The Ridge Wallet Review
The Ridge Wallet is designed with functionality in mind—is it worth it?
Credit:
Reviewed / Jon Winkler
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Every now and then, our wallets can get too big for our britches. Over time, there are too many cards and bills and random scraps of paper shoved into our bifold accessory. Eventually, it’ll become a bulky brick sticking out of your pants pocket. If you want to lighten the load, you’ve probably heard about one simple solution: The Ridge Wallet.
Full disclosure: This is the second time I’ve tested a card carrier wallet alternative, the first being the Ekster Parliament wallet. So not only does the Ridge have to compete with the standard bifold wallet, but also other minimalist designs. Fortunately, the Ridge’s slim design and lightweight feeling makes a strong first impression and could be your new money mover. I tested the Gunmetal aluminum model ($95), the Mopane wood version ($125), and the Tobacco Brown leather wallet ($125), and here’s what I thought.
What is the Ridge Wallet?
The Ridge wallet has more than one way to carry your money.
Unlike classic leather bifolds, the Ridge Wallet has a pared-down design that is built to last. Ridge offers its compact card carriers made from durable materials: Aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber and yes, even leather. Ridge Wallets feature a rectangular-shaped block with a minimalist look. The Ridge design has two distinctive features: A thumb-shaped indent that lets you push out the cards you need to access and a tight elastic strap on the rear side meant to carry a minimum amount of cash.
This is a card carrier first and foremost. Although it looks deceptively slim, Ridge says its wallets can carry up to 12 cards. The wallet uses elastic straps to expand its storage space when you add a card. If you like to have some green in your pocket, there’s an elastic strap on the back of the wallet to hold a bill or two. If you prefer a money clip, Ridge has an option for you. Owners of Apple products can add an AirTag cash strap to the back of the wallet for $17 extra.
How much does The Ridge Wallet cost?
The Ridge Wallet starts at $95 for the aluminum design with select designs on sale from $76. The leather and titanium models are available for $125 in a variety of finishes. The priciest Ridge Wallet is the one with the lightest material: Carbon fiber designs start at $150 a piece, though select models are on sale for $99. You can also bundle a Ridge Wallet with a Ridge Keycase and get a discount on both items together.
What I tested from The Ridge
Available in classic and MagSafe options, with a money clip or cash strap, this aluminum wallet features a durable sleek everyday look.
For a unique wallet that uses nontraditional materials, opt for this wood-paneled option from The Ridge.
The Ridge has you covered for dressier events as well, with two options in leather.
How did I test the Ridge Wallet?
All three of the wallets I tested featured the standard cash strap, but I also swapped the strap with an attachable money clip to compare how well each accessory held dollar bills. The Gunmetal and Mopane wallets were best fit for everyday use, while the leather model would be better suited to special occasions. Given I often put my keys in the same pocket as my wallet, I wanted to see how the Ridge models would last over a month with about three weeks dedicated to each wallet’s performance. I also compared the use of a Ridge with its standard cash strap to a Ridge with the money clip, seeing which minimalist bill holder was easier to use.
What I liked about the Ridge Wallet
The Ridge wallet is so compact that it barely fills the palm of your hand.
The slim minimalistic design is barely noticeable
The good news is that the Ridge is arguably the most minimalist wallet you can have in your pocket. At just 3.25 inches long and about 2.1 inches tall, the Ridge has an imprint only slightly bigger than the palm of my hand and is therefore barely noticeable in my pocket. It’s also light as a feather, weighing just two ounces without cards or cash, and still feeling near-weightless with essentials cards and a few bills inside it. It’s such an unobtrusive design that there were times when I thought I had left my wallet at home because I couldn’t feel anything in my pocket!
It’s easy to use
The addition of cards is also an easy process, only requiring a simple sliding into the center slot of the wallet. Said cards stay secure in the wallet thanks to the elastic strap that tightly holds both sides of the Ridge together. The strap also has a bottom portion to keep your cards from slipping out of the wallet. Whenever I needed a credit card, it was easy to push on the thumb-shaped indent and grab what I was looking for like a hand of playing cards. As long as I didn’t overload the Ridge with accessories, the cards slid in and out just fine.
The money clip is more convenient than the strap
While the included cash strap is meant to keep the wallet slim, I actually preferred the money clip on the back of the Ridge. It was easy to slide a few bills in and out of the clip so I had spare change for the subway or the toll booths without adding too much extra weight to the wallet. It may stick out more than the strap, but it didn’t make the Ridge any more noticeable in my pocket.
What I didn’t like about the Ridge Wallet
The Ridge may be slim, but that size makes it hard to access your credit cards.
It can be tough to find the card you need if you overfill it
Having previously tested (and owned) an Ekster wallet, switching to the Ridge was a big adjustment. While the brand boasts that the Ridge can hold up to 12 cards at once, that doesn’t mean the Ridge can hold them comfortably. In fact, I found it hard to access one card when there were about seven other cards in the Ridge because they were too tightly pressed together. I kept five cards in the Ridge at times and even then, it was annoying at first to fiddle between my plastic means of money for the one I was looking for. My advice? Keep your most used cards right at the front of the pile because those are easier to finagle out of the Ridge in any situation.
The cash strap is a chore to use
Since I mentioned my preference for the money clip earlier, I should point out my annoyance with the Ridge cash strap. It’s a chore to slide a few bills under the tight elastic and when you pull bills out, you either have to take it all out or none at all. Obviously, the point of the Ridge is for people who rarely carry cash, but it helps to keep a $5 bill or two in your pocket in case of emergencies or tips for a waiter. The Ridge cash strap was frustratingly difficult to use.
Is the Ridge Wallet worth it?
If you want the most minimalist wallet experience, the Ridge is the way to go.
Yes, especially if you don’t typically carry cash
The Ridge is as minimalist as any wallet could be outside of a standard money clip (or even a paperclip). It’s lightweight, slim, and can be customized to hold a couple of bills if you like to tip your favorite bartender. It also has a stripped-down style to it that’s great for those who keep things simple when out on the town.
Comparing it to the Ekster Parliament, though, shows that its simple design can also be less intuitive for users. With the Parliament, all you have to do is push a button on the wallet and your cards can pop out with ease. Plus there are other slits in the Ekster if you need more space for cards or other knickknacks. That may make the wallet bulkier in size, but it’s also more practical for daily use.
Slim wallets that are made from unique, durable materials and designed with functionality in mind.
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