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Have you ever hopped in your car and felt like your seat was suddenly very lopsided? It’s probably because your giant wallet has been smashing down one side for years, and the first time you get in wearing gym shorts you realize one side of you is sitting about an inch low. That’s not the only problem. While your utilities might accommodate large wallets just fine, service and dress uniforms frankly look like trash with a big, fat rectangle protruding from your backside. The same goes for the jeans you wear on the weekend. Let’s be honest with each other: none of us make so much money that our pocket cash needs to be visible from the outside of our pants.
A minimalist wallet can eliminate unnecessary material to leave your pockets more streamlined, comfortable, and fashionable. You’ll still have room for your CAC (please don’t call it a CAC card), driver’s license, credit cards, and a little bit of cash.
Fossil card case
Magpul Daka micro wallet
Zitahli slim wallet
Buffway slim wallet
Herschel Charlie minimalist wallet
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Types of minimalist wallets
- Slim wallets: Slim wallets take traditional wallet design and reduce weight and bulk by removing layers and taking advantage of thinner materials. You’ll still get the fold-open design you’re used to, just in a more manageable size. Expect to get a large pocket for cash, several dividers for credit cards, and a place for your ID.
- Truly minimalist wallets: Real minimalist wallets forego conventional design and ditch the bulky exterior. What they’re left with is a single layer that can hold several cards and a few folded bills. They often use thinner materials like lightweight leather, textiles, or even aluminum and carbon fiber. They hold everything in place just as well as your old wallet, but they need a lot less space in your pocket to do so.
- Money clips: Money clips are the simplest and thinnest way to keep track of your cards and cash. No pockets, no dividers, just a firm grip to hold a stack of necessities together. Some leave your items exposed, but others act as a pair of bookends that tightly sandwich your ID, credit cards, and spending money to offer a little more protection. This is a great way to go if you don’t mind digging through a stack of cards to find the one you need.
Key Features of minimalist wallets
- Size: As the name implies, minimalist wallets are significantly more compact than traditional wallets. By saving space, they shed weight and create a slimmer package that slips into your pocket easier and isn’t as uncomfortable to sit on. Very few minimalist wallets fold open, so expect them to be a little bit larger than a credit card.
- Storage: Thanks to efficient use of space, many minimalist wallets can carry just as much as a larger, conventional wallet. We found options with dividers for multiple cards, clear windows for your ID, and clips for holding folded cash. Options like this mean you can get a smaller wallet without deciding which rewards card to leave at home.
- Protection: Even though they might not offer wrap-around protection like a normal wallet, minimalist wallets still offer a fair amount of protection. Waterproof materials can protect against rain and spills. Rigid frames can prevent cards from folding and cracking. Being hacked by a remote skimmer isn’t really a threat we’re worried about, but RFID wallets can protect against that, too.
Benefits of minimalist wallets
For starters, you’re freeing up space in your pockets and looking better for it. Most of the bulk you’re carrying around isn’t actually cards or cash, it’s thick leather separating your wallet’s contents. Minimalist wallets cut out unneeded layers to leave you light in the pocket without spending a fortune. After all, there’s nothing fashionable about having a money bomb of a wallet in your back pocket. Do you even know what’s in that wallet of yours? Ditch the old library card, sort through those punch cards for restaurants at your last duty station, and upgrade to a wallet that carries the essentials without making a scene in your back pocket. Durable materials allow minimalist wallets to be just as rugged as you need without being bulky. If leather isn’t your thing, try a heavy-duty textile option. If you want something stronger, look for aluminum or even carbon fiber wallets. We’re willing to bet that most of these wallets will outlast all of us.
Minimalist wallet pricing
For less than $20, you can get a quality minimalist wallet that does everything you need it to. Just be prepared to pass on one or two features. High-end minimalist wallets that cost more than $20 can do everything a normal wallet can, but with more efficient use of space. Expect stylish designs and quality materials.
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