Ridge Wallet Review | Carbon Fiber & Aluminum RFID Minimalist Wallets

Something Different

In today’s (unusual) article I am going to Review the Ridge Wallet in Navy Aluminum and Carbon Fiber.

A very minimalist, compact wallet with RFID protection against wireless theft and great reputation out there.

If you are a modern man trying to reduce your footprint and save space, this might be for you.

Let’s delve deep into the unknown!

Are You Reviewing Wallets Now?

The short answer to this is no, but let me tell you a short story.

First of all, I never like more classic wallets that look bulky through my suit pockets or take a ton of space in my coat.

Most importantly however, last year someone got my card details and stole about $7000 worth of savings. It was either internet theft or someone wirelessly scanned my card in public.

Luckily, my bank was super quick to identify this and I got my money back in a couple of days.

However that caused me to be much more alert in public and consider a new wallet with RFID theft protection. More on that later.

A nice wallet is an excellent accessory for a man and the protection is a great bonus since thieves are much more tech savvy nowadays.

To my surprise, the nice guys at The Ridge Wallet emailed me a few weeks ago about an ad in my YouTube Videos.

Since I refuse to promote things that I don’t know or believe in, I asked if I could review them first. In the case I didn’t like them I would send them back and politely refuse their offer.

They sent me two different wallets to try so for transparency’s sake they are free for this Review.

About The Ridge Wallet

Let’s briefly talk about the history and the people behind The Ridge Wallet.

It’s a successful Kickstarter campaign that started in 2013 by Paul and Daniel Kane. It’s always nice to see a father and son share a vision and bring it to reality.

The initial campaign led to a second revised version bringing in a total of about $400000 USD.

Their goal was to do more with less and eliminate unnecessary items and sources of stress.

To be fair this is a rather interesting idea since electronic transactions slowly begin to replace physical money worldwide.

From my perspective I would find it impossible to go back to a traditional wallet in Sweden.

Ridge Wallet Options

The Ridge Wallet gamma is significantly larger than during launch.

There are 4 main categories to choose from depending on your budget and needs:

• Aluminum (€85): 6061-T6 anodized aluminum in 5 different colors
• Titanium (€105): Grade 5 Titanium in 3 options (Gunmetal, Burnt and Matte Black)
• Carbon Fiber (€125): Available in classic Carbon Fiber or Forged Carbon
• Premium (€175/€225): Niche options with Damascus Steel and 18K Gold Plating

You might notice I don’t do the usual conversion to USD because the website uses Geolocation and always shows Euros. Scouting the web showed me multiple different prices so it will vary from region to region.

A very interesting detail is that in the website they refer to the material as “Carbon Fibre” however if you look at the box it states “Carbon Fiber”.

Both terms are correct but American English prefers “Fiber” while the rest “Fibre”. Regardless it’s an interesting little inconsistency from their part.

Ridge Wallet Accessories

No matter which Ridge Wallet you choose you have two additional options:

• Money Clip: A more robust clip to hold your money bills
• Cash Strap: A strap that runs across the wallet to hold cash

I will of course discuss both options but the good thing is that they are interchangeable. Through the Accessories Menu you have access to:

• Spare Clip: In case you want to change function
• Cavity Tray: For keys and coins
• Spare Elastic: In case your band frays or breaks
• Replacement Screws: In case you lose any I suppose?

Quite a bit of choice for a small gizmo right?

I would say that the replacement screws are unnecessary since you get some extra inside the package already.

For those of you wandering what happens if you order from Europe: The Ridge Wallet sends them via the Netherlands so there are no extra import taxes.

What Is RFID Protection?

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification is a method for transmitting a small amount of data. It’s a short distance electromagnetic method.

In most occasions you will see RFID used for inventory management in more high end shops. For example when I worked at Suitsupply we used RFID tags on all items and scanned the store daily.

Since one can find the technology in all sorts of daily items such as passports, ID cards and credit cards we developed RFID protection.

I am not going to bore you the the tech behind it as it uses the Faraday cage to block those signals. Think of it as an electromagnetic enclosure that jams the signal.

Do I Need RFID Protection?

In all honesty you probably don’t as there are easier ways for thieves to collect your data or steal your card info.

It’s just not efficient and I never heard of a case where someone actually was the victim of RFID theft.

Nonetheless especially after my last encounter I wanted to eliminate any possibility of wireless theft.

For a multi-purpose minimalist wallet, RFID protection is an extra -if unnecessary- plus.

Todays’ Review Ridge Wallets

As aforementioned in the intro I will showcase two different Ridge Wallets today.

I think this is a good idea since they are already quite pricey but with very different materials. It allows to weight the pros and cons a little easier and determine the best value for your money.

Additionally, each wallet came with a different strap or money clip allowing me to test both options.

To not repeat myself I will talk about the unboxing experience as a whole, but discuss each wallet individually where I must.

All wallets regardless of spec will come with a small envelop of 4 additional screws and a tiny screwdriver.

You also get a round sticker and a small brochure with some instructions. When I say instructions, they just tell you to empty your wallet and use only things you need.

I like this minimalism in an era where you buy a Power Tool and it has 111 pages of instructions in a billion languages. Thanks Bosch.

Navy Aluminum Ridge Wallet Specifications

The Aluminum Ridge Wallet comes in 5 colors even though the drop down shows 7. I assume that some are seasonal items.

Current colors include Navy, Black Gunmetal, Matte Olive and Tiki.

This one is the Navy color (duh!) and has the following specifications:

• Holds 1-12 cards without stretching out
• Blocks RFID (wireless theft)
• Replaceable elastic
• Backed by lifetime warranty
• Free returns within 45 days
• 6061-T6 aluminum | anodized
• Weight: 2 oz. (57 g) | 86 x 54 x 6 mm

This particular model came with the cash strap. If you want you can even replace the panels if you have any spares lying around.

Carbon Fiber Ridge Wallet Specifications

I will discuss the material separately, but this one was essentially the same wallet with different panels and a money clip.

You can get it in the regular Carbon Fiber texture or Forged Carbon which has a more raw appearance.

Today I will review the regular Carbon Fiber Ridge Wallet which comes with the following perks:

• Carbon Fiber | Matte Finish
• Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g) | 86 x 54 x 6 mm

It of course includes all the perks from the previous model.

Shipping & Unboxing

I previously mentioned that if you are in the EU they ship the wallets via the Netherlands.

Certainly nice if you worry about any import taxes, which don’t apply to the US either.

My order notification was rather immediate, however due to the Easter Holidays dispatch took about a week.

I did send a message via the help system on their website and received a very quick answer from their helpful staff.

A few days later it arrived to my office where I took a quick look. Both were inside a small secure cardboard box.

The packaging of each wallet is exactly the same apart from the correct product display. A very nice minimalist box that is about the 4/5 of an iPhone 11 Pro Max’s size.

We already mentioned that inside you get your wallet, additional screws, a small brochure and a screwdriver.

It’s not a luxury unboxing, but it doesn’t try to be and I like it. They tout these as minimalist, footprint reducing wallets and they deliver.

You get the bare essentials in a nice and clean package with less fluff.

A very missable detail is that they make The Ridge Wallet in China. It’s clear right under the barcode of the package however there’s no mention on the website.

Shipping should take a few business days but I suppose it depends where you buy it from.

Initial Impressions

When you first look at the wallets you can’t help but notice how small they are.

Indeed, they are exactly as large as a standard card. You immediately see what they try to do and both visually and practically they deliver.

This is a very compact wallet and even smaller than what I used until now. I will show you a comparison later on.

As far as finishing goes it looks lovely but the Carbon Fiber one is on another level. You can also spot a few shortcomings or compromises.

The elastic band that holds the plates together will eventually fray or develop some pilling. It will certainly take a while, but it will happen.

You will also notice that the money clip is substantially bigger than the cash strap. The aluminum wallet elastic also makes a scratching noise in my wallet while the Carbon Fiber one is totally silent.

The wallet design has sharp square edges reminiscent of the older iPhone 4. They feel compact, sturdy and small.

It does makes me wonder if it will truly replace my leather wallet as a daily driver. But that’s exactly why I am putting it to the test now.

Construction Of The Ridge Wallet

Before we analyze each wallet I want to briefly discuss the construction.

It fascinates me because the concept is rather simplistic. No wonder tons of imitations pop up left and right on Amazon.

In the deconstruction above you can see the concept in more detail.

There are two main plates that form the exterior and interior walls of the wallet. The exterior uses the material you chose for your wallet, but the inside plate is RFID-blocking aluminum if I am right.

A total of 14 tiny screws (7 on each side) hold them together. When I say small, these screws are really inconceivably tiny and you should be very careful if you remove the plates.

Inside you have an elastic band that stretches when you open the wallet and can allegedly hold 12 cards. I will discuss capacity later.

On the exterior you also have another band if you chose the cash strap which has a fuzzier backside to ensure nothing drops off.

As for the money clip, well it’s a metallic clip alright.

If you wish you can replace the exterior plates to other colors and materials, or interchange the money holders.

The Ridge Wallet Review: Carbon Fiber

It’s finally time to discuss each wallet individually and I will begin with my favorite.

There’s no question about it that even though it costs a premium, I would pick the Carbon Fiber version if I had the budget.

Carbon Fiber Material

If you are a motor enthusiast and petrolhead, the phrase Carbon Fiber will probably excite you.

Mostly found in high end cars due to its unique properties, Carbon Fiber is a special material.

Incredibly lightweight yet much more durable and stiff, Carbon Fiber is 2 times less dense than aluminum and 5 times less than steel.

Simply replacing an aluminum part with Carbon Fiber will reduce weight by 42%. You can understand now why performance cars choose it when trying to save weight.

Carbon Fiber Weight

Clocking at just 45 grams, this is a very light wallet.

My Carmina leather wallet feels more lightweight but remember one is leather while the other is metal.

Compact, lightweight and with a very unique diagonal texture it feels very solid to hold.

The Ridge Wallet Review: Navy Aluminum

Now let’s talk about the second wallet in Navy Aluminum.

Anodized Aluminum Material

While not as flashy as the other one, the Aluminum version of The Ridge Wallet is also cool.

It has a more solid, matte non-reflective look and less texture. It also makes a slightly different sound when you tap your finger on it.

Feeling the texture and considering phones, it will be much easier to scratch this if you abuse it.

The core function will not change but expect it to develop a more natural patina with time.

Navy is a pretty nice versatile option and it certainly looks really nice.

Aluminum Weight

Actually it’s not much heavier than the Carbon Fiber wallet at just 57 grams.

If you hold them on each hand you will clearly feel the aluminum is slightly heavier. However in real world applications it’s negligible.

This one also feels quite nice to hold but seems slightly less grippy than the Carbon Fiber counterpart.

Cash Strap Vs Money Clip

For me there is one clear winner in this debate.

Since I live in Sweden which is a cashless society we only use card or phone payments.

As a matter of fact I am sure I haven’t used cash here in over 2 years.

If I were to choose between the cash strap and the money clip I would definitely choose the former.

The reason is that it has a slimmer profile that’s quite noticeable if you put them side by side. The money clip is far more rigid and both have the same function and “disadvantage”.

By disadvantage I mean that you have to fold your bills twice to fit them. While the money clip seems more secure, it’s also more bulky and rigid and a small struggle to put money under.

You can’t just slide them under it and it’s too much of a hassle for me.

In most cases, if you want to carry a lot of cash with you this is not your type of wallet.

So I prefer the elastic cash strap even though it is more prone to fraying and wear.

How Does The Ridge Wallet Work?

The most important part of these wallets though is functionality.

Let’s begin by discussing how it works. On the top of each wallet you have an opening where you can slide in a card.

It’s surprisingly easy and smooth to slide one card in, but many at the same time is impossible unless you stretch the sides.

An elastic band on each side ensures flexibility and expands as you put more cards in.

When you wish to remove a card you simply push the thumb push at the bottom. That causes the cards to protrude from the top and you can remove them.

And that’s about it!

The Ridge Wallet Usability

A minimalist design such as The Ridge Wallet comes with certain compromises.

In this case it’s about functionality. First of all, it will take a while for you to get used to the whole thumb push thing.

It’s not so intuitive and I actually use my index finger to push the cards out.

While they tout you can fit up to 12 cards in the wallet I think it takes a bit of time until the band stretches comfortably to that point.

I would say that 5-8 cards is the best case scenario. In my case I use between 4-5 cards daily and it works perfectly fine.

The main issue however is that when you push the cards out, you have to manually fan them to pick the ones you need.

It can initially be a bit of a hassle, so I recommend you put your most frequently used cards first and last.

This way they are easily accessible when you need them.

Ridge Wallet Vs Leather Vs Traditional Wallets

Like I mentioned previously, I use a small leather wallet I received from Carmina Shoemaker during the London Trunk Show in 2019.

It’s incredibly simplistic, lightweight and looks almost new. However it has certain limitations and becomes too bulky after 4 cards.

A traditional bifold (or trifold) wallet is much larger. You can see in the pictures one I have from 15 years ago that I cannot put anywhere else but my coat pocket.

Those wallets are better for more cash and certain items such as older ID cards or change.

The Ridge Wallet combines most of the good traits of the Carmina Wallet for an even slimmer profile when the cards are in. Not to mention it’s smaller in size as well.

Since it’s metallic, I assume you will have to remove it when at the airport to not trigger the scanners.

Using The Screwdriver

Why would you need to use the screwdriver?

There are multiple reasons. For example, you might want to tighten the screws every now and then.

Another reason is if you want (or need) to exchange the exterior plating or the money holder.

Or maybe you want to take a look at the inside?

Undoing the screws is a very simple process and can take you 5-10 minutes depending on how quick you are.

It’s intuitive, simple and works really well. Be extremely careful with the aluminum model as it is extremely easy to scratch the surface with the screwdriver.

After this Review, I will change the Carbon Fiber Money Clip to the Cash Strap or remove it altogether.

Is The Ridge Wallet Worth It?

If you completely ignore the price, The Ridge Wallet is a genuinely good product for what it offers.

What they promise is good usability, minimalist design and good materials. They surely deliver for the most part and are wary of the compromises you must make.

Those namely include lesser functionality with multiple cards and potential fray of the elastic.

On the other hand, you save a lot of space in your pocket especially in a cashless society.

There are so many ways to pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and much more so you can only carry the important stuff.

If that sounds like you, then you can’t go wrong with The Ridge Wallet. There are of course cheaper alternatives on Amazon but I cannot attest for their quality.

Lastly, if you don’t wish to support anything Made in China due to political or ethical beliefs, it’s probably not for you.

Which Ridge Wallet To Get?

While $125 might sound a lot for a small gizmo like this, if you can afford it I definitely recommend the Carbon Fiber one.

It’s substantially lighter, has better texture, grip sense and will last longer.

The Aluminum version is a good compromise at 2/3 of the price but will show signs of wear more easily if abused. It also seems to hold fingerprints and smudges quite easily.

I didn’t try the Titanium version and I am sure it’s pretty cool, but it’s also heavier. If you are spending that much you might as well buy the Carbon Fiber one instead of it.

To be honest I do think you are paying a bit of a premium and it could cost less. I suppose you pay a bit of the brand name and the social credibility and status that comes with it.

There are tons of verified reviews and a good score by the good guy at Walletopia is enough for me to endorse it.

Where To Buy The Ridge Wallet?

There are multiple channels that you can buy The Ridge Wallet from.

Amazon, Nordstrom and certain other websites seem to sell it. However I would always recommend that you go through their official website.

Safe, simple and straightforward with a nice clean website that works fine.

Shop The Ridge Wallet

Concluding Remarks

Now this was a rather unusual Review but still a part of the minimalist wardrobe I am building.

Focusing on small, compact and easy pieces that make my life easier and quicker is a must. The Ridge Wallet does command a premium but I want to do more testing and see how I weave it in my daily life.

The rest of the Reviews out there seem quite genuine and people are happy with their product. It’s something I can recommend otherwise it wouldn’t be on Misiu Academy.

Or if I didn’t, the Review would be scathing such as the garbage that is The Vincero Watch. In any case, I would like to hear your thoughts about this. Do you have The Ridge Wallet or plan to buy one?

Stay safe, stay classy and I will see you next week with hopefully something exciting. Oh and don’t forget to Subscribe for 10% Off The Noble Shoe!

Thank you for reading,

Kostas Mandilaris,
Misiu Academy