27
votes
Looking for slim wallet recommendations
I'm in the market for a new wallet. I had used leather trifolds for many years then switched to a cheap Chinese knockoff of the Ridge wallet a few years ago. It's been pretty good, but it's showing its age a bit and I want something that looks a bit nicer.
I want something slim that can go in my front pocket while leaving room for keys and other stuff. It needs to hold 9-10 cards and a small amount of cash. Preferably not more than $80-$90. Though I'd love to know what you all use regardless.
I ended up with this random cheap one from amazon. I'm sure you can find a similar form factor from a real company made out of quality materials, but mine is going strong after 5 years. I have 2 IDs, insurance card, 5 credit/debit cards (and could fit 2-4 more fairly easily) and cash (does get bulky when you start carrying 10-15+ bills, but usually not a problem).
Did the exact same thing 2 months ago. Bought one from Amazon for $8 and it does the job. I figured I’d try a small cheap one to see if it works for me, and I’m actually really happy with it.
That's so cheap I kind of want to order one just to have even if I don't end up using it as my daily wallet.
I had a good experience with my wallet from Secrid -- the only reason I switched away from it was because I needed a wallet with a proper coin purse bc of where I live. Their card storage is really clever and compact (and kinda fun to show off lol). Plus you can get the outside in real leather so it's more durable.
This is my recommendation too. I've been using the same Secrid wallet going on 9-10 years and while the leather may not look as nice as it did, all the necessary bits still function as they should.
I bought one of the basic 4/6 card ones for my wife several years ago and she still uses hers. Seems they added a coin pocket but no idea how well that works.
Yeah I got one of those a few years back and it was very serviceable, but since Germany is still not remotely cash-free I switched to a wallet with a properly sized coin purse and more space for bills. But their bigger models look like they'd handle OP's bills along with cards well.
I saw them in some recommendations when I was researching online. I was unsure how the card mechanism would hold up over time, but they look super nice and high quality. Definitely on the upper end of my budget but will keep them in mind for sure. Thanks!
As I mentioned above I bought one of these for my wife around 10 years ago and the mechanism works just as well as the day it was purchased!
The card mechanism is definitely quite sturdy! But yeah they are a lil on the pricey end so understandable
It's not too thick? Some reviews say it's not as slim as they make it seem. Also the mechanism doesn't get annoying to use or trigger accidentally while in your pocket at all? Those were my main concerns when I was looking at it.
The mechanism is pretty well constructed, it requires enough force that it never went off on accident but little enough force that it's not remotely difficult to operate with your finger. As for thickness, it's not bad at all. Slimmer than any of my fingers, and I have very small hands. Mine fit in the front pocket of women's jeans, afaik.
Thanks for the info! Much appreciated.
The regular slimwallet is 16mm thick.
Another +1 for Secrid.
Got one 7 years ago and it's still going strong. I also got a Chinese copy as a gift from my employer, and it's far from being as nice as the original.
I've been using a slimfold for about two years now and it looks exactly like it did when it came out of the box. I don't know what black magic it's made out of, but its about as thin as a wallet can get but still tough as hell. Best wallet I've ever had.
Same, it's been holding up extremely well for me and shows no sign of slowing down.
Mine is coming up on 3 years, looks like new on the outside. The slots in the fabric on the inside where the cards go are a little stretched-looking but still hold the cards snugly. This thing is like a friggin' Tardis.
Another +1 for the slimfold. I'm on my second (first one was stolen) and I love it.
Belroy Card Pocket is what I've been using for almost 6 years.
I've got 9 cards and very rarely carry cash. But the zip allows me to be sure I won't lose a coin.
Goes in my front left pocket with my keys and ear buds case. Granted, I don't wear jeans or other tight-pocket pants.
https://bellroy.com/products/card-pocket
I was actually looking at Belroy's Slim Sleeve before posting this.
https://bellroy.com/products/slim-sleeve-wallet
This is a fantastic wallet. I’ve been using mine for over a decade and will replace it with another when/if its time comes.
While higher than OP wants to spend, I have been using the bellroy apex and it’s basically perfect. Takes a bit to break in, but not only does it hold my cards and cash, but a small notebook + pen so I can always write down notes.
I've used MightyWallet for over a decade. Their wallets last about 8 years with normal use and the Tyvek material is very thin. I use their original bifold airmail wallet and it's thin, but they have thinner options available.
I also use a mighty wallet. It is very comfortable to drop in a front pocket, and it is quite slim.I have as custom design on mine; the outside features a phoenix, the inside has pictures of my kids, and my contact information is indelibly written on it. I have had my current wallet for about 4 years, and my previous one was also a mighty wallet, which I used for almost ten years. I actually only changed because I saw the custom option; I still have the old one in a drawer and it is still usable
Another Mighty Wallet user here.
Mine is custom, sometimes I used it to explain the work I did in safety for autonomous vehicles. One side has a sign that you'll often see in machine shops, "This machine has no brain, use your own." The other side says, "This machine has a brain, but no heart."
I use a Saddleback Front Pocket ID Wallet -- I have six cards total (2x ID, 2x CC, 2x debit) -- the rest are in my phone. I never use these cards. I also fold up a couple hundred bucks and store it in the middle pouch. I fold all bills individually and its great.
Its less than you want, but its also good to get even further than the Costanza wallets our fathers had.
I love mine! I've read the quality might not be what it used to be, but I've had my Saddleback ID wallet for 12 years and the leather and stitching are just a tight and nice as it was on day one.
i wouldn’t be surprised if our wallets are from the same batch — mine is also around twelve years old. it’s just a nice wallet.
I try to keep my wallet more slim than you do. I don’t carry cash, and all my credit cards are in my phone and watch. So all I need is an id and a single backup credit card. I’m at a few more items than that right now though.
I use and can recommend the flowfold minimal wallet. The linked one is recycled sail cloth. That’s fantastic for being recycled of course, but sail cloth also has some cool properties that normal cloth usually doesn’t have because of the extra cost.
I will mention that I have had both the sail cloth and the normal cloth wallets, and the sailcloth seemed to wear out faster. It was still quite a few years, so I was happy with the longevity, especially since it was so cheap to begin with.
I currently have 5 cards and a chipolo tracker in mine. I could probably do another card easily and a second with it a bit tighter. The chipolo is around 3 card heights. So it can probably do 8 or 9 cards. You can also store a few bills in it, but it isn’t the best experience.
Flowfold has some larger wallets that might suit your needs better. For everything they do, the fabric is incredibly thin and hard wearing, so it will always be much thinner than a leather wallet of the same size. The minimal one I linked is just about as slim as it’s possible to get, unless you just shove an id and credit card in the back of your phone case.
Edit: I just checked my old email and I ordered my current wallet in 2020. It certainly looks worn, but it’s still completely functional. I would guess I can get another 2 years easily out of it. Even if it broke today, I would be getting another one.
I agree with everything stated here. I purchased a Flowfold Vanguard in 2019 and it doesn't show any wear. It's a bifold which is my preferred form factor, but it's so thin it may even beat out some of the popular non-folds. I removed the RFID protection that it comes with IIRC to make it slimmer (not a probable threat vector IMO).
It was $30 when I bought it and $45 now so significantly more expensive, but it's durable, it's sustainable, and it's practically indistinguishable from a leather wallet if you buy the black one and no one's looking closely.
I usually carry 6 cards about 5-8 bills, but it can handle 8 cards and the same number of bills, I'd guess. More cards if you chuck some into the bills area. It stretches out a bit over time.
EDIT: I watched some YouTube videos of the Secrid Slimwallet. To my eyes, it looks like it's 1.5x - 2x the thickness of the Flowfold, although it has more features. Slim compared to a traditionally fat bifold, but not very slim at all.
The metal card holder of the Secrid makes it thicker than it otherwise would be. It's probably closer to the thickness of a regular bifold wallet but not as wide so it can fit in a front pocket.
While I want something slim, I also want it to look nice and age, so I've been gravitating towards leather options.
That's completely understandable. When I'm in the market for a wallet, I will probably feel the same way you do now. Would love to hear any updates on whichever you end up picking!
I have, what after a lot of googling, seems to be mostly closely described as a "bifold card wallet". It looks more or less like this: google images. This one has more pockets and is probably thicker than the one I have but the shape is roughly the same.
I got it in Japan from a local shop, it's deerskin and very soft. the wallet itself is both thin and pliable (which was one of my issues with ridge-style wallets - they can make a rectangle shaped bump on your pockets, which is both ugly and uncomfortable). It has three pockets, one of which I put most of my CCs, one of which (on the other flap) I put transit cards or hotel cards, the biggest pocket I put a bit of cash.
I use the slim wallet from Galen Leather for about 5 years and really love it. It's the only wallet that got me away from using a small binder clip, which I used for probably 15+ years. I kinda hate all the aluminum/plastic/nylon type card holders honestly, I don't want to have to do whatever to slide my cards out as a brick of cards to fiddle with. With this I pull it out of my pocket, easily slide out my credit card with the thumb I grab it with, and I'm done. Cannot recommend it enough. The company is known for their notebook holders, which my wife has had for a solid 7-10 years and they hold up. It won't ship fast, and sometimes certain colors are out of stock, but it's absolutely worth it over whatever the latest nfc blocking techbro startup metal thingy that you're going to inevitably step on one day like a Lego brick lol.
Those do look super high quality. I'm surprised they're so cheap.
I'll keep them in mind, but it looks like they're sold out of most colors and I think I want to make a purchase soon.
I had no idea this space was so busy, lol.
Anyway, I eventually found this German company, Paprcuts which makes these low-key, super slim wallets. I've been searching for ages before that, previously had one that is no longer made. Been using one of their most basic models (that model is more cash-focused than cards) for a few months now and rather like it. My only complaint is that the coin compartment is a little hard to open since it just snaps shut using a flat magnetic stripe at the top, you need to get in there with your finger nail or get better at squeezing it open from the side. But otherwise, it's exactly what I've been looking for, slimmest wallet I ever touched.
Same. I posted this right before bed and had no idea I'd get so many replies.
Those wallets look really nice and have some great designs. I especially love the Game Boy one. I just don't think it'd suit my needs super well. I need more card space and virtually never carry any coins with me.
Yes, I live in a very pro-cash country so that was a requirement. But they should offer some card-focused models as well. I like their paper-like faux-leather but it definitely looks a bit rough, it’s really a compromise for slimness.
I used a bulky wallet for years and I had made the switch, at least for awhile, to Secrid. Its mechanism was really solid, I don't think it'd break down in at least a decade, but I just couldn't deal with the fact that the standard models only hold about 4-5 cards and no cash. I bought a cash strap (their own) with it and tried to use it that way but it was just so cumbersome. I also didn't like metal as the case material. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but it just didn't seem right to me. It was a personal thing. So after about a year I made the switch to Herschel. It's a traditional looking wallet but it's just as slim as Secrid while being able to hold more cards (with RFID protection) and cash. It's just as durable, if not more so, too. I've been using it for over a year and it looks brand new, whereas my Secrid was all scratched up despite me using it carefully.
I noticed Galen Leather being recommended. While I don't have a wallet from them, I have their pen case with a notebook holder and it's an excellent product. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't like their products and I'm sure their wallets are great too. If the color of your choosing is not available, try sending them an email. They've been known to help out in situations like that.
Thanks so much for the detailed reply.
It looks like with the Secrid, you only went with the basic card protector model. I was looking at their slimwallet, which has room for extra cards and cash without being much thicker. Like you, I don't think I could make do with just 4-5 cards in just the pop up card holder piece.
It was the basic model, yes. I personally didn't like the slimwallet option because I felt like it was trying to replicate something its original design is not suitable for, hence losing a bit on what makes it special in the first place.
That's understandable. But if you need the cash and more than 5 or 6 cards, the Slimwallet seems like the way to go from their lineup.
So one unattractive but easy fix for cash is simply a rubber band. Get a card holder or money clip for your cards, then just fold cash in half and rubber band the whole thing together. It works surprisingly well if you don't mind looking like a drug dealer.
Perhaps a money clip wallet would suit your needs? I can recommend this one. The clip means less layers of leather are needed, therefore keeping it slimmer.
I'm not opposed to something like this, but I generally carry 9-10 cards with me between my license, 3 credit cards, a debit card, insurance card, a couple other IDs, etc. Seems like it'd be hard to fit them all plus a bit of cash in a wallet like this.
I’ve been using a Slimmy for years. It’s simple and thin, I really like it.
I discovered I didn’t need - actually use - more than a few cards daily and downsized from a traditional bifold to this Chums slim bifold.
I think I’ve got 2-3 credit cards, two licenses, insurance cards, and one or two miscellaneous cards in it on any given day (plus some cash).
In cash heavy contexts, I switch to this.
I don't use everything I have in my wallet every day, but the last thing I want to do is forget anything when I need it because it wasn't in my wallet. I have 4 different IDs (including my license) I may need at any given point, my insurance card, 3 credit cards, one debit card, etc. I have the credit cards on my phone, but I prefer using the actual card most of the time. When I moved from a traditional bifold wallet to the one I have now, I slimmed down as much as I could already. I could maybe get rid of one of my remaining cards if I needed to.
Then the second link would be better than the first: cards on one side, cash in the other.
I use their Daily Wallet to hold about 8 cards and cash. I think I stretch it out more than it's designed to hold.
I keep cash folded twice and two debit/credit cards on the elastic side, and the remaining cards on the other. I have two IDs in the front pocket on the non-elastic side, and the remaining cards in the back one. That said, most of the cards in the back pocket are insurance-style cards (basically laminated paper), and they are sometimes difficult to pull out.
It's worked reasonably well for me, but I'm not a huge fan of the style of it. Of course, practicality won out (it was $5 on clearance at Academy Sports).
+1 for Secrid. It's probably as slim as you could possibly go. They also sell models with a cash strap.
I'm an iPhone user so I went with the MOFT Magsafe Wallet Phone Stand. My EDC is 4-5 cards, but no cash, so perhaps less than you'd like. After 2 years of use it looks like new. I think if I had a do-over I would go with the Spigen equivalent.
I'm not unhappy, I've just had such a good experience with Spigen's magsafe items (strong magnetic connection) that I think I might prefer it.
I use an Android phone, so that's a no go for me even if I could reduce the number of cards I need to carry. Part of me does wish I could do this, but I also prefer to keep my phone clean and naked. I never even use a case on my phone so having a wallet always attached to it would feel a bit weird, I think.
I can dig it! I'm a sucker for anything that adds functionality. A downside of this method is that if you lose your phone you lose everything, but thankfully that hasn't happened to me (yet?).
I've used a cheap mesh zipper pouch for years.
This type of container is easy to find in office supply stores for under $10, usually less. Pretty sure mine's under $5. It's sturdy and washable and super light. Zipper closure so things don't fall out. Mesh material is super thin (but somewhat stiff, holds its shape, not flimsy) and I like that it's not opaque so I can see at a glance what's inside.
Mine holds:
This is pretty much almost everything I carry around, plus my phone.
My dad uses a Wrigleys Doublemint resealable ziplock foil pouch, I'm not kidding. He likes that it's waterproof and "doesn't look like a wallet" / "not attractive to thieves" 😂 When it gets too worn out he just replaces it with a new one. He always has a stash of Wrigleys just for this purpose!
I think after researching a bit today, I've narrowed it down to four choices:
I don't think I've seen anything quite like what I've been using the last ~8 years... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GH0HSH4
It's kindof a hybrid between a money clip and a credit card/id holder.
bonus points for cheeeeeap...
The problem I have with designer slim wallets is that they are not good long-term solutions if you constantly rotate a few local loyalty cards, business cards and any other kind of card that cannot be digitalized. Honestly, a card sized leather envelope with an ID window would be great.
Yeah, that's true. Though I don't have a lot of loyalty cards in general. And the few I do have moved to apps. So it's not really an issue for me.
I was able to move some to my phone, but all the cafés and lunch spots near my house/work aren’t digital yet.
I started bringing only one physical credit card with me as a backup, that helped reduce my wallet size a lot.
They pivoted to baseball team stuff but I got one of their front pocket wallets like 15 years ago and it still looks newish? https://vvego.com/product/baseball-glove-leather-front-pocket-wallet/
I'm a huge baseball fan so this is really tempting. Probably too expensive for me to justify though.
It’s definitely something that could be a “passed down forever” sort of item but it was also half the price when I got it and it was expensive then.
Big Skinny wallets have been my go to over a decade. They have a wide range of card layouts with my preferred model being this no-fold, open sided card case. I loathe sitting on stuffed bi-folds so it fits my needs perfectly. They hold up incredibly well even after going through the wash.
The only real downside to the brand is that they are very much function over form. The leather wallets are not too bad, but if you really want to reduce the bulk you have to settle for the nylon.
Potential model based on OP's requirements.
I’m curious if anyone has some good links to some no fold wallets that don’t have room for money. I typically only need 4-5 cards. I basically have this https://a.co/d/dLpuk3e, but without the money section. My wallet is 10yrs old, so I wanted to find a back up in case. I’d prefer to not have the pouch type where everything comes out at once.
https://wagner.swiss/products/swisswallet-original-black?_pos=6&_sid=b94d4f16c&_ss=r
I have had this for maybe 20 years, still works just fine.
I use the PopSockets Phone Wallet. It's not what you're looking for, but you wanted to know.
My niece actually turned me onto this. I wanted to minimize what I need to leave the house. So I switched to phone wallets a long time ago. Specifically ones that didn't require opening or closing. I carry my ID, insurance card, credit card, debit card (for ATM needs). I rarely need cash day-to-day. So I'm fine just putting that in my free pocket.
The other benefit of the PopSocket is that i can take it off at home, but it's secure when it's clipped.
It does seem super convenient. Just wouldn't work for me. Cool to see such a wide range of phone wallets though.
I was personally looking for this recently too. However I'm very interested if anyone has some recommendations for slim wallets made in Europe, as it seems most of the mentioned options are made in the US and would involve overseas shipping.
I ended up not buying there because life happened, but I was in talks for a custom made wallet from Akeeni
https://akeeni.com/
They have a great support and its something else than the endless ridge copies flying around. Plus made in the USA and willing to do custom engravings. Their reviews are all incredible.
If you're wanting something that is moreso suited for cards rather than cash, but can still hold some, I'd like to recommend my personal daily driver since 2016: The Vaultskin Chelsea Minimalist Wallet I've been happily rocking it for years because of how small it is, yet still able to hold all the cards, backup cards, id's, insurance, and cash (in a pinch) that I need.
I have a NanoBoy by Jaimie Jacobs, which is a copy of the Nomatic Wallet. It's slim, easy to get your card from and can handle a bit of cash. It's also lasting well: the Nomatic Wallet lasted 6 years, the current one is 3 years old and still going strong.
I love my Hawbuck Dyneema wallet. It fits the bill of carrying up to 8-10 cards + cash. It's only $35, water repellant, and USA made. I doubt it's physically possible to make a smaller or lighter wallet. The fabric wears a bit over time, though mine has held up well, only gaining character.
I use the Trayvax Contour. It's expensive, and the look isn't for everyone, but I freaking love the thing. I got it as a gift from my brother nearly 10 years ago. He knew I loved my Trayvax Axis bifold wallet, and decided to gift me an upgrade. I still have the Axis wallet too (no longer being produced), and it still looks like new. Trayvax wallets are seriously built like tanks. Truly BiFL products.
A couple years ago my wife got me a secrid-style wallet which I also liked, but the card mechanism has since broken and I'm back to my tried and true Contour.