The Best Ridge Wallet Alternatives
The Ridge Wallet is notorious for being one of the most popular wallets to be developed in the last 20 years. In my experience, the Ridge was the first ultra-slim wallet made from Metal that really broke the tradition of typical leather wallets and innovated in a way not commonly seen. That’s not to say they were the first. But due to the Ridge’s incredible design, it’s no surprise this wallet became as popular.
But that’s not to say the Ridge wallet is perfect. The wallet itself isn’t for everyone whether that’s down to the look and feel of the wallet itself or its pricey price tag. This article is going to provide a range of alternatives you can choose from similar to the Ridge but all with their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Check out our full review of the Ridge Wallet before we get started by clicking here.
Bankr Stack Wallet
The Bankr Stack Wallet is a fantastic little minimalist wallet in a simple metal design. Being made from aluminum metal, similar to the Ridge, the Bankr really is a perfect wallet for streamlining your carry at a slightly more affordable price tag of $69.00. The wallet also has some great functionality while still retaining a slim size. With a capacity of 1-12 cards, RFID security, quick card access, and a free removable cash clip it’s a great option for those who want it all.
What I like with the Bankr compared to the Ridge is the range of unique color and design variations it comes in. Whether you want a unique color (like gold, or blue) or design like the American flag, Bankr is really innovative in the range of designs and it is a great option for people who want some customization in their wallets to stand out from the crowd. For more information on the Bankr Stack check out our full review or visit their official website using the link below.
The Aviator Wallet
Another great alternative to the Ridge Wallet. The Aviator Wallet is another really thin metal wallet made from pure airplane aluminium that is lightweight yet highly sturdy for added durability. One aspect of the Aviator wallet that the Ridge wallet doesn’t have is its capacity for coin storage. The wallet comes with a metal tray that fits perfectly in the wallet and allows you to store a few coins with ease in a similar way to the cavity card wallet accessory.
Another great aspect of the wallet is you get the choice between the different sizes you want. The aviator comes in 3 sizes each which provides a different capacity for cash and cards completely dependent on you and how much you carry. This is great as it allows you to tailor your wallet to your own individual EDC.
Finally, the Aviator wallet is another wallet that comes in a nice variety of colors and designs to add yet another layer of personalization options available. The Aviator isn’t the cheapest wallet on the market. Starting at $60.00 and ranging to as high as $300.00, the Aviator is one of the more expensive wallets on this list especially compared to the Ridge. For more information on the Aviator Wallet check out our full review or visit their official website with the link below.
The Decadent Wallet
The Decadent Wallet is one of the more unusual looking wallets on the market. Resembling more of a glorified car part than a wallet. The design is simple really. The metal shell is shaped in a way that cards can easily slide in and out in a frame style where cards are never entirely covered so cards can be easily accessed with little to no effort.
Made from a single piece of aircraft-grade metal, this patented design was created to eliminate any unnecessary bulk, slim down your wallet, and keep functionality high. The first thing I noticed in the Decadent DM1 is its sturdiness. Being made from a metal of your choice (either aluminum, nickel, or titanium) the wallet has a very high build quality (as you’d expect from metal) and feels premium and robust in the hand. The wallet also comes in a huge range of eclectic color options for you to choose from.
The Decadent Minimalist Wallet is a lovely little wallet with a unique design and functionality to match even the best wallets on the market. The wallet’s build quality is some of the best I’ve ever come across and I have no doubt this could last a lifetime even with daily use. I recommend this wallet to people who mainly carry cards and are looking for an alternative to leather for their next wallet. For more information on the Decadent DM1 Wallet check out our full review or check them out at their official website by clicking the link below.
The Fantom Wallet
The Fantom wallet is probably the most unique on this list and puts a lot of emphasis on the usability and access of cards. The Fantom uses a cascading card mechanism that allows you to seamlessly ‘fan out’ your cards in a way that evenly distributes them for easy picking. The whole wallet is incredibly slim coming in at just 2.8mm thick and is built to one of the highest standards I’ve come across being developed and created by a team of engineers. With this in mind, you can be confident the wallet is durable, well built, and will last a lifetime with proper care.
The Fantom wallet is another wallet that enables you to choose and customize its size depending on the card capacity you want. The smaller version (the Fantom 7) can hold between 4 – 7 cards while the largest can accommodate between 8 – 13. The Fantom also has the choice to include a coin holder slot and a large variety of color options including gold, black, red, and orange.
Overall the Fantom wallet is a great choice for people looking for style and amazing access to cards. The cascading card mechanism is by far one of the most effective ways I’ve come across to gain access to cards, especially in a wallet of this size. The Fantom Wallet is also very affordable starting at a price tag of $54.00. For more information on The Fantom check out our full review here or check out their store using the link below.
Dango Dapper D01 Wallet
The Dango Wallet range needs no introduction and produces some of the most innovative tactical style wallets on the market. What I personally like about the Dapper D01 is the combination of metal and leather that creates a highly attractive minimalist wallet.
The features of the Dango D01 are also worth mentioning. With a max capacity of up to 12 cards and great storage for cash (folded), the Dango does a great all-round job of storage without becoming too.bulky. Where this wallet really shines is in the included wallet multi-tool that allows you to carry additional, more unusual features, not commonly found in wallets. This includes a built-in bottle opener and compatibility with the MT02 Multi-tool that is sold separately. This wallet is most popular among people who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle with activities such as camping.
The Dango D01 Dapper wallet comes in at a price tag of $69.00 which considering its premium quality and amazing features is really reasonable. For more information on the Dango wallet check out our full review here or visit their official website using the link below.
Vanacci Stealth Wallet
With a distinctive and futuristic design, the Vanacci Stealth Wallet is a great contender for a Ridge Alternative. Designed with inspiration from the likes of aircraft including the Nighthawk and B-2 Spirt plane, the Vanacci uses materials from these plane’s construction with a body built from a combination of lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber.
Unlike the Ridge, Cash and cards are stored internally within the wallet while maintaining a similar size coming in at only 110mm x 65mm x 11.5mm. It also utilizes the popular pop-up or cascading card mechanism we’ve all grown to love with an even distribution of cash and cards quickly and easily. The Stealth Wallet’s storage isn’t as good as the Ridge but generally speaking it’s ample for most people especially considering it’s built for minimalists in mind being able to store up to 7 cards.
Overall, the Vanacci Stealth Wallet is a nice little pick for this list and gives an alternative, yet effective, way to store your cash/cards with ease in a unique design. The only issue comes down to its price tag of $105.00 which is definitely a lot and will be too much for some people. But if you’ve got the spare cash, you can do a lot worst than the Stealth wallet from Vanacci.
