Do you ever notice your lower back and legs hurting after a long day of sitting on your wallet? Maybe you’ve even had your wallet slip out of your back pocket, or worse — had it lifted off you. If your daily billfold has become too bulky with cards and receipts to manage, it might be time to rethink your wallet situation. With a good EDC wallet, you won’t have to worry about those problems again.
The ideal wallet is…
- Slim enough to ride in your front pocket, where it’s more secure (and much less likely to hurt your back).
- Efficient by design, doing away with extraneous slots so you’re reminded to carry only the essentials.
- Durable in construction and materials for a better-built and longer-lasting product than your generic department store fare.
Below are our favorite minimalist, front pocket wallet recommendations. These classics have made appearances in many carries seen over the years on this site, and are solid starts to beating the back-pocket bulge.
Saddleback Leather Front Pocket ID Wallet
Saddleback Leather needs no introduction in EDC circles as the build quality — and 100-year warranty — of their products speaks for itself. This minimalist offering is crafted from the same high-quality, full-grain boot leather as their other offerings, but with a much smaller footprint. The wallet has three slots for cards or folded cash including an ID slot, and are able to fit a total of 12 cards once broken in.
Big Skinny Compact Sports Bi-Fold Wallet
Big Skinny is a company whose sole focus is minimizing your wallet. This Sports model takes the classic bifold design and strips it of thickness, but still manages to house six rubber-lined pockets including a clear ID window. Made of thin and light nylon microfiber, the Big Skinny Sports wallet is water-resistant and durable enough for outdoor activities.
Victorinox Grenoble Vertical Wallet
Not just known for the quality of their pocket tools, Victorinox carries over their manufacturing excellence to their travel gear. The 100% pebbled leather Grenoble is a vertical bifold that features six card slots, four storage pockets, and a mesh ID window. It takes little room at 3.75″ x 5″, and is a classy option for carrying a few more essentials.
Bellroy Slim Sleeve Wallet
Speaking of classy, one brand that always comes up in more formal EDC wallet recommendations is Bellroy. Their wallets have smart designs, use quality materials, and look the part for gentlemanly EDCs. Their Slim Sleeve gives easy access to your two main cards in its main compartment, with infrequent cards retrieved via a leather pull-tab. Most currencies also fit its bill pocket with a single fold. Look no further for a classy minimalist option.
Gerber GDC Money Clip
For something both a little bit more discreet yet a lot more usable, the Gerber GDC Money Clip is a handy option. At first glance, it’s a simple money clip that holds up to five cards along with folded bills. Upon closer inspection, however, the GDC actually secretly stows a 1.75″ stainless steel blade; large enough for a decent grip. If you need a bit more cutting power but don’t want to carry a full-sized knife, this money clip makes the cut.
Victorinox Money Clip
Sometimes the best way to reduce a footprint is to take the shoe off altogether. Combining the utility of a Swiss Army Knife with a money clip, Victorinox gives you the option to consolidate a few pieces of your carry without losing functionality. The SAK comes in the handle material of your choice and with useful EDC tools in a knife, scissors, and file.
Are you still packing a leather brick in your back pocket, or have you moved on to a front carry? Tell us about your wallet in the comments below!
