7 Inexpensive Ridge Wallet Alternatives
The Ridge is a fantastic wallet, but there are others that come pretty darn close.
Like Elvis, the Ridge wallet has spawned many imitators. It is a beautiful example of minimalistic design, with outside dimensions that are no larger than a credit card.
Tiny screws attach 2 exterior plates to inner plastic layers. Elastic bands, two of them, hold the plates together and grip up to 12 cards in a tight sandwich. That’s about as uncomplicated as it gets.
- Check out my full Ridge Wallet Review for the full details about this amazing wallet. There are alternatives, but there is only one Ridge.
There is a thumb notch on the lower corner of one side so that your thumb or finger can push the cards partly out. Squeeze the side of the wallet on the notched side and the cards will flare out like an accordion. Then it’s just a matter of choosing the card you want.
The wallet ships with either a money clip or a money band that holds currency folded over twice. Use the clip or band for other incidentals, too, like store receipts, your valet stub, or that grocery list from your wife.
The Ridge wallet is a model of functional simplicity and so small that its length is no wider than the palm of your hand. With its rugged construction, you’ll never have a bent or broken card.
Why are people looking for a Ridge wallet alternative?
The reason folks are looking for an alternative to the Ridge wallet can be summed up in two words: sticker shock. The Ridge ranges in price from $75 for an aluminum body to $105 for titanium. The price jumps again to $115 for carbon fiber. That’s a lot a dough for a wallet that is machine made with minimal use of materials.
It’s ironic that the cost of the Ridge wallet puts more of a dent in your pocket than the physical wallet itself. To its credit, though, it comes with a lifetime warranty.
Dozens of other wallet manufacturers have risen to the challenge of making their own “knock offs” at a fraction of the price. It’s not easy to determine whether the quality of Ridge imitators are up to snuff without reading the reviews of actual users.
Mark Ward over at Walletopia did a side-by-side video tear-down of the Pirna Propre wallet and the Ridge. After taking measurements and performing several tests, he found the quality and craftsmanship of the Pirna to be almost as high.
The wallets in this post aren’t necessarily clones of the original, but the designs are often very similar. I have only featured wallets in this post that a majority of a large sampling of owners report they are happy to own.
Keep in mind that the Ridge wallet is a high-quality card holding wallet and the original of this design. It’s the grandaddy to which all of the other manufacturers aspire.
But if the price scares you off, take a look at these 7 inexpensive Ridge wallet alternatives.
Rossm Carbon Fiber Wallet
The Rossm Carbon Fiber wallet may be missing a vowel in its name, but it comes complete with many of the same materials and features of the Ridge wallet. It only weighs 1.9 ounces (without cards) and the outside plates are made with 100% 3K carbon fiber. It ships with extra screws, a screwdriver, and a second inner elastic band in case the original breaks or stretches.
Like the Ridge, the Rossm wallet is exactly the same size as the credit cards it holds. It’s only as big as it needs to be.
Pushing your cards out from the C-shaped thumb notch takes some getting used to. But once you repeat the process a few times, it gets easier. The cards don’t eject in a nice fan like the Ekster, Fidelo, or Lefada wallets. But those pop-up type wallets require a wallet that’s 20% larger than the Rossm. Owners like the build quality, the stylish design, and they appreciate the RFID scanning protection for their cards.
Fidelo Prestige
The Fidelo Prestige is the only carbon fiber card holder (or any wallet, for that matter) that comes with 3 extra money bands. When is the last chance you had to color coordinate your wallet with what you’re wearing? That’s going the extra mile, man.
Fidelo’s credo is Be minimal, be free. At just 1 ounce in weight, this card holder is super light, but still 5 times stronger than steel! That’s the kind of performance that carbon fiber buys you.
To display your cards, push them up from the V-shaped slot at the bottom. Pinch the bottom of the plates together and your cards will spread accordion style so you can pluck the one you want with two fingers. The plates have beveled edges so you can easily replace your card when you’re done. The inside surfaces of the plates are polished so that cards slide out without scratching.
Radix One Black Steel
The Radix One Back Steel may be the most basic minimalist wallet of all. It uses two black stainless steel plates to create a credit card sandwich. A silicon band holds the wallet together and doubles as a money band.
To make it even simpler, there are no screws holding anything together. The wallet expands to hold up to 10 cards and the heavy gauge steel plates give them RFID protection. It’s another ounce heavier than most of the wallets in this post which gives it a more substantial feel.
The other design feature that separates it from the Ridge card holder wallet is the lack of a thumb notch. Instead, there are two wide slots, one on each side, that are opposite of each other. Because you push the cards out from the middle, the cards don’t flare out like the Ridge.
Some owners say that they have to remove all of the cards, shuffle through to the one they want, and then reinsert them all. The silicon band holds the wallet together firmly even if you only carry 3 or 4 cards.
Roco RFID blocking money clip
Like the Radix, the Roco RFID blocking money clip is another sandwich design held together by a silicon band. However, the Roco uses aluminum plates rather than steel with similar wide thumb slots that are off-centered on each side.
The wallet will expand to hold up to 20 cards. Many owners love the minimalist footprint and design of the wallet, but complain that getting access to their cards is sort of a hassle.
The silicon band also functions as a cash strap, and Roco includes an extra if the original breaks or loses tension. Though the rigid aluminum plates provide RFID protection and keep your cards from bending, some owners say that the aluminum scratches their cards. The outside edges and corners of the aluminum are nicely beveled, which makes the wallet a more comfortable carry in your front pocket.
At just under $18, the Roco is the least expensive wallet on the list.
Lookiss Carbon Fiber Men’s Wallet
The Lookiss Men’s wallet is basically a clone of the Ridge wallet. There are 14 tiny screws that bind the aluminum or stainless steel exterior plates to plastic plates that sandwich up to 12 cards. Like the Ridge and so many others of this design, the Lookiss ships with a screwdriver and a package of replacement screws. Why? Because the screws can work loose and get lost.
This is a minimalist credit holder wallet, so it ships with either a money clip or silicone band to hold spillovers like cash, receipts, or a Post-it note from your wife.
To access your cards, push them partly out from the thumb notch, then squeeze the side with the notch to flare them out. This isn’t a pop-up style ejector wallet like the Ekster Senate, so you’ll have to work a little harder to choose the card you want. The fastest way to access your most frequently used card is to place it in front of the stack. The Lookiss men’s wallet is available in 21 different colors and configurations.
Kingsman Royal Carbon Fiber Wallet
The Kingsman Royal Carbon Fiber wallet is yet another familiar knockoff of the Ridge wallet. The screw heads and carbon fiber finish are slightly different, and there is no Ridge logo. But otherwise, the untrained eye will see few differences.
The carbon fiber has a super-strong strength-to-weight ratio and feels good in your hand. Like all of the wallets of this design, getting your cards in out of the wallet takes some getting used to. But the payoff is a tiny minimalist wallet that you’ll hardly notice in your pocket.
The Kingsman Royale protects up to 12 cards from bending and RFID scanning. And it looks good while it’s doing it. The money clip is so strong that some owners have held 20 tri-folded bills under it. If you don’t need the money clip, you can remove it with the screwdriver that’s included.
If you’re upgrading your old funky bifold or trifold leather wallet, you’ll be pleased to find that the Kingsman Royale is about half its size. Best of all, you’re saving some serious change over the price of the Ridge wallet.
Shevrov SV Carbon Fiber
The Shevrov SV carbon fiber card holder has carbon fiber faceplates on the outside and aluminum plates on the inside. It’s this aluminum layer that gives your cards RFID-blocking protection.
The exterior of the wallet is treated with an anti-scratch technology. This should help if you occasionally carry coins or keys in the same pocket as your wallet. (In general, coins, keys, and wallets don’t really play well together.)
If you want to carry as many as 12 credit cards, the Shevrov will expand enough for them to fit. But really, do you need that many cards? I’d stick with 6–8 cards max and no more than a few larger bills under the money clip. Also, I like to put my most often used card either in front or behind the stack of cards for easy access.
This is another wallet that mimics the design of the Ridge almost exactly, but at a fraction of the price. In fact, you could almost buy three Shevrov SVs for the same price.
