down on them.

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