A minimalist wallet keeps things light, simple, and compact, freeing up extra pocket space for the rest of your EDC gear. It also relieves you of the complexity and potential pain of carrying a traditional bulky wallet in your pocket, letting you carry only what’s important.
In this guide, we round up some of the best minimalist wallets for you to carry your crucial cash and cards. Whether it’s a slim elastic wallet that keeps things snug regardless of bulk, a metal framed design that protects your cards, or a classy leather cardholder, we’ve got you covered for a sleek and functional minimalist EDC.
Our Top Picks
The Best Overall Minimalist Wallet: Ridge Wallet [Buy]
The Best Minimalist Wallet on a Budget: CountyComm Woven Dyneema Card Holder [Buy]
The Most Technical Minimalist Wallet: Alpaka X50 Zip Pouch [Buy]
The Best Leather Minimalist Wallet: Open Sea Leather Gun Deck Mini [Buy]
The Best Minimalist Wallet Upgrade: Bellroy Card Sleeve Carryology Essentials Edition [Buy]
![Ridge]()
Key Features
RFID-blocking
Cash strap or money clip
Quick access thumb cutout
Specifications
Dimensions
3.4" x 2.1" x 0.2"
The Ridge Wallet is a masterclass in durable, minimalist design. Two metal plates bound together with tough elastic bands hold up to 12 cards in a sleek, pocket-friendly package. Metal plates have the added benefit of RFID-blocking technology for a more secure carry. If you happen to carry cash, you can fold your bills and tuck them away under a sturdy stainless steel money clip or flexible cash strap to suit your taste. Finally, a thumb cutout lets you push your cards out or quick retrieval them. The Ridge also comes in other light yet strong materials, like titanium and carbon, and has a lifetime warranty for good measure.
![CountyComm]()
Key Features
Lightweight
Water- and stretch-resistant
Unique matrix construction
Specifications
Dimensions
4" x 2.8" x 0.3"
Capacity
12 cards plus cash
The CountyComm Woven Dyneema Card Holder uses a waterproof and stretch-resistant sailcloth material that’s interwoven with Dyneema matrix fibers, making for a lightweight yet tough wallet at only 0.35 ounces. It’s the same material used on the sails of high-tech racing sailboats, and the matrix layout gives each wallet a unique look. Its design is as simple as it gets, featuring two slanted pockets on each side that can carry up to 12 credit cards and up to 10 folded bills. Double stitching and nylon piping ensure durability for this technical minimalist wallet.
![Alpaka]()
Key Features
RFID-blocking
AquaGuard zippers
Compatible with Alpaka's HUB system
For anyone looking for a pouch that can handle a few coins as well as a rainstorm, the Alpaka X50 Zip Pouch might be for you. It’s made of X-Pac material with a CORDURA 500D face fabric and features YKK AquaGuard zippers. It is water-resistant and very lightweight while still being incredibly rugged and abrasion-resistant. Thanks to the bright orange ripstop nylon interior, you can carry up to 12 cards and some coins, which will be easy to find. Inside the main zippered compartment is a single divider for keeping cards and bills separate and easy to access. For only $25, it’s hard to go wrong with the X50 Zip Pouch.
![Open]()
Key Features
Full grain leather
Two separate pockets for organization
Extensive colorways and thread options
For a unique wallet made entirely of quality leather check out the Open Sea Leather Co. Gun Deck Mini wallet. This wallet is made from high-quality leather that has been folded in on itself and then stitched for extra security. It can hold up to 5 debit cards and some folded bills, but the best thing about it is that they’re custom-made to order. You can choose from more than 15 color options for the leather with as much variability for the stitching. Keep it simple with classic black or black or make yours unique with turquoise genuine leather and orange stitching, it’s up to you.
![Bellroy]()
Key Features
Pull-tab card storage
Water-resistant
Quick-access slots front and back
Specifications
Dimensions
4" x 2.8" x 0.3"
Bellroy is well-known for high-quality leather everyday carry gear, so its collab with Carryology on the card sleeve is definitely worth a mention. The Carryology Essentials Edition Card Sleeve measures only 4.0” x 2.7”. It keeps the bulk of the wallet down while allowing you to carry up to 8 cards. There are quick-access card slots on both sides of the wallet for quick access to your most used cards (or folded bills) and a handy pull tab for the main compartment. You can pick up the Bellroy x Carryology Card Sleeve in 8 different colors, so there’s bound to be one that works for you.
![Hayvenhurst]()
Key Features
Quickly fans out your cards with a button
RFID-blocking
Multi-purpose cash strap
Specifications
Dimensions
4.1" x 2.52" x 0.29"
Capacity
4-5 cards plus folded bills
Have your card essentials on hand at the push of a button with Hayvenhurst's Pop Up minimalist wallet, a sleek and convenient option able to hold 4-5 cards while taking up next to no space in your pocket. Aluminum construction with a carbon fiber pattern lets it stealthily fit in with the rest of your carry while blocking RFID signals. A multi-purpose cash strap can hang on to folded bills, notes, and other items without bulking up its slim design. And any time you need your cards, one push of its signature button fans them out, ready for use at a moment's notice.
![Secrid]()
Key Features
Spring-activated card wallet
RFID-blocking
Built-in storage tray for cash and coins
Specifications
Dimensions
4" x 2.68" x 0.75"
The Cardslide Wallet from Secrid uses its popular Cardprotector platform as its core. The Cardprotector is a durable aluminum card case that includes an integrated RFID blocker and a signature mechanism that pushes out up to six cards when activated. The newer Secrid Cardslide Wallet includes a plastic sliding tray for storing your bills, coins, keys, and other small items, allowing you to keep all your essentials in one secure place. The tray is held in place by an elastic band that you can also tuck a few extra bills into if needed. It’s available in a variety of body and elastic strap combinations for you to choose from and even has RFID protection.
![Distil]()
Key Features
Trademark pull-tab
Reversible
Secured folded cash stash
Specifications
Dimensions
3.5" x 2.1" x 0.3"
Capacity
10 cards plus bills
If you’re looking to keep the size of your wallet to a minimum, the Distil Union Wally Micro 4.0 is a solid option. It’s made of a single piece of full-grain leather that will only look better with time. You can access the card you need thanks to a built-in pull tab. The Wally Micro also comes in two colors and is completely reversible. So if you ever get bored with the color you selected you can flip the wallet inside out and it’ll feel like a new wallet. While there isn’t a dedicated pocket for coins or a money clip, there is an elastic cash strap perfect for a few folded bills.
![Magpul]()
Key Features
Anti-slip texture
RF-welded seams
Quick access pocket for emergency cards or bills
Specifications
Dimensions
4.25" x 2.83" x 0.51"
Materials
Reinforced polymer
The Magpul DAKA Essential Minimalist wallet is a great option for anyone that wants to carry (as its name implies) the essentials. This super slim wallet is only 0.12” thick, so it won’t weigh you down as you go about your day. You can carry up to 7 cards and a folded bill or two. It also has three separate pockets so you can keep your most important credit cards in one, an ID card and access card in the other, and still have space for a few folded bills so you’ll never be without cash. The wallet is made from a rugged reinforced polymer fabric that’s water-resistant so you won't have to worry about getting caught in a storm. The seams are also welded together to prevent them from falling apart over time so you can trust this will last you for years to come.
![Pioneer]()
Key Features
Front and back card slots
Main top slot for folded cash
Water-resistant
Specifications
Dimensions
4.2" x 2.9" x 0.2
Capacity
6+ cards plus folded bills
If what you want is a wallet that won’t weigh you down, check out the Pioneer Molecule Minimalist wallet. At 0.1oz, chances are the cards you put in it will weigh more than the wallet itself. Pioneer achieved this by using its 10XD material to make the entire wallet. It's a super strong and lightweight polyethylene that repels both dirt and water. As far as capacity goes, it has two card slots on the front and back giving you quick access to your main debit card or a driver’s license. The main pocket can hold the rest along with some cash. Altogether you can carry up to 6 cards with you along with a few folded bills. It comes in 5 gorgeous colors (and an alternate, luxurious 3PN material), so you can’t go wrong with any of them.
How to Choose the Best Minimalist Wallet For You
Of course, depending on a person’s preference, what’s best for them may vary, but we have a short list of things to consider in buying the best type of minimalist wallet for you:
- Product durability: A wallet is one of the few EDC that you’ll likely always have on you. Some people carry flashlights, others carry knives or fidget toys, but everyone has their wallet on them. So when you’re looking for a wallet make sure that it’s made from a material that will last. Whether you go with a classic leather wallet or a durable metal one, you should be confident that the material will hold up.
- Wallet space / Capacity: A good wallet is only good if it can hold everything you need it to. Make sure that the wallet or card case that you choose has enough card slots to hold everything that you need.
- Materials used: Wallets aren’t made from only leather anymore. You can choose from plenty of new materials, including technical materials like X-Pac and Dyneema. Whichever one you go with, make sure that you’re comfortable with the pros and cons of the material and the craftsmanship.
- Can fit most pockets: Whether you’re looking for a slim front pocket wallet or one that will live in your bag, you should ensure that the wallet is easy to carry. While larger bifold wallets are always a good choice, they tend to be larger making it harder to fit in small shirt pockets or jacket pockets.
- Lightweight: Your wallet shouldn’t weigh you down. Some of the wallets on this list weigh mere ounces. Even if you go with a durable metal option with extra functionality, make sure that you’re okay with a heavier item to add to your EDC.
FAQs
Should I buy a minimalist wallet?
If you don’t carry a lot of cards or are looking to slim down your pockets and save space, then you should definitely consider a minimalist wallet. Just because these wallets are smaller and slimmer than your typical bifold or trifold wallet doesn’t mean that they’re any less practical. Whether you’re looking for something to hold your business cards or plan to EDC it as your main wallet, they are a solid option.
What is the slimmest wallet?
The slimmest wallet you can get is the Magul DAKA Essential Minimalist wallet which measures 0.12” thick. After adding your cards and cash, it will get thicker but not by much, and you’ll still have easy access to the cards that matter most.
What are the benefits of a minimalist wallet?
One major benefit of a minimalist wallet is freeing up pocket space. A bulky tri-fold can take up a pocket all by itself, not to mention that it isn’t good for your back if you’re putting that wallet in your back pocket. A minimalist wallet can free up space so you can carry other essentials. Plus, many minimalist wallets provide easy access to one or two of your most used cards so you rarely have to dig for the one you need.
What is the best slim wallet on the market?
The best slim wallet depends on what you’re looking for. A metal wallet like the Ridge Wallet is a great option if you want something durable and easy to use. If you’re looking for something made of quality leather with an easy-to-use design, then the Bellroy Slim Sleeve might be more up your alley.
How we picked
Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.
What is Everyday Carry?
Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily lives. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.
Why you should trust us
Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise with the industry and familiarity in design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.
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