I have a carbon fiber ekster and love it, something to note is the carbon fiber ones won't get scratched up like the aluminum version. The thing about wallets for me is that I'm not going to carry a slim or hard wallet if it's noticeably harder to use than a leather bifold. Most hard wallets make you shuffle through your cards or remove multiple if they aren't the face card and that's something I don't want to be doing with a line behind me at the gas station.
I have had an Akeeni XSTO (8card)for about over a year. I have an additional back plate that originally hid my Tile card, but after not renewing the tile subscription I have my metal beard comb there.
I love my 8 card Xsto, as I have 3 of them. I’m always looking for the ultimate minimalist wallet. After using the Xsto for about a year, I have changed to the Decadent Minimalist. It’s as minimal as you can get. I use a ridge coin tray as a drawer to hold cash.
I had a $30 RIDGE knock-off that fell apart on me after about 6 months. I've had my authentic RIDGE in blue aluminum for 9 months and it works great, although the aluminum does scratch. I rarely carry cash, and carrying my wallet in a front pocket is so much nicer than a back pocket leather wallet.
I’ve had my ridge for 3 years in December. Things held up great. Used the lifetime warranty a couple times after washing it in the washing machine. Send me some new elastic
My first minimal wallet will be a clone, just to see if it works for me. If it does work for me I'll upgrade to a better clone. Some of the name-brands are ridiculously over-priced.
I have the dango d007 and I love it, gives a bit of both worlds of hard and soft wallets, very flexible, smallish, holds a pen, notebook, cash, cards. Also glass breaker and bottle opener. It's beautiful, durable, modular, and it can hold what you need and more.
I love the flipside. I get so many complements from it… It holds cards, but it also has a slot for your ID and it holds 4-6 bills. It might not be the best looking one but its the most practical for sure, I dont spend time pulling out all my cards, and going through them (when you have a 4 year old this is key lol) and its slimmer than any of my old bi-tri fold wallets. Even though its hard plastic which might feel cheap, it has lasted more than any of my old wallets.
Came to say this, I beat the crap out of my flipside and it just keeps on going, absolutely love it. I love it so much that I just bought another one to replace my 3 year old because I wanted a different color
Love my flip side. Had it for like 2 years now, maybe idk I suck with time. And I've tried out other wallets since then but went back to the flip side in the week. I love how I don't have to struggle getting my cash in or out
My Dango M2 is absolutely my favorite I can carry paper cards in the leather side, a bunch of cards in the metal side and I use the rubber strap to secure the little cash I carry. It is a fantastic addition to my EDC.
I bought a flipside v3 back in 2018 or so, upgraded to the v4 in 2019, then gave the 3 to my dad. Stopped carrying it in like late 2019 because of the bulkiness and now I use a traditional Fossil Billfold. My dad was still carrying the v3 last month so I gave him my v4 and he loves it.
just my 2 cents.. i use a Secrid wallet, it holds up to 12 cards, 6 in the main bit and 3 on both sides of the folding tab(?) it has a sleeve thing for you cash as well, and it comes in a lot of different variations as well
The Dango M2 Maverick in nickel plated and rawhide leather, handcrafted and Made in the USA, is my FAV! I do not carry tons of cards or cash. Just the facts mam. My DL, ATM card, 2 Credit cards, and my local shopping club card and done.
i know this is an old comment but i have to agree.... dango makes some great stuff and made in america makes them even better..... i have the m1 lite and have a10 on the way
I have an Akeeni XSTO that I've been using for about 6 months. (6 card). Love the fact that with a black face card to put on it, both my cards and cash are not visible when looking at the wallet. The secondary storage for business cards is also quite nice
I've had my Xsto for a year and a half and I'm still very happy with it. Super easy to use and cash being hidden under the cards is awesome. Definitely doesn't get the recognition it should imo
Unfortunately you end up in same boat as ridge and other slim wallets. Cards scrape. Emboss wear. Strip on back wears from cards up against without a divider
Akeeni Xsto, that's been my favorite for a few years now, used to be the Stow Slip. It's centered around holding cash but uses the cards to hold the cash in, most everything else I've seen are cenetered around holding cards and try to shoehorn on a way to hold cash afterwards.
Ive had my Ascent for a few years and typically carry 3 cards in the front pocket and 4 in the pull tab pocket, along with 4-5 bills. For me, the leather adapted to that configuration, and became less tight, but still secure over time
For years i have carried a business card holder for my cards. Problem is, it keeps shedding my pocket after awhile. I need a minimalist design, at work i wear a toolbelt and anything larger will not work. Appreciated this video. Lots of great options to decide from. 👍
No one ever mentions Secrid. I put my original secrid through hell and back and it held up better than the contour and others. Maybe it’s the cost. I lost me old one and have tried about 10 others before I said screw it and ordered another secrid a few days ago. The two is admittedly thick but holds a ton of cards. The mini and slim hold enough for most people. I guess it can’t be in a minimal category with the mechanism and all that and they are a bit pricey but comparing what some elastic sandwich wallets go for, besides the cheaper ones on Amazon, and what you get for your money with the secrid wallets it’s not even a contest. Ekster looks similar at a lower price point but again zero comparison in quality and durability to secrid. I carry about 10 cards so the mechanism is really convenient for me. With 5 cards or under I guess I’d go with something that forces me to shuffle through them and it wouldn’t be a big deal. That small Vice one looked pretty cool if you you don’t have many cards to shuffle through. Might pick one of those up anyway for days I’m only carrying a few cards. Good video, maybe check out a secrid or see if they’ll send you one for review
Groove (w/money clip, not leather piece) and Decadent Minimalist are great. Used the DM for over a decade, recently got the Groove from KS and have been using it since it arrived. Slightly thinner than the DM, downside is it can't hold as much cash. The DM money clip is a beast.
Just order a groove wallet with metal clip. I will probably take the clip off. I really don't use cash and if I dove there is no way a money chip will hold it lol.
I've been using the Dango A10 pen wallet for almost 2 years now. Love that you can use other adapters and changes it to another wallet. A wallet carries cash either with a pocket, strap, or clip. A card holder does not carry cash.
I've been carrying the flipside for quite a while now after seeing my buddy with it. Due to the various ID cards and credit/debit cards I carry, I need something that has some storage capacity. Yes, it is big and bulky, but it works for me.
OMG Thank you!!! That Westmade Wallet is exactly what I've been looking for. I've carried a Ridge Wallet for years and was never a fan of the horizontal way the cards went in and out. Since then, I've been carrying a Pop Socket Wallet, not even on the back of my phone, just as a regular wallet. I just love the form factor and vertical positioning but hate the cheap plastic and awkward knob where the Pop Socket attaches. I was even thinking of reaching out to you and the community to help me find a new wallet, but I think you just showed it to me in this video. lol
I have the Grip loop wallet which is fun because it is fidgety, but I agree a bit bulkier. The Ekster is a bit of a Secrid ripoff which imho is the OG of button style hard wallets or card holders. The positive of the Ekster is that nothing sticks out, but that also makes it taller, so therefor for me Secrid still wins the title of best hard wallet.
I’d offer that the Dango D01 Dapper wallet deserves a position on this list. I wanted a minimalist bifold wallet and I absolutely love how it carries in my pocket. Worth checking out.
I have the SECRID from Netherlands and I like it the smallest hard wallet on the market At less than 60 bucks. With leather cover that holds cash and extra cards.
I’ve been using the Decadent Minimalist Wallet DM1 and it’s great! You just choose what size depending on how many cards and it’s just a slim single piece of titanium or aluminum.
I’ve been using flip side wallet for 5 or 6 years now!! Plenty of room for cards, ID, and cash with the option to add the flip kick that increases room for cards or keys or coins 😊
My hard wallet is Fidelo ECLIPSE Minimalist Wallet, It's vertical with a longer cutout that I can push the card up for more room to access rather than the horizontal wallet with a tiny thumb cutout. Just my personal preferences. Been using it for more than a year and I don't think that I will go back to a thick leather tri-fold wallet.
I rock the trayvax element, and the 2.0 og. I'm considering the contour in titanium but it's 220$ now i bought the blacked out contour and also recieved a free summit. Love em all.
Akeeni XSTO wallet is not really talked about but it’s my favorite hard wallet 🤙🏽 by far, the easiest access to cards and cash. And a great fidget factor if you want to shuffle your cards around your wallet.
I've been carrying the flip side 4 for over 3 years and absolutely love it. I have just recently stopped carrying alot of cash so I ordered the code 118 wallet. Going to give it a try.
I think you did a excellent job with the variety of hard wallets you showcased! I'm personally not a hard wallet guy myself, might have something to do with the fact that I own and operate a leather shop! You just can't beat the patina of a well used veg tan leather wallet! Carry On man!
Dango A10 with single dtex attachment for work and leather bifold for the weekend. Personally find it the best option as it can be as big or as small as I need can even add a pen and note book if needed.
I have been carrying a slim clip for probably 20 years. It was one of those TV infomercial deals back in the day and I still think it's the best design going.
So I carry hard wallets because my cards have a habit of bending if I don't... (So even if I am not carrying a hard wallet, i throw a tool card in it to keep my cards straight) My favorite has got to be the slimpuro znap. It holds all the cards that I need and it takes cash without me having to fold it (which is a thing that I hate doing). I really also like my secrid slim wallet. The leather case just gives you options. And again, no folding bills before putting them in the wallet.
One thing I don't like about the Ridge wallet is, since I keep it in my back pocket because I carry my phone, keys, & vape in my front pockets. It just messes up my cards. The paint or material on the inside of the plates rub off on the cards & it doesn't come off.
I carried a Decadent Minimalist Aluminum that held 12 cards for a number of years. I do believe it may have been one of the first minimalist “hard” hard wallets. If you’re not familiar, it is essentially a frame. I also picked up one of the money clips. It started chewing up the edges of my cards which is why I stopped using it. As for “trigger” wallets, i believe these are referred to as mechanical wallets. There is one that is made in Switzerland that is like 50k usd. It was designed by a watchmaker.
Was going to comment on my Trayvex Element but Shooter Bugs hit all my points lol. The only other thing is I have carried mine daily for 2 yrs and it just gets better with age.
I don’t think you can get the exact model I have anymore but I carry the Dango M1 blacked out aluminum wallet with a black leather bi-fold addition. It is fantastic. Been using it for about 2 years now and I probably won’t even try anything else. It has a very small footprint and still allows me to carry all the cards I need and my punch card for work. For anyone who wants a slick hard wallet but needs a fair amount of real estate, I recommend it highly. Also you can run it without the leather addition if you want a smaller profile, the option is nice.
Not related, but related. This is officially day one of asking for an edc weekly focused on fixed blade carries🙏. Love the channel and I look forward to submitting more
@@devonwoodman3350 3-4 inches on the blade. Currently been carrying the Kizer Harpoon everyday (join the discord if you want to hear about our search for a better sheath for it lol)
What most people overlook on money clips is they are not meant to be used to carry a ton of cash they are meant to carry 6 to 8 bank notes max but more comfortably 3 to 4 notes
Very good video roundup of hard wallets. However, the most minimal wallet is Decadent Minimalist's DM-1 wallet. It's just a metal frame around the edges of your cards. I don't have one yet, but I'm thinking of getting it.
I've owned just about every Trayvax wallet and there are pros and cons to them all. Until recently, I would have told you that the element was my favorite, but have found my way back to the contour. I like the Ascent, but it really only carries 7 cards comfortably and I don't love how money is held. If I am going to a wedding, I may change up to the ascent, but for now I'll stick with contour. I had a Ridge wallet in Carbon fiber and its ok. A little clunky getting out cards and thick with airtag attachment.
Ridge gang 🔥🔥 seriously so glad i made the switch. Kind of addicted, i had the black Damascus, then the rose gold, then had to get the neon tiki. now im waiting for my red one in the mail, im going to crackle paint it to create a custom eddie munson ridge wallet
I have a Ridge Wallet in Forged Carbon, looks great but found it cumbersome to use. Got the Bellroy Flip Case Second Edition in Racing Green and it’s my go-to wallet!
Love my Ekster parliament wallet! Cool to see you have it on the list because not many people I have mentioned them too have ever even heard of the brand
I've carried hard wallets for quite a while, I've largely settled on the machine era that I got in titanium when it was a kickstarter I think holds about 5 cards taking up basically no more space than 6 cards but has the flexibility to expand at least some over that though the retention isn't the same once you get past about 5. That paired with a couple items from countycomm also in titanium work well for me, including a seperate money clip for cash. I like having them seperate so that if I need to pull out my cards I don't have to show that I have cash, and the titanium money clip from countycomm is very lightweight though of course does add some bulk.
Great Video! I have to add my favorite wallet.Chaves. Love it. Yes it has a money clip but sometimes cash has to go somewhere. The Chaves Ultramar ti-fold at only $49 full one piece titanium is a great deal IMO. They are back in stock from Chaves knives. Very low number batches.
I use the Flipside. My first hard wallet so maybe I just dont know any better. Been using it for a few years at this point. cant say I have any issue with it. Canadian Prepper ran over his with his truck and it was fine. I wouldn't call it flimsy. I have broke the ban on mine but its easily replaced with a ranger band. Holds cards plus a mone section which I would say can hold 2 or 3 more cards easily. plus the band on the outside.
I really love the looks with the contour but one thing I love about my element he didn’t touch on is how much more cash friendly it is that all these others. I guess I’m a little old-fashioned but I use cash frequently enough to want a convenient way to get it in and out of my wallet and that quarter fold thing just isn’t for me. Another thing to keep in mind regarding Trayvax, they do send you a free summit wallet with any other wallet purchase, at least they have the last two purchases I made. You do get a random strap color, but replacement bands are one or two dollars on their website so I got a few with my last purchase to go with the free summit I was getting and the one I already owned.
I appreciate the overview of these. I wanted to mention you should take a look at Dango’s wallets. I saw someone else had mentioned them as well in the comments. I’ve had mine for 7-8 years now, the D01 Dapper model.
I have the ekster with leather, I think the call it the Parliament. I can highly recommend it! Main bit like the one shown here holds 5 cards easy, if I didn't have a card with raised text still, it would hold 6. Then I keep my license in the strap on the inside (like the strap he took off, only its sewn into the leather. Then there is a leather flap that covers that all up, and it is perfect for holding small thin stuff like insurance cards, or a folder sticky note or business card. Despite all that, it is still very slim and I don't even notice it in my pocket.
I think the ridge does a good job compared to other with cash, because it keeps it separate from cards. And the money clip does not make it much thicker. I like it over the strap.
I’ve been very happy with the grip6 (no finger loop). I love how the cards rise up on both sides. Very easy to find and grab the one I want. It is bulkier than a true minimalist walker, but is still perfectly reasonable in my pocket. And I love the satisfying track as I lock the cards back in. I’ve never accidentally launched my cards, but it is possible. Plus I love the leather over orange aluminum combo I went with.
@@robertdavezac I agree. You certainly can launch your cards if you want to, but I have never had it happen accidentally and I've had mine for over a year.
The best trick for hiding your money in a ridge style Wallet is to get a coin tray either ridge or generic make where you can stick about 3 or four folded notes on the bottom of your cards but it will take up about 4 card slots then allowing you to ditch both the cash strap and clip Slots.
I love my Grip6 without the finger loop. I have 3 IDs I carry, along with my NCCWP, NC Lifetime HF card, then my bank cards. I love the leather holster.
I’ve had the Trayvax element non stop for about three years and it has warn very well. I appreciate all your great content and your take on things that you bring to the table.
I've been carrying the trayvax armoured summit for years now and love it I have also carried it with the leather note book accessory which includes an open holder and obviously an area to hold a small notebook, loving the channel even tho it makes me realise how much cool EDC I miss out on being from the UK
Ok, so the Raptor titanium one is $300? There goes my need for a money clip! Ha ha. Kidding. I've been using a doubled elastic band -- they're about 1 cent each. Anyway, it's matter of style. These look nice and I'll probably buy one so I don't end up looking like Jethro Bodine! Great video, btw.
I have the grove made minimalist wallet. It’s a hard wallet covered in leather that I believe grove made discontinued. But I’ve been carrying it for about 5 years and love it! And it’s made in USA!!
The Decadent Minimalist wallet, is something you should check out. Especially, if you like the Gil-Tek Raw. I think the design is way better, and you might agree.
Super cool review, thanks for taking the time to do such a comprehensive review! I love my Fantom Wallet because of the attachments, I had the Ekster but it broke after only 6 months of use.
I’ve used the Ekster, grip6 and the fantom. Currently the fantom won me over because it’s the most customizable. I got it with the silicon band and a cash clip. The grip6 is second place personally (of the three) because I love the wallet but hated the leather attachment. I had it with the finger loop too and never had the issue with the cards flying out. Only stopped using it because my finger loop broke which made it uncomfortable to use., so I thought to try something new. The ekster is my least favorite that I’ve tried because while the sizes can be changed, it’s thin footprint forced me to 1/4 fold, but doing so made the wallet too bulky. My dream would be a wallet with a sleek body as ekster, a mechanism like the Grip6 and the customizable nature of the fantom. Essentially a Grip 6 with a cash clip and an elastic rather than a leather pouch.
I bought the Trayvax Original 2.0 and they gave me a Summit (without the armor) for free. I do not like the Summit at all, the strap always loosens up and although you can carry 8 cards, as soon as you add a little cash, it pushes the top card or two above the retaining clip. A few questions: - I saw that you had the Original 2.0 in the pile that didn't make the cut, but you never talked about what you don't like about it and I'd like to hear. I like that it retains the cards with the paracord that snaps over the end and it can be adjusted for the amount of cards you carry. It also holds more cash. - I'm old school and actually carry cash, always $200-$300 bucks. It's always been an issue with these types of wallets which is why I like the 2.0. How do you solve for more cash than the average guy? And how do you handle any amount of cash in the wallets on your list that don't have a place for it? Only way I've come up with is just a loose wad or separate money clip.
Ive had a dango m10. And love it. I would rather have a wallet that i carry everyday that includes a few small tools. The m10 and the cheaper bifold have optional multi tools that slid in like a credit card. It carrys cash in a few spots, 1 of which holds full bifold cash. There are a lot of accessories like a money clip and more. Carries at least 12 cards plus cash. If its an EDC item i would rather have options and optional tools. Otherwise what is the difference between a hard wallet that just holds cards and maybe cash @ a $50-150+ and a simple leather or canvas minimal wallet for $10.
Great video! I was surprised you didn’t have a SCUDO wallet on the list. It’s my favorite hard wallet. I rotate between a SCUDO wallet and an Open Sea Leather wallet.
I've had a ridge like wallet for about 4 years now with no issue and it only cost me $11. These guys are nuts for the money they want for their wallets. 100 to 300 for the vice wallet is crazy.
The thing I hate about my ridge is how it can be a pain in the ass to get certain cards out. Sometimes I need to pull all the cards out just to get to the middle one or whatever.
I just pre ordered the titanium hellbent!!! I have the aluminum now and it freaking love it!! I do know what you mean about the cards being kinda clumsy to take out but I’ll take that for the durability of the wallet.
I use a ridge knock-off currently a rossm but am getting a pirna as I like the newer forged carbon plates that come on them that were copied from ridge but are quite a bit cheaper as the problem will ridge is the price and you can get a decent knock off for a quarter of the price I switched to hard wallet's about 18 months ago and can't see me going back to the old style bifold leather wallet
I have been using armatuscarry kydex wallets for about 4 years now,and absolutely love them. I've had multiple different designs,but I think the tan is my favorite. It's is an exact match with my little Spartan blades fixed blade. The little strap it had to snap and hold the cards in works great for cash.
2 biggest factors to me : 1) quick access/replacement with zero fiddling, and 2) hold onto my stuff securely. I’ve tried a bunch, but Trayvax Contour is what’s always in my pocket. Only downside is price, that hurt.
![Best Damn EDC [Taylor Martin]](http://yt3.ggpht.com/C23xT4qXAgWe_wPaHXS9N0UNliYR1ZaNyf2qXLCt2WaRpVKD802vEiMatltiOU_6T3ohYkQK4g=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
![10 Best Minimalist EDC Wallets [2023 Insider Guide]](/img/n.gif)
I have a carbon fiber ekster and love it, something to note is the carbon fiber ones won't get scratched up like the aluminum version. The thing about wallets for me is that I'm not going to carry a slim or hard wallet if it's noticeably harder to use than a leather bifold. Most hard wallets make you shuffle through your cards or remove multiple if they aren't the face card and that's something I don't want to be doing with a line behind me at the gas station.
I have had an Akeeni XSTO (8card)for about over a year. I have an additional back plate that originally hid my Tile card, but after not renewing the tile subscription I have my metal beard comb there.
You know you don’t need a subscription for tiles to work? They still work it just isn’t the extra stuff
I love my 8 card Xsto, as I have 3 of them. I’m always looking for the ultimate minimalist wallet. After using the Xsto for about a year, I have changed to the Decadent Minimalist. It’s as minimal as you can get. I use a ridge coin tray as a drawer to hold cash.
I had a $30 RIDGE knock-off that fell apart on me after about 6 months. I've had my authentic RIDGE in blue aluminum for 9 months and it works great, although the aluminum does scratch. I rarely carry cash, and carrying my wallet in a front pocket is so much nicer than a back pocket leather wallet.
I’ve had my ridge for 3 years in December. Things held up great. Used the lifetime warranty a couple times after washing it in the washing machine. Send me some new elastic
Yeah I grabbed a clone too. Mine's holding up great I may buy a real ridge one day but for the price and what you get I'm happy with my clone.
@@amycus22 yup got decent clone of the ridge its going 12 months strong.
Daily driving an 5€ aliexpress knockoff for 4-5 years now :D
My first minimal wallet will be a clone, just to see if it works for me. If it does work for me I'll upgrade to a better clone.
Some of the name-brands are ridiculously over-priced.
I have the dango d007 and I love it, gives a bit of both worlds of hard and soft wallets, very flexible, smallish, holds a pen, notebook, cash, cards. Also glass breaker and bottle opener. It's beautiful, durable, modular, and it can hold what you need and more.
I love the flipside. I get so many complements from it… It holds cards, but it also has a slot for your ID and it holds 4-6 bills. It might not be the best looking one but its the most practical for sure, I dont spend time pulling out all my cards, and going through them (when you have a 4 year old this is key lol) and its slimmer than any of my old bi-tri fold wallets. Even though its hard plastic which might feel cheap, it has lasted more than any of my old wallets.
Ive been eyeing the Bellroy though for a slimmer carry
Came to say this, I beat the crap out of my flipside and it just keeps on going, absolutely love it. I love it so much that I just bought another one to replace my 3 year old because I wanted a different color
Love my flip side. Had it for like 2 years now, maybe idk I suck with time. And I've tried out other wallets since then but went back to the flip side in the week. I love how I don't have to struggle getting my cash in or out
You completely wrong about the flip side wallet. Hands down best wallet I’ve ever owned in my 55 years. Unbeatable.
My Dango M2 is absolutely my favorite I can carry paper cards in the leather side, a bunch of cards in the metal side and I use the rubber strap to secure the little cash I carry. It is a fantastic addition to my EDC.
Flip side user for years,, it's pretty durable,, I drive for a living it keeps ID,, and CDL docs protected,. Love the channel 🎉✌
I use a Secrid, and have done for years now. It's compact and works flawlessly. Would be interested to hear what you think of them?
Same, mine is ancient and still holding up fine too. I don't think any of the wallets in the video could even hope to compete.
@@p4inmaker 😊😊 😊. .😊😊😊😊😊.
.
I love my Flip Side wallet for 6 years now- carries everything and is RFID protective. It is bulky but I use a sling and have never had an issue.
I love mines too but I kinda want something slimmer
I bought a flipside v3 back in 2018 or so, upgraded to the v4 in 2019, then gave the 3 to my dad. Stopped carrying it in like late 2019 because of the bulkiness and now I use a traditional Fossil Billfold. My dad was still carrying the v3 last month so I gave him my v4 and he loves it.
just my 2 cents.. i use a Secrid wallet, it holds up to 12 cards, 6 in the main bit and 3 on both sides of the folding tab(?) it has a sleeve thing for you cash as well, and it comes in a lot of different variations as well
The Dango M2 Maverick in nickel plated and rawhide leather, handcrafted and Made in the USA, is my FAV! I do not carry tons of cards or cash. Just the facts mam. My DL, ATM card, 2 Credit cards, and my local shopping club card and done.
i know this is an old comment but i have to agree.... dango makes some great stuff and made in america makes them even better..... i have the m1 lite and have a10 on the way
I have an Akeeni XSTO that I've been using for about 6 months. (6 card). Love the fact that with a black face card to put on it, both my cards and cash are not visible when looking at the wallet. The secondary storage for business cards is also quite nice
I've had my Xsto for a year and a half and I'm still very happy with it. Super easy to use and cash being hidden under the cards is awesome. Definitely doesn't get the recognition it should imo
Yes, definitely one if my favorite wallets. Personally I prefer my Slimpuro Znap wallet though for more cards
Unfortunately you end up in same boat as ridge and other slim wallets. Cards scrape. Emboss wear. Strip on back wears from cards up against without a divider
Akeeni Xsto, that's been my favorite for a few years now, used to be the Stow Slip. It's centered around holding cash but uses the cards to hold the cash in, most everything else I've seen are cenetered around holding cards and try to shoehorn on a way to hold cash afterwards.
Ive had my Ascent for a few years and typically carry 3 cards in the front pocket and 4 in the pull tab pocket, along with 4-5 bills. For me, the leather adapted to that configuration, and became less tight, but still secure over time
For years i have carried a business card holder for my cards. Problem is, it keeps shedding my pocket after awhile. I need a minimalist design, at work i wear a toolbelt and anything larger will not work. Appreciated this video. Lots of great options to decide from. 👍
No one ever mentions Secrid. I put my original secrid through hell and back and it held up better than the contour and others. Maybe it’s the cost. I lost me old one and have tried about 10 others before I said screw it and ordered another secrid a few days ago. The two is admittedly thick but holds a ton of cards. The mini and slim hold enough for most people. I guess it can’t be in a minimal category with the mechanism and all that and they are a bit pricey but comparing what some elastic sandwich wallets go for, besides the cheaper ones on Amazon, and what you get for your money with the secrid wallets it’s not even a contest. Ekster looks similar at a lower price point but again zero comparison in quality and durability to secrid. I carry about 10 cards so the mechanism is really convenient for me. With 5 cards or under I guess I’d go with something that forces me to shuffle through them and it wouldn’t be a big deal. That small Vice one looked pretty cool if you you don’t have many cards to shuffle through. Might pick one of those up anyway for days I’m only carrying a few cards. Good video, maybe check out a secrid or see if they’ll send you one for review
Groove (w/money clip, not leather piece) and Decadent Minimalist are great. Used the DM for over a decade, recently got the Groove from KS and have been using it since it arrived. Slightly thinner than the DM, downside is it can't hold as much cash. The DM money clip is a beast.
Just order a groove wallet with metal clip. I will probably take the clip off. I really don't use cash and if I dove there is no way a money chip will hold it lol.
I've been using the Dango A10 pen wallet for almost 2 years now. Love that you can use other adapters and changes it to another wallet. A wallet carries cash either with a pocket, strap, or clip. A card holder does not carry cash.
I've been carrying the flipside for quite a while now after seeing my buddy with it. Due to the various ID cards and credit/debit cards I carry, I need something that has some storage capacity. Yes, it is big and bulky, but it works for me.
OMG Thank you!!! That Westmade Wallet is exactly what I've been looking for. I've carried a Ridge Wallet for years and was never a fan of the horizontal way the cards went in and out. Since then, I've been carrying a Pop Socket Wallet, not even on the back of my phone, just as a regular wallet. I just love the form factor and vertical positioning but hate the cheap plastic and awkward knob where the Pop Socket attaches. I was even thinking of reaching out to you and the community to help me find a new wallet, but I think you just showed it to me in this video. lol
I have the Grip loop wallet which is fun because it is fidgety, but I agree a bit bulkier. The Ekster is a bit of a Secrid ripoff which imho is the OG of button style hard wallets or card holders. The positive of the Ekster is that nothing sticks out, but that also makes it taller, so therefor for me Secrid still wins the title of best hard wallet.
Been a ridge wallet guy for years, only thing I don't like is the elastic gets little pills on it over time.
I’d offer that the Dango D01 Dapper wallet deserves a position on this list. I wanted a minimalist bifold wallet and I absolutely love how it carries in my pocket. Worth checking out.
I carried the Flipside 4 wallet for 6 years. Had zero problems. Recently lost it while traveling for business. Ordered a new one last night.
I have the SECRID from Netherlands and I like it the smallest hard wallet on the market At less than 60 bucks. With leather cover that holds cash and extra cards.
I just got my aviator wallet in the mail yesterday and honestly it's my new favorite thing
I’ve been using the Decadent Minimalist Wallet DM1 and it’s great! You just choose what size depending on how many cards and it’s just a slim single piece of titanium or aluminum.
I’ve been using flip side wallet for 5 or 6 years now!! Plenty of room for cards, ID, and cash with the option to add the flip kick that increases room for cards or keys or coins 😊
I was surprised you didn't mention the Aviator wallet. I carry the carbon fiber version. It's compact, extremely light and German engineered.
My hard wallet is Fidelo ECLIPSE Minimalist Wallet, It's vertical with a longer cutout that I can push the card up for more room to access rather than the horizontal wallet with a tiny thumb cutout. Just my personal preferences. Been using it for more than a year and I don't think that I will go back to a thick leather tri-fold wallet.
I rock the trayvax element, and the 2.0 og. I'm considering the contour in titanium but it's 220$ now i bought the blacked out contour and also recieved a free summit. Love em all.
I have been using a HuMn Mini for over a decade and I would be hard pressed to use anything else. I love it.
I use the Trayvax Contour, you just can't beat it. Their quality, adjustability and customer care is unmatched.
Akeeni XSTO wallet is not really talked about but it’s my favorite hard wallet 🤙🏽 by far, the easiest access to cards and cash. And a great fidget factor if you want to shuffle your cards around your wallet.
Fidgeting with your cards like that will remove the laminate faster, jus sayin
Great video....as Always! A few in there that I need to check out. But the Most important thing is when are you dropping that HAT?????
Seriously!
I’ve been using a Ridge for a couple years. I really like it, and the cash under the strap works just fine.
I've been carrying the flip side 4 for over 3 years and absolutely love it. I have just recently stopped carrying alot of cash so I ordered the code 118 wallet. Going to give it a try.
I think you did a excellent job with the variety of hard wallets you showcased! I'm personally not a hard wallet guy myself, might have something to do with the fact that I own and operate a leather shop! You just can't beat the patina of a well used veg tan leather wallet! Carry On man!
Dango A10 with single dtex attachment for work and leather bifold for the weekend. Personally find it the best option as it can be as big or as small as I need can even add a pen and note book if needed.
Yep, the modular aspect is what makes the a series so cool.
I have been carrying a slim clip for probably 20 years. It was one of those TV infomercial deals back in the day and I still think it's the best design going.
So I carry hard wallets because my cards have a habit of bending if I don't... (So even if I am not carrying a hard wallet, i throw a tool card in it to keep my cards straight)
My favorite has got to be the slimpuro znap. It holds all the cards that I need and it takes cash without me having to fold it (which is a thing that I hate doing). I really also like my secrid slim wallet. The leather case just gives you options. And again, no folding bills before putting them in the wallet.
One thing I don't like about the Ridge wallet is, since I keep it in my back pocket because I carry my phone, keys, & vape in my front pockets. It just messes up my cards. The paint or material on the inside of the plates rub off on the cards & it doesn't come off.
I carried a Decadent Minimalist Aluminum that held 12 cards for a number of years. I do believe it may have been one of the first minimalist “hard” hard wallets. If you’re not familiar, it is essentially a frame. I also picked up one of the money clips. It started chewing up the edges of my cards which is why I stopped using it.
As for “trigger” wallets, i believe these are referred to as mechanical wallets. There is one that is made in Switzerland that is like 50k usd. It was designed by a watchmaker.
Was going to comment on my Trayvex Element but Shooter Bugs hit all my points lol. The only other thing is I have carried mine daily for 2 yrs and it just gets better with age.
I don’t think you can get the exact model I have anymore but I carry the Dango M1 blacked out aluminum wallet with a black leather bi-fold addition. It is fantastic. Been using it for about 2 years now and I probably won’t even try anything else. It has a very small footprint and still allows me to carry all the cards I need and my punch card for work. For anyone who wants a slick hard wallet but needs a fair amount of real estate, I recommend it highly. Also you can run it without the leather addition if you want a smaller profile, the option is nice.
Not related, but related. This is officially day one of asking for an edc weekly focused on fixed blade carries🙏. Love the channel and I look forward to submitting more
What’s your preference for a fixed blade length
@@devonwoodman3350 3-4 inches on the blade. Currently been carrying the Kizer Harpoon everyday (join the discord if you want to hear about our search for a better sheath for it lol)
What most people overlook on money clips is they are not meant to be used to carry a ton of cash they are meant to carry 6 to 8 bank notes max but more comfortably 3 to 4 notes
Very good video roundup of hard wallets. However, the most minimal wallet is Decadent Minimalist's DM-1 wallet. It's just a metal frame around the edges of your cards. I don't have one yet, but I'm thinking of getting it.
Currently using otter pop wallet w MagSafe. But i do like mini topsider. Also the gerber barbill
I've owned just about every Trayvax wallet and there are pros and cons to them all. Until recently, I would have told you that the element was my favorite, but have found my way back to the contour. I like the Ascent, but it really only carries 7 cards comfortably and I don't love how money is held. If I am going to a wedding, I may change up to the ascent, but for now I'll stick with contour. I had a Ridge wallet in Carbon fiber and its ok. A little clunky getting out cards and thick with airtag attachment.
Ridge gang 🔥🔥 seriously so glad i made the switch. Kind of addicted, i had the black Damascus, then the rose gold, then had to get the neon tiki. now im waiting for my red one in the mail, im going to crackle paint it to create a custom eddie munson ridge wallet
I have a couple of the vice wallets. The design is great. Very cool looking. I've used em for about 3 yes now. Haven't been let down.
I have a Ridge Wallet in Forged Carbon, looks great but found it cumbersome to use. Got the Bellroy Flip Case Second Edition in Racing Green and it’s my go-to wallet!
Love my Ekster parliament wallet! Cool to see you have it on the list because not many people I have mentioned them too have ever even heard of the brand
I've carried hard wallets for quite a while, I've largely settled on the machine era that I got in titanium when it was a kickstarter I think holds about 5 cards taking up basically no more space than 6 cards but has the flexibility to expand at least some over that though the retention isn't the same once you get past about 5. That paired with a couple items from countycomm also in titanium work well for me, including a seperate money clip for cash. I like having them seperate so that if I need to pull out my cards I don't have to show that I have cash, and the titanium money clip from countycomm is very lightweight though of course does add some bulk.
Love my Machine Era Ti-5 too, had it for 5 years or so and it is perfect for me. Never had the urge to try anything else which says a lot.
Check out Secrid. I carried one for 4 years. I believe it was the original trigger wallet.
Great Video! I have to add my favorite wallet.Chaves. Love it. Yes it has a money clip but sometimes cash has to go somewhere. The Chaves Ultramar ti-fold at only $49 full one piece titanium is a great deal IMO. They are back in stock from Chaves knives. Very low number batches.
My favorite hard wallet is the Scudo Wallet. Definitely recommend.
Yes, I have The RIDGE Titanium in black and it’s been a great wallet for the last 6 months. It takes a week to get use to.
I use the Flipside. My first hard wallet so maybe I just dont know any better. Been using it for a few years at this point. cant say I have any issue with it. Canadian Prepper ran over his with his truck and it was fine. I wouldn't call it flimsy. I have broke the ban on mine but its easily replaced with a ranger band. Holds cards plus a mone section which I would say can hold 2 or 3 more cards easily. plus the band on the outside.
I really love the looks with the contour but one thing I love about my element he didn’t touch on is how much more cash friendly it is that all these others. I guess I’m a little old-fashioned but I use cash frequently enough to want a convenient way to get it in and out of my wallet and that quarter fold thing just isn’t for me. Another thing to keep in mind regarding Trayvax, they do send you a free summit wallet with any other wallet purchase, at least they have the last two purchases I made. You do get a random strap color, but replacement bands are one or two dollars on their website so I got a few with my last purchase to go with the free summit I was getting and the one I already owned.
with the ridge just fold the cash in half if you have a lot of bills, the tri fold is just for a couple bills and pictures
I appreciate the overview of these. I wanted to mention you should take a look at Dango’s wallets. I saw someone else had mentioned them as well in the comments. I’ve had mine for 7-8 years now, the D01 Dapper model.
I have been carrying a Wagner Swiss Wallet for probably 10 years and even with the money clip and a bit bulky I have had no issues with it
Nice, I use a Pelican wallet, its pretty bulky but very handy
I have the ekster with leather, I think the call it the Parliament. I can highly recommend it! Main bit like the one shown here holds 5 cards easy, if I didn't have a card with raised text still, it would hold 6. Then I keep my license in the strap on the inside (like the strap he took off, only its sewn into the leather. Then there is a leather flap that covers that all up, and it is perfect for holding small thin stuff like insurance cards, or a folder sticky note or business card. Despite all that, it is still very slim and I don't even notice it in my pocket.
I think the ridge does a good job compared to other with cash, because it keeps it separate from cards. And the money clip does not make it much thicker. I like it over the strap.
I’ve been very happy with the grip6 (no finger loop). I love how the cards rise up on both sides. Very easy to find and grab the one I want. It is bulkier than a true minimalist walker, but is still perfectly reasonable in my pocket. And I love the satisfying track as I lock the cards back in. I’ve never accidentally launched my cards, but it is possible. Plus I love the leather over orange aluminum combo I went with.
@@robertdavezac I agree. You certainly can launch your cards if you want to, but I have never had it happen accidentally and I've had mine for over a year.
The best trick for hiding your money in a ridge style
Wallet is to get a coin tray either ridge or generic make where you can stick about 3 or four folded notes on the bottom of your cards but it will take up about 4 card slots then allowing you to ditch both the cash strap and clip
Slots.
I run the groove with the leather. The elastic ends up holding a TON and it’s now pretty bulky but I still really like it.
I love my Grip6 without the finger loop. I have 3 IDs I carry, along with my NCCWP, NC Lifetime HF card, then my bank cards. I love the leather holster.
No wallet is better than the Secrid wallet with button ....for cash,cards, and any type of business card that u may want
That’s my go to as well love secrid wallet with button
I’ve had the Trayvax element non stop for about three years and it has warn very well. I appreciate all your great content and your take on things that you bring to the table.
I've been carrying the trayvax armoured summit for years now and love it I have also carried it with the leather note book accessory which includes an open holder and obviously an area to hold a small notebook, loving the channel even tho it makes me realise how much cool EDC I miss out on being from the UK
The Trayvax Summit is a game changer. I won one 5 or 6 years ago from Trayvax and have never even considered another wallet. 👍🏼👍🏼
Great video!
Two years in with my Trayvax 2.0 and it’s awesome
Ok, so the Raptor titanium one is $300? There goes my need for a money clip! Ha ha. Kidding. I've been using a doubled elastic band -- they're about 1 cent each. Anyway, it's matter of style. These look nice and I'll probably buy one so I don't end up looking like Jethro Bodine! Great video, btw.
I have the grove made minimalist wallet. It’s a hard wallet covered in leather that I believe grove made discontinued. But I’ve been carrying it for about 5 years and love it! And it’s made in USA!!
The Decadent Minimalist wallet, is something you should check out. Especially, if you like the Gil-Tek Raw. I think the design is way better, and you might agree.
I love my flip side ! Carried it for the past 3 years
But, I keep it in my front pocket
Are you planning to do a review on the SCUDO Superleggera C7?
Super cool review, thanks for taking the time to do such a comprehensive review! I love my Fantom Wallet because of the attachments, I had the Ekster but it broke after only 6 months of use.
I carried a trayvax element from the launch till about a year ago and loved it. But I got a titanium trayvax contour and it is so much better
Have you tried Secrid wallets maybe?
I’ve used the Ekster, grip6 and the fantom. Currently the fantom won me over because it’s the most customizable. I got it with the silicon band and a cash clip. The grip6 is second place personally (of the three) because I love the wallet but hated the leather attachment. I had it with the finger loop too and never had the issue with the cards flying out. Only stopped using it because my finger loop broke which made it uncomfortable to use., so I thought to try something new. The ekster is my least favorite that I’ve tried because while the sizes can be changed, it’s thin footprint forced me to 1/4 fold, but doing so made the wallet too bulky. My dream would be a wallet with a sleek body as ekster, a mechanism like the Grip6 and the customizable nature of the fantom. Essentially a Grip 6 with a cash clip and an elastic rather than a leather pouch.
I bought the Trayvax Original 2.0 and they gave me a Summit (without the armor) for free. I do not like the Summit at all, the strap always loosens up and although you can carry 8 cards, as soon as you add a little cash, it pushes the top card or two above the retaining clip.
A few questions:
- I saw that you had the Original 2.0 in the pile that didn't make the cut, but you never talked about what you don't like about it and I'd like to hear. I like that it retains the cards with the paracord that snaps over the end and it can be adjusted for the amount of cards you carry. It also holds more cash.
- I'm old school and actually carry cash, always $200-$300 bucks. It's always been an issue with these types of wallets which is why I like the 2.0. How do you solve for more cash than the average guy? And how do you handle any amount of cash in the wallets on your list that don't have a place for it? Only way I've come up with is just a loose wad or separate money clip.
Ive had a dango m10. And love it. I would rather have a wallet that i carry everyday that includes a few small tools. The m10 and the cheaper bifold have optional multi tools that slid in like a credit card. It carrys cash in a few spots, 1 of which holds full bifold cash.
There are a lot of accessories like a money clip and more. Carries at least 12 cards plus cash.
If its an EDC item i would rather have options and optional tools. Otherwise what is the difference between a hard wallet that just holds cards and maybe cash @ a $50-150+ and a simple leather or canvas minimal wallet for $10.
Great video! I was surprised you didn’t have a SCUDO wallet on the list. It’s my favorite hard wallet. I rotate between a SCUDO wallet and an Open Sea Leather wallet.
I've had a ridge like wallet for about 4 years now with no issue and it only cost me $11. These guys are nuts for the money they want for their wallets. 100 to 300 for the vice wallet is crazy.
The thing I hate about my ridge is how it can be a pain in the ass to get certain cards out. Sometimes I need to pull all the cards out just to get to the middle one or whatever.
I'll always go with the Redeemed Creations notebook wallet with a hard notebook. Awesome video as always Taylor 👌
I just pre ordered the titanium hellbent!!! I have the aluminum now and it freaking love it!! I do know what you mean about the cards being kinda clumsy to take out but I’ll take that for the durability of the wallet.
I swear by my flipside wallet. I also have the sidekick attachment with a " wallet tile" in it.
Nice Video! do yo know if Groove Life will release their wallets again anytime soon?
I tried a ridge wallet but gave it to my friend I’m using an AMR carbon fiber right now I like it. It has a clip for cash that doesn’t bother me.
I use a ridge knock-off currently a rossm but am getting a pirna as I like the newer forged carbon plates that come on them that were copied from ridge but are quite a bit cheaper as the problem will ridge is the price and you can get a decent knock off for a quarter of the price I switched to hard wallet's about 18 months ago and can't see me going back to the old style bifold leather wallet
I have been using armatuscarry kydex wallets for about 4 years now,and absolutely love them. I've had multiple different designs,but I think the tan is my favorite. It's is an exact match with my little Spartan blades fixed blade. The little strap it had to snap and hold the cards in works great for cash.
2 biggest factors to me : 1) quick access/replacement with zero fiddling, and 2) hold onto my stuff securely. I’ve tried a bunch, but Trayvax Contour is what’s always in my pocket. Only downside is price, that hurt.
Hello, just for your information, the gil-tek raw is back in stock!
I’d love for you to revisit this! I’ve been considering the groove wallet or ridge wallet.