Tested: The 9 Best Metal Wallets For Everyday Carry

When it comes to everyday carry, wallets are quite possibly the most ubiquitous item type. Nearly everyone carries some version of one – from the eternal minimalist to the tactical fanatic – and that fact has opened up the market to a wide variety of possibilities in regards to size, shape, and even construction. So you can customize your choice of wallet to your individual style. And that’s pretty great for anyone looking for something a little more unique than your classic leather bi-fold. If that idea speaks to you and you want to incorporate more substance and modernity into your carry: look to metal.

Modern technological advances have allowed designers and manufacturers alike to create some truly impressive offerings in the realm of metal wallets that are practical, easy to carry, and secure. If you are the aforementioned minimalist or tactician, guess what – there’s one out there for you. And while they don’t come in all varieties of metal (mercury, for example, is both poisonous and a liquid at room temperature), they do come in a vast number of different colors and finish options. That means it can be fairly painless to find one that suits you perfectly. To make it even easier, we’ve tested out our favorite metal wallets and now present you with a list of our favorites.

How We Tested

With the preponderance of metal wallets in today’s world, it’s increasingly more difficult to figure out which ones are better than others. We’ve been around this space for quite some time, so it was simple to come up with our initial shortlist of options for testing. However, we went a step further with some extra research on some other popular wallets getting some buzz these days. Before we sourced our units for testing, we considered things such as materials, weight, RFID-blocking, mechanism (if any), and aesthetic.

Getting hands-on with the wallets was the fun part, putting them to use with our cards and cash, using each one for quite some time before coming to our conclusions. Along with our initial criteria, we also looked at ease of use, comfort in our hands and pockets, and how good the material felt. The overall process took several weeks but the results are presented to you in the following guide.

Breakdown of Different Metals

Aluminum: The most common material when it comes to metal wallets, aluminum is lightweight, cost-efficient, and often aircraft-grade in today’s models. What was once thought of as flimsy is now a go-to material thanks to modern technological advancements.

Titanium: A top-shelf material for wallets, titanium’s corrosion-resistant properties and lighter weight come at a cost, but thankfully has come down in price in recent years due to improved technological efficiency.

Stainless Steel: Not as common because of how much heavier they are, stainless steel wallets are more often used in wallets’ components rather than the main shell. The material is arguably the most durable pound-for-pound and its thickness makes RFID-blocking easier.

What Else to Look For

Weight: Like anything you carry in your pocket, the weight of your wallet matters –– perhaps even more with metal wallets, which is why this encompasses its size and material makeup as well, as mentioned above.

Capacity: Some users will only want a wallet that can hold 4 or 5 cards, while others prefer to have a wallet hold any and every card they might possibly need, along with a wad of cash. Luckily, metal wallets can accommodate either. Make sure you know what type of person you are before making your purchase.

RFID-Blocking: RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) is used for keeping us and our information connected in this growing world of digital information. However, with that increased exposure comes more ways to steal or skim the information stored on your credit and debit cards. Wallets made from materials such as metal, reinforced leather, and metal-infused fabrics are exceptionally good at deflecting these readers.

Are Metal Wallets Right For You?

Pros: Leather wallets are classy, traditional, and all-around beautiful, but the advent of the metal wallet, which itself was born out of the preponderance of cards instead of cash, has opened up the possibilities of adding mechanized functions to your money holders. Slimmer and more durable than bifold counterparts, metal wallets often allow you to access your money in an easier, more efficient way with unique contraptions built into the units. Likewise, metal is inherently better at deflecting RFID-reading skimmers.

Cons: Metal wallets are, however, heavier than leather ones and won’t be your best bet if you prefer carrying cash over cards. Also, if you’re the type of person who carries his wallet in your back pocket, you might want to think again before purchasing a metal wallet.

Fantom M Wallet

Best MagSafe Wallet: Built for the person who likes their gear simple but tough, the Fantom M model is the kind of wallet you might have in your pocket at the top of K2. Probably in part because its slim and lightweight construction made you forget you had it on you. Perfect for sticking on the back of your iPhone as well, the MagSafe-friendly version of Fantom’s flagship wallet keeps your cards in one place so you don’t have to worry about losing track of your money or ID. Practically inventing the easy-access card-fanning design, the Fantom comes in three sizes, holding anywhere from 4 to 13 cards with an optional titanium money clip in three different color options.

A staple of the EDC space, the Fantom is refreshingly customizable. If you like wood finish, you can choose that option, or even a carbon fiber inlay version. In terms of function, the Fantom’s trigger deployment is incredibly satisfying to operate and returns the cards to its standard position just as quickly. The wallet’s biggest downfall is its difficulty in carrying cash. While some users specifically try to never have cash on them, the reality is it’s going to happen from time to time and the Fantom simply isn’t equipped to do so. If you do, however, choose to carry cash, it will take over real estate that would be used for cards instead.

Dango A10 ADAPT

Best Tactical Metal Wallet: When it comes to thinking outside the box with their EDC gear, few brands do it like Dango. Instead of hanging its hat on its super-stylish metal wallet, which itself holds 5 cards inside its aerospace-grade aluminum chassis that features its patented quick-release mechanism and enough room for some extra cash, Dango allowed its modular A10 ADAPT unit to transform into a traditional wallet to expand its carrying capacity when paired with the brand’s Bifold or Single Pocket wallets. Thanks to its innovative rail system that allows for add-ons, you can also attach a neck lanyard or pocket clip.

You can tell at first touch that the Dango A10 ADAPT is one of the most durable wallets you’ve ever held, made with aerospace-grade aluminum that’s functional to the wallet’s overall utility. The brand has built this with its patent-pending quick-release rail mechanism that locks in 5 cards with applied pressure to keep them from falling out. We love the overall look of the wallet, which definitely has its own aesthetic apart from your standard metal wallet, looking both complex and minimalist. While the 5-card capacity is remarkably low, the ADAPT is able to be used in tandem with Dango’s other products as add-ons (which can significantly increase the overall price here, so keep that in mind).

Gerber GDC Money Clip

Best Multifunctional Wallet: When the highly-lauded knife makers at Gerber decided to make a wallet, they realized that it needed something special and unique to make it stand out amongst the crowd. So they included a knife – more specifically their 1.75-inch stainless steel fixed blade held into place by a lock on the wallet itself. This unassuming money clip is perfect for the man looking for an effective way to tote around their cash and cards, but also a discreet way to keep a knife on his person.

While the official capacity states this holds 4 credit cards, we found you can squeeze up to seven without cash. We loved the standard-style clip design, which is refreshingly wide and applies strong, even pressure to the cards so nothing falls out. As for the knife, the blade locking mechanism is preferable with its simple yet effective design, deployed with one hand using your thumb to press the button and pushing up on the blade base. And there’s no chance of blade slippage when it’s in your pocket. Our biggest complaint with this unit is how heavy it is compared to other already-hefty metal wallets, which makes sense considering the addition of the knife.

Spine Titanium Wallet

Best Ultra-Thin Metal Wallet: If you’re after a metal wallet for its minimalism, then the Spine Titanium Wallet is about as minimal as you can get. Literally a single sheet of grade 5 titanium, this money holder is about the size of a single credit card but can hold much more. Virtually limitless in its capacity thanks to a premium elastic band wrapped around it, the Spine is most comfortable with fewer than 10 cards. However, if you pack this too tightly, you’ll run the risk of making it difficult to take any of the cards out and sort through them. On the other hand, it can also hold cash on the outside, which ups its versatility.

Titanium is known for its light weight (about 40% of stainless steel) and the Spin is just 0.7oz, which means it weighs less than four credit cards alone. We loved how the wallet felt in hand and the quality of the band around it, which was certainly more durable than your average elastic band. One downside here is that it’s not completely RFID-blocking all the way around.

Secrid Cardprotector

Best Minimalist Design: Utilizing a take on Fantom’s fanning tech, the minimalistic Cardprotector from Secrid allows you to propel your cards outward with its patented mechanism. With 15 different color options, this aluminum wallet might be the perfect metal wallet if you’re looking for something super simple but also want it to look sleek and stylish. Protecting 4 to 6 cards from bending in transit, the unit also protects against unwanted RFID. However, it can’t hold any folded bills.

Maintaining an appealing minimalist design despite all the onboard bells and whistles, the SECRID wallet is similar to Ekster’s popular wallets (down below) but is notably different. For one, it’s just 8mm thick, holding 6 cards max, which is perfectly suitable for many users who like to keep things light. We love how the metal surrounds the entirety of your cards, which is great for full RFID blockage. We should also note that the “titanium” colorway is not indicative of the material; this is made with anodized aluminum.

The Ridge Aluminum Wallet

Best Overall Metal Wallet: Essentially inventing the space and often imitated, Ridge has every variant you’ll need when it comes to metal wallets, with options in aluminum, titanium, and even carbon fiber. Every Ridge wallet – a slimline minimalist card and cash carrier – is as tough as it gets, but also comes with a T5 Torx driver, in case you ever want to take it apart in order to clean it. And the combination of the cash strap and easy-access thumb slot make this card a convenient addition to any EDC loadout. What’s more, each model comes with a lifetime warranty, which is crucial especially considering the lofty price tag on these.

Launched back in 2013, the Ridge Aluminum Wallet is still the paragon for the metal wallet space and still aims to have the best thinness-to-capacity ratio around. It adds just 6mm to the cards your carrying (up to 12 comfortably, but we snuck in another 5 and it worked fine, but may wear down over time). We’re also fans of the wallet’s versatility. The silicone band around the outside is perfect for stashing some extra cash. And if the band does eventually wear down, which we can’t see happening for some time, the company lets you buy replacement bands as well. Some users have noticed that the wallet scratches and dents easily, but that hasn’t been our experience.

Take a deeper dive with our review of The Ridge Aluminum Wallet.

Machine Era Ti5 Slim Titanium Wallet

Best Titanium Wallet: Designed to be the slimmest, lightest, and strongest everyday card carrier on the market, the aptly titled Ti5 Slim Titanium Wallet from Machine Era features aerospace-grade Grade 5 titanium construction, partial RFID protection, and a thumb slot that also doubles as a bottle opener. An exceptional pick for urban commutes, hiking, and travel, the wallet boasts a hand-finished exterior that’s also corrosion-proof. Incredibly sleek in its design, the lightweight unobtrusiveness and super-high durability of this premium wallet make it one of the best offerings out there.

Unlike the titanium-colored Ridge wallet above, the Machine Era Ti5 is a wholly constructed titanium shell for a lightweight carry that’s both simple and useful. However, it only provides partial RFID blocking due to the open-face design. This wallet holds 7 cards, as stated, but we thought it worked better with 6 since you’ll likely have at least one or two embossed cards in the deck that increase the overall thickness. Likewise, deployment becomes more difficult when kept at max capacity. Despite the unique push-down deployment function, you may find it easier to take cards out from the open face on the back. We loved the premium elastic band here, which is very thick and should last you for years to come.

Trayvax Element

Best American-Made Metal Wallet: A metal wallet is great for shedding weight and upping durability, but sometimes the aesthetic of a traditional leather wallet is nice too. Constructed from a stainless steel frame, this unit is then wrapped with top-grain, oil-tanned leather for a rugged appearance that no other metal wallet gives you while still retaining the toughness to survive through daily use. Not sacrificing a slim profile in the process, it comes with an integrated money clip and built-in bottle opener. Fitting up to ten cards and five folded bills, this wallet is made in the USA and has a 65-year heirloom warranty –– a consolation for the higher price tag.

Highlighting the wallet’s USA-made construction was important for us, and the Trayvax is superb in that regard, utilizing a MIL-SPEC nylon paracord to affix the steel to the leather and a snap-button closure as well. There are also attachment points included to secure the wallet to a carabiner or keychain, with pocket knife-like jimping for grip. Also, the metal frame offers some versatility with a bottle opener below these attachment points. Despite the complex build and the industrial style of the wallet, we couldn’t help but notice how lightweight it felt in our hand at just 3.5oz according to our own scale (the website claims 5oz).

Take a deeper dive with our review of Trayvax Element Wallet.

Ekster Aluminum Cardholder w/Airtag Holder

Best Card-Fanning Metal Wallet: If you’re the type to jam-pack your wallets with debit cards, gift cards, rewards cards, and IDs, then you’ll want a wallet that can hold it all. However, the more cards you’re lugging around, the more difficult it will be to find what you need when you need it. What better solution than a wallet that can fan out all of your plastic? Made from space-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, the Ekster Aluminum Cardholder is similar to the SECRID above in form and function, employing all-encompassing housing with an opening up top and trigger on the bottom, the latter of which is used to deploy the cards in a fan formation so you can see them much easier.

Feeling much better in hand than your average deployment wallet, the Ekster owns this category for a reason. We also loved how ergonomic its main function is, which is important when using the wallet daily. Doubling as a fidget mechanism, the wallet holds a total of 12 cards, but this depends on how thick the cards are and if they’re embossed or not. If that’s not enough, there’s also a sturdy silicone band that can hold a wad of cash and 8 additional cards. We also loved the AirTag tracker option, which can be added at checkout.

Tested: The Best AirTag Wallets

Having trouble finding your wallet all the time? Check out our guide to the best AirTag wallets where we tested the best options around.