I was skeptical of this minimalist wallet, but this genius feature sold me

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Ridge Wallet is available in multiple form factors, starting at $70 and going up to $125 for MagSafe compatible models.
• They're highly durable, well made, and have lots of customization options.
• They're rather expensive, but also durable enough to last for years.

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I first found out about Ridge wallets a few years ago because it felt like the company was sponsoring pretty much every YouTube video — including that one where the guy deliberately crashed his plane for the clicks. I've had similar minimalistic wallets for a few years, including a modified Trayvax Original 2.0 G10 since 2019, and find them superior to the traditional wallet made of folded leather. 

Also: This anti-theft tech bag foiled a pickpocket attempt live – here's how it did it

My current wallet was getting a bit rough, so I've been looking to getting a replacement. Ridge always comes up in my searches but there was something I didn't like about these wallets — there was no lanyard hole, or official way to add one. 

But then I got an email from Ridge saying that my Christmas wish had been granted: the company now sells a D ring attachment. Yes, you have to fiddle about with tiny screws to fit it (same with the AirTag holder), but this is nothing new to me as I've been fiddling with tiny screws for my whole life. 

So I decided to give the brand a second chance, and ordered a wallet: the MagSafe version in Basecamp Orange, along with an AirTag money clip, a coin tray, and the D ring attachment. 

A few days later the kit arrived, and it was a big, hefty package for what was going to end up being a minimalistic wallet. But it turned out that everything came in its own box, complete with instructions and tools and spare screws in case I lost one or five. 

Also: I've yet to find a power bank as durable yet travel-friendly as this one

Assembly is straightforward enough as long as you don't lose too many screws (in the end, I lost a total of zero!) and I suggest taking your time because you don't want to scratch up your new wallet or chew up fasteners. 

The wallet is much better built than I expected. Everything is machined beautifully and it all fits together perfectly. I love the nice touches and attention to detail. For example, each one of the tiny screws has a dab of thread lock on them to stop them coming undone, and the coin tray is lined with silicone so the contents don't rattle about.

The D ring attachment is also great, and not only allows me to lash my wallet to a bag, belt, or attachment loop in my pants, but acts as a great spot for keys. 

The finish is also perfect, and after a few hard weeks of banging about in my backpack and pocket, it's still looks amazing. 

This is definitely a product designed and built to last. 

I'm starting to fall in love with the MagSafe feature that allows me to turn my phone and wallet into one item, so if I lose one, I lose both, and I'm in for a really bad day! But seriously though, I've never left my phone behind anywhere, so adding my wallet to the mix makes that even less likely. 

And if I do, both can be tracked from my Apple Watch.  

ZDNET's buying advice

Ridge wallets aren't cheap, starting at around $70-ish, with features like MagSafe taking that to around $100, carbon fiber taking that even deeper into the $120 zone, and accessories adding even more to the bottom line. 

You can personalize your wallet even further with different colored fasteners and such, or go all out and get a 24K gold plated wallet (looks great, but it's not for me).

For those looking for a wallet that's both cutting edge and has the potential to last a good few years, this is definitely a worthy bit of kit. It's both stylish and practical.