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Before we go any further, ask yourself what you need in a tactical wallet. After all, they’re merely pockets for dollars and business cards, and these can skyrocket in price as you scale higher up the mountain. Sure, they can be gimmicks to many average people, but let’s analyze them from the lens of tradespeople, outdoor adventurers, extreme athletes, and service members. Everyone has use for something, even tactical pens (yes, those exist).
These buyers live hard-working lives and partake in hard-working hobbies that demand something that can hold their valuables without getting obliterated in one wrong move. Being such a regularly-carried commodity, they might as well snag something to withstand the elements, survive getting run over by a car, and even do a bit of handy work if necessary, just as an excellent tactical flashlight would.
Enter our guide to the best tactical wallets on the market, with everything from EDC wallets to products with extra doses of style and flair. Through this sea of nylon and steel, we’ll help you pair with the perfect product to keep up with your demanding lifestyle.
- Best Overall: Dango A10 Spec-Ops Bifold Pocket Adapt
- Best Value: Extremus Tactical Minimalist Wallet
- Honorable Mention: The Ridge Wallet
- Best Slim: 5.11 Tactical Steel Jacket Multitool
- Best Bifold: 5.11 Tactical Bifold Wallet
- Best Multitool: Dango T01 Tactical Wallet
- Best Leather: GRIP6 Wallet + Leather and Loop
- Best for EDC: Gerber Gear GDC Money Clip
Best Overall
Dango A10 Spec-Ops Bifold Pocket Adapt
Pros
- Improved storage over more compact stablemates
- Detachable multitool insert
- Detachable pen slot
- Durable, water-resistant construction
Cons
- Price starts high and only gets higher
Product Specs
- Materials: Carbon fiber (optional), titanium (optional), aluminum, stainless steel
- Weight: 4.8 ounces
- Dimensions: 4.1 x 3.0 x 0.7 inches
Best Value
Extremus Tactical Minimalist Wallet
Pros
- Knockout price point
- Full-metal construction for remarkable resiliency
- Slim, compact design for easy carrying
- Money clip included
Cons
- Potentially wear out the elastic band
- Abysmal storage compartments
- Minor build quality inconsistencies
Product Specs
- Materials: Carbon fiber (optional), aluminum, stainless steel
- Weight: 3.2 ounces
- Dimensions: 5.2 x 3.8 x 0.5 inches
Honorable Mention
The Ridge Wallet
Pros
- Personalizable in a dizzying palette of finishes
- One of the most compact profiles on this list
- Lifetime warranty covers individual replacement parts
Cons
- Fluctuating prices that all start far from cheap
- Some may find it too minimalist for the price
Product Specs
- Materials: Titanium (optional), carbon fiber (optional), aluminum
- Weight: 2 ounces
- Dimensions: 3.3 x 2.1 x 0.2 inches
Best Slim
5.11 Tactical Steel Jacket Multitool
Pros
- Near-invincible steel construction
- Ultra-slim design
- Quirky yet usable toolset including SIM card holders
- Relatively low price tag
Cons
- Possibility of rubber band losing elasticity
- Minimalistic storage space
Product Specs
- Materials: Rubber, stainless steel
- Weight: 2.8 ounces
- Dimensions: 3.0 x 2.0 x 0.2 inches
Best Bifold
5.11 Tactical Bifold Wallet
Pros
- Simple design riddled with nifty storage pockets
- Nylon construction is still durable and tough
- Two separate cash sleeves
- Hidden key pouch
Cons
- Lack of hardened casings or frames
- Nylon costs more than steel?
Product Specs
- Materials: Nylon
- Weight: 1.9 ounces
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 3 x 0.5 inches
Best Multitool
Dango T01 Tactical Wallet
Pros
- A wallet and Swiss Army knife in one
- A myriad of variants exist (including one with a pen)
- Retains a sleek and slim design
- A bifold option is available
Cons
- Price quickly escalates as you climb the model ladder
- The inherent storage compromises of a compact wallet
Product Specs
- Materials: Titanium (optional), silicone, aluminum, stainless steel
- Weight: 3.5 ounces
- Dimensions): 4.3 x 2.6 x 3.7 inches
Best Leather
GRIP6 Wallet + Leather and Loop
Pros
- Added style and protection with leather sheath
- Slim profile, even with leather sheath
- Leather sheath has cutouts for extra storage
- Handy keychain loop included
Cons
- While not the most expensive, it’s far from the cheapest
- Possibility of leather sheath degrading
- No money clip
Product Specs
- Materials: Aluminum, leather
- Weight: 2.8 ounces
- Dimensions: 4.0 x 3.0 x 0.5 inches
Best for EDC
Gerber Gear GDC Money Clip
Pros
- One of the slimmest options on this list
- Can’t argue with a detachable knife
- Highly-agreeable price
Cons
- Among the lowest storage capacity
- More of a novelty than a day-to-day tool
- The addition of a knife compromises legality
Product Specs
- Materials: fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel
- Weight: 2.9 ounces
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 3.6 x 1.6 x 0.3 inches
Things to consider before buying a tactical wallet
Portability
Ask yourself how compact you really need your wallet to be. Tactical wallets are often made slim to offset the added bulk of hardened construction, with most measuring under half an inch thick. This ensures easy carrying, and you could even use the included money clips on most of them to simply clip to your inner pocket. Some variants with an enhanced focus on outdoor use may have loops to be affixed to carbine clips and rucksacks, should you choose. The smaller they get, however, the less storage you may have for your necessities, so find the perfect balance for you.
Storage compartments
How roomy is it? To not be frustratingly bulky from their construction, many tactical wallets are made compact, limiting those who use their wallets as miniature pack mules. Room for less than 10 cards plus a money clip is standard, especially on the lower, more affordable end. But some manufacturers have engineered unique bifold and trifold tactical wallets with far more storage pockets, rivaling some standard wallets without sacrificing compactness or styling. Double-check each product you’re eyeballing, and make sure it meets your specific storage requirements first.
Durability
This is not only a test of materials, but build quality and craftsmanship, as well. Do products come tight and flush, or are there slight gaps in the panels and screws that aren’t fully tightened? As you climb up in the price range, some items may trade nylon and plastics to be strictly constructed of metals such as aluminum and steel. Carbon and titanium are extra-cost upgrades from most manufacturers, and a few specialized variants may add purely stylistic touches such as walnut wood, leather, or nickel plating. Should you choose to commit to the tactical wallet bandwagon, ensure whatever product you’re gunning for is proven tough enough for your specific lifestyle needs.
FAQs about tactical wallets
Q. How much do tactical wallets cost?
A. Price greatly varies as materials, functionality, and quality improve, but they’ll generally cost more than most basic wallets. Entry models can be had for between $25 and $40. Higher-tier variants start at $70 to $80 and rapidly escalate into the hundreds. Specialized models with extra tools or carbon and titanium construction can easily eclipse $200 to $300. Our Best Value-winner starts at a friendly $21.
Q. What is “RFID” in wallets?
A. RFID refers to “Radio-Frequency IDentification.” For those genuinely interested, ensure the wallet that you’re keen on purchasing shields against RFID. Many tactical wallets with hardened, metallic construction are usually RFID-proofed and can shield you from the admittedly unlikely occurrence of hackers scanning for credit cards or ID information.
Q. Are tactical wallets actually necessary?
A. That depends on who you ask. It can be needless excess and a gimmicky flex to the average person. To those with active lifestyles who partake in strenuous trade jobs, extreme sports, or ahem, the military, tactical wallets will give them added protection, durability, and weatherproofing for all their valuables.
Q. What advantages do tactical wallets have over standard wallets?
A. The overarching advantage that tactical wallets have is some degree of elevated functionality. Some offer far more generous storage than their less specialized kin, while others sacrifice a bit of space for easier carrying of the bare essentials. Many feature toughened construction with metal frames, casings, and even integrated multitools.
Final thoughts
The Dango A10 Spec-Ops Bifold Pocket Adapt wins at being extremely well-versed and well-built and is simply the best overall tactical wallet that money can buy. The Ridge Wallet deserves a look, as well. It delivers on the promise of a compact, minimalistic vault of a credit card holder with stellar craftsmanship and an endless color selection. However, we understand that those products edge towards the richer side of the scale for a mere wallet, so the Extremus Tactical Minimalist Wallet should satisfy the need at a far more forgiving price.
Methodology
Our guide to the best tactical wallets was primarily conducted through extensive research, with deep dives into manufacturer specs and, more importantly, consumer feedback. Our top picks were stout and durable pieces with actual, real-world practicality behind them, not just style with no substance. They have to be comfortable to carry and capable of holding all the items the average person will regularly need while proving they can withstand the strenuous work and active lifestyles many of our readers have. Items with abysmal build quality reports or little-to-no consumer input were binned in favor of items with a trusted backing that you and I could rely upon.
While Amazon continued to serve as a major hub for manufacturer and consumer information, a rainbow of worthwhile choices lays a few browser searches away from manufacturer-specific sites. 5.11 Tactical, Dango Products, and GRIP6 all deserve credit for their extensive catalogs. And as always, readers are always welcome to learn more about how Task & Purpose generally curates its buyer’s guides.