Ogon Oslo Wallet Review

Ogon Designs: A Brief Brand History

Ogon Design is a French brand credited with inventing the modern “hard shell” wallet in the early 2000. The concept was born when founder Thomas Marcel lived in Stockholm, Sweden around 2000 and noticed that stylish locals repurposed metal cigarette cases to carry their ID, credit cards, and cash.

Inspired by this clever idea, Marcel spent two years developing a rigid “smart wallet” design (even drawing influence from sturdy aluminum suitcases) before perfecting the first prototype. In 2004, he established Ogon Design in Paris and launched the world’s first designer wallet made of aluminum – a sleek, compact card case aptly named the “Stockholm”.

The Different Ogon Models

ÖGON’s product range has grown to include several Smart Case models, each with its own features while retaining the core concept of a durable, RFID-safe hard wallet. Below is a comparison of the key models and what makes each unique.

The OGON Stockholm is the classic original, a compact aluminum clamshell that holds around 10 cards with RFID protection, known for its simple, durable design. The Oslo offers the same size and capacity but features updated styling and special edition prints for a more modern look. The Lady Case Helsinki keeps the same compact format but adds a quilted aluminum shell for a more elegant, handbag-inspired appearance.

The Smart Case V2 Large is a bigger version of the Stockholm or Ogon Oslo, offering space for 10+ cards plus folded cash and even coins, trading extra bulk for added capacity. Finally, the Code Wallet is similar to the Large model but includes a built-in 3-digit combination lock, making it a pocket-sized safe for those wanting extra security.

In the case of this review I’ll be looking specifically at the Ogon Oslo Wallet which is the one I purchased and the one i’ve been using for the past month or so. I would consider this the more premium model as it comes in at a price tag above the basic model. 

Lady Helsinki Wallet

Oslo Wallet

Look and Design

Hard case or hard shell wallets are something of an oddity in the wallet world. They’ve never really been the most popular style on the market, yet they never seem to go away. If you’re someone who likes this type of wallet, you’ll defend it to the end and swear by its practicality. As the name suggests, this wallet is best described as a case, with its design taking clear inspiration from the classic cigarette cases of a bygone era.

When it comes to the design itself, Ogon deserves real credit for their attention to detail and artistry. The wallet has a striking look that calls to mind a small suitcase, not unlike those designed by the iconic brand Rimowa. I think they’ve done an excellent job with the Ogon Oslo, giving it a timeless quality thanks to its brushed metal finish (made from aluminium) and understated accents.

The Ogon Oslo Wallet fully open with its indivudal card compartments

I personally own the brushed silver version (listed as “Platinum” on their website), but at the time of writing, the Ogon Oslo Wallet is available in around 30 different variations. These range from a wide selection of colours, reds, oranges, yellows, to patterned designs, including special editions from collaborations with artists like Keith Haring, featuring his signature graffiti artwork. It’s genuinely impressive, and Ogon is known for releasing limited-edition artist collaborations on a fairly regular basis.

While the exterior is crafted from attractive aluminium, the story inside is quite different. Ogon has chosen to use basic plastic for the internal casing and the accordion-style slots (which I’ll discuss in more detail later). In my view, this is a questionable choice of material.

Given the premium feel of the exterior, the use of what seems like cheap plastic inside really undermines the overall quality of the wallet. It both looks and feels inexpensive, especially when it comes to the accordion dividers that hold credit and debit cards. These feel flimsy, almost like the thin plastic you’d find in disposable packaging. It was honestly disappointing for me, and I suspect it might surprise other buyers when they first unbox it - it certainly did for me.

That said, plastic aside, my overall opinion of the Ogon’s design and construction remains largely positive. I’ve learned to overlook the plastic elements, and functionally they do their job just fine. Still, I think Ogon should seriously consider alternative materials, not only to improve durability and perceived quality, but also from a sustainability perspective.

For example, a hard case wallet called the KCOPE launched on Kickstarter earlier this year with a similar internal design but used a quality woven fabric instead. In my opinion, that choice was far superior to Ogon’s approach.

Functionality and everyday use

So how does the Ogon Wallet actually work? Every wallet in their hard case range uses an accordion-style storage system with several individual slots, six in the case of the Oslo model, where you can store your cards. Thanks to this accordion design, when you press the plastic button to open the case, the interior expands automatically, neatly fanning out your cards for easy access. It’s a clever and well-executed idea that works very well in practice.

In my own use, I found I could fit two cards per slot for a maximum of twelve cards. However, at full capacity it put quite a bit of strain on the clasp that keeps the wallet shut. The sweet spot for me was using five slots for cards (around two per slot) while leaving one slot free for bills or receipts. This setup struck a good balance between capacity and ease of use.

The biggest downside I found while using the Ogon was how loose the cards were in each slot. With most wallets, simply sliding a card into a slot creates enough friction and tension to hold it securely. You can shake those wallets around with confidence that nothing will fall out.

That’s not the case with the Ogon. When open, the cards sit quite loosely in the slots. If I held the wallet upside down, for example, all the cards would just tumble out. In my opinion, this is a poor design choice, and I often found myself handling the wallet with unnecessary care, trying to avoid cards spilling everywhere.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about Ogon’s use of the accordion-style storage system. It does work well enough, and for many people this might not be a big issue. But the fact that I have to change the way I’d normally use a wallet just to work around what seems like an easily fixable problem does leave a bit of a sour taste.

Final Verdict: Is the Ogon Oslo Wallet Worth it?

Overall, I have mixed feelings about the Ogon Oslo Wallet. On one hand, I really appreciate its look and the wide variety of designs on offer. The exterior feels premium with its lightweight aluminium construction, and the overall size and dimensions make it excellent for streamlined everyday carry.

That said, the wallet has a few issues that hold it back. If Ogon could address these, it could easily be a near-perfect product. My biggest complaint is the accordion-style storage method. As I’ve mentioned, it feels clumsy to use, and the choice of plastic for the interior is underwhelming. If Ogon could develop a version with better internal materials and find a way to keep cards from falling out so easily, they’d have a real winner on their hands.

So, can I recommend the Ogon Oslo and the other similar wallets in their range? At the price point, $60.40, I’d say yes. Even with my criticisms, it’s by no means a bad wallet, and I genuinely enjoyed using it despite the occasional frustration.

Overall, while it has its flaws, it’s still a solid choice, and given that Ogon has been making these for over two decades now, they’re clearly doing something right. For more information on the Ogon Oslo Wallet, you can check out their official website using the link below. You can also read our in-depth article on our top choices for the very Best Hard Case Wallets on the market this year.