Less Is More: The 20 Best Minimalist Wallets

Slim and functional.

Less Is More: The 20 Best Minimalist Wallets

Slim and functional.

The days of sitting on a double-cheeseburger-sized bifold wallet are over. And thank goodness, too, because not only is an overly full wallet messy—it’s also terrible for your back and hips.

So what’s the new wave in wallets? Less. Is. More. The best minimalist wallets combine eye-catching design with clever and durable constructions, all while offering pared-down functionality. 

So get all the receipts out of your old bifold and file them or throw them away; put your Blockbuster membership card in a scrapbook; and trade from pen-and-paper record keeping to an organizer or budgeting app. Then have fun finding your newest everyday carry upgrade as you look through this curated selection of 20 wallets that keep it small and slim.

The Ridge Wallet Aluminum

The Ridge Wallet Aluminum

The Ridge’s uniquely designed wallets have taken the everyday carry community by storm. By combining the best of lightweight construction, highly functional options for how to carry your cash, and a near-unbreakable design, their wallets have earned a dedicated cult following. The aluminum edition, featured here, is exceptionally lightweight at just two ounces, but it can still carry up to 12 cards in its rigid case. That’s paired with a replaceable elastic band for carrying a few bills, and a lifetime warranty on the wallet that means you’ll be packing light for years to come.

See how The Ridge compares to the Ekster Wallet in our hands-on review.

Pioneer Carry Division Billfold Wallet

Pioneer Carry Division Billfold Wallet

Classic billfolds are often considered the bane of minimalism—but handled properly, as Pioneer does with their Carry Division wallet, the once-bulky billfold can be tastefully updated to fit with modern style. The trick here is a high-tech fabric called 10XD. It has greater tensile strength than steel, all while being thin and feather-light. Pair that with ripstop nylon, and you get a wallet that’s both machine washable and incredibly durable. Keep it to about 12 cards and a few bills, and the Pioneer will stay slim and sleek.

Dango Products D01 Dapper Wallet - Special Edition

Dango Products D01 Dapper Wallet – Special Edition

Most minimal wallets focus on “function over form” with a zeal that can be almost intimidating. But if you’d like a slim wallet that still has its own unique style, we recommend checking out Dango Products’ D01 Dapper Wallet. The 12-card capacity wallet is made with an aerospace-grade aluminum skeleton, decorated with contrasting full grain leather that makes it one of the best-looking minimal wallets we’ve seen. Plus it’s made with a built-in bottle opener as an added bonus, and it’s compatible with a clever multi-tool from Dango that you can add on for another 25 bucks.

Harber London Leather Bifold Wallet with RFID Protection

Harber London Leather Bifold Wallet with RFID Protection

We’re nominating Harber London’s Leather Bifold Wallet as the supermodel of the minimalist wallet world. Because not only is it super slim, it’s clad in gorgeously dyed full grain Spanish leather. And for its size, it’s absolutely loaded with features: Space for up to 18 cards without getting too bulky, a small change pouch, RFID blocking lining for added security, and an easy-access pull tab for your most frequently used cards. Plus when you’re done using it, the whole wallet folds up and snaps together magnetically to keep everything crisp and secure.

Bellroy Slim Sleeve

Bellroy Slim Sleeve

We’re not sure exactly how they do it, but every leather product we’ve tried from Bellroy is just so smooth and supple. Really: Their certified environmentally friendly leather is buttery soft right out of the box, and it only gets better with age and a little patina. And for the most particular of fashion aficionados, their Slim Sleeve wallet is also available in seven rich and natural colors (as well as two non-leather options, if you’d prefer to avoid animal products). It’s one of the slimmest wallets available today too, with room for just four to eight cards and a couple of bills—perfect for dedicated minimalists.

Espacio Handmade Leather Wallet

Espacio Handmade Leather Wallet

Did you know that at one point in history, a man’s wallet would be used to carry everything from coins to snacks to thread and needles for quick clothing repairs? Of course, the design of these ancient wallets was much different than the billfolds we have today—and really, much closer to the design for Espacio’s Handmade Leather Wallet. It’s about as unique a wallet as you can get, with a fold-open style and button closure that have been updated for a more slim and minimalist modern style. And because it’s quite affordable, this wallet is excellent as a gift (for yourself or a friend or loved one).

Andar The Apollo

Andar The Apollo

In their quest to create extremely slim and minimalist wallets, most brands do away with the ID window commonly found in old bifolds. But if you’ve become accustomed to the easy display, Andar’s The Apollo wallet has you covered—all while keeping with a slim and modern style. Its full grain leather construction fits up to 10 cards, and has a prominently displayed ID window across from its quick access card slots. Overall, it’s a solid choice for a minimalist wallet that won’t leave you feeling like you’ve given up everything about your old billfold.

Tumi Alpha Slim Wallet

Tumi Alpha Slim Wallet

There are really only so many material options when you’re looking to buy (or make) a thin wallet. So if you’re looking to create something with a unique appearance, how you use those materials is what really matters. Tumi’s Alpha Slim Wallet is a good example of this: It incorporates both ultra-durable ballistic nylon and a textured leather, creating a pleasant contrast that’s also highly functional. A hidden card pocket is a nice added feature, giving a touch of extra security for your most important info.

Herschel Supply Company Hank Wallet

Herschel Supply Company Hank Wallet

Herschel’s particular flavor of distinctive branding mixed with utilitarian design is a big win, and that’s particularly evident in their Hank Wallet. Far more than a run-of-the-mill slim wallet, all four colors of the Hank from Herschel offer a cool look and feel that’s well matched with plenty of pockets for all your cards and cash, plus a mesh ID window for quick display. And it’s priced at less than half the cost of many wallets on this list, making it one of the best budget buys in the minimalist wallet category.

Filson Rugged Twill Outfitter Wallet

Filson Rugged Twill Outfitter Wallet

Cotton twill is a common choice for clothing, thanks to its soft feel and durable performance. But it’s not often featured in wallets—which is a shame, because once you try out Filson’s Rugged Twill Outfitter Wallet, you’ll wonder why more wallets aren’t made with this material. Vegetable-tanned “weatherproof” leather accents do double duty for the wallet, reinforcing stress points and adding a pleasant contrast to the lighter twill. All in all, it’s a distinctive and memorable wallet that’s made to last.

Trayvax Kryptek Armored Summit Wallet

Trayvax Kryptek Armored Summit Wallet

Trayvax is really pushing the definition of “wallet” with their Kryptek Armored Summit Wallet. At its core this is an RFID-blocking card holder, made from incredibly wear-resistant steel plating. Then a band of nylon webbing is wrapped around the steel skeleton, giving you a small space for carrying a few bills. With room for just seven cards, it’s one of the most minimal EDC options you’ll find. And since it’s offered at such a low price, it’s worth trying out to see if you need to go this minimal or would rather have a slightly larger wallet.

Tanner Goods Minimal Bifold

Tanner Goods Minimal Bifold

In the arms race that’s attempting to make the slimmest wallet possible, Tanner Goods’ Minimal Bifold is ahead of the pack. That’s because of its innovative two-piece construction, where instead of adding another layer of material to create pockets, the openings are cut directly into the two pieces of leather. This makes the wallet ridiculously slim even when filled with cards—but because of its detail-oriented construction from two weights of leather, it never feels flimsy or overly thin.

Ezra Arthur No. 6 Wallet

Ezra Arthur No. 6 Wallet

In case you don’t already know the name, Chicago-based Horween Leather is one of the most respected names in American leather tannery. Their craft goes beyond simply making beautiful materials, and extends into making leather that’s designed to be handed down from generation to generation. Ezra Arthur’s No. 6 Wallet uses Horween Leather as its only material, going above and beyond what’s expected to create a true heritage wallet. It’s pricier than a lot of minimalist wallets, but well worth the investment you’ll be making in decades of use.

American Bench Craft Hammer Riveted Wallet

American Bench Craft Hammer Riveted Wallet

While simple and rugged in its appearance, American Bench Craft’s Hammer Riveted Wallet hides a surprisingly detailed interior design. There’s room for 12 to 18 cards, making it one of the largest wallets on this list—and an excellent compromise between minimalist style and a more full-sized wallet. Each one of these is quite literally handmade in the USA, using traditional hand tools from start to finish. Excellent for no-nonsense guys who don’t need a lot of bells and whistles with their wallets.

Ekster Carbon Fiber Cardholder

Ekster Carbon Fiber Cardholder

If you’re looking for maximum strength with minimum weight, carbon fiber is the way to go. It’s become a favorite material for two-wheeled sports, and a major way of cutting down weight for competitive bicycles and motorcycles. In Ekster’s Carbon Fiber Cardholder it fills that same role, making for an extremely lightweight card carrying option that’s also incredibly durable (and pretty cool looking, in our opinion). Cutting back on the weight with carbon fiber lets Ekster add a cool feature without going overboard, too: you can fan out your cards for easy access just by clicking a button on the holder.

We tested the Ekster and Ridge side-by-side.

Distil Union Wally Bifold 5.0

Distil Union Wally Bifold 5.0

At just eight millimeters thick—that’s about a quarter of an inch—Distil Union’s Wally Bifold 5.0 is approaching the slimmest that a wallet can get. But that’s not even the most impressive element of the wallet’s design. Equipped with a proprietary squeeze-to-open mechanism powered by magnets, it offers near-instant access for your cards and cash. That’s also assisted by a pull-tab for convenience in sorting through your cards. In short, it’s a super slim and super cool wallet that’s fun to fidget with, too.

Filson Tin Cloth Smokejumper Wallet

Filson Tin Cloth Smokejumper Wallet

How often do you need your wallet to be fireproof? If you’re just commuting to the office and making trips to the gym and the grocery store, hopefully not too often. But if you’re working around hazardous materials regularly—like the firefighters who requested that Filson make this wallet—then you’re going to love the Tin Cloth Smokejumper Wallet. The oil finish tin cloth construction is completely fireproof and waterproof, and the simple fold-over design is great for no nonsense carry for your cards and cash.

Filson Bridle Leather Front Pocket Cash & Card Case

Filson Bridle Leather Front Pocket Cash & Card Case

Yeehaw and giddyup! Made from the same bridle leather you’d find in horse saddles, Filson’s Front Pocket Cash and Card Case is an exercise in rugged simplicity. You’ll find no bells and whistles here—just a straightforward, trimmed down wallet with three compartments to hold your cards and cash. And the rounded edge design makes it comfortable for carrying in the front pocket of your pants or in your jacket, where it will allow for quick access to all of your cards.

Dash Slim Wallet

Dash Slim Wallet

As the least expensive option on this list, the Dash Slim Wallet is a great budget purchase for someone looking to try out the minimalist lifestyle without investing a ton of money. It’s made of an eco-friendly reinforced canvas, and covered by a two-year warranty for good measure. Big enough for about eight cards and a few cash bills, it’s a great introduction to this style of wallet and a darned good option to give as an affordable gift, too.

Ettinger Bridle Hide Mini Wallet in Black

Ettinger Bridle Hide Mini Wallet in Black

Ettinger’s Mini Wallet occupies a narrow space in the minimalist wallet category: It’s made more as a trimmed-down version of a wallet you’d pair with formal dress, rather than an everyday carry essential. That means it’s glossier and carefully detailed inside and out, with jacquard fabric pocket linings that lend it a luxurious look and feel. Go for this wallet if you’re looking for a lifelong pairing to go along with your finest attire.

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