The Wallet Shoppe
Guys don’t wear their father’s jeans, so why should they carry their dad’s wallet?
Try sticking a bulky bifold wallet into your skinny jeans or pants that are a bit more “slim fitting”… it just won’t work (and sitting on a bulky wallet can be uncomfortable too).
We like our jeans to fit well and we need our wallets to make as tiny of a footprint as possible. Read on for our roundup of eight great options for the title of the “best wallet for skinny jeans!”
Over the last ten years or so wallets have gotten slimmer and smaller. They’re now designed to be carried in the front pocket (either jeans or shirt) and the contents are minimal.
Take a good look at what’s in your wallet.
Do you really need to carry your gym membership card, grocery membership card, library card, smoothie rewards card, movie discount card, book store card, seven credit cards, debit card, drivers license and more??
The answer is no! Use supported digital versions of loyalty cards, and keep cards you rarely need in a secure place at home. Carry the physical ID and payment cards you need for the day.
Best Wallet for Skinny Jeans - the List
We’ve been doing this since 2013 and we decided it was time to compile a list of our favorite “front pocket carry” wallets. These wallets are perfect for someone who wears skinny jeans (or any pants that fit “well”) and is done with carrying an overstuffed wallet. Take a look below!
The Ridge Wallet
This is one of the best-known slim metal wallet designs.
I have one of these myself and I’ll admit, it took about a week or so to get used to it (because it’s so different from a traditional wallet), but once it clicked, it clicked!
Ridge has mastered the minimalist wallet movement.
Their design is simple — keep your cards as secure as possible, sandwiched between two machined end-plates which are held together with high-quality elastic (which is also replaceable). They finish off the end-plates with Aluminum, Titanium, Carbon Fiber (or even Polycarbonate).
Basically, there’s a Ridge out there for every personality. There are two different styles: Cash Strap and Money Clip. If you carry more than a few bills (2-3), then get the Money Clip.
My preference? The Burnt Titanium Money Clip.
UPDATE: After a few months, I actually ended up switching to the cash strap.
(New) Axwell Wallets - Aluminum Navy
Now this little beauty from Axwell Wallets may just be the one that topples the Ridge from its perch!
To make this a fair comparison, this is the navy blue aluminum version from Axwell. Unlike the Ridge, Axwell wallets come with both a money clip and cash strap as part of the package. The outer plates clamp tightly to the frame with strong magnets, making them simple to remove and replace the strap with the clip, or vice-versa. Much easier than the Ridge’s “get your screwdriver out” approach.
They are extremely solidly made, beautiful in design, have a lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects and functional failures, with normal-wear exclusions and other limits, and can also hold up to 12 cards. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this range.
Check out our full review of Axwell Wallets here. Don’t miss that ridiculously gorgeous copper version…
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Pros: Great design, well made, easy to switch between cash strap and money clip
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Cons: As with the ridge, this design takes a few days to get used to if you’re used to regular wallets
Bellroy Micro Sleeve
Bellroy is an OG when it comes to wallet world. They have “Pioneered” the way for other brands, but Bellroy continues to innovate to stay at the top. First and foremost, they’re quality products. We like their clean layouts and color combinations.
Now - back to business. The Micro Sleeve. This older card sleeve packs a punch. It’s for the true minimalist. Keep the card stack small, with folded cash in the center pocket.
Here’s the deal with leather - it only stretches one way. i.e., you can cram 10 cards into the Micro Sleeve, but do you want to? Eventually, it’s going to stretch out so much that you are missing the point all together - and once you stretch, it’s hard (though not impossible) to bring them back. Other than quality, our favorite thing about Bellroy is its ability to combine colors. They can make a Gray and a Brown go together like nobody’s business.
Flowfold Minimalist Wallet
Measuring 4.2” x 2.75”, this baby weighs an amazing 0.4 ounces. In the wallet world, it’s as close to being weightless as it comes. This wallet is no lightweight however, when it comes to form and function.
Flowfold is a really interesting company based out of Maine. Their main goal? Innovation - they take everyday (or not so everyday) products and turn in them into wallets, bags and other EDC items.
This particular wallet, “The Minimalist”(appropriately named), is their smallest and is the lightest of the bunch. It’s made from actual racing sails! How cool is that? They take racing boat sails and turn them into something you can carry your money around in. It absolutely exudes front pocket carry!
The Rogue Wallet
Any best wallet list that features “front pocket” wallets would be incomplete without mentioning Rogue. They were one of the first to embrace front-pocket carry. They’re another little shop based out of Maine. (What’s up with these cool wallet companies coming out Maine?) Anyway, their claim to fame is the patented design which is made to fit perfectly into the front pocket of your pants (or jeans).
As you can see from the images, the edges of the wallet are curved to fit snugly next to your leg while remaining secure in your pocket. Rogue is more of a full feature wallet, meaning you can carry cash, cards, etc… but it remains slim in profile. It’s a little bigger than we originally thought, but it works and fits quite well. Another thing we really like about this company is their choice of quality leathers and other materials - from Bison Leather to Ballistic Nylon, Rogue has nailed it!
Port Wallets Vintage (Tall) and Craft and Lore Port Wallet
What we like about the older Port Wallets Vintage Tall design is its simplicity and the easy view of cards. It is taller than a tiny card sleeve, which is useful for access but makes pocket depth worth checking.
The linked Craft and Lore Port Wallet is a different design. Craft and Lore specifies eight to ten cards and a bill or two, with an outside quick-access pocket and a central stack for less-used cards. It is saddle stitched from full-grain leather in North Idaho.
At 2.75 × 4 inches and about 0.75 inches deep when full, the Craft and Lore version is compact, with thickness that increases as you fill it. Choose a smaller card load if preserving a flat pocket line matters most.
Waskerd Astoria
We started working with Waskerd back in 2013 when we were thinking of actually selling wallets ourselves. We both value quality and craftsmanship, which made Waskerd a great fit. They trade as Werther Leather Goods now, with the Astoria design and hand-stitching still part of the range. The Astoria isn’t their smallest wallet (that would be the Strayer), but it’s our favorite.
We like it because it allows you to carry both cards and cash without compromising size. We actually carried one for about 18 months and we haven’t had a leather wallet that’s “worn” better than this one. Others have worn well, but not quite as well as Waskerd.
Carry a wallet for 6 months and you’ll know what you’re working with. Does the leather develop a nice patina? Does it hold its shape? Those are useful things to look for as a leather wallet ages. Werther uses full-grain leather and hand-sewn saddle stitching. The current Astoria has three pockets, with room for six or seven cards and one or two quarter-folded bills.
Bellroy Slim Sleeve
There’s a reason that Bellroy appears twice on this list. We mentioned before that they’ve paved the way in the slim wallet space - we’d be remiss if the Slim Sleeve didn’t round out our list. Made from leather, the Slim Sleeve is a full-feature wallet that’s been miniaturized.
Quality stitching, perfected colors, and nifty little pull tab are what makes this little guy one of our favorites. The pull tab is what allows this wallet to carry a compact card stack. We recommend picking the two cards you use the most (debit and credit; license and debit; or license and credit) and putting those two cards in the card pockets. The rest? Stuff them away in the pull tab pocket and enjoy how easy they are to access, but tucked away so as to not “get in the way” of everyday use.
Best Wallet for Skinny Jeans - Buyers Guide
Compare the loaded wallet, not just its empty thickness. A rigid money clip, a doubled stack of cards, and several folded bills can all show through a close-fitting pocket. Check width and height too; a slim but tall wallet can be awkward in shallow jeans pockets.
Obviously, like all wallet decisions, your choice will come down to personal preference, but there are a couple of questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down the list.
Will you need to carry cash?
One option if you only need to carry cash now and then is to keep cash in a separate money clip. If you do want to carry cash with you regularly, then we would recommend the Waskerd Astoria.
Do you (really) use anymore than a couple of cards?
Count the cards you reach for daily, then decide how many occasional-use cards need to come with you. In which case, we recommend the Bellroy Slim Sleeve with its useful pull tab.
One More Worth a Look
Another great front-pocket option worth checking out is the Forrest & Harold wallet, which offers another compact layout to compare with your pocket size. If this has only whetted your appetite, we have a full review of minimalist wallets you can also check out.
FAQ
Why Do Guys Put Their Wallets in Their Back Pockets?
The main reason guys do this is straightforward - a wallet stuffed with cards, cash, notes, receipts, etc., is simply too large to comfortably fit in a front pocket. This is why we recommend slimming down your wallet!
Are Wallets Bad for Your Back?
Sitting on a bulky wallet can be uncomfortable. Move it to a front pocket or bag and slim down the contents if it gets in the way of sitting comfortably.
Are Minimalist Wallets Worth it?
We are strongly in favor of the move toward minimalist wallets. With a minimalist wallet you are much more likely to carry your wallet in your front pocket, which avoids sitting directly on it. With more and more functions moving to mobile phones, we see the trend towards smaller wallets only getting more traction.
