As our daily transactions become more digitized, traditional bi-fold wallets become more impractical. Many businesses only accept credit cards or digital transactions through Apple Pay and Venmo—which begs the question, why are you still carrying around a clunky wallet?
Minimalist wallets are the way of the future. Their slim silhouettes are perfect for front pocket carrying, the durable materials ensure longevity, and the deceptively spacious card-holding cavity fits all your most essential items.
With so many options on the market, we’ve narrowed it down to the two stand-out minimalist wallet brands: The Ridge and Ekster.
Ideal for fans of EDC gear, both of these companies offer products that are stylish enough for city slickers, but rugged enough for outdoor enthusiasts. High-quality materials, eye-catching aesthetics, and simple yet functional designs are just a few of the reasons The Ridge and Ekster are our top picks as the best compact wallets for men.
But there are a few key differences between these minimalist powerhouses—and we want you to make the right choice for your pocket.
An Overview of The Ridge and Ekster Wallets
The Ridge
Designed to streamline your everyday essentials, wallets from The Ridge are the perfect sweet spot for minimalists who want to maximize efficiency. Choose between military-grade aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber casings that feature built-in RFID-blocking technology to protect your sensitive information from wireless theft.
A patented dual-track construction expands the internal chamber to hold up to twelve cards without adding bulk to your pocket. Paper bills are stored in the external cash strap or money clip. Ridge allows you to carry less with a slim body style.
Ekster
Photo sourced from Ekster.com
Built for the 21st century, Eskter smart wallets blow traditional leather bi-folds out of the water. A patented card ejection mechanism fans out the contents of your wallet like a switchblade with just a single click of a button—no more fumbling around for the right card.
The expandable backplate can take on a hefty wad of cash or more cards, while the special RFID-blocking layers protect your private information. Every Eskter model can be upgraded to feature a solar-powered tracking device that will relay your wallet’s exact location to your phone anywhere in the world.
High-quality leather, carbon fiber, and aluminum casings are offered in a wide range of sophisticated colors to make sure your cardholder is as stylish as it is functional. Ekster’s mission is simple—create intuitive, everyday products that make your busy life easier.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Durability
The Ridge
Wallets from The Ridge are built to take on any obstacle life throws your way. The materials have survived intensive drop tests, extreme weather scenarios, and don’t feature any flimsy parts that could break off during an adrenaline-filled adventure. In fact, The Ridge is so confident their wallets are indestructible that they offer a lifetime warranty policy that the vast majority of users never have to claim.
The most rugged wallet in their collection features a carbon fiber shell that’s forged with the same strength, flexibility, and durability as the materials that aerospace engineers use in rocket ships. The Ridge believes that your essential accessories should be of the highest possible quality so they last for decades to come—which both eliminates the stress of buying a new wallet every few years and positively impacts the environment by reducing your reliance on cheaply made goods.
When it comes to out-right ruggedness, The Ridge has the upper hand in the fight for the best minimalist wallet.
Ekster
There’s no doubt about whether Ekster offers durable wallets—their booming success as the world’s leading smart wallet company is evidence enough. However, the level of ruggedness can depend on which model you buy.
For example, the carbon fiber Ekster wallet is forged from military-grade materials that would withstand a nuclear blast. But the leather version of their classic cardholder is still heavily prone to water damage, scuff marks, and torn seams.
Where The Ridge ensures maximum durability, some of the Ekster wallet designs can compromise longevity for looks. That being said, the inner aluminum cardholder will protect your personal items from extreme weather or accidental falls.
At the end of the day, choosing the best minimalist wallet for your pocket just depends on whether medium-level durability is a dealbreaker.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Functionality & Features
The Ridge
Every element of a Ridge wallet is constructed to make using your wallet an intuitive experience. From the ergonomic thumbhole design that offers a sturdy grip to the cash strap that runs lengthwise across the back to provide maximum security for your bills, this compact wallet makes the most out of its minuscule frame.
The stretchy inner elastic makes loading and unloading your cards incredibly easy, and the ability to interchange the cash strap to a money clip gives you total control over this important accessory.
If size matters to you, then The Ridge is a good choice. The compact 86 x 54 x 6mm frame is barely felt in your pocket and can slip easily into glove compartments, briefcases, or carry-on luggage.
Ekster
Compared to The Ridge, Ekster wallets do have a slight upper hand when it comes to the range of features they offer. The patented card ejection mechanism of Ekster’s design adds an exciting structural component to the overall functionality.
A single click of a button fans out all your cards for easy access and keeps them tightly secured when pushed back inside.
Plus, the ability to add a tracking device is highly useful if you frequently misplace your wallet. The solar-powered card syncs up with your phone and can pinpoint its location anywhere in the world.
It also has a two-way call feature that allows you to “ring” your wallet from your phone (and vice versa), the ability to connect to a worldwide lost-and-found network, and is compatible with Siri, Alexa, or Google Home for voice-activation capabilities. If you want a minimalist wallet with maximalist features, this is the choice for you.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Overall Aesthetic
The Ridge
Sleek and understated, the appeal of a Ridge wallet is its simplicity. The scratch-resistant casing looks sharp for years to come and replacement elastic bands ensure an old cash strap attachment won’t tarnish the visual appeal of your cardholder.
The wide range of colors, textures, and patterns allows you to get creative on how to express your unique sense of style.
Want to personalize your wallet even more? The Ridge offers custom laser engraving so you can treat your wallet as an heirloom instead of just a simple accessory.
Ekster
With slim dimensions that are ideal for front pocket carriers, Ekster wallets certainly have a minimalist aesthetic. The simple rectangular design and horizontal elastic cash strap don’t clutter your pocket.
Plus, when you choose a premium material like the cross-hatched carbon fiber, your wallet gets a visual upgrade.
The quick card access button does protrude out from the bottom of the wallet, making it prone to catching on the loose fabric or getting pocket gunk stuck in the creases. If that doesn’t bother you, then have at it.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Extra Features & Warranty
The Ridge
The Ridge keeps its products incredibly streamlined for maximum efficiency. The only added feature is a T5 Torx screwdriver that comes with every wallet you order. This gadget allows you to swap out the cash strap for a money clip (or vice versa) whenever you feel like it.
No need to take it into a store or ship it back for professional help—The Ridge believes that you should always have control over your important accessories. Plus, the screwdriver can come in handy for other items you have that use small screws!
Another stand-out feature of Ridge wallets is their lifetime guarantee policy. As one of the best minimalist wallets for men on the market, it’s unlikely you’ll need to activate the policy.
Most of their products also offer free returns within 45 days of purchase if you aren’t satisfied, but it’s hard to think of a reason why you wouldn’t be!
Ekster
Ekster’s warranty policy isn’t too shabby with free returns up to 45 days after purchase and a 12-month warranty, but it’s nowhere near as extensive as its competitor.
Additionally, Ekster doesn’t offer any extra gadgets or tools. The solar-powered smart tracking device is incredibly useful, but you’ll have to pay extra to have that tacked on to your wallet.
And The Winner Is…
After an extensive investigation of the overall design, durability, warranty policy, and extra features of these two powerhouse brands, the best minimalist wallet is the one that fits your lifestyle the most! The Ridge wallet gives you maximum durability with a lifelong guarantee and the Ekster gives you a slim wallet that won’t get lost.
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