Grovemade’s minimalist wallet combines a modern wallet design with an anodized aluminum frame with a more traditional material like leather. This wallet designed to provide quick access to up to five credit cards. Should it earn a spot in your pocket? Let me tell you about it and you can decide.
Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.
The Grovemade minimalist wallet is made in the USA and is available in black or tan versions. The wallet has an anodized aluminum frame and a hidden steel faceplate with one piece of domestic fine grained vegetable tanned leather that wraps around the wallet.
The wallet is small (3.78 x 2.54 x 0.34 in) with two openings. On the front of the wallet there is a large opening that is used to load your cards.
And on the back of the wallet is a opening that is used to push the cards up for removal. Also on the back of the wallet the company’s name is stamped into the leather. I almost didn’t notice it on the black version of the wallet that was sent to me because it blends in.
The Grovemade wallet has been designed to hold up to five standard sized plastic credit cards. Five cards isn’t a lot, but that’s why they call this a minimalist wallet.
The cards are easily loaded one at a time by sliding them into the large opening on the front of the wallet.
I found that the wallet needs least three cards installed to hold them securely. Less than that and the cards will slide out of the wallet when you turn it upside down and shake it. With at least three cards you can vigorously shake it and they won’t fall out.
The instruction sheet included with the wallet says that it’s not designed to hold cash or coins, but their website says it can hold a bill or two. To carry cash, you’ll have to fold it in half and then in half again and place the cash in between the cards. I didn’t like carrying cash in the wallet after trying it and did most of my testing with only credit cards. I did notice that the wallet is too small to hold a folded check.
Cards are removed by pressing your index finger through the smaller opening on the back while siding up on the top card with your thumb. This will only remove the top card, so to remove a card lower in the stack you’ll have to remove the ones on top first. There’s not really an easy way to extend all the cards at once and then choose only the one you want. So the best practice would be to put your most used card on top. I think it would be a better design if the back side of the wallet was clear. Then you could have your ID facing out of the back and your most used card on top, giving you two cards that could be “used” at one time.
The Grovemade Minimalist Wallet looks nice and is well constructed with no sharp edges or other defects. The addition of leather gives this wallet a warmer more traditional feel than some of the really modern minimal wallets that we’ve seen before. The $99 price tag will make a lot of people pause before pressing the buy button on this wallet, but I can say as far as minimalist wallets go, the Grovemade is one of the nicer ones I’ve tried.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Grovemade. Please visit their site for more info.
Product Information
| Price: | $99 |
| Manufacturer: | Grovemade |
| Pros: |
|
| Cons: |
|
Gadgeteer Comment Policy - Please read before commenting
It looks nice but a hundred bucks to hold just 5 cards. That’s a little steep for me.
I love your site, but this is not a gadget, but rather an accessory for the wealthy. My rubber band gives me access to the cards in the middle, and holds more.
Boz we don’t just review gadgets, we review accessories too and have been for over 18 years now 🙂
I was at the Grove web site and saw the wallet and was confused as to how it worked. It did not seem to be useful for carrying cash and I had a few other questions. I did a Google search and found your review. Thank you. You review confirmed my suspicions. This “wallet” really isn’t a wallet. It’s expensive with minimal utility. As @Boz pointed out, it’s really an accessory for the wealthy. We do not live in a cash-less society. A shop-owner is going to hate you for charging your 99c bottle of water on your card while he/she pays a 3% fee to VISA. That street vendor in Manhattan wants cash. I guess I could get by with just my drivers license, an ATM card, and one credit card in my pocket. But where do I put the other cards — health insurance/pharmacy card, library card, parking meter card, backup credit card — that I occasionally need? I guess Grove would suggest I but two wallets.