Table of Contents
About Ridge Wallet
Ridge Wallet is a Kickstarter success story that has grown into a worldwide brand phenomenon.
Daniel and Paul Kane took to Kickstarter with a modest goal of $12,000 to redefine the wallet for the modern era. They ended up raising over $200,000, a major mandate from both men and women to make a better wallet for everyone. The father and son duo used that money to recruit a small team to do more with less, not just with wallets, but with backpacks, phone cases, power chargers—even pocket knives!
They use aluminum, carbon fiber, forged carbon, and full grain leather for their products, with manufacturing partners both domestic and abroad. Traditional wallets are these big leather monsters that bulge out of your back pocket and can even mess up your spine[1]! And let’s be honest, how many cards do you really need to be carrying around with you?
The Ridge Wallet is designed to be a front pocket wallet, not a back pocket one, to keep you more organized. It helps that they look cool, too, and feature some awesome customization options.
This Ridge Wallet review will get into how and why this father and son team is redefining the wallet and bringing the money clip into the 21st century. I’ll look at their best-selling products, their materials, their features, their customer reception, and more. First, let’s cover Ridge Wallet’s pros and cons.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Made with metal, not leather, so they’ll hold up after years of daily use
- Built-in RFID[2] blockers protect your banking and other personal information from RFID skimmers who can steal your credit card info right out of your pocket
- Lots of color and patterns options, including a rad burnt titanium finish that you’ve got to see!
- You can choose either a money clip or an elastic cash strap. The money clip can even be removed to transform the Ridge into a pure card holder
Cons
- They’re pricey – the cheapest Ridge Wallet is $75
- The Ridge Wallets are slimmed down to carry credit and debit cards, so business cards will bend
- Not much design variation
Materials
Ridge wallets are typically made from high-quality materials that are durable and long-lasting. The most common materials used in Ridge wallets are:
- Aluminum: Ridge wallets are often made from aluminum, which is a lightweight and durable metal that is resistant to rust and corrosion.
- Titanium: Some Ridge wallets are made from titanium, which is a very strong and lightweight metal that is also resistant to rust and corrosion.
- Carbon fiber: Carbon fiber is a high-strength material that is used in some Ridge wallets. It is lightweight and extremely durable, making it an ideal material for a wallet.
- Stainless steel: Ridge wallets made from stainless steel are extremely strong and durable. They are also resistant to rust and corrosion, making them a good choice for a wallet.
- Leather: Some Ridge wallets are made with leather covers or accents. Leather is a traditional and classic material for wallets that is durable and stylish.
Overall, Ridge wallets are made from materials that are designed to withstand everyday wear and tear, as well as provide a stylish and functional accessory for carrying cards and cash.
Features
There are several features of the Ridge wallet that make it a popular and highly-regarded choice among wallet enthusiasts. Here are some of the best Ridge wallet features:
- Slim design: The Ridge wallet has a slim and minimalist design that makes it easy to carry in your pocket without adding unnecessary bulk. This is a great feature for people who want a sleek and functional wallet.
- RFID-blocking technology: Many Ridge wallets have RFID-blocking technology built in, which helps to protect your credit card information from being stolen by unauthorized scanners.
- Durable materials: Ridge wallets are typically made from high-quality materials that are designed to withstand everyday wear and tear. Materials such as aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber are lightweight, durable, and long-lasting.
- Customization options: The Ridge wallet comes in a variety of materials, colors, and finishes, so you can choose a wallet that suits your personal style and preferences. You can also add custom engravings or logos to make your wallet unique.
- Modular design: Some Ridge wallets have a modular design that allows you to add or remove different components, such as a money clip or a cardholder. This feature makes the Ridge wallet highly customizable and adaptable to your changing needs.
Overall, the Ridge wallet’s slim design, RFID-blocking technology, durable materials, customization options, and modular design are some of the best features that make it a popular choice for those looking for a functional and stylish wallet.
How to Use Ridge Wallet
A lot of the comments I came across when researching this Ridge Wallet review mentioned that the wallet comes with a bit of a learning curve before it is comfortable to use. I can understand this: going from a soft, pliable, folding leather wallet to a rigid metal credit card sandwich will take some getting used to. More than one Ridge Wallet review mentions that it’s easier to remove all of your cards at once, in one big stack, than to try and get one card in particular.
You could argue with this Ridge Wallet review that this is the entire point of the product: the stated mission of the company is the streamline wallets. To ensure you’re only carrying exactly what you need when you need it, to reduce how much clutter you’re bringing with you along with your cards and cash.
Each Ridge Wallet comes with either a money clip, for carrying a few bills, or a money elastic for a slimmer profile. You can switch them out at will to customize your wallet the way you like. The RFID blocking is handy, but you’ll need to remove any cards you need to be scanned, like a transit or gym pass. A small price to pay for protection from identity theft!
4 Best-Selling Ridge Wallet Products
Before getting into the specifics of each Ridge Wallet, you should know about the common features all of them share. All Ridge Wallets measure 86 x 54 x 6mm and hold between 1 to 12 cards with a replaceable elastic. They block RFID signals to protect against identity theft and have two options: a money clip or cash strap.
Ridge Wallet Review: The Ridge
The Ridge Wallet Aluminum is their flagship product and the item that got them Kickstarted in the first place. This wallet is minimalist without being limiting: to keep you from overloading your wallet with tons of faded receipts and old business cards. It costs $95.
Customers say: “Still taking some getting used to, but really like slimming down the wallet. The materials used are absolutely top notch. I’ve had plenty of friends and co workers say they wish they spent the extra and actually got The Ridge. So far so good, highly recommended.“
Ridge Wallet Review: Carbon Fiber
The Ridge Wallet Aluminum is already designed to be lighter and thinner than any wallet you’ve ever had, but the Ridge Wallet Carbon Fiber is lighter and thinner still. The Aluminum weighs 2oz while the Carbon Fiber comes in at an astonishingly light 1.6oz—that’s the weight of a golf ball!
The Ridge Carbon Fiber actually comes in two varieties, Carbon Fiber and Forged Carbon, and each has a distinct look. Carbon fiber is made from sheets filled with resin and has a ‘weaved’ look[3], while the forged carbon is squeezed to form any shape. The forged carbon Ridge Wallet features a neat pattern that looks like brush strokes.
You can pick up this variety of Ridge Wallet for $140.
Customers say: “I’ll never go back to a traditional wallet. It looks so cool!“
Ridge Wallet Review: Titanium
If you’re looking for a slightly heftier metal, the Ridge Wallet Titanium fits the bill. A little heftier at 2.5oz, the titanium comes with all the features of the aluminum and carbon fibre, but made with hand torched and hardened Grade 5v titanium. While I like the Titanium – Burnt option, there are also gunmetal, matte black, and matte cobalt colors.
This Ridge Wallet variant starts at $110.
Customers say: “This has been excellent for my needs. Although it’s a bit pricey, you get what you pay for. The quality is great. I’ve had no issues with the wallet. Once you get used to keeping your cards in a certain order and get the hang of how to access them, it’s really pretty simple. This has helped me reduce the number of cards I carry on a daily basis. I’m glad I went with Ridge.“
Ridge Wallet Money Clip Review
Every Ridge Wallet has two options for carrying bills: A cash strap and a money clip. Of the two, the money clip is the sleeker, more practical option. You can add a money clip to your order or purchase an additional one for $12. All Ridge Wallets have slots on the front and back and the money clip can be put in either one—or you can add a second and have two! You can convert a cash strap wallet to a money clip wallet by purchasing an elastic.
Customers say: “Way more convenient than the band. Nice solid piece, keeps my money tight.”
Who is Ridge Wallet for?
The items I featured in my Ridge Wallet review are for people who want to cut down the unnecessary bulk of their wallets, or for those who want RFID protection.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for a Ridge Wallet alternative, here’s a quick overview of some similar wallets on the market:
Fantom Wallet
- Super thin and light – weighs less than 1oz
- Cool card fanning feature: hit a button and all your cards pop out in a fan shape for easy access
- Money clip is sold separately, not included in the purchase price
- $54 for the basic Fantom, $94 for the new Fantom R
- Coin slot for small objects, though many reviews mention the coins rattle around which sounds annoying
Andar Pilot
- Leather and aluminum design is very handsome
- Only carries 6 cards to Ridge Wallet’s 12
- Optional money clip
- Sliding wheel displays your cards in an easy-to-access stack
- Currently sold out on their website
Trayvax Contour
- Extremely expensive! $140!
- Sourced and made in the US
- The metal and leather design isn’t for everyone
Ekster Parliament
- $69
- Quick card access button
- Leather build
- RFID blocker
- Stores 10 or more cards and has a cash strap
- Optional tracking card makes the wallet “unlosable”
Ridge Wallet: What Do Customers Think?
You can leave a Ridge Wallet review on the website, and the customer ratings there are overwhelmingly positive. Many users say the Ridge Wallet is the best wallet they’ve ever owned. You can find many a Ridge Wallet review by both men and women, with women commenting the Ridge Wallet significantly reduced the amount of bulk in their purse.
One customer wrote, “I’m totally digging this wallet and it’s slick design! It’s small and compact and easy to access all my cards! I absolutely love the brunt titanium design as well:) over all I’d say this is by far the best wallet I’ve ever owned !!“
I also checked out Ridge Wallet reviews on Amazon. As of April 2023, here are the customer scores for two of their most popular options:
- Ridge Wallet with Money Clip: 4.5/5 stars based on more than 16,000 pieces of customer feedback
- Ridge Wallet with Cash Strap4.3/5 stars based on more than 19,000 pieces of customer feedback
Some Ridge Wallet Amazon reviews complain about the rigidity of the wallet, especially if you’re used to a soft leather wallet, but mention the wallet’s elastic will get more pliable in time.
One customer on Amazon wrote, “I bought this for my husband for Christmas and he loves it. The only down side is it doesn’t hold as many cards as a typical wallet, but it’s great for holding the essentials. I would definitely recommend this product.”
Other customers have concerns about the price—$75 for the cheapest option (Aluminum) is a lot pricier than a cheap nylon wallet. However, one shopper said their Ridge Wallet was worth every penny.
They wrote, “Overall expectations is you get what you pay for and I did have that moment where I was like “I’m paying $150 for a wallet” but considering it has lifetime warranty and I will genuinely be able to carry it around everywhere I made the “investment”.“
Reviews are generally very positive, both from customers and professional product reviewers. Concerns about price are offset by the sheer quality of the product and the lifetime guarantee that goes with it. Customer service is listed as a highlight as well—speedy responses and fast shipping especially.
Is the Ridge Wallet Worth It?
I’ve come to acknowledge in this Ridge Wallet review, that the product is absolutely worth it—as long as you know what you’re getting! If you want a sleek, solid, functional wallet that holds only exactly what you need day-to-day, it’s the best possible option.
Ridge Wallet Promotions & Discounts
The only Ridge Wallet promo code I found is this pretty cool refer-a-friend deal. If a friend you refer to Ridge Wallet makes a purchase, they get 10% off their first purchase, and you get $15 off your next purchase. You get another $15 for every friend you refer through this same Ridge Wallet coupon code that makes a purchase—up to $75 for five friends!
Where to Buy Ridge Wallet
You can buy Ridge Wallets directly from their website, or from stores all over the US. Their website has a handy map to help you find a store near you.
There are a few other online stores that stock the Ridge Wallet, but the most interesting one is Huckberry. Huckberry sells a special Navy Blue aluminum Ridge Wallet and 5% of proceeds are donated to the Navy SEAL foundation.
You can, of course, also get the Ridge Wallet on Amazon.
FAQ
Who Owns Ridge Wallet?
Sean Frank is the current CEO of Ridge Wallet, having joined the team in 2018.
What is Ridge Wallet’s Shipping Policy
Ridge Wallet offers standard domestic shipping (2-5 days) for $3, or free standard domestic shipping on orders over $40. 1-3 days priority shipping is available for only $5 and next day air is available for $25.
International shipping (7 – 14 days) is available for $5, but again is free on orders over $40, which easily covers the price of one wallet. Tracking is provided by DHL eCommerce. DHL Express shipping (2-4 days) is $20. The website says there are rarely any import or customs fees, but they vary from country to country and Ridge Wallet can’t guarantee what they’ll be.
All orders are shipped within 1-2 business days, except on holidays.
What is Ridge Wallet’s Return Policy
All Ridge Wallet products have a lifetime guarantee due to their military-grade materials, though it doesn’t cover cosmetic damage like scratches, or unauthorized modifications. To make a claim, you simply take a picture of the damage and send it in through a form on their website.
You can return your Ridge Wallet for an exchange or a refund within 45 days of your purchase. Ridge Wallet will send a USPS label so you don’t have to pay the shipping cost on the return. Just like the lifetime guarantee, there’s a form you can fill out on the website to request a return.
Contact Ridge Wallet
The Ridge Wallet website has a live chat feature available during business hours, and you can send them an email if it’s not online when you need it. You can fill out a form or email them directly at [email protected]
Article Sources
- Viggiani, D., Noguchi, M., Gruevski, K.M., De Carvalho, D. and Callaghan, J.P. The Effect of Wallet Thickness on Spine Posture, Seat Interface Pressure, and Perceived Discomfort During Sitting Taylor Francis Online IIE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, 2(2), pp.83–93
- Chetouane, F. An Overview on RFID Technology Instruction and Application Science Direct IFAC-PapersOnLine, [online] 48(3), pp.382–387
- Dorey, G. Carbon fibres and their applications IOPscience Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 20(3), pp.245–256
With this many legitimate terrible reviews on this Honest Brand Reviews, why don’t you show only one star? I’m sure glad I read the comments on this site. And I feel you should include that “RIdge Wallet claims such and such but actual users say otherwise.”