How To Choose The Best Minimalist Wallet For Men (Gift Guide)

There are so many factors involved when it comes to choosing the right minimalist wallet for men. It helps to think of everything: the quality and construction of the wallet, how slim it is, how simple it is to use, and more. 

In this article, we’ll cover what to consider when choosing a minimalist wallet, then go into more detail on how to find the best option. Read on to learn more!

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wallet for Men

Something that's often overlooked when it comes to choosing a wallet is how it feels in your pocket. Slim wallets are better at reducing the painful back strain that can come as the result of a fat wallet—but are some wallet designs more comfortable than others? Which style would be best for the ultimate comfort?

Security is another factor to consider. Contactless payment has led to yet another way for thieves to steal our information, so it's important to ensure that you're protected. RFID-blocking technology makes this possible.

Of course, appearance and functionality are also important factors when selecting a wallet that will stay with you for years to come. It's fantastic to have several options to choose from since every person is different.

Pricing is critical, too. Most people aim for a reasonably-priced wallet that will last for a long time. Paying over $100 for a wallet seems unreasonable - most customers wouldn't want to drop large sums of money for something designed to hold their money.

Wallet companies that offer better warranties or return policies are far easier to buy from since customers know it won't be a hassle if they need to return their product for any reason. The best brands offer their pricing and shipping information right on the website so prospective clients can quickly identify whether the company is transparent and trustworthy or not.

Keep reading to learn more about how to find the best minimalist wallet. We'll go over some of the most critical factors to take under consideration, and finally, we'll provide a side-by-side comparison of some of the best-known minimalist wallets on the market today.

1. Choose a High-Quality Minimalist Wallet

First and foremost, a minimalist wallet should be constructed of high-quality materials. After all, a true minimalist will want a wallet that can stand the test of time, since using several wallets in succession isn't very minimalist.

Look for Great Materials and Construction

Whether it's a metal wallet or a leather wallet, sturdy materials are essential. The best minimalist wallets for men all have superior construction and materials in common.

Finding a High-Quality Leather Wallet

You may wonder, "How do I know which leather wallets are best?" Look for leather that's labeled "full-grain" — but we'll go into that more in section number six when we go over how to spot a classic, high-quality leather wallet.

2. Pick a Slim Wallet That Can Hold What You Need

As a true minimalist, you should look for the thinnest wallet you can find to meet your needs.

Eliminate Clutter

Your wallet's slim design will allow you to keep the bare essentials on hand without unnecessarily cluttering the card holder or making things difficult to find.

[Read: How to Have a Compact Wallet When You Have Too Many Cards]

How Many Cards Should They Hold?

The thinnest wallets encourage you to take only what you need. Most minimalist wallets allow you to hold up to eight cards, although many slimmer wallets only allow you to hold 4-6 cards.

Is a minimalist wallet right for you?

If you want to be able to hold up to ten cards in your wallet, maybe a minimalist wallet isn't right for you. Think about it: how often are you actually using them?

Practically speaking, we only tend to use 4-6 cards on a daily basis. So, eliminating that extra bulk in the wallet is optimal for minimalists.

[Read: Should You Switch to a Minimalist Wallet? (Pros and Cons)]

3. Get a Comfortable Front Pocket Wallet

Another important reason to get a minimalist wallet is to ensure that it's comfortable in your pocket because certain types of minimalist wallets for men will probably be more comfortable than others. More on that later.

Bulky Wallets are Painful

A slim wallet is a far better option than a bulky wallet. Bulky wallets can cause unnecessary strain, and if you keep them in your back pocket, they can even shift the way you sit and walk, causing further strain later on.

How Wallets Cause Back Pain

Bulky wallets in your back pocket cause spinal alignment issues. Sitting on a huge wallet causes the pelvis to tilt and rotate to one side. After several months or years of this, this spinal stress can develop into piriformis syndrome (also called "fat wallet syndrome") or sciatica.

Piriformis Syndrome

When you sit on a wallet for too long, the piriformis muscle begins to press on the sciatic nerve. The muscle begins at the sacrum and goes to the top of the thigh, and its function is to help the hips rotate outward.

Piriformis syndrome can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and burning in men with large wallets. These nerve sensations often radiate from the buttocks and down the leg.

Sciatica

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve is referred to as sciatica. The sciatic nerve begins in the lower back and goes to the pelvis. Repeated pressure on this nerve causes sciatica.

Symptoms of sciatica are similar to piriformis syndrome and can range from mild burning/tingling to severe pain in the leg or lower back.

Relieve or Prevent Back Pain

Only the slimmest wallets feel great whether they're in an outer or inner pocket, in the front or the back.

No matter where you wear them, your back will feel better because you won't be putting added strain on your back or torquing it when you sit down.

Access Your Wallet Easily

By choosing the slimmest wallet available, you grant yourself easy access to your wallet whether it's in an elastic pocket or any other pocket of your clothing.

4. Stay Secure with RFID Blocking Minimalist Wallets

Does your wallet have RFID protection? RFID blocking technology keeps you safe from anyone trying to use an RFID reader to obtain your credit card's sensitive data.

Who Needs RFID Blocking Technology?

If your credit or debit card has "Tap and Go" features, you'll likely want to be sure you have RFID-blocking tech in your card holder.

What is RFID?

The same technology that makes it possible for you to use contactless features when you pay makes it possible for thieves to steal your card number. This is called RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification.

If you'd like to know whether you've got an RFID card, here's what to look for:

• A card with a microchip
• A sideways logo that looks like a soundwave

Inside your card, there are several wires (or antennae) connected to the microchip in the shape of a rectangle on the inner border of your card.

These three features enable you to use contactless payment at the till.

How Would a Thief Steal My Card Number?

In order to steal your card number, they would have to be very close to a contactless card without RFID protection.

London is a busy city where people are constantly coming and going, potentially bumping into one another.

In urban settings like that, the threat of RFID theft is generally greater than it would be in a small town where people tend to be further apart and less likely to bump into one another.

5. Choose From Several Styles or Colors

Who wants boring options when it comes to their minimalist wallet? If you're going to see the slim wallet all the time, you might as well pick something that's going to look awesome.

Minimalist wallets for men should be stylish, so it's great when you can find a classic leather minimalist wallet in a wide array of colors.

Cardinal Wallets come in a variety of styles and colors, including a carbon fiber option, black leather, blue leather, brown leather, and red leather. Take a look!

6. Reach for Genuine Leather Options

What is the best leather minimalist wallet available? One that's made from full-grain leather. 

The Difference between Top Grain and Full Grain

Don't be fooled: if you find a sleek leather case that says it's made from top-grain, it's not going to be as durable or high-quality as full-grain leather.

Full-grain is the type of leather most people think of when they think of leather. Top-grain is leather that has been sanded down to make it appear more smooth.

Manufacturers sometimes prefer top-grain because it's easier to work with and allows them to use lower-quality leather. Full-grain reveals imperfections in the hide and is thicker than top-grain. It's also more difficult to work with.

Think about it: if full-grain shows imperfections, you're not going to want a product with far too many imperfections. It may be tempting to reach for a top-grain product instead despite its inferior quality and durability.

A note about leather patinas

The only type of leather that develops a patina over time is full-grain. A patina adds a special and unique element to your leather and indicates the high quality of your leather wallet.

For superior class and that vintage look, reach for a full-grain leather wallet.

"Italian Leather" Products

Be wary of products claiming to be soft-grained Italian leather. Although this is not the case for every manufacturer, some try to be sneaky about how they market their product.

Sometimes a manufacturer will tan leather in Italy without using the specific requirements of Italian leather and label it as "Italian Leather," misleading and frustrating customers.

7. Choose a Wallet with a Coin Purse

The best minimalist wallets allow you to keep everything you need in one place. You want a fully functional minimalist wallet that allows you to store your debit cards, ID cards/driver's licenses, cash, and coins.

Coin Purse

A coin purse is an important feature of a minimalist wallet. Even if it's a single leather pocket with a zipper, that's enough to hold your loose change.

Bill Fold

It should have an integrated money clip, cash strap, or bill pocket so you can carry cash and cards in one slim wallet.

Card Slots

As we discussed earlier, slim wallets usually have fewer card slots, so make sure you choose the cards you store carefully.

8. Factor in Pricing When Choosing a Minimalist Wallet

The best minimalist wallets shouldn't break the bank. Yes, you want a high-quality leather wallet that will stand the test of time, but you shouldn't have to pay excessive amounts of money to get one. (After all, what good is a money clip or cash strap if you've got no money to put into them?)

Typical Prices for Minimalist Wallets

A minimal card wallet should come at a reasonable price. The average leather wallet can cost between $20-$100. Of course, not all wallets are the same, and slim wallets are priced differently.

A good price for a leather wallet with a minimalist design should fall somewhere in the middle ground: between $30-$50.

9. Find a Minimalist Wallet with an Awesome Return Policy

Other factors to look at when selecting a minimal wallet are the return policy and warranty. Transparency is an important factor when choosing a minimalist wallet company. After all, a compact wallet company should value its customers and be willing to help them.

Warranty

Your bifold wallet should have at least a one-year warranty. Otherwise, it's a red flag that the company may not believe in its product as much as they claim to.

Another great aspect of having a warranty is that you can get a replacement if your wallet is damaged as a result of a manufacturing flaw (as long as it's in the proper time frame).

At Cardinal Wallets, our wallets are built to last a lifetime. We offer a 2-year warranty, which includes replacement parts in the event of product failure. It doesn't include normal wear and tear, improper use of the product, damages caused by accident, etc.

Please send a photograph of the damaged parts/wallet as part of the warranty assessment, and include the 4-digit Order ID.

Return Policy

The return policy should be listed on the website of the wallet company (along with the warranty information). This way, if you run into any issues with your bifold wallet (whether it's faulty card slots or an ID window that comes to you damaged), you can get it corrected right away.

At Cardinal Wallets, we take quality control seriously—inspecting them after production and again before shipping. However, if you find that your wallet is broken or damaged upon arrival, we will give you a full refund including shipping costs, and deliver you a new one for free.

All you need to do is include a photo of the product in the email, along with your 4-digit order number, and send it back within 15 days of its arrival. Shipping is free for all UK, USA, and EU customers.

Refunds

When your return has been received and inspected, we'll send an email that we've received it and your refund will be processed. Credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original payment method and can take up to ten business days to show up in your bank account.

10. The Best Minimalist Wallet: Cardinal Wallets

Cardinal Wallets are a fantastic solution if you love the look of a classic wallet, but want it without the bulk. Our high-quality, top-grain leather wallets stay slim and allow you to keep the bare essentials close at hand.

Cardinal wallet card slots have a unique card ejection system that will enable you to access your cards without even opening your wallet.

This efficient improvement over the traditional leather wallet design means quicker transactions for you. Enjoy the best of both worlds: a classic leather look without the bulk and with added features to make payment easy!

Still not sure that Cardinal Wallets are the best overall minimalist wallet? Take a look at some of the other options!

Runners-up for the Best RFID Minimalist Wallets for Men

1. Ridge Wallet

A Ridge Wallet is made from forged carbon rather than leather and is significantly pricier (about $150) than Cardinal wallets. The minimalist design of the Ridge wallet allows men to hold up to 12 cards and utilize the money clip for cash.

2. HuMn Mini Minimalist Wallet

This wallet is made from Aircraft Grade Aluminum and is very similar in design to the Ridge. It holds up to 6 cards and has a built-in bottle opener, though some of their customers don't recommend using it. It costs more than a Cardinal wallet as well ($49.95).

3. Union Wally Micro Wallet

This wallet from Distil is more similar to the Cardinal in that it's made from leather rather than another material. They can hold up to ten cards and are reversible.

Their handy pull tab allows you to quickly access your ID card or driver's license should you need them. It comes with a one-year warranty.

4. Axess Compact Wallet

These wallets are made of Tuscany leather and are costlier than Cardinal Wallets (costs range between $59-$69). They have several wallet styles and come in four colors: black, caramel, green, and cognac.

5. Trayvax Armored Summit Wallet

If a Swiss Army knife turned into a wallet, this is probably what it would look like. This tactical wallet has an integrated bottle opener, a money clip, and a heat-resistant steel plate. The strap features nylon webbing, and it fits up to seven cards and up to five bills.

Shop What Matters Most to You

Ultimately, you need to choose the wallet that will work best for you.

What matters the most to you when searching for a new wallet?

If you'd rather have a wallet that shows all or part of your cards when you take it out, is made of extremely strong and rigid materials instead of leather, or comes with a bottle opener, you may prefer one of the other options. Many of the other wallets on our list appear as if they'd be uncomfortable in your pocket, but the choice is ultimately yours.

If you want a reasonably-priced wallet with a classic look but with a technical upgrade to make your life easier, Cardinal Wallets is a great pick for you. It's stylish and feels comfortable in your pocket, too!

Shop the collection now!