Carry Exactly What You Need and Ditch What You Don’t With These Slim Wallets

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Whipping out a Costanza wallet overflowing with years-old receipts and foreign currency is less than ideal when it comes time to pay. The solution is simple—get a slim wallet. Slim wallets come in a variety of styles, from tactical to traditional, and are made of leather, aluminum, or ripstop nylon.

They’re designed to condense your everyday carry to the necessities with a couple of card slots, bill pockets, and sometimes extra stash pockets for business cards. And if you're worried about identity theft, a lot of options include RFID-blocking technology. They fit comfortably in your back pocket or backpack without adding unwanted bulk, and it won’t feel like you’re on half a booster seat when you sit.

Here’s quick info on the five best slim wallets, followed by a couple of things to keep in mind as you decide which is right for you, plus our full reviews of these and other models.

The Best Slim Wallets

• Best Overall: Serman Brands Bifold

• Best Budget: Herschel Charlie

• Best Warranty: The Ridge Minimalist

• Best Full-Grain Leather: Andar Pilot

• Most Storage: Ekster Parliament

What to Consider

Size and Storage Capacity

A slim wallet should comfortably fit in your pocket, even when it’s full of your essentials. This kind of wallet is meant to reduce bulk by being not much larger than the standard credit card while holding the must-haves: credit cards, an ID, and maybe some cash. Remember, maximizing storage capacity isn’t the goal here—whichever you choose should have enough room for what you need. We came across some online reviews that harped on size and capacity that was counterintuitive to the point of a slim wallet. It may force you to pare down your usual contents, but that’s why you’re here.

Materials and RFID-Blocking

Slim wallets are made of a variety of materials for a range of function and aesthetic needs. Leather options are good if you want something more classic, with full-grain leather being the best you can buy. If you want something on the modern side, you can find wallets made of aluminum and carbon fiber, though these may look too tactical for some people’s taste. Slim wallets made of textiles like nylon or polyester are a good middle ground if you just want something simple. All of our picks have RFID-blocking capabilities, which prevent thieves from scanning your credit cards through your pocket and wallet.

Some of our picks have a button or trigger to deploy your cards out from the pocket, making them easier to access. The addition of these mechanical devices is convenient, but they can break after repeated use. An alternative is a pull-tab that raises cards out of the pocket. The downside there is that they can limit space in your wallet.

How We Selected

We shopped around dependable retailers to find minimalist wallets that combined functional design with durable materials. We then checked user reviews to see which products held up over time to daily wear and tear. Pooling together a variety of styles and price points, we determined these slim wallets are the best. There’s something for anyone who wants to declutter without compromising on capacity (too much) or quality.

Bifold Slim Wallet

This attractive wallet opens like a traditional bifold, but with a more streamlined design. The inside has a money-clip bar to secure your bills—instead of an oversize pocket—and two slots for cards.

It’ll keep your information safe with RFID-blocking tech and comfortably fit in a front or back pocket. There’s a slot with a pull-tab on the front, making it easy to access your most frequently used cards. The other side has a clear slot for photo I.D. and can fit a card and folded bill or two.

Along with the practical design, this wallet is made with longevity in mind. Full-grain leather maintains its shape better than low-grade leather and polyester, so the slots won’t be stretching anytime soon. You can tighten the money-clip bar on the inside, too, so don’t worry if it starts to work loose.

Charlie Slim Wallet

If you’re looking to buy a slim wallet on a budget, this no-frills option from Herschel might be right up your alley. The Charlie has two card slots on each side and one up top to hold some folded bills. The elastic band gives some extra security and keeps your cards from sliding out.

This was our gateway into slim wallets and card cases and is a good starting point if you feel like you’re carrying too much and want to make a change. If you plan on carrying more than a couple of cards, it’s going to get pretty tight. But it’s a good way to help you figure out what you need on the day to day. If you find you prefer extra space, this option isn’t a costly trial-and-error.

Minimalist Slim Wallet

The Ridge is built to last. But if it doesn’t, the company’s lifetime warranty ensures you’ll get another one ASAP. This wallet has replaceable parts so, if anything goes wrong, Ridge can replace it, from the plates and screws down to the elastic strap. Luckily this isn’t a frequent occurrence thanks to the anodized-aluminum plates that resist corroding and stainless-steel hardware.

The wallet holds plenty of cards, as well as some cash, in the money clip and can expand without stretching too much like a fabric or leather wallet. If you’re not into the money clip, it comes with an elastic band you can attach.

The only downside is there’s no separating cards inside—it’s all just one space. So if you like an organized wallet, this isn’t the one for you.

There are multiple color options to suit your style. It’s a bit expensive, but if it will last you for life, it’s probably worth it.

Pilot Slim Wallet

The Pilot only has one main compartment, one pocket, and a cash strap, but they’re well-placed so things stay organized. The outer pocket keeps your frequently used cards handy, while the cash strap is on the back.

The center slot holds up to six cards that fan out when you pull the lever on the bottom. Reviews say the lever neatly deploys their cards instead of shooting them out like other wallets can do. While the lever is made from non-corrosive aluminum, it may jam after awhile.

The full-grain leather is oiled for water-resistance and will patina over time to develop a unique look.

Parliament Slim Wallet

The Parliament can hold over 10 cards comfortably without compromising its slim profile. Each side of the wallet accommodates up to six cards, and the right side has a button at the bottom to fan out your cards for easy access.

There’s an interior cash strap for holding a couple of bills or ID, though there’s no dedicated clear ID card slot. We like that the cash strap is on the inside though, since we’re wary of money clips and straps on the outside. If anything comes loose, at least it’s sandwiched inside.

Flip Case Slim Wallet

Another intriguing design by Bellroy, this flip case is updated with rounded edges and integrated organization slots to give you easy access to your bills and plastic. The hardshell case is durable without being bulky and secures shut with a magnetic closure.

One side has slots for cards, while the other is a large pocket to stash things on the fly; both sides can be flipped open with your thumb or finger. The streamlined design is best suited for those who rarely carry cash, so if you prefer having more than a couple of bills on you, you should opt for an option with more capacity.

Front Pocket Slim Wallet

Many of our picks can fit comfortably in your front pocket, but only the Rogue Industries Front Pocket Wallet is specifically designed for this purpose. This is ideal for anyone who feels nervous about keeping valuables out of sight in their back pocket or simply doesn’t enjoy sitting on their billfold throughout the day.

This wallet’s bison leather is super soft and durable, and you can hold up to six cards along with some cash inside. It’s longer than the others on our list to fit the standard-size card while maintaining a slim profile.

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