Do you ever look in your wallet? Besides when making a payment that is. We are fairly certain that if you went through everything inside your wallet right now, a large part of what you’d find does not need to be in there – whether that’s unnecessary receipts, business cards from people you’ll never call or stamp cards for places you’re not likely to ever visit again. And that’s why we’re writing this Ridge Wallet review, to help you organize your wallet like never before. Replacing traditional leather for anti-theft RFID-blocking metals, the super slim design can hold up to 12 cards while accommodating banknotes with an additional elastic or a money clip. It’s a design that’s minimalist without being limiting.
But one might ask, what is so special about this wallet? And what justifies the rather hefty price tag of $95 upwards? And are Ridge wallets worth it? In this Ridge wallet review, we are going to answer all of these questions and more by taking a deep dive into the Ridge world – its background, features, philosophy, and existing customer reviews. So stay to the end.
Founded by California-based father and son duo Paul and Daniel Kane, the Ridge started out in 2013 on Kickstarter, where the pair raised over $260,000 with the initial goal being only$12,000. But what prompted the Kanes to do this? It was experiencing the very same issue that their company went on to solve for over a million people worldwide thus far – a need for a more reliable and simpler way to carry and organize their cards and cash.
In fact, Daniel, the younger of the two Kanes, never liked the bulky feeling of a wallet in his pocket and in college often resorted to carrying his essentials – card, ID, some cash – tied together with a rubber band. Effective but not very good-looking. When going back home, his father Paul gave him a hard time about the sloppy look of his space-saving solution. As a compromise, they looked for something that would be just as space-saving yet sleek and stylish at the same. But in 2013, there was nothing of the sort on the market so they decided to make it themselves. So originally, the idea was a men’s Ridge wallet. However, nowadays, women are just as interested in minimizing their load.
Instead of the traditional leather that men’s wallets and women’s purses are usually made of, the Ridge wallet is made from metal, which in turn makes for a modern look, with a variety of options of various price categories on offer to choose from. However, each one has an in-built RFID-blocking feature that prevents a form of wireless theft. Essentially, the wallet blocks the signal sent from the thief’s reader to the microchip of your card.
Yet the brand values go far beyond making your back (or front) pocket less bulky. It’s about letting go of the unnecessary as the founders believe that you don’t need to bring everything to be prepared for anything. In fact, by carrying less you live more as you’re not weighed down by all the needless things. That’s also why the company has eventually gone further than wallets and started making the likes of key cases, bags and phone cases in the same spirit and with the same philosophy.
As previously mentioned, the company’s signature product, the Ridge wallet, is available in a series of metal finishes, which are:
More on these later though as we look at each individually and closely. The wallet also comes in a series of some more premium materials, such as stainless steel or even 18ct gold plating.
But how to use Ridge wallet? No matter the material, each design boasts the same minimalist design. And as we keep mentioning how slim and space-saving this thing is, it’s only fair we told you exactly how slim – 6mm. That’s right. The width is 8.6cm and height 5.4cm. Yet, it can house up to 12 cards. Featuring a patented dual-track design, it lets you push out the cards with your finger via a side cut-out opening. Every order is also equipped with a choice of an attachable money clip or an elastic cash strap to hold any banknotes. But if you’d like both, there’s only a $7 additional charge.
And if you’re one to carry change around, you can purchase the additional slide-on cavity tray that grips onto the base of the wallet and provides space for loose coins or single keys.
But without further ado, let’s meet the individual Ridge wallets.
Carbon is used for crafting all sorts of commonly used materials – from plastics to steel, which is a combination of carbon and iron. And that’s what the Ridge Wallet Carbon Fiber 3K is made from, specifically by weaving little sheets of this versatile material that are then filled with resin to achieve a sleek matte finish resistant to scratches. Molded into a shape with beveled edges, the design is finished with a logo stamp in the top right corner.
The Carbon Fiber wallet is the brand’s original use of carbon. And incidentally, it is a material that Daniel Kane was very excited by and the ways it could be worked, to the point that the brand now offers wallets made with forged carbon too.
Retailing at $140, this style sits at the mid-range in terms of pricing and it is the strongest yet lightest option out of the whole offering (not to mention innovative), which is how it made its way onto the list of bestsellers.
Another metal that the brand utilized for its original product is titanium for the Ridge Wallet Titanium. Using specifically Grade 5 titanium, it’s the most commonly used version of the metal liked for its high strength at a lightweight, useful formability, and high corrosion resistance. It’s used in the likes of aircraft turbines, engine components, and marine applications.
Of course, these benefits come in handy when made into a wallet that is undoubtedly strong, durable, and scratch-resistant. Available in five various colors and treatments, including a stonewashed rugged finish, undoubtedly the most popular is the burnt version, which retails for $125. Hand-torched and hardened, this treatment creates a colorful holographic finish contrasted by a logo print in white.
A team favorite, the Ridge Wallet Aluminum is the signature, flagship product of the company. Known for its lightness, aluminum was the obvious first choice for the founders as it is also one of the most abundant metals and most commonly used. It balances durability with lightness in equal measures and its anodized plating ensures a scratch-free surface.
Selling for $95, this is the most affordable option from the offering and it also comes in the widest variety of colors and patterns – whether it’s a classic navy shade, a metallic rose gold or vibrant tropical flowers.
As previously mentioned, the Ridge Wallet Money Clip can come with your wallet free of charge, as you have a choice between the elastic cash strap and the clip. However, if for any reason you need to buy one individually, whether your original one got damaged, lost or you initially chose the elastic, the option to buy the money clip individually is there. And don’t worry, every one of the brand’s wallets is fitted with a pre-machined slot on the front and back for easy customization – so every Ridge wallet will be able to fit a money clip.
The clip retails for $12 and is available in a choice of two classic colors – black and silver – the clip is topped with a logo engraving.
For those saying, ‘But what about my coins?’, Ridge has a solution too – the Cavity Tray. With the world becoming more digital and contactless, many don’t carry cash around anymore, not to mention loose change. At the same time, there are still those that do and the brand sees you and caters to you too. The cavity tray is a tray (surprise!) that slots onto any Ridge wallet and provides space for coins, loose keys, or any other small items.
Crafted from the company’s signature aluminum, the interior is lined with silicon with an aim to reduce the noise and jingle of the loose items inside. However, after reading through reviews, some customers reported that the lining didn’t help much and that the jungle is still very loud.
Meanwhile, the depth of the extra compartment is designed so that multiple coins can be stacked on top of one another in case you like to carry more than a few coins with you. And it only adds an additional 3mm to the width of your Ridge wallet and an additional $17 to the price.
As promised at the start of this Ridge Wallet review, we are going to look through some very telling customer reviews. And while the majority of customer feedback is extremely positive, with products scoring 4.8/5 stars on an average on the brand’s website based on anywhere from 2000 to 8000 reviews each, there are of course some negatives.
Interestingly, most of the complaints are not so much in regards to the products, as they are about the customer service. Customers claim that Ridge often doesn’t answer customer emails, doesn’t send replacement products for those lost in the mail, there is no telephone contact to call and delivery often takes weeks rather than the promised 2-3 days.
Another issue is the price as customers believe the quality and design of the wallet is not worth the rather hefty price tag.
Here are some samples of Ridge Wallet customer reviews for you to have a look at and make your own mind up:
“It is an excellent product. I immediately threw away my bulky wallet and am storing 10 cards and a driver’s license in it. Money folds neatly in the attachment at the back. A very compact way to travel with money and credit cards. I highly recommend it.”
“I should have read the bad reviews before ordering, I’m amazed there is a lot of people not getting their products like me. I’m surprised they charge a lot of money for their products but use the lame and unreliable USPS. I’m still waiting for my wallet and supposedly it was delivered. Don’t waste your money people.”
“After reading all the other reviews here I had to respond. This is a minimalist wallet. I’ve been carrying it every day for 2+ years and have had none of the issues most have described. Does it take some getting used to? Yes, it does. Is it hard to shuffle thru a stack of cards? Yes, however, if you’re truly going minimalist you shouldn’t be carrying more than three cards. I lost a screw, contacted Ridge and they sent me a whole bag of replacements. If you periodically check the screw you won’t have any issues. After two years my cash strap is worn out and the wallet has taken a beating but still performs as advertised. My fiancee and two of our friends have them and we all enjoy their simplicity. Good product, maybe a bit high price-wise but overall it has been a good purchase.”
Ridge gives you the option to sign up for an account, which makes checking out quicker and easier. It also allows you to see all your previous orders.
At the same time, you can sign up for the brand’s newsletter at the bottom right corner of its website to stay informed about new launches, promotions, etc.
But where to buy Ridge Wallet? Of course, the products are available on the company’s website. The wallets are also available in a range of physical and online stores worldwide such as Nordstrom and wallets.co.uk. To find your nearest store, go to the Store Locator on the brand’s site.
Ridge offers free worldwide shipping on all orders over $34. How great is that? Considering that its cheapest wallet retails for $95, we reckon you won’t have a problem getting that free shipping. Domestic US orders arrive within 3-7 business days, while international packages take between 7-14 days to arrive. However, many customers have complained about delayed arrival, incorrect tracking numbers, and on occasion, parcels sent to the wrong destination and getting lost in the process.
If you’re not satisfied with your order for any reason, you are free to return it within 45 days of purchase. Ridge offers free domestic returns and exchanges and provides customers with a prepaid USPS label.
However, if at any point you feel the product doesn’t function properly, the company promises to do everything possible to make it right as part of the lifetime warranty. This includes replacement parts in the event of failure or loss of the elastic, screws, inner plates, or money clip. But the warranty doesn’t cover scratches, dents, chips and scrapes, damages caused by accident, abuse, neglect or shock, improper use or storage of the product, unauthorized modifications or repairs.
If you’re after a little discount or a Ridge Wallet coupon, you’re in luck because the brand regularly offers promotions and discounts and organizes giveaways. At the moment, you can shop with 15% off site-wide on the brand’s website with the code RIDGE15.
And if you refer a friend, not only that they will receive 10% off their first purchase, but you will get $15 off yours for one friend and up to $75 for sharing with five friends.
We have tried to be as thorough as possible and cover every basis imaginable. However, if you feel this Ridge Wallet review left a question unanswered, feel free to get in touch directly with the company via:
Now that this Ridge Wallet review has gone through every aspect and every crevice of this undeniably innovative company, there is only one question left to answer – are ridge wallets worth it? In short, yes. In length, Ridge is not a perfect company. But is any? Offering an unparalleled product, the brand lets people let go of the unnecessary and lead a more streamlined minimalist lifestyle with something as simple as a wallet. It is a durable and long-lasting design, which comes with a lifetime warranty no less. So if anything goes wrong at any point, Ridge will be there to assist you. Is it pricey? Yes. But so is any luxury high fashion wallet that does nothing special other than display its covetable branding. One area that the company should perhaps improve in is its communication and customer service.
The Ridge Wallet warranty is a lifetime warranty.
To insert all your cards into the Ridge Wallet, open the wallet from the top and slide cards in. Pinch the bottom left corner to fan out the cards. Then if you're carrying any banknotes, double-fold the it and slide into cash strap. The brand has a very useful video on this on its YouTube channel, simply called 'How To Use The Ridge'.