ARTICLE – A few weeks ago, I asked my awesome Gadgeteer team of writers to tell me about their favorite EDC wallets of 2024. I got a ton of great responses from them, sharing their top pick along with a little story about why they love it. In this article, we’re going to share our favorites, starting with my own daily driver wallet. Let’s dive in and check out the wallets that have won us over this year!
Julie Strietelmeier
I keep coming back to these two wallets, with an emphasis on the first one – the AKEENi XSTO wallet that I reviewed back in 2020. This is my favorite minimalist wallet because it’s small, lightweight, and it’s easy to remove and reinsert cards. It also can hold several folded bills under the cards. I also love that it has the Gadgeteer logo on it – duh! 😁 You can customize your own for $75 from Akeeni.com.
Then there’s the Open Sea Leather Topsider Mini wallet, which I like because it is made of leather that just keeps getting better with time. This one has a simple design, and I like how I can carry cards and folded bills. It’s also cool that you can specify the color of the thread when you order one for $54 from their site.
Raul Sanchez
Since I like to keep my wallet in my front pocket, naturally I wanted a wallet that wasn’t so thick. I bought the Big Skinny Men’s Slimline Bi-Fold Slim Wallet in 2022 and still use it to this day. I love how thin this wallet really is.
It is made from nylon microfiber, which helps reduce the bulk. Plus, the nylon material helps me slide in and take out the wallet from my front pocket. It has the right number of slots, and I can fit at least 12 cards and cash with no problem. I have my four cards that I frequently use in the front pockets and my other cards neatly tucked away in the inside slots. And I have plenty of room for more cards if needed. This wallet is water-resistant and machine washable. Neat! You can BUY it on Amazon where it’s currently $28.95.
Kenneth Woodham
I’ve had three of these wallets from Hide and Drink. The first one developed a tear in the zipper. The company replaced it with absolutely no problems because they offer a 101-year warranty! I lost the second one, so I immediately bought the 3rd. It’s full-grain leather, hand-stitched, and has a brass zipper. It fits in my front pocket perfectly and holds a pocket knife, pen, and small flashlight. I searched for a long time before deciding to get this one, but I’m completely satisfied with it. 5 stars, would recommend! BUY it on Amazon where it’s currently only $14.95.
Joseph Porletto
I’m still using the Bellroy Men’s Leather Elements Pocket Black that I listed in our Team EDC article in 2018. They don’t even make the version I have anymore because I bought it in 2015. I love this wallet so much because it gets better as it gets older. In the nine years I’ve had it, the only thing I’ve had to do is replace the zipper pulls because they eventually wear out from so much use. I am constantly amazed at how many items I can fit inside and still have it zip close easily. And yet, it fits perfectly in my front pocket for the past nine years. Such a great wallet—it actually makes me a little mad sometimes because I can’t ever justify buying a different one. Currently not available from Bellroy, but you can check out all their other wallets.
Garry Kolb
I hate thick wallets. The Seinfeld episode where George shows his massively fat wallet held together with rubber bands exemplifies everything I hate about wallets. That is probably why my two favorite wallets come from a company called Big Skinny.
Yes, I have two favorite wallets. Each is a favorite depending on what I’m doing at the time.
For general, everyday use, the Big Skinny RFID Blocking Leather Curve is perfect. Its rounded front edge makes slipping into my front pocket easy. It lets me carry a huge number of cards and plenty of cash without getting too thick. It is available in leather or nylon and with or without RFID blocking.
For travel, the Big Skinny RFID Blocking Leather Traveler Passport Wallet fits the bill. It’s big enough to hold my passport along with multiple cards and a bunch of cash. It remains thin enough to tuck into a front pocket to keep everything safe from prying fingers. There is also a handy zipper pocket for coins on the back. It has been all over the world with me and still looks terrific. It is available in leather or nylon and with or without RFID blocking. Check out both at bigskinny.net
Lynn Lopez
The wallet I keep returning to after trying many other wallets, and it is currently residing in my front pocket, is the FOCX wallet. Andy reviewed it back in October 2020. It is super thin and can hold at least 6 cards, but it can certainly hold more than that, plus it can hold bills if necessary. It holds my cards in place, and I can access them easily with no zipper or Velcro. It adds little bulk to the cards, which makes it a winner for me. Check out FOCX wallets.
Danny Welsch
I’m 50 years old and I’ve only ever had two wallets in my life. And I still have them both. I only replaced the first because it completely wore out. All that said, I don’t know what the brand of my current wallet is because there’s no tags and it’s at least 20 years old, but it is very old-school. It’s a nylon velcro wallet that has space for cards, bills, and coins. That last part, the coins, is what originally inspired me to get this wallet. Back when society was still using cash, I hated to have change rolling around in my pocket, so I wanted a wallet with a small velcro pouch to hold coins. That’s not a necessary any longer, since cash (and coins) have largely gone the way of the dodo. And that’s where this wallet will soon head- it’s time is about up. I’m not sure what my next wallet will be, but the ability to hold cash and coins will be much lower on the priority list. BUY on Amazon for $28.95.
Bob Patterson
The Harvey’s Star Wars Special Edition Wallet is my favorite. Harveys makes their wallets from seat belt material, and they are absurdly tough. I had an older wallet I had bought years ago, but my wife snagged me this one when it came out as a limited edition release.
But the best part is that it came in a bundle with a matching messenger bag from the same patterns and materials! Not available anymore, but you can check out other wallets from Harvey’s.
Michael Strange
The Satechi Vegan-Leather Magnetic Wallet Stand is my favorite wallet. Although I didn’t review it, I did write a news post about it. After writing the post, I decided to purchase one for myself, and I’m glad I did. I already carry a large phone (iPhone 15 Pro Max), so I got tired of having to carry it and a wallet. The Satechi Magnetic Wallet Stand is perfect for my needs. It magnetically attaches to the back of my iPhone, eliminating the need to carry two separate items. It has a slim profile while still allowing me to carry my most used credit cards. There’s also a separate space for my driver’s license. Additionally, it doubles as a stand, providing a hands-free option for me to browse the web, stream videos, or hop on a FaceTime call. BUY on Amazon for $39.99.
James Garriss
I reviewed Godbolé’s Classic leather wallet over four years ago and loved it. It’s as much a part of my every day carry gear as my pocketknife and wedding ring. It has a timeless, handcrafted look and remains both practical and durable. I would still recommend this wallet to anyone looking for a nice wallet. Check it out on Godbolé.
Andy Chen
A friend of mine received a Ridge wallet for Christmas several years ago, so I bought one for myself. I chose the Stonewashed Titanium model because it hides scuffs perfectly. There are many different styles to choose from, including colored aluminum, carbon fiber, wood, and leather. Ridge wallets can be equipped with an elastic band or metal clip to hold currency, but I added the optional AirTag money clip. I like this combination because everything is very compact and I don’t have to worry about misplacing my wallet. BUY from Ridge.com.
Ryan Chapman
I am super simplistic when it comes to wallets and purses, so my go to money/card holder is the Travelambo Front Pocket minimalist leather slim wallet that I found while browsing on Amazon one day. It has enough room for a few cards, my ID, some cash, and a gate card. Since it’s thin, I am able to toss it in my pocket with ease and it takes up very little space in my small purse. I’ve had it for roughly two years and it’s held out very well with little wear to show for it. Lastly, the price is right up my alley at less than ten bucks! BUY on Amazon.
Frank Myers
I have 2 favorite wallets. One is the leather Apple Wallet with Find My and the other is the PopWallet+ for MagSafe. Each has its purpose (for me). I’ve found having a wallet that attaches to my phone makes it easy to keep track of both.
The leather Apple Wallet with Find My is my daily carry and is on my phone 80% of the time. I have the black leather version, which is no longer available. Apple has changed to the FineWoven Wallet, which is made from microtwill and has a suede-like feel. Apple has made this change because it reduced carbon emissions compared to leather. This wallet holds three cards. I have a bank card, my ID, and credit card. You may be able to squeeze in one more card, but getting them out will be a hassle. I’ve been moving to the mobile wallet feature on my phone (Apple Pay, etc) and only carry these three cards just in case a vendor or situation comes up that doesn’t support mobile payments. The feature I enjoy most iOS the Find My feature. I get alerted if the wallet become detached and I can use the Find My app to locate my wallet. This is a game changer. The other thing I like is how thin it is when attached to my phone. It had very little bulk and fits great in my pocket, especially when connected to my iPhone 13 mini.
The other 20% of the time, I use the PopWallet+ for MagSafe. This is the wallet I use when traveling out of town and I need to carry more than three cards. Usually, I have seven cards in this wallet. I’ll include my insurance card, another bank card, another credit card card, and my national park pass. This wallet has elastic on the side to allow it to expand. As expected, this wallet also has a PopSocket built-in. The PopSocket acts as a stand to prop up the phone in landscape mode, a hand grip when taking pictures at awkward angles, and as a fidget toy when I’m bored. This wallet is a little more bulky, but not unmanageable, although it’s more noticeable in pockets. My only wish is for the Find My feature.
Alex Birch
Found the Alpaca Zip Cardholder prior to a recent trip. I was looking for a thin wallet with a zip closure, room for a few cards, cash and then some. It’s been exactly what I was hoping to find. I’ve been running an average of 8 cards in the main pocket where there’s a fabric divider. The front zip pocket tackles change, and key or two and the pouch beside easily handles a compact knife. The flip side has two slots; one is perfect for my vehicle key card and the skinny one holds a shorty EDC pen perfectly. Even when loaded it stays slim and can be overstuffed in the rare times it’s needed. Alpaca’s Zip Pouch and Zip Pouch Pro are very similar and may subtle differences that may address different needs. It’s $35 from Alpaka Gear.
James Cook
It’s not fancy and it has definitely seen better days, but it just works. My daily carry wallet is a leather bifold that I purchased at a street fair in El Bolson, Argentina in late 2002. I think it cost me 10 or 15 bucks after currency conversion. I can faintly read the maker’s mark, Augustin Porro, which just sounds like an Argentine gaucho (cowboy). I tried to find out more about him online, but aside from a few old references to a well-known regional leatherworker didn’t find much. It’s one of the first things that goes in my pocket in the morning and the last to come out at night. This wallet has seen many miles over the past 22 years and like I said earlier, it just works. A true testament to a well-made product made out of quality materials.
Lee Shipman
My current wallet is the Bellroy Hide & Seek. I am the type of person who does not leave the house without my wallet and I thought long and hard before I purchased the Hide & Seek back in late 2021 when needing to replace my worn out Wilson’s leather wallet. The Hide & Seek is constructed of smooth environmentally certified leather and is available in two sizes, optimized for the different currencies of the world with me opting for the smaller size which best supports US currency. The Hide & Seek is an RFID protected wallet with 5 separate card slots for optimal card organization of up to 12 cards and a typical easy to access paper cash slot. In addition to this normal stuff, the Hide & Seek also sports a hidden sixth pocket for cards, which I use for an AirTag and it also provides for a hidden bill section, which allows me to conceal the amount of cash I have with me when paying with cash in those congested public settings. Finally, the craftsmanship of the Hide & Seek is excellent and one would not be able to tell that this wallet has almost 3 years of everyday use by looking at it. I would definitely purchase it again, but based on how it is wearing, I do not expect to do that anytime soon. Buy from Bellroy where it’s currently $89.
Shawna Nester
I have recently swapped from a large cumbersome wallet to a Kate Spade cardholder. I like that it is large enough to hold my essential cards, ID, and a little cash in the zipper (which I must note zips all around the wristlet and not just the top, like a lot of wristlets), but small enough to put in my jeans pocket if necessary. The convenience of the wristlet strap is great to grab and go and includes a key ring to attach a key or attach inside a larger purse if needed. The ID pocket makes it easy to slide my license out if needed and has plenty of card slots for the few cards that I carry daily. A great affordable designer brand option if you are in the market, I only wish it came in more colors.
Andy Jacobs
My favorite wallet is still the SlimFold Micro Wallet that I reviewed back in 2016. I’ve tried out a number of wallets both before and after reviewing this one, and while many of them have useful features and are solid choices for various situations, I keep coming back to the SlimFold Micro Wallet as my EDC choice. I like that it truly is very slim, even when loaded with 7-8 cards and some cash, which is what I typically carry. The opening of every card slot faces inward toward the center of the wallet, so there is no chance a card will ever fall out, and I don’t have to fold bills more than once, which just makes them thicker. The material is super durable, water-resistant, and a bit stretchy, so it can expand or contract to hold a bit less or a bit more, and its footprint makes it suitable for front pocket carry, if that’s your preference. It’s a great little wallet and worth its price tag. Grab one on Amazon for $57.
Greg Cleveland
About eighteen months ago I had the pleasure to review the new-to-market GeoGrit wallet, and it hasn’t been dethroned in my EDC since. This USA designed and built minimalist wallet has been a tank, and an absolute joy to use with its unique vertical card deployment. It’s picked up some scratches, but still functions perfectly. I don’t expect I’ll ever need to make a claim on the lifetime warranty, and it’s nice to know it’s there just in case. Buy one on Amazon where it’s currently $95.
Lex Strickland
My favorite wallet is the Ridge aluminum card wallet, for two reasons. One of my daughters gave it to me and it conveniently holds what I need to carry. I use a separate money clip so I removed the money clip that came attached to the wallet. Ridge included a Torx screw driver.
I reviewed a wallet of this style but its edges were sharper so, advantage to Ridge.
No slam to the brand but it’s expensive and I wish she hadn’t paid as much as she probably did. There are dozens of this style of card-holder wallet at your favorite online shopping site for far less cost.
Well there you go folks! That is the Gadgeteer team’s favorite wallets for 2024. I hope you enjoyed this article and please let us know your favorite wallet!
