Yeah, but that seem kind of redundant, since every high-speed low-drag operator worth their salt wears a plate carrier and a belt full of throwing knives at all times.
I have been carrying a ridge wallet everyday for 5 years now. It has been my favorite wallet. I transitioned to it from a bulky bi-fold that was always full of crap I didn’t need. Since I started carrying it I have not needed to organize and clean my wallet. It is a pain to go after the cards in the center but I don’t often pull out my insurance card, my carry permit or my bank card.
I went best of both worlds and bought a secrid hard wallet for my cards that has am attached leather flap that wraps around it for cash and ID super handy and I'm, loving it.
I've carried the Ridge Carbon Fiber for a while. I'll admit it's way too pricey for what it is, but I love the look and my back thanks me since I'm no longer sitting on a thick wallet in the back pocket.
I can easily see the advantages of a front pocket wallet but there are plenty of leather options for that style. I'm with Nick here; I just don't see the reason to use a hard wallet.
@@faretheewell3711 not yet, as far as I know. IIRC he told Olamic to take their time building his as he has so much going on right now and has enough gear to keep him occupied.
Have you seen the Trayvax accent? For me it feels like the best of both worlds. The reason I like hard wallets (or at least this one) is because they are more rigid. For me that makes them more comfortable in the pocket since they won’t bunch up or fold at all. My accent has an aluminum center that fulfills that need. It is then wrapped in leather to make it properly comfortable to touch and handle and honestly look nice. You gotta check it out.
Love my ridge wallet. Perfect retention no matter how much or how little you have in it . The most cards I’ve carried is 9. I have the money clip and cash strap on the same wallet. Can put my employee key card on the front to access all doors . ( if you put it inside the rfid blocker does its job.) I don’t carry a lot of cash since my paychecks are direct deposit. I couldn’t imagine going back to a bulky leather wallet. The one you’re showing is a horrible minimalist wallet . I can also keep a key in the cash strap. ( if you practice fanning out your cards it’s not difficult getting to them. The ones used most go first and last.)
Well I picked up the Jens Anso Matrix Credit Card Holder in the Cuprum colour and I’m thrilled. Front left pocket. It’s meticulously crafted, holds the cards in with a similar mechanism to a frame lock on a knife; the latest version is all 6AL4V titanium with the two sides held together with four screws- simplicity at its best. And the bluish tinge to the Cuprum Finish is gorgeous. Flicking out the cards is as much fun as flicking a knife. I could play with it all day. A bit pricey, but I highly recommend.
I switched to hard wallets a few years ago when I realized I was carrying more wallet than contents. It's the cheapest plastic hard wallet I could find ($12 I think) and it works great for me with just a couple of cards, an ID, and some cash. I like the minimalistic aspect of it. As always, thanks for your entertaining review.
I used the Trayvax Summit for almost a year and for $20 it’s the best way to find out if you like a hard wallet. It comfortably carried 6 cards including one thicker proximity card and could even slide in a few bills with the adjustable nylon strap, not elastic. Super light weight and having the footprint of a card is nice when pocket space is limited. At no point did I ever think that I was missing out not having a leather bifold and it absolutely worked for me. It’s really just preference and there’s no way I could go back to leather.
I have the Ridge Wallet in titanium. I prefer it over a traditional wallet mainly because it dries out way faster than leather/cordura/hemp simply by wiping with a towel or rag. The magnetic strip on the back of my cards used to wear out really fast on a traditional wallet whereas not so on my current wallet. In addition to pocket lint, I tend to get dirt and moisture in and on everything from being outdoors a lot (hiking, biking, etc). So it's a lot easier to clean everything up with a cloth or rag. RFID protective, and being a minimalist style, are also pros for me.
I never go above $40 when buying a wallet - minimalist, or otherwise. Any wallet from $40 to over $1,000 is pretty much a scam regardless of what they're made out of - especially minimalist ones that are about the size of a credit card and carrying brand names like Armani. I personally had to transition to a minimalist wallet that can fit my front pocket because I can't sit lopsided anymore with a normal fat back pocket wallet due to a bad back injury. In any case; a good argument for minimalist wallets is that it forces you to not carry too much junk around that larger wallets are prone to end up with over time. When I transferred the essential stuff to a more compact EDC, I suddenly realized I actually had been carrying around at least 5 years worth of junk in my original wallet. The most "expensive" wallet I ever bought is a Rugged Material Ranger steel wallet that doubles as a multi-tool and costs around $36. Is very sturdy, and supposedly (according to them) heirloom quality.
I have a Trayvax axis that cost me $40 or so. It changed my world! lol. I love it because it’s adjustable to my personal capacity and it seems to be able to adjust enough to accommodate most people. The “great” for me is how EASY it is to adjust. To make it tighter you simply pull on the paracord to cinch it up. Loosening it’s just about as easy. If you use the cash clip like it’s meant to be used, it’s very secure. There’s also a small “pocket” woven into the strap that can fit small objects like a coin, key, or the like. Nick, I know you don’t prefer hard wallets and like you said, it’s personal preference with these things. However I have a feeling that if you were to review it, you’d be able to at least see why so many people carry it didn’t turn you away from leather. It’s a gem for me! Try to check one out.
I disagree. I like the hard wallets. I was able to cut down on all of the junk that used to collect in my traditional wallet. I also have less back pain from sitting on a big leather wallet all day... Enjoyed the video, as always. Keep up the good work!
I use one of these which I liked better then a hard wallet. Travelambo RFID Front Pocket Minimalist Slim Wallet Genuine Leather Small Size (01 carbon fiber texture black) www.amazon.com/dp/B073CY8C8Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fzBpCbQSW7VTA
Nick, really enjoy your views on knives and the other items you review. I've had a Hell-Bent kydex wallet for over a year now and I really love it. They have different sizes but mine holds about eight cards and has a money clip on the outside that is removable that I don't use too often. I like the wallet because it is very slim and slides in and out of my pocket easily. The corners are beveled so there is no poking. The kydex doesn't scratch anything and I have not had any problem with it being noisy. You are correct about accessibility of the cards on the bottom but this usually isn't a problem for me. Just my experience.
If you ever decide to start hosting infomercials I will be there for it without a doubt. You could be the next Billy Mays. Entertaining and informative.
I switched to a hard sandwich style wallet about a year ago. And it was the best thing I ever did. It saves space in my pocket. And prevents me from collecting stuff i dont need. When i was moving things from my leather wallet to my new one it was crazy how much junk i had in there i didnt need. Plus there are alot of budget options that are under $20 I think I payed $15 for mine and its held up well in the last year. Keys go on a carabiner that clip to my belt loop. Knife on the right and wallet in the left front. It pretty easy
I've been using a hellbent holsters kydex clamshell style wallet for about 4 years now and love it. Goes in my front left pocket and since it is a clamshell i can stuff cash in the open side. The top right corner is notched out so you can fan out cards to get at the lower ones. By FAR my favorite wallet ever!
I have been carrying an Fireti Omega Wallet for 5 Years now, since I swapped the NBR O-Rings for silicone ones there is not much swapping needed. Lives in my right front pocket with my keys, Fenix E15 and a Victorinox Alox Solo. Sweet EDC right there.
I grew tired of carrying a thick, bulky leather wallet with random receipts in it. I wanted to reduce my wallet footprint and briefly considered a Ridge wallet, but was put off due to the high price relative to minimal inexpensive materials. I then found a Trayvax Contour wallet which is still expensive, but at least feels more worthy of the price than the Ridge. It's made of metal and leather, best of both worlds, and it keeps me limited to only putting cards and money in my wallet. And it's much smaller than a regular wallet with tons of crap in it. I love it, you should check them out. I just don't tell anyone how much I spent on it.
I absolutely agree. I've never had a hard wallet albeit, but everything you pointed out is why I haven't purchased one. I've seen them blowing up and I have no desire to carry one. If they work for you I'm glad, they just aren't for me.
As a middle aged, middle America man... I’ve tried quite a few wallets in my quest to seek out the ‘perfect’ solution for my card and cash carrying needs. One in particular that I’ve landed on and have stuck with for quite a little while is the Bellroy Card Pocket. If you searching for something compact, sturdy and secure... I’d recommend giving it a shot. You can find in on Amazon (hassle free return policy) or directly through Bellroy’s website.
I use a kydex wallet like a mini chalk board with chalk pens for shopping lists or quick notes for work. Chalk pen slides up the side of the wallet. Wipes off with wet wipes. Wallet also holds a small edc blade on the other side and has a money clip . Ends up being less bulky than a leather wallet and as far as function it earns its keep in my daily arsenal.
Completely agree. A soft leather wallet just carries better than another rigid rectangle in my pocket. My phone is already big and heavy in my right pocket, so I keep my knife and wallet in the left.
To each his own, I suppose - but you couldn't pry me away from my Hell Bent Holsters Kydex wallet. Unfortunate high speed, low drag name; but it's all I'll ever carry. It's flexible enough for a little overstuffing & works well with only a few cards. Most importantly, it prevents the overstuffed, meatloaf-sized leather wallets I carried before.
For at least the last 10 years, I've been using a simple vinyl card holder, the samsill 81000. Costs $5, lasts a few years, then I wear it out and replace it.
I love my trayvax contour. It’s hard and I carry it in my front pocket. Absolutely love it but that’s why we have so many options. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
Good points brought up. I have carried that model for 4 months now. For pros I would say that the overall footprint is great compared to the traditional bifold/trifold wallets. It is great to carry in a front pocket with keys. It helped me streamline what I do carry. I had way too many business cards/expired coupons. My biggest gripe is the ability to carry cash. I have been carrying the bills folded in fours and tucked on the back. There is no good way to get to a specific bill. There is no good way to get the cash back to its spot. I have found myself fumbling a lot with it. Is there a wallet/brand you'd reccomend for $60 or less?
I made my own hard wallet out of a beautiful hunk of mahogany. Instead of elastic I cut a cross section from an old bicycle tube. If wear starts to show on the rubber I just cut a new slice off the tube. There’s not a sharp edge on the thing, it’s not going to damage anything, I made it from scrap so it was free - and the main advantage to it is the tiny pocket footprint. I love mine anyways!
I agree I wouldn't want a hard slab of metal in my pocket as other things may get damaged. I have been carrying a Trove wallet for a few years now and that has been great, very small form factor but you can put in a few bills in there as well and has lots of room for cards but also tight if only a few cards in there. Worth having a look at if you want to go small.
very nice review. because i was still carrying a checkbook before covid, i chose a long wallet that can carry a checkbook. it fits nicely in my front pocket, even with a knife on a clip. i like that folding money doesn't need to be folded. with covid firmly entrenched, i now only use my credit card when i have to shop in person.
I switched over to an inexpensive shell wallet with accordion insides, which allow me to carry id, insurance cards, and such. I agree that the hard wallets are a hassle when combined with phones and pocket knives. I switched as I kept struggling to re-organize my super slim leather wallet every time one of the kids had a doctor's appointment. Also, the version I bought was around $10, and I know it won't last forever.
I got small Ogon Design wallet the other day, if it still counts as the type of hard wallet you refer to. My ID card broken in the pocket the other day, so I took an action and bought one. Is it an improvement? I wouldn't say so, but it's not a downgrade from soft wallet either. It has a bonus points for RFID protection and light element protection, also for conveinient compartments. I will, however, take few points away for being more abrasive to my trousers, simply because it's an aluminum case. Paint wears off fairly quiclky on the edges but for me it's just the aging which makes it less attractive. It might not be aesthetically pleasing for everyone, so no points here.
I've had 2 different wallets from EOS over the last 5 years. I had an original version and upgraded to the 2.5 last year around Christmas. I love them. I carry 9 cards in it and the o rings hold up great and have always lasted longer than a year. I think the cards are easy to access as you can fan them out once deployed and the bottle opener comes in handy. Cash is held on the back with the deep carry clip and I've never had an issue with it's retention even with only 1 bill.
A wallet with an elastic band or a metal clip is a non-starter for me. I've been carrying a cheap Dopp Getaway front pocket wallet for at least a decade now. They usually last at least a few years and when they do wear out I just buy another for about $15.
Ive been carrying a Trayvax Axis for 3 years now and i love it. I was looking for a slimmer wallet that would fit in my front pocket easier. I had always used a cloth or leather wallet and hated both sitting on it or trying to cram it into my front pocket. The Axis isnt lighter than my previous wallets being made of 2 pieces of SS but it does what i want it to do. I also dont have many cards and rarely carry cash.
I used two different kinds of hard wallets (Fantom and Cascade) and both really helped me reduce what I carried everyday to exactly what I needed. Ultimately, I went with with a slim leather wallet that had a functional money clip.
I agree. I've carried the Travax Original for the last couple of years. I won't do a hard wallet again. I wish I had a dollar for every time i got my finger caught in the hook! The Recycled Firefighter wallet looks pretty sweet; or maybe the Das Offene Meer Topsider.
After 3 years with the flipside wallet and recently getting the latest one I will never use a leather wallet again. It flips open with a spring and has three separate layers for your cards and money. And one you can attach externally for quick use for three cards you use most. People constantly ask me what it is.
Have one made of kydex. Mine has a money clip on the back. I've had it at least 4 years now and it looks like new still. I like the thinness of it. May not be perfect but I'll take it over any leather one I've had.
the advantages are that they are smaller and fit in the front pocket of jeans and the metal ones protect you from card cloning wich do happen check out the secrid ones with the button i keep both bills and coins on it and it's smaller than my previous wallet and the cards are easy to get to even when i'm wearing gloves
I drive a truck for a living and the problem I would have with a regular wallet is that over time my cards would end up with a split right where the top of the card pocket is. I bought a cheap one of these for my work related cards and keep it in the cup holder. I haven’t had anything break since. So for me I like them, but I would never overspend for one, I got mine off of eBay.
I went from a trifold to a bifold to a non folding leather wallet, and still hated it. I always have an issue with how bulky wallets are. On top of that, I hate leather in my EDC as I like to spend time outside in Texas on 110F days, and the sweat kills the leather. I've been using a Magpul polymer wallet and it has worked great for me.
man i completely agree. this looks better for access than the taco style hard wallet i tried but you really nailed it. after 2 days i stopped carrying this thing. the different footprint ended up being worse. sharp edges. hard. sits in the bottom of my pocket jabbing me. i completely had to rearrange everything in my pockets. i still carry cash. i hate beat up bills and having to fold them 3 times. so that clip sucked. i hated it at the bottom of my pocket jabbing my leg, scratching my phone case, banging against my cigarette case, jabbing me when i reached all the way down to pull it out, slowly pop a card or cash out, put it back. i felt like a clown. i used the money clip for a pocket clip so now i had this jumbo pocket clip sitting at the top of my pocket and a hard scratchy wallet for every time i wanted to reach into my pocket. so yeah they are not for me. leather bi fold for me. i tried the long wallet also but didnt like it
With you on the pricing but I really enjoy my trayvax ascent. No elastic band and a blend of metal and nice leather which is much better for the soul as we all know! But most of all it made me think about what I really needed and so I no longer carry a wad of trash wrapped in leather in my back pocket 😁
I really enjoy slim minimalist wallets but I'll always go leather. No metal, no elastic. I went small because my older bi/trifolds were literally a pain in the ass, why would I put a hard piece of metal in my pocket?
I can understand the objections: rubber band wears out, hard against hard, capacity. OTOH, I quite enjoy a "Multi-Holster BMT with Money Clip" ~$40. No elastic, easy access for any card, sufficient capacity. Makes perfect sense for front pocket carry. Been carrying mine for years and it seems indestructible and convenient. Got mine in faux red carbon fiber but there are choices to suit any taste on their website or Amazon.
I can’t tell you how many times I almost jumped on these types of wallets!!!! Luckily I bought my 1st fully custom leather woods bag,day hike satchel from a well known leather crafter who since, I worked him on other bags,slings,knife sheath and he heard I was searching for a front pocket bi fold in distressed tan leather and he nailed it to the T! This is going to be passed along when I’m no longer around. So yes,eye candy is real and the marketers will tirelessly flood us with whatever it is searched one time. Getting to know a custom maker weather in steel or kydex,leather who sets them self up with tools and knowledge of all thongs related to their trade is where I go to. Gamber’s Leather. Crafting
hey nick, new viewer here. i too have a prejudice when i comes to hard wallets. ever since my mother bought one of those infomercial alumawallets for Christmas. it was hate at first sight. RFID skimming is not a real threat in my opinion, so hard wallets never appealed to me over the function and form of nice leather ones. all of this is a roundabout way of asking which leather wallets to do you like? bi-fold vs tri-fold etc. is there a review up of your personal wallet of choice or one that you recommend?
I've had the same Flowfold tri-fold wallet for about 3 years now and it looks the exact same now as when I bought it. They're made of sail cloth and they're made in the USA with a life time warranty. They're also very thin, especially compared to leather. I would definitely recommend anyone who likes a more traditional style wallet but wants fancy durable material to check them out. I never got into metal wallets.
My God, thank you Nick! I'm of the minimal EDC mindset. I prefer things to disappear in my pockets, I'm not a fan of bulk. I've never understood why you would want another hard object in your pockets when there's already a knife and phone. Leather for life.
I love mine. Somehow I find myself ridiculously hard on wallets; even the best leather wallets last me about 10 months max, which is why I switched to a hard wallet (two 1/8" thick pieces of carbon fiber with an elastic band) that has now lasted me two years. Bonus points are that it's super small so it doesn't make an uncomfortable pocket lump, doesn't absorb water, and I no longer have a reason to "clean out" my wallet every couple months because it doesn't tend to accumulate useless cards I don't actually need.
Have a box full of leather , minimalist,front pocket wallets. Keep returning to my BigSkinny wallet.I have a normal billfold one (thin grippy ....nylon ???) that has held up for 5+ years and even when packed it's slim as anything.
I moved away from the bifold leather wallet when I started leaving it at home and putting just 3 cards in my pocket. The bifold is to bulky collects junk and frankly about 3/4 of the stuff in it I only reach for about once a year. I bought a Travax wallet and haven't looked back. I can see your point on the cost of some of them however I personally have had about 4 leather bifolds that just didn't stand the test of time and each one cost at least $40.
Been using a hard wallet for just over a year, great for cards not so good for cash. I have an Eos. I do keep my phone and hard wallet keys and knife in separate pockets, cargo shorts. So wallet always go right knee pocket etc. Wallets are like knives you can go kershaw or shirogorov its a choice gnat fits your style.
Totally agree, Nick. Leather is more comfortable, more beautiful, and much easier to organize. Who really wants to search for three-times folder US currency when you you can slide them into the money sleeve and have instant access. And, of course, I don’t want to have to pull out all my cards and sort through each time I want to pull one out. And who puts a wallet in a back pocket anymore. Much less secure and comfortable back there. Move it to a front pocket guys and go with leather.
Personally i carry a Secrid/Figuretta kinda wallet. its part hard wallet and part leather. It gets rid of most of the issues you listed and maybe you should check one of them out Nick. Capacity is still limited, true, but I'm not sure you're doing things right if you have more than 10 cards in your wallet.
I'll just stick with a good quality leather wallet over the hard sided ones. They work better in my opinion. I tend to prefer a trifold since I have to carry additional cards and IDs in my job and life and I like them to have a small coin pouch which makes finding a coin that not imported from the UK a little hard to find, but that coin pouch now nicely holds my Leatherman Squirt and other small items while taking up minimal space, since I no longer need to hold 1 and 2 pound coins. I just never seen a hard sided wallet that worth the downsides.
I work in a mechanical/assembly environment and because I am crawling all over equipment I tend to keep breaking the cards in my wallet. The leather also absorbs the smell from solvents and oils. The Flipside has been good in preventing these problems so far as well as always being the same size so it always takes up the same amount of room in the pocket of choice. The fact that it is RFID secure is a bonus plus you can open this wallet and tap the scanner without having to remove the card from the wallet since I use one credit card and one air miles card 90% of the time. There is also an internal divider to flip to access ID. My only regret is that it is sized to fit American money and most foreign currency will not fit without double folding. They keep promising that an international model is coming out but I have been waiting years on that promise.
I had carried a kydex wallet from metalxmfg and i loved it for a long time. Only complaint i had was it rubbed the marking on one of my cards after a lot of use. One thing i did love was it made me only carry what i really needed and the maker is awesome for any customization and assistance. I switched to a minimalist leather wallet mainly because my taste changed. I much prefer kydex over the metal ones. Another bonus was the kydex one a holster style sheath for a knife i liked at the time
I very much agree with you Nick. I really wanted to like them and I've tried a few but everytime I found them to be more cumbersome and time consuming then anything else. That being said I do like minimalist wallets to carry the essentials and I recently picked up the Dango Stealth Wallet and it is absolutely perfect for carry roughly six cards and cash.
Absolutely a non-starter for me too: I either carry my wallet in a front or breast pocket. Also have phone, house/office keys, car or motorcycle keys, pocket knife, and handkerchief in front pockets. Sometimes I also have a torch, although this is usually attached to my belt; similarly with multitools. Never carry anything other than the odd hairband in my back pockets because I find it uncomfortable and it makes sitting down awkward because I need to remove whatever's in my back pockets, especially if it's a hard object, and I might not necessarily want to do that with a wallet. I also tend to find that things kept in back pockets have a way of working themselves out of the pocket as I move around throughout the day - not ideal with any object, but especially not a wallet. I *hate* - and I mean really, properly despise with every fibre of my being - hip/thigh and other pockets in stupid locations on trousers: not only are they uncomfortable but they invariably rob you of any sense of style and make you look like your mum dresses you. So, again, not a viable location for a wallet.
You need to try the flip side wallet, its a hard wallet and I was not a fan of hard wallets but this thing is amazing, real easy to get your cards out, has a place for your DL and a money clip built inside the wallet. Plus you can get an attachment for the outside that can house business cards or even more CC or cash, its amazing. Never though I would like a had side minimalist wallet. Seriously go check it out.
Trayvax Axis. 14 card capacity and held together with easily relplaceable 550 cord and a nylon strap. I recommend this to any and all. Even has a readily accessible money clip for those that have cash left over from this hobby.
Quality leather wallets with several layers are also often thicker than hard wallets. Hard wallets also keep business cards and other cards, especially paper cards and receipts nice and crisp. Leather wallets always bend the corners/edges. And I end up embarrassingly handing over a beaten up business card. I could carry a business card holder, but that's just another thing to carry. I love my Spectrum Energetics wallet, works great for me.
Oh those are frogs, sounds like aliens doing laundry in your backyard. No wallets for me, I don't even play that jam, just a card-protector or two. There's a company called *paperwallet* that makes some nice slim and micro carriers.
I've been using a hard wallet for sometime now. Tried a few and never had an issue with any of them. Have had a a few of em for at the very least 5 years. I definitely agree on the o ring thing. Those things are annoying.
I use a small leather business card holder. It doesn’t know it’s holding my ID, credit and debit cards vs business cards and it’s nice and small, perfect for a front pocket carry.
The thinner and more flexible the better imho. I’ve been using $15 tyvek wallets for about 5 years now. Thin, light, expandable and waterproof plus they’re easily recycled.
What do you carry in your left pocket? Sounds to me like a personal carry issue more than a hard wallet issue. Which you said it’s opinion and I can respect that. They do put pockets on both sides of the pants, brother. Lol
At least in the UK you want the RFID shielding naturally comes with a metal wallet because of the prevalence of contactless cards. Although I admit I have a leather wallet that's very similar to the metal ones (single stack of cards that slide out etc) but that has RFID shielding too.
Nick have you heard of SECRID wallets? They’re huge in Europe and they’re 60€ (like $75?) and they’re really good. they fit 6 cards comfortably in their metal case which completely envelops the cards and pushed them out with a plastic trigger. They also have a leather shell which can fit another 4 cards if necessary and has a place for cash. Check them out for the best of both worlds
I've found hard wallets to be thin, but I honestly haven't tried many normal wallets other than cheap ones from Walmart. Maybe take a look at the DM1? It tends to wears out the edges of cards over time and is pretty pricy, but I've been using it for 2 years and love it. Just a single piece of machined aluminum (or titanium) that holds cards in like a hard drive enclosure. It definitely has a lot of the issues you've mentioned here but I mostly like it for the size and design. Subjectivity is involved :)
It's not my thing but Home Depot has one of these type of wallets for $8.00. It's made out of metal and has a miniature rubber bungee cord that provides the compression for the contents.
The EZGO wallet is actually damn nice. It’s hard, but everything is right there where it needs to be, and that’s pretty nice for me. There’s a slot for quite a bit of cash, a good two card slots, some SD card slots for people who do that kind of thing, and since my work has an RFID opener that I must use, I slap the thing on the reader and it lets me in. It’s not for everyone, and I honestly got more comments on my homemade paper wallet, but I kinda like it, and since I use Apple Pay, Walmart pay, etc, I don’t find myself having to use the darn thing too often. In regards to interesting not high speed low drag wallets, look at Flowfold. Their wallets are super strong. I’ve used a couple of their wallets and thoroughly enjoyed them.
I like a good quality woven nylon/velcro wallet. Swiss gear makes a great and functional one. Cheap, so I can replace them as they look worn or dirty. Wallets aren’t gear to me, they are more equivalent to a garment.
Man...no. I honestly have no idea how I carried a traditional style wallet for as long as I did. I got lucky about 9 years ago and my mom got me a slip clip. Changed my life. Purchased hard/front pocket wallets ever sense
The only hard wallet I enjoy, was the Secrid wallet, but it was encased in leather. While it was functionally better than a traditional wallet, it was not comfortable to sit on.
I've carried a Ridge wallet with an external cash strap for years now, its been thrashed & I g'tee the elastic straps on it will outlive many leather wallets. Further, the straps are replaceable & I have spares, sonI doubt I'll ever need a new wallet ever again ever. I absolutely won't ever go back to leather, I like the more assured RFID protection (yes, scan scamming does occur, especially when traveling overseas) & most of what you gripe about here are not issues on my particular wallet, further, my daily carry setup is different to yours from what you described in the vid..... in saying all of that, its horses for courses obviously & I think given how you carry your probably not the person who will ever enjoy a hard wallet, so its a good decision to not review them. Cheers
Still prefer my Vanquest VAULT 2.0 RFID-Blocking Security Wallet... A little over $20... Small enough to put in a front pocket... Holds plenty of cards and cash... Made of 1000-D Cordura... Nice touch is that it has a pocket on the outside for a security card if you need to scan in to get in at work, otherwise it won't work if you have it inside the wallet...
I have owned that same Machine Era titanium wallet and have not had those same issues you speak of. The wallet itself is very light and it has stabbed me 0 times. It is true that it will fight your other EDC items, but if you are like me then you will only have your knife and wallet in the same place and the wallet sits low enough into my pocket that it never knocks into the knife. I will agree that it is only good for carrying cards and not cash since the cash sticks out of the wallet too far.
I love my the Ridge wallet. Fits any amount of cards and even some cash securely. However it's eating through my pockets because of the sharp edges. So I've been looking for a "soft" alternative for quite a while now and didn't find anything yet.
The biggest advantage that you kind of glossed over compared to the wallet you’re using is sheer size in the pocket. I don’t want to carry a wallet in my back pocket, and carrying something the size of that leather one you have in my front pocket would drive me crazy. I’ve been using a Decadent Minimalist DM1 wallet for a year now, and I adore it. Can’t imagine going back to a standard wallet. Far more functional than the Ridge Wallet or this one in the video. I can access any card (up to 12) easily in a couple of seconds.
In a way he addressed this when he mentioned the Anti-Gear Anti-Wallet at 2:33. While he was talking about price, it is an example of a soft wallet that has the same size advantage of many hard wallets.
I've carried a couple of different hard wallets and they are a cool concept but I have 3 main complaints. After carrying one for a long time it would wear an exact print into my pants where it sat and actually created holes in my pant pocket. They often make it harder to carry more than 3-5 bills. And they often have a specific number of cards that fit well in them if you carry fewer cards than what it's designed for it's no good or more it's no good
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in a high-speed low-drag tactical situation, hard wallets can be used to deflect bullets and as thrown weapons.
Yeah, but that seem kind of redundant, since every high-speed low-drag operator worth their salt wears a plate carrier and a belt full of throwing knives at all times.
@@Judgement_Kazzy Sure, but what do you think that plate carrier is filled with? Metal wallets, that's what.
Exactly. You get it. Lol
Mind blown Now I need to re-evaluate
Lol
I have been carrying a ridge wallet everyday for 5 years now. It has been my favorite wallet. I transitioned to it from a bulky bi-fold that was always full of crap I didn’t need. Since I started carrying it I have not needed to organize and clean my wallet. It is a pain to go after the cards in the center but I don’t often pull out my insurance card, my carry permit or my bank card.
The ridge is without a doubt an awesome minimalist wallet
You don’t often need to grab your debit card? Hmm so it works well as long as you don’t need to grab the cards out very often. Noted, pass
sharpshizz I get my cards out often with my trayvax contour and it’s not an issue. Nick picked about the worse hard wallet to dog on.
@@sharpshizz with all the payment methods on your phones you almost don't need one, at least not often.
Ridge ftw love it sturdy n has outlived any wallet I have ever owned plus so easy to get cards out
I went best of both worlds and bought a secrid hard wallet for my cards that has am attached leather flap that wraps around it for cash and ID super handy and I'm, loving it.
I've carried the Ridge Carbon Fiber for a while. I'll admit it's way too pricey for what it is, but I love the look and my back thanks me since I'm no longer sitting on a thick wallet in the back pocket.
I can easily see the advantages of a front pocket wallet but there are plenty of leather options for that style. I'm with Nick here; I just don't see the reason to use a hard wallet.
Carrying a wallet in your rear pocket is a bad idea. It's bad for you since you sit on it all the time. It can get stolen extremely easily as well
Seeing that old Busker made me sad 😭
Thats what i thought
RIP original Busker
This was filmed that long ago? I thought he got a replacement?
@@faretheewell3711 not yet, as far as I know. IIRC he told Olamic to take their time building his as he has so much going on right now and has enough gear to keep him occupied.
Have you seen the Trayvax accent? For me it feels like the best of both worlds. The reason I like hard wallets (or at least this one) is because they are more rigid. For me that makes them more comfortable in the pocket since they won’t bunch up or fold at all. My accent has an aluminum center that fulfills that need. It is then wrapped in leather to make it properly comfortable to touch and handle and honestly look nice. You gotta check it out.
Love my ridge wallet. Perfect retention no matter how much or how little you have in it . The most cards I’ve carried is 9. I have the money clip and cash strap on the same wallet. Can put my employee key card on the front to access all doors . ( if you put it inside the rfid blocker does its job.) I don’t carry a lot of cash since my paychecks are direct deposit. I couldn’t imagine going back to a bulky leather wallet. The one you’re showing is a horrible minimalist wallet . I can also keep a key in the cash strap. ( if you practice fanning out your cards it’s not difficult getting to them. The ones used most go first and last.)
Well I picked up the Jens Anso Matrix Credit Card Holder in the Cuprum colour and I’m thrilled. Front left pocket. It’s meticulously crafted, holds the cards in with a similar mechanism to a frame lock on a knife; the latest version is all 6AL4V titanium with the two sides held together with four screws- simplicity at its best. And the bluish tinge to the Cuprum Finish is gorgeous. Flicking out the cards is as much fun as flicking a knife. I could play with it all day. A bit pricey, but I highly recommend.
How does one apply for the 'Freakin' Centurion Card"? 😂
I switched to hard wallets a few years ago when I realized I was carrying more wallet than contents. It's the cheapest plastic hard wallet I could find ($12 I think) and it works great for me with just a couple of cards, an ID, and some cash. I like the minimalistic aspect of it. As always, thanks for your entertaining review.
I used the Trayvax Summit for almost a year and for $20 it’s the best way to find out if you like a hard wallet. It comfortably carried 6 cards including one thicker proximity card and could even slide in a few bills with the adjustable nylon strap, not elastic. Super light weight and having the footprint of a card is nice when pocket space is limited. At no point did I ever think that I was missing out not having a leather bifold and it absolutely worked for me. It’s really just preference and there’s no way I could go back to leather.
I have the Ridge Wallet in titanium. I prefer it over a traditional wallet mainly because it dries out way faster than leather/cordura/hemp simply by wiping with a towel or rag. The magnetic strip on the back of my cards used to wear out really fast on a traditional wallet whereas not so on my current wallet. In addition to pocket lint, I tend to get dirt and moisture in and on everything from being outdoors a lot (hiking, biking, etc). So it's a lot easier to clean everything up with a cloth or rag. RFID protective, and being a minimalist style, are also pros for me.
I never go above $40 when buying a wallet - minimalist, or otherwise. Any wallet from $40 to over $1,000 is pretty much a scam regardless of what they're made out of - especially minimalist ones that are about the size of a credit card and carrying brand names like Armani. I personally had to transition to a minimalist wallet that can fit my front pocket because I can't sit lopsided anymore with a normal fat back pocket wallet due to a bad back injury.
In any case; a good argument for minimalist wallets is that it forces you to not carry too much junk around that larger wallets are prone to end up with over time. When I transferred the essential stuff to a more compact EDC, I suddenly realized I actually had been carrying around at least 5 years worth of junk in my original wallet.
The most "expensive" wallet I ever bought is a Rugged Material Ranger steel wallet that doubles as a multi-tool and costs around $36. Is very sturdy, and supposedly (according to them) heirloom quality.
I have a Trayvax axis that cost me $40 or so. It changed my world! lol. I love it because it’s adjustable to my personal capacity and it seems to be able to adjust enough to accommodate most people. The “great” for me is how EASY it is to adjust. To make it tighter you simply pull on the paracord to cinch it up. Loosening it’s just about as easy. If you use the cash clip like it’s meant to be used, it’s very secure. There’s also a small “pocket” woven into the strap that can fit small objects like a coin, key, or the like. Nick, I know you don’t prefer hard wallets and like you said, it’s personal preference with these things. However I have a feeling that if you were to review it, you’d be able to at least see why so many people carry it didn’t turn you away from leather. It’s a gem for me! Try to check one out.
Trayvax Accent for me, love that company. I use their cinch belt for my concealed carry belt.
eric hughey Iv always been curious about their belts. I’m gonna give it a try.
do it!! great strong belt yet very low profile.@@charlesmanning6218
eric hughey Got the belt! Love it! Thank you.
I disagree. I like the hard wallets. I was able to cut down on all of the junk that used to collect in my traditional wallet. I also have less back pain from sitting on a big leather wallet all day... Enjoyed the video, as always. Keep up the good work!
I use one of these which I liked better then a hard wallet. Travelambo RFID Front Pocket Minimalist Slim Wallet Genuine Leather Small Size (01 carbon fiber texture black) www.amazon.com/dp/B073CY8C8Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fzBpCbQSW7VTA
I’ve carried the ridge for 4 years . Love it
Nick, really enjoy your views on knives and the other items you review. I've had a Hell-Bent kydex wallet for over a year now and I really love it. They have different sizes but mine holds about eight cards and has a money clip on the outside that is removable that I don't use too often. I like the wallet because it is very slim and slides in and out of my pocket easily. The corners are beveled so there is no poking. The kydex doesn't scratch anything and I have not had any problem with it being noisy. You are correct about accessibility of the cards on the bottom but this usually isn't a problem for me. Just my experience.
If you ever decide to start hosting infomercials I will be there for it without a doubt. You could be the next Billy Mays. Entertaining and informative.
I switched to a hard sandwich style wallet about a year ago. And it was the best thing I ever did. It saves space in my pocket. And prevents me from collecting stuff i dont need. When i was moving things from my leather wallet to my new one it was crazy how much junk i had in there i didnt need. Plus there are alot of budget options that are under $20 I think I payed $15 for mine and its held up well in the last year. Keys go on a carabiner that clip to my belt loop. Knife on the right and wallet in the left front. It pretty easy
I'm with you Nick! I ordered myself a good old Italian leather wallet.
I've been using a hellbent holsters kydex clamshell style wallet for about 4 years now and love it. Goes in my front left pocket and since it is a clamshell i can stuff cash in the open side. The top right corner is notched out so you can fan out cards to get at the lower ones. By FAR my favorite wallet ever!
I have been carrying an Fireti Omega Wallet for 5 Years now, since I swapped the NBR O-Rings for silicone ones there is not much swapping needed. Lives in my right front pocket with my keys, Fenix E15 and a Victorinox Alox Solo. Sweet EDC right there.
I grew tired of carrying a thick, bulky leather wallet with random receipts in it. I wanted to reduce my wallet footprint and briefly considered a Ridge wallet, but was put off due to the high price relative to minimal inexpensive materials. I then found a Trayvax Contour wallet which is still expensive, but at least feels more worthy of the price than the Ridge. It's made of metal and leather, best of both worlds, and it keeps me limited to only putting cards and money in my wallet. And it's much smaller than a regular wallet with tons of crap in it. I love it, you should check them out. I just don't tell anyone how much I spent on it.
I absolutely agree. I've never had a hard wallet albeit, but everything you pointed out is why I haven't purchased one. I've seen them blowing up and I have no desire to carry one. If they work for you I'm glad, they just aren't for me.
As a middle aged, middle America man... I’ve tried quite a few wallets in my quest to seek out the ‘perfect’ solution for my card and cash carrying needs. One in particular that I’ve landed on and have stuck with for quite a little while is the Bellroy Card Pocket. If you searching for something compact, sturdy and secure... I’d recommend giving it a shot. You can find in on Amazon (hassle free return policy) or directly through Bellroy’s website.
I use a kydex wallet like a mini chalk board with chalk pens for shopping lists or quick notes for work. Chalk pen slides up the side of the wallet. Wipes off with wet wipes. Wallet also holds a small edc blade on the other side and has a money clip . Ends up being less bulky than a leather wallet and as far as function it earns its keep in my daily arsenal.
Completely agree. A soft leather wallet just carries better than another rigid rectangle in my pocket. My phone is already big and heavy in my right pocket, so I keep my knife and wallet in the left.
To each his own, I suppose - but you couldn't pry me away from my Hell Bent Holsters Kydex wallet. Unfortunate high speed, low drag name; but it's all I'll ever carry. It's flexible enough for a little overstuffing & works well with only a few cards. Most importantly, it prevents the overstuffed, meatloaf-sized leather wallets I carried before.
I carry the medium Hellbent in gray. Works great for front pocket and now my bank cards dont snap
Black medium here...sooo good
For at least the last 10 years, I've been using a simple vinyl card holder, the samsill 81000. Costs $5, lasts a few years, then I wear it out and replace it.
I love my trayvax contour. It’s hard and I carry it in my front pocket. Absolutely love it but that’s why we have so many options. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
Good points brought up. I have carried that model for 4 months now. For pros I would say that the overall footprint is great compared to the traditional bifold/trifold wallets. It is great to carry in a front pocket with keys. It helped me streamline what I do carry. I had way too many business cards/expired coupons.
My biggest gripe is the ability to carry cash. I have been carrying the bills folded in fours and tucked on the back. There is no good way to get to a specific bill. There is no good way to get the cash back to its spot. I have found myself fumbling a lot with it.
Is there a wallet/brand you'd reccomend for $60 or less?
I made my own hard wallet out of a beautiful hunk of mahogany. Instead of elastic I cut a cross section from an old bicycle tube. If wear starts to show on the rubber I just cut a new slice off the tube. There’s not a sharp edge on the thing, it’s not going to damage anything, I made it from scrap so it was free - and the main advantage to it is the tiny pocket footprint. I love mine anyways!
I agree I wouldn't want a hard slab of metal in my pocket as other things may get damaged. I have been carrying a Trove wallet for a few years now and that has been great, very small form factor but you can put in a few bills in there as well and has lots of room for cards but also tight if only a few cards in there. Worth having a look at if you want to go small.
very nice review. because i was still carrying a checkbook before covid, i chose a long wallet that can carry a checkbook. it fits nicely in my front pocket, even with a knife on a clip. i like that folding money doesn't need to be folded. with covid firmly entrenched, i now only use my credit card when i have to shop in person.
I switched over to an inexpensive shell wallet with accordion insides, which allow me to carry id, insurance cards, and such. I agree that the hard wallets are a hassle when combined with phones and pocket knives. I switched as I kept struggling to re-organize my super slim leather wallet every time one of the kids had a doctor's appointment. Also, the version I bought was around $10, and I know it won't last forever.
I got small Ogon Design wallet the other day, if it still counts as the type of hard wallet you refer to. My ID card broken in the pocket the other day, so I took an action and bought one. Is it an improvement? I wouldn't say so, but it's not a downgrade from soft wallet either. It has a bonus points for RFID protection and light element protection, also for conveinient compartments. I will, however, take few points away for being more abrasive to my trousers, simply because it's an aluminum case. Paint wears off fairly quiclky on the edges but for me it's just the aging which makes it less attractive. It might not be aesthetically pleasing for everyone, so no points here.
I've had 2 different wallets from EOS over the last 5 years. I had an original version and upgraded to the 2.5 last year around Christmas. I love them. I carry 9 cards in it and the o rings hold up great and have always lasted longer than a year. I think the cards are easy to access as you can fan them out once deployed and the bottle opener comes in handy. Cash is held on the back with the deep carry clip and I've never had an issue with it's retention even with only 1 bill.
Also I might have a titanium addiction lol.
A wallet with an elastic band or a metal clip is a non-starter for me. I've been carrying a cheap Dopp Getaway front pocket wallet for at least a decade now. They usually last at least a few years and when they do wear out I just buy another for about $15.
Ive been carrying a Trayvax Axis for 3 years now and i love it. I was looking for a slimmer wallet that would fit in my front pocket easier. I had always used a cloth or leather wallet and hated both sitting on it or trying to cram it into my front pocket. The Axis isnt lighter than my previous wallets being made of 2 pieces of SS but it does what i want it to do. I also dont have many cards and rarely carry cash.
I used two different kinds of hard wallets (Fantom and Cascade) and both really helped me reduce what I carried everyday to exactly what I needed. Ultimately, I went with with a slim leather wallet that had a functional money clip.
Spot on nick. More drawbacks than benefit. There are functional slim leather front pocket wallets available for half the price
I agree. I've carried the Travax Original for the last couple of years. I won't do a hard wallet again. I wish I had a dollar for every time i got my finger caught in the hook! The Recycled Firefighter wallet looks pretty sweet; or maybe the Das Offene Meer Topsider.
After 3 years with the flipside wallet and recently getting the latest one I will never use a leather wallet again. It flips open with a spring and has three separate layers for your cards and money. And one you can attach externally for quick use for three cards you use most. People constantly ask me what it is.
TRUE LIBERTY same. I’ve gotten more compliments on my flip side then any of the expensive leather wallets I’ve carried.
Same here. I’ve had a flip side for 6 yrs maybe? Love it. It’s taken a beaten and no problems. People are always admiring it and asking about it.
Have one made of kydex. Mine has a money clip on the back. I've had it at least 4 years now and it looks like new still. I like the thinness of it. May not be perfect but I'll take it over any leather one I've had.
the advantages are that they are smaller and fit in the front pocket of jeans
and the metal ones protect you from card cloning wich do happen
check out the secrid ones with the button i keep both bills and coins on it and it's smaller than my previous wallet and the cards are easy to get to even when i'm wearing gloves
Any opinion on Secrid / Ekster and similar wallets Nick? Thanks
I drive a truck for a living and the problem I would have with a regular wallet is that over time my cards would end up with a split right where the top of the card pocket is.
I bought a cheap one of these for my work related cards and keep it in the cup holder. I haven’t had anything break since. So for me I like them, but I would never overspend for one, I got mine off of eBay.
I went from a trifold to a bifold to a non folding leather wallet, and still hated it. I always have an issue with how bulky wallets are. On top of that, I hate leather in my EDC as I like to spend time outside in Texas on 110F days, and the sweat kills the leather. I've been using a Magpul polymer wallet and it has worked great for me.
man i completely agree.
this looks better for access than the taco style hard wallet i tried but you really nailed it. after 2 days i stopped carrying this thing. the different footprint ended up being worse.
sharp edges. hard. sits in the bottom of my pocket jabbing me.
i completely had to rearrange everything in my pockets.
i still carry cash. i hate beat up bills and having to fold them 3 times. so that clip sucked.
i hated it at the bottom of my pocket jabbing my leg, scratching my phone case, banging against my cigarette case, jabbing me when i reached all the way down to pull it out, slowly pop a card or cash out, put it back. i felt like a clown.
i used the money clip for a pocket clip so now i had this jumbo pocket clip sitting at the top of my pocket and a hard scratchy wallet for every time i wanted to reach into my pocket.
so yeah they are not for me. leather bi fold for me. i tried the long wallet also but didnt like it
With you on the pricing but I really enjoy my trayvax ascent. No elastic band and a blend of metal and nice leather which is much better for the soul as we all know! But most of all it made me think about what I really needed and so I no longer carry a wad of trash wrapped in leather in my back pocket 😁
I really enjoy slim minimalist wallets but I'll always go leather. No metal, no elastic. I went small because my older bi/trifolds were literally a pain in the ass, why would I put a hard piece of metal in my pocket?
I can understand the objections: rubber band wears out, hard against hard, capacity. OTOH, I quite enjoy a "Multi-Holster BMT with Money Clip" ~$40. No elastic, easy access for any card, sufficient capacity. Makes perfect sense for front pocket carry. Been carrying mine for years and it seems indestructible and convenient. Got mine in faux red carbon fiber but there are choices to suit any taste on their website or Amazon.
I can’t tell you how many times I almost jumped on these types of wallets!!!! Luckily I bought my 1st fully custom leather woods bag,day hike satchel from a well known leather crafter who since, I worked him on other bags,slings,knife sheath and he heard I was searching for a front pocket bi fold in distressed tan leather and he nailed it to the T! This is going to be passed along when I’m no longer around. So yes,eye candy is real and the marketers will tirelessly flood us with whatever it is searched one time. Getting to know a custom maker weather in steel or kydex,leather who sets them self up with tools and knowledge of all thongs related to their trade is where I go to. Gamber’s Leather. Crafting
hey nick, new viewer here. i too have a prejudice when i comes to hard wallets. ever since my mother bought one of those infomercial alumawallets for Christmas. it was hate at first sight. RFID skimming is not a real threat in my opinion, so hard wallets never appealed to me over the function and form of nice leather ones. all of this is a roundabout way of asking which leather wallets to do you like? bi-fold vs tri-fold etc. is there a review up of your personal wallet of choice or one that you recommend?
I've had the same Flowfold tri-fold wallet for about 3 years now and it looks the exact same now as when I bought it. They're made of sail cloth and they're made in the USA with a life time warranty. They're also very thin, especially compared to leather. I would definitely recommend anyone who likes a more traditional style wallet but wants fancy durable material to check them out. I never got into metal wallets.
I've had mine for about five years and it's still like new. Best wallet in my opinion. I have the bi-fold version.
My God, thank you Nick! I'm of the minimal EDC mindset. I prefer things to disappear in my pockets, I'm not a fan of bulk. I've never understood why you would want another hard object in your pockets when there's already a knife and phone. Leather for life.
I love mine. Somehow I find myself ridiculously hard on wallets; even the best leather wallets last me about 10 months max, which is why I switched to a hard wallet (two 1/8" thick pieces of carbon fiber with an elastic band) that has now lasted me two years. Bonus points are that it's super small so it doesn't make an uncomfortable pocket lump, doesn't absorb water, and I no longer have a reason to "clean out" my wallet every couple months because it doesn't tend to accumulate useless cards I don't actually need.
Have a box full of leather , minimalist,front pocket wallets. Keep returning to my BigSkinny wallet.I have a normal billfold one (thin grippy ....nylon ???) that has held up for 5+ years and even when packed it's slim as anything.
I moved away from the bifold leather wallet when I started leaving it at home and putting just 3 cards in my pocket. The bifold is to bulky collects junk and frankly about 3/4 of the stuff in it I only reach for about once a year. I bought a Travax wallet and haven't looked back. I can see your point on the cost of some of them however I personally have had about 4 leather bifolds that just didn't stand the test of time and each one cost at least $40.
Been using a hard wallet for just over a year, great for cards not so good for cash. I have an Eos. I do keep my phone and hard wallet keys and knife in separate pockets, cargo shorts. So wallet always go right knee pocket etc. Wallets are like knives you can go kershaw or shirogorov its a choice gnat fits your style.
Totally agree, Nick. Leather is more comfortable, more beautiful, and much easier to organize. Who really wants to search for three-times folder US currency when you you can slide them into the money sleeve and have instant access. And, of course, I don’t want to have to pull out all my cards and sort through each time I want to pull one out. And who puts a wallet in a back pocket anymore. Much less secure and comfortable back there. Move it to a front pocket guys and go with leather.
Personally i carry a Secrid/Figuretta kinda wallet. its part hard wallet and part leather. It gets rid of most of the issues you listed and maybe you should check one of them out Nick. Capacity is still limited, true, but I'm not sure you're doing things right if you have more than 10 cards in your wallet.
I enjoy the TRAYVAX CONTOUR wallet, not sure if you would count that as a hard wallet. Loving it!
I'll just stick with a good quality leather wallet over the hard sided ones. They work better in my opinion.
I tend to prefer a trifold since I have to carry additional cards and IDs in my job and life and I like them to have a small coin pouch which makes finding a coin that not imported from the UK a little hard to find, but that coin pouch now nicely holds my Leatherman Squirt and other small items while taking up minimal space, since I no longer need to hold 1 and 2 pound coins.
I just never seen a hard sided wallet that worth the downsides.
I work in a mechanical/assembly environment and because I am crawling all over equipment I tend to keep breaking the cards in my wallet. The leather also absorbs the smell from solvents and oils. The Flipside has been good in preventing these problems so far as well as always being the same size so it always takes up the same amount of room in the pocket of choice. The fact that it is RFID secure is a bonus plus you can open this wallet and tap the scanner without having to remove the card from the wallet since I use one credit card and one air miles card 90% of the time. There is also an internal divider to flip to access ID. My only regret is that it is sized to fit American money and most foreign currency will not fit without double folding. They keep promising that an international model is coming out but I have been waiting years on that promise.
I had carried a kydex wallet from metalxmfg and i loved it for a long time. Only complaint i had was it rubbed the marking on one of my cards after a lot of use. One thing i did love was it made me only carry what i really needed and the maker is awesome for any customization and assistance. I switched to a minimalist leather wallet mainly because my taste changed. I much prefer kydex over the metal ones. Another bonus was the kydex one a holster style sheath for a knife i liked at the time
I very much agree with you Nick. I really wanted to like them and I've tried a few but everytime I found them to be more cumbersome and time consuming then anything else. That being said I do like minimalist wallets to carry the essentials and I recently picked up the Dango Stealth Wallet and it is absolutely perfect for carry roughly six cards and cash.
Absolutely a non-starter for me too: I either carry my wallet in a front or breast pocket. Also have phone, house/office keys, car or motorcycle keys, pocket knife, and handkerchief in front pockets. Sometimes I also have a torch, although this is usually attached to my belt; similarly with multitools. Never carry anything other than the odd hairband in my back pockets because I find it uncomfortable and it makes sitting down awkward because I need to remove whatever's in my back pockets, especially if it's a hard object, and I might not necessarily want to do that with a wallet. I also tend to find that things kept in back pockets have a way of working themselves out of the pocket as I move around throughout the day - not ideal with any object, but especially not a wallet. I *hate* - and I mean really, properly despise with every fibre of my being - hip/thigh and other pockets in stupid locations on trousers: not only are they uncomfortable but they invariably rob you of any sense of style and make you look like your mum dresses you. So, again, not a viable location for a wallet.
You need to try the flip side wallet, its a hard wallet and I was not a fan of hard wallets but this thing is amazing, real easy to get your cards out, has a place for your DL and a money clip built inside the wallet. Plus you can get an attachment for the outside that can house business cards or even more CC or cash, its amazing. Never though I would like a had side minimalist wallet. Seriously go check it out.
Trayvax Axis. 14 card capacity and held together with easily relplaceable 550 cord and a nylon strap. I recommend this to any and all. Even has a readily accessible money clip for those that have cash left over from this hobby.
I've seen people use binder clips as a metal wallet alternative.
But I'm old fashioned, I like leather, nylon or traditional wallet fabrics. ✌
Quality leather wallets with several layers are also often thicker than hard wallets. Hard wallets also keep business cards and other cards, especially paper cards and receipts nice and crisp. Leather wallets always bend the corners/edges. And I end up embarrassingly handing over a beaten up business card. I could carry a business card holder, but that's just another thing to carry. I love my Spectrum Energetics wallet, works great for me.
a slim leather card case/holder is what im using and will continue to use for the foreseeable future
I was laughing trying to read the cards on that wallet :D
Oh those are frogs, sounds like aliens doing laundry in your backyard. No wallets for me, I don't even play that jam, just a card-protector or two. There's a company called *paperwallet* that makes some nice slim and micro carriers.
I've been using a hard wallet for sometime now. Tried a few and never had an issue with any of them. Have had a a few of em for at the very least 5 years. I definitely agree on the o ring thing. Those things are annoying.
Das Offene Meer topsider quickdraw. Leather, minimalist, unique. When I pull it out, I always get compliments. People love the wallet too! 😉
I use a small leather business card holder. It doesn’t know it’s holding my ID, credit and debit cards vs business cards and it’s nice and small, perfect for a front pocket carry.
The thinner and more flexible the better imho. I’ve been using $15 tyvek wallets for about 5 years now. Thin, light, expandable and waterproof plus they’re easily recycled.
The Ridge is the best minimalist wallet. It would change your mind esp the carbon fiber with the money clip.
What do you carry in your left pocket? Sounds to me like a personal carry issue more than a hard wallet issue. Which you said it’s opinion and I can respect that. They do put pockets on both sides of the pants, brother. Lol
At least in the UK you want the RFID shielding naturally comes with a metal wallet because of the prevalence of contactless cards. Although I admit I have a leather wallet that's very similar to the metal ones (single stack of cards that slide out etc) but that has RFID shielding too.
Nick have you heard of SECRID wallets? They’re huge in Europe and they’re 60€ (like $75?) and they’re really good. they fit 6 cards comfortably in their metal case which completely envelops the cards and pushed them out with a plastic trigger. They also have a leather shell which can fit another 4 cards if necessary and has a place for cash. Check them out for the best of both worlds
I've found hard wallets to be thin, but I honestly haven't tried many normal wallets other than cheap ones from Walmart. Maybe take a look at the DM1? It tends to wears out the edges of cards over time and is pretty pricy, but I've been using it for 2 years and love it. Just a single piece of machined aluminum (or titanium) that holds cards in like a hard drive enclosure. It definitely has a lot of the issues you've mentioned here but I mostly like it for the size and design. Subjectivity is involved :)
It's not my thing but Home Depot has one of these type of wallets for $8.00. It's made out of metal and has a miniature rubber bungee cord that provides the compression for the contents.
Hey Nick you should take a look at the bellroy slim sleeve wallet I've had mine for a while now and think it'd fit right into the channel!
The EZGO wallet is actually damn nice. It’s hard, but everything is right there where it needs to be, and that’s pretty nice for me. There’s a slot for quite a bit of cash, a good two card slots, some SD card slots for people who do that kind of thing, and since my work has an RFID opener that I must use, I slap the thing on the reader and it lets me in.
It’s not for everyone, and I honestly got more comments on my homemade paper wallet, but I kinda like it, and since I use Apple Pay, Walmart pay, etc, I don’t find myself having to use the darn thing too often.
In regards to interesting not high speed low drag wallets, look at Flowfold. Their wallets are super strong. I’ve used a couple of their wallets and thoroughly enjoyed them.
I like a good quality woven nylon/velcro wallet. Swiss gear makes a great and functional one. Cheap, so I can replace them as they look worn or dirty. Wallets aren’t gear to me, they are more equivalent to a garment.
Have a look at the flipside 4. It is serving me very well.
I have 2 EOSCases wallets. One Zirconium. One titanium. I may he biased because theyre local to me but i love it. Carries well imo. Looks great
Hate. Em !!! Tell it like it really is. As told by you THE NICKSTER ..
Man...no. I honestly have no idea how I carried a traditional style wallet for as long as I did. I got lucky about 9 years ago and my mom got me a slip clip. Changed my life. Purchased hard/front pocket wallets ever sense
The only hard wallet I enjoy, was the Secrid wallet, but it was encased in leather. While it was functionally better than a traditional wallet, it was not comfortable to sit on.
I tired the Metal-Wallet route a couple years ago. I tapped out after 2 weeks, and gave it to a friend. There was virtually nothing I liked about it.
I've carried a Ridge wallet with an external cash strap for years now, its been thrashed & I g'tee the elastic straps on it will outlive many leather wallets. Further, the straps are replaceable & I have spares, sonI doubt I'll ever need a new wallet ever again ever. I absolutely won't ever go back to leather, I like the more assured RFID protection (yes, scan scamming does occur, especially when traveling overseas) & most of what you gripe about here are not issues on my particular wallet, further, my daily carry setup is different to yours from what you described in the vid..... in saying all of that, its horses for courses obviously & I think given how you carry your probably not the person who will ever enjoy a hard wallet, so its a good decision to not review them. Cheers
Still prefer my Vanquest VAULT 2.0 RFID-Blocking Security Wallet... A little over $20... Small enough to put in a front pocket... Holds plenty of cards and cash... Made of 1000-D Cordura... Nice touch is that it has a pocket on the outside for a security card if you need to scan in to get in at work, otherwise it won't work if you have it inside the wallet...
I have owned that same Machine Era titanium wallet and have not had those same issues you speak of. The wallet itself is very light and it has stabbed me 0 times. It is true that it will fight your other EDC items, but if you are like me then you will only have your knife and wallet in the same place and the wallet sits low enough into my pocket that it never knocks into the knife. I will agree that it is only good for carrying cards and not cash since the cash sticks out of the wallet too far.
I love my the Ridge wallet. Fits any amount of cards and even some cash securely. However it's eating through my pockets because of the sharp edges. So I've been looking for a "soft" alternative for quite a while now and didn't find anything yet.
The biggest advantage that you kind of glossed over compared to the wallet you’re using is sheer size in the pocket. I don’t want to carry a wallet in my back pocket, and carrying something the size of that leather one you have in my front pocket would drive me crazy. I’ve been using a Decadent Minimalist DM1 wallet for a year now, and I adore it. Can’t imagine going back to a standard wallet. Far more functional than the Ridge Wallet or this one in the video. I can access any card (up to 12) easily in a couple of seconds.
In a way he addressed this when he mentioned the Anti-Gear Anti-Wallet at 2:33. While he was talking about price, it is an example of a soft wallet that has the same size advantage of many hard wallets.
Soft supple leather will be around forever. It can't be matched in comfort. Plus it looks the best
I've carried a couple of different hard wallets and they are a cool concept but I have 3 main complaints. After carrying one for a long time it would wear an exact print into my pants where it sat and actually created holes in my pant pocket. They often make it harder to carry more than 3-5 bills. And they often have a specific number of cards that fit well in them if you carry fewer cards than what it's designed for it's no good or more it's no good