XSTO Wallet Review

Metal wallets are one of those categories that are pretty set in their ways. If you are looking for a metal wallet you have probably come across the Ridge, which is something of the default design for the category and the first wallet most people picture when metal and wallet are mentioned in the same sentence.

But the XSTO Wallet, unlike the countless Ridge imitators on the market, genuinely stands apart in terms of its design, and it was that design that got me excited when I first tried it back in 2020. In this updated review I am going to take a closer look at the XSTO, put it through its paces, and give my honest opinion on whether my thoughts from 2020 have changed.

Brand Introduction: Akeeni

I sometimes skip the brand introduction in my reviews, mainly because the vast majority of them are unremarkable. But in the case of Akeeni, the brand behind the XSTO Wallet, it is probably one of the most fascinating, and in the same breath tragic, stories I have come across in the wallet world.

The XSTO Wallet is the brainchild of creator and founder Tobe Zane, a former aerospace engineer of 30 years, set up this small, independent, family-run business that continues to operate that way to this day.

It was in 2018 that the Carr Fire destroyed over 1,000 homes, including the manufacturing facility where Akeeni’s original wallet, the Stow Wallet, was being produced. Everything was lost, from the tools used to craft the wallet to the infrastructure built around it.

The timing could not have been crueller: just days before the fire, Akeeni had completed their first commercial run of prototypes. Only one wallet survived. But Akeeni did not give up. They rebuilt everything from the ground up, and the XSTO Wallet is the result of that resilience.

Look, Design and Quality

On the scale of unusual looking designs, the XSTO ranks fairly high, and it is genuinely difficult to know which way is up when you first pick it up. Its shape and form factor look more like a component from an engine or a piece of machinery than anything resembling a wallet. But it is precisely this unusual shape that allows the XSTO to function the way it does, and it is undeniably different in its approach compared to anything else in the metal wallet category.

So how does one describe the XSTO Wallet? It is essentially a large metal shell, a hollowed out cavity with a rounded rectangular form and soft, smooth corners. I will be honest: the design is not my favourite aspect of this wallet. It is simply not the kind of thing I would typically reach for in my collection, and that is fine. Design is subjective, and there are clearly plenty of people who are drawn to this aesthetic, as the wallet’s continued existence and growing following demonstrates.

But what is not subjective is the sheer durability of this wallet. Made from aerospace-grade aluminium, the thing is built like a tank, and honestly it kind of looks like one too. The choice of material is brilliant, striking that perfect balance between strength, durability, and low weight. I have tried bending the XSTO in every direction and it does not shift an inch. Part of this durability almost certainly comes down to its one-piece construction.

Yes, that is right: you might look at this wallet and assume it is built from multiple pieces of metal joined together, but it is in fact machined from a single piece. Because of this, the thing is virtually indestructible, and in all my years of reviewing wallets nothing has come close to matching it. I have thrown it out of windows, launched it at walls, and I even reversed my car over it, only a old Fiesta but still, and it came out without a scratch. It really is that strong, and I have no hesitation in saying this wallet will genuinely last a lifetime.

Ultra thin wallet. Very comfortable in either a front or back pocket.

What caught me off guard was the finish. When I first unboxed it I could have been forgiven for thinking I had received a wallet, how should is say, not made from metal. The XSTO has a finish, which produces a sandblasted surface with a very slight rough texture, applied for reasons of strength and durability. But on first inspection, at least to me, it gave an almost plastic feel.

The surface texture of the wallet is so pronounced that you cannot feel the metal underneath. It is unquestionably metal, and after just a few hours of use my initial perception changed entirely, but it does mess with your expectations. I was anticipating a finish more in line with what you find on most metal wallets, your Ridge, your Ekster, and this stark departure caught me off guard.

But this texture and finish is not just for show. It genuinely adds to the durability of the wallet in a meaningful way. While a lot of the metal wallets I review scratch over time, particularly coloured ones that end up revealing the bare metal underneath, the XSTO has shown no such signs of wear. This finish really is the icing on the cake for what is already a high quality wallet, made better still by this sandblasted texture. Really impressive stuff.

Forest Green & Desert Sand Color Options: 7 standard colors available

Specs: what to know and consider

The XSTO Wallet is all about streamlining your wallet carry experience, but also maintaining a high degree of functionality. Coming in at just 3.75 inches long by 2.3 inches wide and 0.58 inches deep (for the smallest 4 card variant) the XSTO is perfectly crafted to be an optimum size. The wallet fits very nicely in a front or back pocket and has a premium feel in the hand. 

One thing I love about the XSTO is the wallet is available in a variety of different sizes each made to fit the amount of credit/debit cards you carry. 4 sizes including 4, 6, 8, and 10 card capacities mean that each different wallet can store the composing amount of cards at its max. Along with this, each different wallet size can also accommodate an additional 8 bills/banknotes and 5 business cards. 

My favorite thing about the XSTO Wallet is its range of customization or personalization options. At its basics, the wallet is available in a range of lovely color options including black, blue, grey, green, and red that really make the wallet stand out from a crowd. Along with this Akeeni has also developed its own engraving options. Using high-tech fiber lasers, Aneeni allows you to upload an image or write some text (monogram) on the outside surface of the wallet.

Functionality and Use in Daily Life

The unusual design of the XSTO is not just for show. It is entirely intentional, and it is precisely this design that creates what I think is a genuinely easy and functional wallet to use. Let us start with card storage. On the underside of the wallet is where the majority of the magic happens. Cards are slid inward toward the centre of the wallet, where they snap securely into place.

The action of sliding to access cards is intuitive and feels completely natural. As you can see in the video below, a simple one-handed slide causes your cards to fan out cleanly, allowing you to pick the one you need in an instant. What struck me most was the sheer fluidity of it. The XSTO strikes a perfect balance between tightness, flex, and security.

On to cash. The XSTO has a slightly convex form, which creates a small natural cavity directly beneath where the cards sit. This means that when you slide your cards out, your cash is automatically revealed if you need it. It is a clever detail, and it makes accessing your notes feel like opening a small drawer or tray rather than rooting around for them.

Finally, there is the top section of the wallet, which Akeeni call the business card compartment. Despite the name, it is not exclusively for business cards. Akeeni describe it as a space that keeps your most important cards protected and separate. In practice it functions as a quick-access slot at the top of the wallet, capable of storing up to four additional cards, though one to two is the optimal amount in my experience. A nice addition overall.

One thing nobody seems to have mentioned before: this area is actually not bad for storing coins. A small caveat here, Akeeni do not advertise the XSTO as being capable of coin storage, but you could have fooled me. I found that coins fit surprisingly well in this section, though they can slip out through the gaps on either side of the wallet, which is not ideal. However, if you lay some cash on top of the coins, as you can see in the image below, it prevents them from falling through, though they are still free to slide around which is a little annoying. Just a fun observation worth mentioning rather than a genuine selling point.

Everything included with my XSTO Wallet (with business card cover, cover plate and phone mount upgrades)

XSTO Add-ons: Optional Accessories

Akeeni were kind enough to also send over the range of optional accessories available for the wallet, minus a few. This included the spring upgrade, phone mount, business card cover, and cover plate. Some of these are a nice addition, but honestly there is not a great deal to say about them. They are all very affordable, though none of them do much in the way of meaningfully enhancing the wallet itself.

That said, it is genuinely refreshing to see accessories described as truly optional, unlike many brands that charge extra for features the wallet should have included in the first place. But that is a rant for another day. The table below outlines each accessory and my thoughts on it.

Upgrade	What it does	How it works	Price	Worth Buying?	Link
Spring Upgrade	Replaces the standard spring with a stainless steel or carbon fiber version for a more premium look.	Swaps out directly in place of the existing spring. No tools required.	From $5.99	Not really. No functional improvement over the standard spring. Purely aesthetic.	View Upgrade
Business Card Cover	A cover plate for the business card compartment at the top of the wallet. Keeps cards hidden and more secure.	Slides directly into the rear compartment, replacing the standard plastic cover. Available in carbon fiber.	From $4.99	I do see the appeal as it adds a cleaner look and keeps cards more secure.
Cover Plate	A credit card-shaped plate that sits at the bottom of the wallet. Purely aesthetic.	Slots in at the base of the wallet like a card. No tools required.	$3.99	No. Does nothing functionally. Skip it unless you are going for a fully decked-out look.
Phone Mount	Attaches your XSTO wallet directly to the back of your phone so you carry both as one unit.	Slides into the wallet like a card. Adhesive backing sticks to the rear of your phone or phone case.	$3.99	Depends on your carry style. Great for quick errands. Adds a decent amount of bulk.

I have no doubts in recommending the XSTO Wallet over the Ridge any day of the week.

XSTO vs Ridge: This Is Why You’re Here, Isn’t It?

Over the past few years I have done a lot of pondering. Not the fun or interesting kind, but the kind that comes from dedicating far too much time to writing about something as mundane as men’s wallets. The conclusion I arrived at was simple: I do not like the Ridge Wallet. It is an annoying thing to admit, because as a design object it really is lovely. But as an actual wallet to use day to day? I am not so sure.

I talk about this at length in my Ridge video, about how I came to do a complete U-turn on it, but without even needing to bring the XSTO into the conversation, the Ridge has too many problems I can no longer overlook. From the difficulty of prying cards out from between two metal plates, to the surprisingly soft metal that scratches easily, to its clumsy approach to storing banknotes. I came to the conclusion that I liked carrying the Ridge more than I liked using it, and that is ultimately why my opinion changed.

The XSTO is not like the Ridge. It has clearly drawn inspiration from it, as most metal wallets have, but it is evident that the team at Akeeni sat down, identified the pain points common to most metal wallets, and set about solving them. From everything covered so far, the XSTO does exactly that. So which wallet do I recommend between the two? It is not even close. The XSTO wins by a country mile.

Final Verdict: Do I Recommend the XSTO Wallet?

To me the XSTO Wallet is everything I could ask for in a metal wallet. Having reviewed hundreds of slim metal wallets over the years, the problems are almost always the same: functionality and storage are compromised for the sake of the material and a smaller footprint. But when you use the XSTO it genuinely does not feel like you are compromising anything at all. From its easy one-handed access to the clever business card storage area on top, the wallet just works, and it is that distinctive design, compact size, and intuitive usability that firmly cements the XSTO as probably my favourite metal wallet to date (excluding pop-up wallets of course).

So how much is it going to set you back? At the time of writing, the XSTO is priced at $84.99. Not cheap, but highly competitive and broadly in line with what you would expect to pay for a metal wallet of this construction and craftsmanship.

To close, the XSTO did something I genuinely thought was near impossible. It took a metal wallet, pop-up mechanisms aside, and produced something that is both minimalist in size and completely uncompromising in usability. For that, I have to give full credit to the team at Akeeni and its founder [name] for creating a truly great wallet. For more information on the Akeeni XSTO Wallet, visit their official website using the link below.