The Ridge Biflex: The No.1 Metal Wallet Brand Leaps into Leather

There’s something that doesn’t sit right with me about Ridge straying into leather, something that I can only imagine was once used as marketing jargon praising the metal material it has exclusively used for the past decade - but that’s changed with the Ridge Biflex.

For me, Ridge’s real innovation peaked with the Original Ridge Wallet. Since then, it’s felt more like they’ve been refining the same formula rather than breaking new ground. The Biflex, in particular, looks and feels like something I’ve seen before (more on that shortly). What’s more interesting is where Ridge seems to be focusing its energy: a headline-grabbing collaboration with tech YouTuber MKBHD. According to the Biflex product page, this wallet isn’t just “MKBHD approved” - it was “hand-designed from the ground up by the man himself.”

A Tale of Two Wallet Collaborations

I’m not here to claim anything definitively, I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions. But I’ve been a fan of this style of wallet since 2021, first coming across it through Trove and their original slim wallet design. Below is a comparison image. There are some obvious design differences, such as the longer strip of leather, but the core concept is quite familiar: elastic sides, dual compartments, and the ability to access cards from either the top or bottom. Other similar designs have popped up too, including the now-defunct Ebax wallet.

Ridge Biflex

Trove Slim Wallet

What really caught my attention was a collab announcement on Trove’s website announcing a limited edition Swift Wallet, designed in collaboration with MKBHD - wait a second i thought he was working with Ridge? Turns out that MKBHD once worked alongside brand Trove which, funnily enough, is the brand that immediately first popped into my head when I first saw the Ridge Biflex. The two design bears a striking resemblance to each other.

Ridge partnering with MKBHD makes perfect sense, they’re the biggest name in wallets, he’s one of the most influential tech and EDC YouTubers. Whether MKBHD had much influence over the final design or simply endorsed something Ridge had already been working on, we can’t say. What’s clear is that both Ridge and MKBHD ended up presenting a leather wallet design that feels very familiar to Trove’s original. And we do have confirmation that MKBHD has worked with Trove in the past.

Of course, this is all just speculation based on what I’ve seen online. I’m simply sharing some observations and thoughts - nothing more. And prehaps it shouldn’t matter? Patenting a specific design is most likely impossible so it simply comes down to the prinipals of ethics as to whether or not you think its okay for one brand to rip of another. Let’s be fair, Ridge has its fair share of copycat brands and competition in healthy in any market.

Marques Brownlee holds up the limited edition: TROVE Swift Matte Black

Paying for the Name, Not the Wallet

Wallets are quickly becoming part of a small and unusual category of items where pricing can range from just a few dollars to several thousand pounds. Much like the wristwatch, wallets are shifting from purely functional objects to fashion accessories. After all, our wallets are getting smaller and smaller, and it’s easy to imagine a future where, just as quartz movements made mechanical watches obsolete, technology will make the need for cash and cards a thing of the past.

In the case of the Ridge Biflex, the $85 price tag feels eye-wateringly steep for what you actually get. For comparison, a handmade Trove Wallet, crafted in the United Kingdom, will set you back around $40. Amazon is also flooded with wallets in a similar style for a fraction of the price.

At the end of the day, you’re paying for the Ridge brand - nothing more. Personally, I feel what once made Ridge stand out is slowly being diluted by copycat products, generic EDC items, and an increasing sense of mediocrity.

MKBHD’s announcement video of his collab with Ridge Wallet

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom

With all that said, there’s only so much you can do with a piece of leather, so some overlap between wallet designs is inevitable. As for the Biflex, my first impressions are actually very good. The leather is high quality, and the overall craftsmanship is above average for some of the stuff i come across these days.

That being said, the price still feels insanely high for what you get (the Biflex comes in at $85.00) but it’s clear Ridge is trying to position itself higher in the market as a premium or even designer brand. From a business perspective, it also makes sense that they couldn’t price the Biflex too far below their original metal wallet without undermining their own brand and sales. Ridge want to you give a choice, they aren’t going to undercut themselves.

Waiting for the Full Picture

My Biflex from Ridge is on its way, and like with every wallet I review, I’m going to take some time to use it properly over a few months before giving an honest opinion. I’ll be looking at where the Biflex ranks compared to its direct competitors, mainly the Trove, and other similar-sized leather wallets.

I understand Ridge is trying to expand its business, but I do feel the brand has started to overvalue itself and dilute what made it distinctive, with an increasing range of bang-average EDC copycat products. Will the Biflex end up as part of that mediocrity? I’m not entirely sure yet - but I’ll keep you updated with my honest thoughts once I’ve had enough time with it. Stay tuned.

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The views expressed in this article are my own personal opinions based on publicly available information and personal observations. I do not claim to represent Ridge or any of the brands mentioned, and no allegations are being made. This content is intended for commentary and review purposes only.