The Ridge made the metal card wallet famous. It is two metal plates held together by elastic, with a cash strap or money clip on the outside. Before paying Ridge prices, it is worth seeing what the alternatives do differently.
Ridge sells it in aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber. Standard aluminum colors start at about $95, and the other materials cost more. It holds 1 to 12 cards, blocks RFID, and Ridge backs it with a 45-day trial and a lifetime guarantee. Cards come out by pushing them through a thumb cutout and fanning them apart. That is quick for the card on the edge and slower for the one in the middle.
The Ekster Aluminum Cardholder solves that differently. A push button fans your cards out in a stagger so you can see and pick one. It also holds up to 12 cards and blocks RFID, and it sells in the $70 to $90 range. The mechanism is the appeal. It is also one more moving part.
The Secrid Miniwallet, at about $90, pairs an aluminum card protector with a lever that slides cards out in a stepped fan, wrapped in a leather outer that holds bills and receipts. It is thicker than a Ridge, but it handles cash and receipts far better than a strap or clip.
Bellroy's Card Sleeve is the low-tech option at about $59. It is leather, holds 2 to 8 cards, and takes folded notes. No metal, no mechanism, and at 8 cards it is not trying to replace a full wallet.
A word on RFID. Every metal wallet here advertises it, and it should not decide your purchase. Contactless skimming is a small risk for most people, and your bank covers fraud on cards anyway. Buy for how you carry, not for the shielding.
So choose on habits. If you carry a few cards and almost no cash, the Ridge or Ekster fit best, and the Ekster makes finding a specific card easier. If you still get paper receipts and carry bills, the Secrid is better built for that. If you just want something slim and cheap, the Bellroy costs about $35 less than a Ridge.
The short version: the Ridge is a good wallet with a lifetime guarantee, but it is not the only one. Pick the Ekster for card access, the Secrid for cash, and the Bellroy for price.
