The 10 Best Slim Wallets

If you want a wallet that never sags or spreads, the Ridge Aluminum Cash Strap is the one to beat. Two aluminum plates squeeze anywhere from one card to a dozen under a stiff elastic band, and a strap on the back holds folded bills. The maker sells new bands, screws and straps, so a worn part doesn't mean a new wallet. Getting one card out takes a push with your thumb, and a full stack feels tight at first.

For people who still pay with paper money, the Bellroy Note Sleeve keeps bills flat instead of folding them. It's a slim leather bifold with quick-grab slots up front and a pull tab that lifts out the cards you reach for less. The leather comes from tanneries certified for their environmental practices, and Bellroy's warranty runs three years. It's pricey for something this small, and leather stacks up, so it can bulge in tight jeans.

Made in California from a tough, waterproof fabric, the SlimFold Micro barely adds a layer to a front pocket. It folds once around your cards and cash, and a thin aluminum layer bonded inside keeps card readers out. When it gets grimy, you can toss it in the washing machine, and SlimFold covers it for five years. The sporty fabric won't pass for leather at a dinner, you pay a premium for a plain piece of fabric.

A money clip and a fold-over leather body make the Serman Brands Bifold a good middle ground between a classic wallet and a bare card sleeve. A slot on the outside holds the card you tap most, and a pull strap brings the rest up from inside. A metal layer blocks card readers. The seller lists a mix of leathers across its colors, so the grade you get isn't clear, and it fits fewer cards than its shape suggests.

Cheap but complete, the Buffway Slim Minimalist covers the basics: eight card slots, a clear ID window and a pocket for folded cash. A cutout on the front lets you push cards up with a thumb, and it comes in a long list of colors. It's made of faux leather, so it won't darken and soften with age the way real hide does. The maker promises a free replacement within the first year.

Stretchy fabric lets the Nomatic Minimalist hug whatever you put in it, from a few cards to a thick stack. A separate pocket hides folded cash, and another holds a house key, so a quick trip out means one thing in your pocket. A leather pull tab pushes the cards up when you need them. Like any elastic, the fabric loosens with heavy use and can stay baggy once you start carrying less.

Anyone who wants metal that won't bend should look at the Radix One, a pair of black stainless steel plates held together by elastic, with a money clip on the side. The brand name runs across the front, and the look is plain and industrial. It carries a small stack of cards, and the warranty lasts one year. Steel makes it feel heavy for its size, and a deep stack strains the bands.

Carbon fiber gives the Mountain Voyage Carbon Fiber the look of a high-end plate wallet at a modest price. Two thin plates and an elastic band hold the cards, and a clip on the back grips folded bills. The woven surface shrugs off scratches that would mark bare aluminum. We couldn't find warranty terms from the maker, and the elastic will stretch with daily use, so plan on tightening or replacing it.

For anyone who carries only a few cards, the Herschel Charlie Cardholder is about as minimal as a wallet gets: a flat sleeve of recycled polyester with slots on both faces and a pocket down the middle. A lining blocks card readers. It suits a jacket, a small bag or a front pocket for men and women alike. Bills have to be folded small and tucked in the center, and it won't take a big stack.

If a card sleeve feels too bare, the Timberland Blix Slimfold is a familiar bifold cut down to the basics: a few card pockets, a clear ID window and a full-length pocket for bills. It's a low-cost way to carry less without changing any habits. The leather is the plain genuine grade, the lowest of the real leathers, and there's no layer to block card readers, though most people don't need one.