Best Minimalist Wallet for Men: Reviews and Style Guide

Best Minimalist Wallet for Men

Are you looking to upgrade your style but downsize your life?

If so, investing in a minimalist wallet could be a small step in the right direction. Since cash is becoming less frequently used, now is an opportune time to invest in a slim card holding wallet.

What makes a great minimalist wallet is a sleek aesthetic, great craftsmanship, and above all else practicality.

With a minimalist wallet you’ll no longer have to deal with awkward bulges in your pocket and wallets that weigh you down. You’ll be able to move through the world more freely, and less encumbered by an overfilled and outdated wallet.

Let’s dive right into our best minimalist wallet picks! Without further ado, here they are.

👑 Our Pick for Best Overall

⭐ Our Other Minimalist Wallet Picks

• Our Top Pick: Ridge Slim RFID Blocking Wallet
• Best on a Budget: Radix One Slim Wallet
• Best Designer Option: Montblanc Sartorial Pocket Wallet

Best Minimalist Wallet for Men Reviews

Ridge Slim RFID Blocking Wallet (👑 Top Pick)

The best minimalist wallet for men has to be the Ridge Slim RFID-blocking wallet.

Over the years Ridge has built a strong reputation as one of the leading manufacturers of minimalist wallets, and this design is a great example of their dedication to quality.

What makes this such a good minimalist wallet more than anything is its highly intuitive design. The Ridge wallet focuses on ease of access and convenience over style, which is something not a lot of wallets do. The end product as a result is incredibly satisfying to use. All you need to do to store your cards is slide them into the slot, and to take them out you just push on them from one side and then take out the one you need. The video on their website shows just how easy this is to do.

The same video also shows how you can use the built-in money clip to carry cash around with you. While it is increasingly common to make all purchases with a card, you never know when you might need cash to buy something. Ridge has thought of that, and integrated a simple money clip on the back of the wallet so that you can pay both ways. This is a neat touch which shows a commitment to craftsmanship, and to making something that anyone can use.

Speaking of craftsmanship, this wallet by Ridge manages to be ultra slim without sacrificing capacity. They achieved this by using elastic straps which allow the wallet to expand and cater for more cards. With this one slim wallet you’ll be able to carry as many as 12 cards around with you. As for the design side of things, durability is another strong suit for this minimalist wallet. Aluminium plating helps mitigate damage and promote longevity.

Lastly, there’s the RFID blocking technology. If you carry RFID-enabled cards or devices around with you, then this is an incredible safety feature to have. Essentially this will prevent people from stealing your digital identity wirelessly. While not an essential feature, this wallet provides cyber security to put your mind at rest when walking around with your cards and gadgets.

Radix One Slim Wallet (💸 Best on a Budget)

The Radix One Slim is one of the  best men’s minimalist wallets on a budget. If you’re strapped for cash but also need somewhere to store it, then the Radix One is a great option.

But apart from being exceptionally cheap, what else does the Radix One Slim have to offer?

Well for a start it has a very thin design, making it very easy to carry around. The minimalist style adopted by this wallet will make storing your cards and cash simple while also saving you space in your pocket. You can even personalise this wallet somewhat, as you can choose the colour of the strap which holds cash in place.

Another advantage of the slim design of the Radix One is how light it is. As a result of being so light you won’t even realise you’re carrying it. This may come as quite a relief if you’re used to lugging around an overfilled wallet that’s brimming with change. It will also fit nicely alongside a phone or anything else you like to store in your pocket.

As for capacity, you can take up to 10 cards around with you in this wallet. That’s a decent amount, and should be more than enough to get by in your day-to-day life. There’s also the convenient strap which can hold in place a stack of notes, for those instances when you need it.

Features:

•  Available with 6 different colours
•  Weighs less than 1oz
•  Holds up to 10 cards
•  Strap for holding notes
•  Made from polycarbonate and silicone

Montblanc Sartorial Pocket Wallet (♠️ Best Designer Option)

If the title of best minimalist wallet was a question purely of style, then we’d give top spot to this Montblanc Sartorial Pocket wallet. We believe this is the best designer minimalist wallet due to the excellent craftsmanship of this card holder.

One of the biggest strengths of this wallet is also one of its biggest weaknesses: it’s size. The upside of being smaller is that it allows for an ultra slim, sleek design. The other advantage is that these days paying by card is generally the best way to do things, so an investment in this wallet could signal your intent to declutter your life. The downside is that you’ll only have space for 6 cards in this wallet. Having said that, the wallet features a couple of bill sleeves so you can carry both cards and cash.

We chose this is our top pick for designer wallets primarily due to its clean lines and wonderfully minimalist aesthetic. Everything about this card holder oozes elegance, including the luxurious dark blue exterior. There’s a good reason why it looks elegant too, it’s made from Saffiano leather. This is a top quality material, and it shows. If you thought it was impossible to combine durability with style, then this wallet should go some way to changing your mind.

Features:

• Holds up to 6 cards
• Includes bill sleeve
• Made from high quality Italian leather
• Navy blue colour

Barclay & Co Spine Wallet

The Barclay & Co Spine Wallet is notable for its incredibly slim design.

If you’re looking for the slimmest minimalist wallet available, then the Spine wallet from Barclay & Co is the perfect fit for you. Boasting the world’s thinnest wallet, Barclay & Co have masterminded a slice of titanium that can hold your cards and cash. 

This front pocket wallet will hold up to 10 cards at a time, as well as notes and receipts if necessary. It weighs a mere 2.5 oz too, which is impressive for its grade 5 titanium build. There’s also a single plate of copper which lends the wallet water-resistance and anti-allergic properties. 

Technical characteristics aside, this wallet is worthy of praise for its ultra simple design. The width of a card or two, this card holder is fitted with an elastic strap that will secure all of your money in place. It’s so thin in fact that you could probably fit it in a traditional bifold wallet. Then there’s the bottle opener built-into the wallet, just in case you find yourself near a cold one with no other bottle opener in sight.

Features:

• .065 inches thick
• Holds up to 10 cards
• Weighs 2.5 oz
• Grade 5 titanium and C110 copper build
• RFID blocking
• Bottle opener

What To Look For When Selecting A Minimalist Wallet

Investing in a new minimalist wallet is simple, but investing in a new minimalist wallet that’s perfect for your needs is a little more complicated.

There are so many good minimalist wallets to choose from, but how do you know if they will be the right fit for your lifestyle?

Well, there are several factors which you should pay attention to in order to make the right decision first time. Once you’ve gone through them and determined the best type of wallet for you, it’ll be a lot easier to pick the right one.

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Material

One of the first factors you should consider is the material the wallet is made from.

Not only will this impact the style and design of the wallet, but it will also influence the utility of it and suitability for different situations.

For example, if you’re looking for a wallet that requires little to no maintenance to stay looking at its best, then you might want to steer clear of leather.

If you do decide that you want a leather wallet though, then the quality of the leather will come into play.

• Metal

Since minimalist wallets are so slim and rigid, you can find some that are made from metal.

If you opt for a metal minimalist wallet you will obviously get something that is incredibly robust, and unlikely to ever break or fall apart.

The downside of this type of wallet though is that these wallets tend to have pointed edges, which is a nightmare for the inner lining of your pockets. 

They are also quite prone to scratching, which may or may not bother you depending on how much you appreciate style.

• Leather

Leather is the gold standard for standard wallets, and is often used for minimalist wallets too.

This material has traditionally been favoured for wallets since it both looks sleek and is perfectly able to withstand the test of time.

However, the catch with leather is that in order for it to last a long time you’ll need to clean and maintain it regularly. Plus it will likely be more expensive making things difficult if you’re shopping on a budget.

• Faux leather

Faux leather is another good option for minimalist wallets, and looks like the real deal but at a fraction of the price.

Sounds perfect, right?

Well, yes and no.  

Faux leather isn’t as durable as real leather, and as a result is less likely to last you a long time.

It can also flake or crack quite easily, so if you’re quite rough with your possessions this might not be the best material for your minimalist wallet.

• Tyvek

Tyvek is a synthetic material which is created using polyethylene fibers.

The benefits of having a wallet made from tyvek is that it will be light, durable, and water-resistant.

If you’re fine with using this material over something more traditional, then this can be a fantastic minimalist wallet option.

You can even get tyvek wallets printed in different patterns and designs, so you can personalise them to your taste.

The downside is that this style of material might not give off the same impression of elegance as the other popular minimalist wallet materials, as it leans more towards function than flair.

Design

Once you’ve got the material of the minimalist wallet you want in mind, it’s time to turn your attention to the design.

While all minimalist wallets will be small and slim, there are a lot of different types just as there are with ordinary wallets.

• Bifold

The bifold design is the image that likely comes to mind when you think of a wallet. 

This type of wallet will have two compartments that can be folded together into one, making it easy to carry around.

The plus side of this is that you can fit a lot in your wallet, but still fold it down to a manageable size.

The downside is that while it might fit in your pocket perfectly well, it’s likely to be thicker than other minimalist wallets.

It can also seem too big if all you carry around with you is a few cards and some cash.

• Front Pocket

A front pocket wallet is a very popular minimalist option.

This wallet is essentially half the size of a bifold wallet, and as slim if not slimmer than your mobile phone.

As a result, you’ll be able to easily slot it into any pocket and not worry about it causing an unsightly bulge or damaging the inner lining.

A lot of front pocket wallets wil have a tab you can pull out too so you can easily grab your cards.

With this type of wallet you will likely have less capacity for cash and cards than others, so that’s something to bear in mind before you invest.

• Card wallet

A card wallet Is another solid minimalist option, since it caters only for cards and doesn’t need extra space for cash.

This type of wallet is often very slim and stylish, and makes a very appealing option in a world that is placing more and more value on card-based transactions.

Chances are you won’t be using cash very often these days for your purchases, so getting a card wallet could prove to be a very wise investment.

The downside is that if you happen to want something while you’re out that requires cash, you’ll probably have to go without.

• Money Clip

The money clip minimalist wallet is exactly what it sounds like: a clip which holds your money.

This style of wallet isn’t for everyone, but it certainly ticks the minimalist box.

If you really like the idea of moving towards a more minimalist existence, then a money clip wallet is a big step in the right direction.

The downside of course is that your money is on display whenever you take it out, plus you likely won’t be able to carry cards around in it.

Craftsmanship 

While the type of wallet you buy and the material will tell you a lot about the experience of using it, you won’t truly know until you understand the craftsmanship behind it.

I’m not saying that you need to find out how the wallet was made, or even care that much about the process, but it’s worth knowing how convenient the wallet will be to use on a daily basis.

We’ve all been there before, investing in a product that looks and sounds great in theory but then received it and been disappointed with how it feels to use.

After all, an investment in a minimalist wallet isn’t just about style, but functionality. The whole minimalist lifestyle is about finding products that make your life easier while taking up less space. If you buy a neat-looking wallet but can’t get your cards out easily, you’ll probably end up quite frustrated.

• Width

The width of a minimalist wallet is important if you value lightness and comfort.

As a general rule, under half an inch is the ideal. In a wallet of this size, you should expect to be able to fit around 7 cards, which should be more than enough for most people.

• Capacity

You also need to factor in how many cards you usually walk around with and whether or not you need space for cash, and then choose a wallet accordingly.

Typically minimalist wallets can cater for around 12 cards, which is plenty. This number will vary depending on the type of wallet you choose, but most designs should be able to store around a dozen.

Once you know how many cards you can fit in the wallet, you’ll also want to check how easily you can pull them out when you need to.

While it can be hard to ascertain how convenient the wallet is to use from just a picture, you should keep an eye out for features like a pull out tab. This makes it a lot easier to get to your cards without needing to jam your finger in the slot.

Extras

The last factor to consider is the extra features the wallet may or may not have. 

While maybe you wouldn’t expect a minimalist wallet to have much in the way of extras, since that seems to defeat the purpose of simplifying, there are some features which don’t take up any space but add plenty of value.

• RFID-Blocking

A minimalist wallet can be equipped with the technology to block radio frequency identification, or RFID for short.

Essentially this technology will deter people from stealing your identity wirelessly.

RFID-enabled credit cards or devices make this possible, so if you don’t have any of these then this feature won’t be all that useful for you.

However, if you do have some and you are concerned about digital identity theft then it can add an extra element of security as you walk around.

• GPS Tracking 

Some minimalist wallets are sophisticated enough to have integrated GPS tracking technology.

This is a safety measure that will let you track down your wallet should it ever get stolen.

It’s also useful if you just happen to leave your wallet somewhere and forget where it is. Some wallets will let you pair up your phone to them, so you can see exactly where it is at all times. No more accidentally leaving it at home.

Some wallets will even have some way of notifying you if you are too far away from it, so if you leave it on a table at a bar you’ll soon know about it.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Minimalist Wallets

What is a good wallet?

A good wallet is one which brings fine craftsmanship and clever design together.

While it may not seem like the most sophisticated accessory, a wallet has to be designed with both convenience and style in mind. The pockets need to be the perfect size to accommodate cards and cash, but also in the right place to be easy to access.

The manufacturer also needs to decide what the best layout of the wallet is, and answer important style questions such as how many slots to include, whether to add a pouch for loose change, and how light and slim they can feasibly make it.

All of this is almost rendered insignificant though if the wallet doesn’t catch the eye. These days designer wallets are more commonplace, and we’re observing a move towards minimalist styles, especially since paying by card is the most prevalent way to purchase now.

A good minimalist wallet will need all of the same attention to detail as a regular wallet, but it will also need to factor in the size and width to a great degree. A wallet can’t be minimalist if it feels bulky in your pocket.

An investment in a minimalist wallet should feel like you’re reducing the clutter in your life and moving towards having less. As a result, a great minimalist wallet should be both slim, but also have enough space to fit all of your cards and cash.

Are minimalist wallets good?

Minimalist wallets are great if you are looking to remove unnecessary clutter from your life and transition into a more simple way of living.

You don’t even have to subscribe to the minimalist lifestyle to enjoy owning a minimalist wallet though. It’s surprising how satisfying it can be to consolidate all of your cash and cards into an ultra slim wallet that will fit in just about any pocket.

What’s more, a minimalist wallet can be a smart accessory that upgrades your overall style. Bulky wallets are becoming a thing of the past. While they can still serve a purpose, they can seem unnecessarily large, especially now that cards are becoming the main way to pay.

A minimalist wallet will not only look great when you pull them out to make a purchase, but they will also fit so well in your pocket that you won’t notice that bulge that is normally left by regular wallets.

This means they go great with slim fitted clothes and suits, since nobody will notice that there’s a wallet in your pocket.

What is the slimmest wallet?

The slimmest wallet is the Barclay & Co Spine wallet.

This wallet is as thin as the cards and cash you need to carry around.

With an ultra minimalist design, Barclay & Co have stripped the wallet down to almost nothing. This wallet is as bare bones as it gets; a strap and card are the only two components. Oh, and there’s also a bottle opener, in case you ever get caught out and need to crack a cold one open.

Surprisingly sturdy, the Spine wallet is not a gimmick when it claims to be the world’s thinnest wallet. The manufacturer has simplified the wallet to its essence, but without losing any of the style or robust design you’d expect of a minimalist wallet.

How long should a wallet last?

It’s hard to say exactly how long a wallet should last, since they can be made from a variety of different materials.

A leather wallet for example will last a very long time, but it depends on how much effort you’re willing to put in to maintain it.

Your wallet may be the last thing you think to clean or maintain, but if you want it to last as long as possible, then it’s absolutely necessary.

Some ways you can treat your leather wallet and better preserve it are washing it by hand, always letting it dry naturally, and making sure it’s always well ventilated.

As a good rule of thumb though, when your wallet starts to look worn or is too bulky for your pockets, then it’s time to invest in a new one.

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A Final Word on Minimalist Wallets

Now’s as good a time as any to make the switch to minimalism, and de-clutter your life even if it only slightly.

Minimalist wallets can lighten the load you carry every day and make your life a lot easier.