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The 16 Best Cardholders and Small Wallets to Streamline Your EDC

Less is more. It’s time to ditch your Encyclopedia-sized bifold for one of these minimalist wallets.

Photo by Jack Seemer

By Evan Malachosky and Jack Seemer

Published

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Updated

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Call them what you want. Cardholders, or small wallets, are the best choice for carrying cash, plastic and a few extra business cards but not much else.

They’re also better for you. Prolonged periods of sitting on a thick wallet could actually cause back problems. There’s even a name for it: wallet neuritis.

Don’t buy it? Well, maybe you don’t need those year-old receipts, punch cards and reward program fobs, anyway. Read on to find out which cardholders work best to cut out the clutter.

How We Tested

Our team has gone hands on with dozens of cardholders over the years. We also consulted experts and factored in broader shopper feedback from hundreds of online reviews before the latest update to this guide.

When making our picks, we accounted for a number of consumer preferences, including how well these cardholders fit into different pockets and how they address RFID fraud (if at all).

Learn more about our testing process and methodology.

Best Overall Card Holder

Anson Calder Card WalletAnson Calder

Anson Calder Card Wallet

Specs

Cards 12
Material Leather
RFID Yes

Pros

  • Ages gracefully with constant use

Cons

  • Hard to access interior cards

Anson Calder’s ultrasleek Card Holder comes with two slots for cards and a center stash spot for cash. The stash spot is small but the card slots are not — they stretch, as most leather-based pockets do, the more you use them.

Plus, pushing them out is easier with this wallet than others, because you have the easy access thumb spot at the bottom. But our tester found it wasn’t all that easy to access ones at the center without removing the entire stack.

“The open slot for sliding them out makes a ton of sense,” they said, “but not if you frequently use all of your cards.”

Best Upgrade Cardholder

Shinola Five Pocket Card CaseShinola

Shinola Five Pocket Card Case

Specs

Cards 10
Material Leather
RFID Yes

Pros

  • Protects against RFID fraud without being obvious

Cons

  • Feels a little small for the price

Shinola uses vachetta leather — a type of lightly treated Italian leather favored by more than a few famous bag makers — for its Five Pocket Card Case.

Find the Shinola logo on one side and a unique production number on the other. The liner inside is also leather, along with an additional layer that helps protect against RFID fraud.

The Best MagSafe Cardholder

phone with a wallet case on itMoft

Moft Flash Wallet and Stand

Specs

Cards 2
Material Vegan leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Adjust the viewing angle up to 180 degrees
  • Supports both portrait and landscape modes

Cons

  • Thicker and heavier than MagSafe wallets without stands

Moft makes several MagSafe wallets. This is one is a bit thicker and heavier than others due to the kickstand but not by much. The weight is also well worth it. You can adjust the viewing angle up to 180 degrees and it supports both portrait and landscape modes.

magsafe wallets
Testing the Moft Flash Wallet and Stand.
Photo by Tucker Bowe

Best Affordable Cardholder

herschel charlie walletHerschel Supply Co.

Herschel Supply Co. Charlie Cardholder Wallet

Specs

Cards 12
Material Fabric
RFID No

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Super lightweight
  • Available in more than two dozen colors

Cons

  • Not very durable
  • No RFID protection

Herschel’s Charlie Cardholder Wallet is woven from hard-wearing fabric, with a contrasting striped liner made from the same material.

There are a total of five pockets, two on each side and one in the center. It’s available in 22 different colors, ranging from solid black to a camo print.

Best Metal Cardholder

Ridge WalletRidge

Ridge Wallet

Specs

Cards 12
Material Aluminum, carbon fiber or titanium
RFID Yes

Pros

  • Lasts a lifetime
  • Easy to disassemble for cleaning

Cons

  • Hard to keep cards organized

The Ridge Wallet can hold up to 12 cards in its RFID-blocking aluminum body. It adjusts so it can stay tightly wrapped around one card if that’s all you carry and comes with an elastic strap to hold your cash; there’s also the option to swap the strap for a money clip.

The Ridge Wallet is the best metal cardholder because it of its simple, fuss-free and function-forward design. “The whole unit is incredibly streamlined, durable and … haptically satisfying to use,” said one of our testers. Like some pocket knives, it can be disassembled for a thorough clean.

But there is one major problem with the Ridge Wallet: some cards fray, especially paper ones (business cards, vaccine cards, reward cards), because the edges are exposed. Laminated cards, like a normal credit card, will fare better.

Read more about the Ridge Wallet in our in-depth review.

Best Fabric Cardholder

Pioneer Carry Molecule CardholderHuckberry

Pioneer Carry Molecule Cardholder

Specs

Cards 4 – 6
Material Proprietary 10XD fabric
RFID No

Pros

  • Fuss-free and nearly indestructible
  • Ideal size for light card counts

Cons

  • Break-in takes a while

Our testers love Pioneer Carry’s Molecule Cardholder, which is small but mighty. In fact, one said they “will probably never buy from another brand as long as Pioneer is in business.”

The fabric is a proprietary 10XD that’s pretty much indestructible under everyday conditions. “I’ve never so much as blemished it,” our tester said. “Also the stitching and reinforcements are phenomenal. I’ve never once worried about a seam busting.”

black cardholder
Testing the Pioneer Carry Molecule Cardholder.
Photo by Jack Seemer

Speaking of stitching, another tester turned to Pioneer Carry when their classic leather bifold broke. They’ve been using the Molecule Cardholder daily for over seven years. “This is the wallet I carry so I never have to think about my wallet,” they said.

Best Made-in-USA Cardholder

Tanner Goods JourneymanTanner Goods

Tanner Goods Journeyman

Specs

Cards 10
Material Leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Leather is high quality

Cons

  • Light leather does show stains

Made from durable, 3.5-ounce tooling leather, the Tanner Goods Journeyman boasts just enough room — four slots and a central pocket — for your cards and some folded bills.

Like most of the brand’s Portland-made leather goods, the Journeyman is offered in a range of different dyes if you don’t want the natural look (pictured). Monograms can be added for an extra $20.

Best Slim Cardholder

Leatherology Slim Card CaseLeatherology

Leatherology Slim Card Case

Specs

Cards 8
Material Leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Clear monogram gives an elegant edge
  • Affordable for a leather wallet

Cons

  • There is nicer leather out there

Made from full-grain leather, Leatherology’s Slim Card Case lives up to its name. It has four slots for cards, a center stash pocket for cash and little else.

There are options made with nicer leather but not many for less than $50. The Slim Card Case comes in a bunch of colors and the option of RFID for just $5 more.

Best Bifold Cardholder

billykirk walletBillykirk

Billykirk 427 Bifold Card Case

Specs

Cards 12
Material Leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Classic form makes it feel like a true wallet
  • Oval cutouts make it easy to grab cards

Cons

  • Bifold design is a little bulky for a minimalist wallet

This wallet features three pockets, two of which are fashioned with oval cutouts for accessing frequently used cards.

Oiled and edged by hand, each wallet is finished with rugged wax cording. Add an embossed monogram for $15 more.

Best Cardholder for Front Pockets

front pocket cash card caseFilson

Filson Front Pocket Cash and Card Case

Specs

Cards 6
Material Leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Curved design fits snugly in a front pocket
  • High-quality bridle leather

Cons

  • Pants vary, so it might not fit neatly in every pocket
  • Expensive for such a small wallet

Only your basic necessities will fit inside this Filson wallet, but that’s the point. Made from hard-wearing bridle leather, Filson’s Front Pocket Cash and Card Case is curved to complement the bottom of most front pockets.

Best Pouch Cardholder

rrl concho leather walletRalph Lauren

RRL Leather Wallet

Specs

Cards 12
Material Leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Pre-aged patina makes this an easy carry from day one
  • Unique design

Cons

  • Big when fully filled
  • Expensive, even for RRL

RRL’s Leather Wallet arrives with a patina that would normally take years to develop. That means it looks great and is easy to use from day one.

Crafted from premium vegetable-tanned Italian leather, the Leather Wallet boasts a snap button closure, four card slots and a debossed branded logo on the back.

Best Phone Case Cardholder

bellroy phone case cardholderBellroy

Bellroy Phone Case 3 Card

Specs

Cards 3
Material Leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Smart, compact way to ultimately carry less
  • Fits up to three cards

Cons

  • If you lose your phone, you lose your cards, too
  • MagSafe requires removal

Is a wallet still too much? This Bellroy phone case can hold up to three cards. Inside, there’s also a spot for a second SIM card and a tool to remove it.

The case itself is made from leather and the inner liner is a soft, velvet-like material. MagSafe- and Qi-charging requires removing the case, however.

Best Cardholder for an Apple AirTag

cardholder with airtagNomad Goods

Nomad Goods Card Wallet

Specs

Cards 8
Material Leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Designed for AirTag integration
  • Sleek design with rounded corners

Cons

  • Nomad's Card for AirTag costs $20 extra
  • Not as durable as other leather options

Nomad Goods is best known for its tech accessories, so it makes sense that the brand’s leather wallets would be designed with AirTag integration in mind.

The Card Wallet is the Nomad Goods’s most minimalistic option and the center pocket perfectly fits what the brand calls the Card for AirTag, a polycarbonate, credit card-shaped frame to house an AirTag. Unfortunately, that costs $20 extra.

Best Zip-Up Cardholder

Ettinger Capra Mini PouchTodd Snyder

Ettinger Capra Mini Pouch

Specs

Cards 10
Material Leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Zips closed to keep your contents truly contained

Cons

  • No true way to organize it

Unless they fold or snap shut, most wallets never fully close. Ettinger’s Capri Mini Pouch can, courtesy of a zipper that runs the length of its top side.

The wallet itself is made from goat leather, a material lauded for its durability. Plus, its natural grain hides scratches and stains pretty well.

Cardholder with Most Unique Design

Postalco 10038 Card HolderPostalco

Postalco 10038 Card Holder

Specs

Cards 10
Material Leather, cotton
RFID No

Pros

  • Offers lots of room for cards, cash and other papers
  • Ships free from Japan

Cons

  • Shipping can take a while

This narrow, vertically fashioned bifold from Tokyo-based brand Postalco features two internal pockets made from water-resistant pressed cotton, which are attached by a single piece of calfskin leather.

The wallets are available in a number of muted colors, including olive green and black.

Best Vegan Leather Cardholder

The Good Business Puffer Card HolderThe Good Business

The Good Business Puffer Card Holder

Specs

Cards 10
Material Vegan leather
RFID No

Pros

  • Soft build lets it bend in your pocket
  • Cards feel secure

Cons

  • A little slippery in the hand

The Good Business is a relatively new brand. Right now, it only makes one thing: this vegan leather puffer wallet that comes in a few different colors.

The wallet is water resistant but a bit slippery. When loaded, the cards are easy to access and you don’t need to worry about them slipping out.

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