This is not an ad or sponsored post. This is an honest review.
I have been a fan of minimalist wallets for many years, and my wallet of choice has been the HuMn Aluminium wallet.
Ridge Wallet Specs
Holds 1-12 cards without stretching out
Blocks RFID (wireless theft)
Replaceable elastic
Backed by our lifetime warranty
6061-T6 aluminum | anodized black
Weight: 2 oz | 86 x 54 x 6 mm
Ridge Wallet Use
You add a card by sliding it from the top groove
To access a card, you press the ridged opening and pull the required card out from the top
To Insert a Card: Gently slide the card into the top groove.
To access a card in the middle, you push out all the cards from the ridge, separate the metal plates and then find your card.
This strategy is similar to the HuMn wallet and most other plate based wallets. This may seem a little off for someone coming from a traditional leather style wallet but you will get use to it quickly. You will start moving your most used cards to the top or bottom of the stack.
Design
The stated purpose of the Ridge was to design a sleek minimalist wallet that would be durable and easy to use. I believe they successfully achieved this stated goal. The height and width of the Ridge Wallet is designed to be very slightly larger than (North American) style credit cards.
First thing first, the wallet is a thing of beauty. Much better looking than the HuMn Wallet.
The aluminium wallet will feel slightly heavier than a “normal” wallet. After 3 weeks of use, the wallet feels normal and not heavy at all. For those that are looking for a lighter option, the poly-carbonate or carbon fiver models are lighter. Unless you want Carbon Fiber for the look and prestige, the aluminium version is likely the best cost/benefit deal.
The wallet comes with either a money clip or elastic band. I chose the clip version which makes it slightly thicker and less useful. I recommend you acquire the elastic band version.
For those that carry their (normal) wallets in their back pocket, you will notice that your cards are slightly bend. The Ridge Wallet’s aluminium “walls” are strong enough to keep the cards straight even if you sit on them.
The company claims that their wallet provides RFID protection. I used an RFID scanner to test this feature and can confirm that it does offer RFID protection (most leather wallets do not offer such protections).
Some companies provide non-standard sized cards (loyalty and membership). Those non-standard cards do not work well with the Ridge. In my case, I do not have any of those.
Behavioral change
For those coming from a normal leather wallet, moving to any minimalist wallet will force you to reconsider what cards you carry with you on a daily basis. In my case, I scanned all my loyalty cards into Google Pay (and Apple Pay) and leave those at home. Additionally I stopped carrying cards I barely use.
Conclusion
Coming from the HuMn Wallet, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the Ridge Wallet. The truth is that I liked it much more than I expected and it has now become my main daily-use wallet.
They have made a great product that balances form, function and cost.
It is strong, light and dependable. For those looking for a great EDC wallet, this is currently the best choice available (I have tested over a dozen such wallets).
Link: Ridge wallet