Review: The Ridge Wallet

I am not a minimalist, nor meticulously organized, and my personality couldn't be described as even a little bit “Type A.” I typically overstuff my bags and purses, digging around in them constantly due to the aforementioned lack of organization, and up until I started testing this product, my debit card and ID were loosely contained in a pocket of my fanny pack or purse.

Based on its marketing and premise, I didn't think I'd like the Ridge wallet. But I did, and I can't see myself using anything else in the future. You don't need to be a methodical EDC enthusiast to enjoy the Ridge; in fact, you may appreciate it even more if you're transitioning from loose credit cards sloshing around your bag between breath mints and car keys.

Believe the Hype

Photograph: Louryn Strampe

The marketing for Ridge wallets is a little ridiculous. It gave me the ick, if I'm keeping it real. When you look up Ridge wallets on social media, sleek vertical videos show model hands sliding cards in and out of the wallet as if they were instead sliding a freshly-loaded magazine into a firearm. The company is consistently working with tech influencers and athletes. The wallet comes with Torx screws, for goodness' sake. Not to judge r/EDC but I really felt a little bit like I needed an unboxing YouTube channel in order to test this wallet out. Those influencer videos came in handy when I literally looked up how to set up and use the wallet. It's not user-friendly, at least not at first.

The Ridge wallet is two pieces of metal sandwiched together with an elastic band and screws. There are additional accessories (more on those in a second), but the overall premise is a refined, svelte container for the bare necessity cards you need to keep around. It can hold one to 12 cards, and you can tighten or loosen the metal “sandwich” using the included Torx screws and screwdriver. You'll use your thumb to fan out your cards, pulling out whichever you need, and then when it's time to put the card back you'll slide it into the top of the sandwich. I keep my ID and debit card on the outermost parts of the stack for easier access, though it's not too hard to fan them all out (and you can always adjust the tension if need be).

Once I got used to this fan-and-sandwich process, it became difficult to imagine anything else. I don't want to go back to the olden days of my overstuffed wallet inside my overencumbered purse, digging through endless receipts to try to find my Costco membership card or whatever.

The Ridge wallet is customizable and modular, too. There's a money clip on the outside that comfortably holds a few bills—I wouldn't try to carry more than four—and the elastic and screws are all replaceable. You can swap out different parts, like the faceplate or cash strap, and add in items like a coin tray, a tracker card, or a wallet chain (which I use and really like). So your base wallet will always have space for cards and some cash, but you can spend a little more to customize the experience further.

There's also a MagSafe version of this wallet, which I did not test, but my fellow reviewers that have tried it did like it. Ridge sells other daily carry products like key holders as well. I'm considering buying those with my own money, because the only real issue I have with this wallet is that it doesn't leave a lot of room for life.

Girls Carrying Stuff

Photograph: Louryn Strampe

I think a lot about the Girls Carrying Shit Instagram account, which documents the ways in which women have adapted to their lack of usable pockets. I truly am always carrying an assortment of nonsense. When I try to temper my penchant for an inventory by minimizing my purse size, I still stuff it to its gills and then end up carrying items loosely in my hands anyway. The Ridge wallet is great for keeping track of my necessities, especially with the accessory chain so I can always fish it out of my bag. But it doesn't leave a lot of room for me to feel fully free from the burdens of my loot.

I've tried a few times to carry just my wallet, and it doesn't work. I still need my keys—and while, obviously based on all my testimonial thus far, my keychain is massive—even paring it down to as minimalist as possible would involve keeping my car key fob and the three keys to get into my apartment. And even if I went without what I would consider to be the barest of necessities—keys, Loop ear plugs, lip gloss, gum—the wallet still doesn't leave room for the other random detritus that can accumulate. Coat check tickets, parking garage validation receipts, punch cards for rewards at coffee shops, hair ties … as much as I really do love using my Ridge wallet, I don't think it could replace a purse entirely, and I do sometimes miss my wristlet-style wallets or leather bi-folds and their room for sentimental Instax photos or business cards. This might be partially rooted in my gender and personality, but I think either way, you'll wanna make sure you have pockets or a separate bag when carrying this wallet. And Ridge doesn't necessarily purport to do this, but I think it's worth saying. It can do a lot, but it cannot do it all.

Ridge offers a 99-day trial, which allows you to return the wallet if you decide you don't like it. It's also backed by a lifetime warranty, and the materials are high-quality—either aluminum or titanium, depending on the design you go with. There are dozens of designs to choose from. Some wallets are “2.0 versions,” which entail slightly different materials and weights, and a different cash strap design. (The differences seem minor to me, but for the record I tested a 1.0 version.) The entire housing feels durable and high-quality, and the 2-ounce weight is just hefty enough to be substantial without being heavy or cumbersome. I've dropped my wallet a couple of times, and I cannot detect a scratch or scuff. I love to swap out my bags and purses and have a gigantic collection to prove it, but it's hard to picture myself ever using another wallet. If you're in need of an upgrade or you're just tired of the chaos, this $95 bright spot is worth every penny.