Our Editors Tested These Minimalist Travel Wallets, and There’s One Clear Winner

Having a good travel wallet is as important as having dependable luggage. Yes, wallets are much smaller – but they maintain your access to money, identification, and other stuff you stick in there that is obviously important or else you wouldn’t have put it in your wallet in the first place. When choosing a travel wallet, less is more – when you’re on the road, you want things that are efficient without taking up a lot of space. The travel wallets reviewed here were tested by Matador staff, in some cases over many years of frequent international travel. Of what’s reviewed here, the Nomatic Wallet is the best deal for the money, and also lasted one editor nearly 10 years before needing to be replaced (he bought another of the same wallet, as a testament to its effectiveness).

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Aviator Slim Wallet
Bellroy Card Sleeve
Nomatic Wallet
Disney wallet

 

Aviator Slim WalletBellroy Card SleeveNomatic WalletDisney WalletPrice: $110Price: $55Price: $19.99Price: Not highHolds up to 20 cardsHolds up to 8 cardsHolds up to 15 cardsFolds like a traditional wallet with card slots and cash slotHard-sided aluminum, won’t bend or breakSleek and thin responsibly-sourced leatherElastic leather and polyesterCheap materialsCash clipTwo cash sleevesHidden cash sleeveTraditional cash slotAviator Slim WalletPhoto: Suzie DundasTravel wallets usually carry only a bit of cash and a few cards. Photo: Suzie DundasPhoto: Aren Saltiel

The Aviator Slim Wallet’s compact size and lightweight design make it an ideal travel wallet because it can literally fit into any pocket – in your pants, jacket, or bag.Matador’s outdoor editor got this wallet for her husband to replace the ragged old wallet held together by duct tape that he refused to give up on his own, and they both feel they’re the better for it. It can withstand the rigors of travel while securely holding up to 20 cards, with a cash clip that makes it easy to grab bills and keep stacks of different types of currency separate. It has an adjustable elastic band to prevent the wallet from stretching out. It can hold up to 20 cards and has an optional cash clip. It has a 10-year warranty and sells for $105. It is 3.4” x 2.12”.

Capacity: Holds up to 20 cards
Dimensions: 3.4” x 2.12”
Materials: Aluminum
Features: Pull strap for easy card access, integrated coin pocket, optional cash clip, RFID protection (varies by model)
Size and colors: Approximately credit card size, available in different colors and finishes.

Price: $110

Check out Matador’s detailed review of the Aviator Slim Wallet

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Bellroy Card SleevePhoto: Suzie DundasPhoto: Suzie Dundas

The Bellroy Card Sleeve is a minimalist travel wallet, one of the smallest in the Bellroy line. It is made of environmentally conscious leather, and has a slim profile at 7 mm wide. This was another wallet Matador’s outdoor editor got for her husband, and it can hold up to eight cards and has two cutouts for cash, meaning you can keep different currencies separate if traveling internationally. There’s also a pull tab for easy access to cards. It has a sleek design and sells for half the cost of the Aviator Slim Wallet.

Capacity: Holds up to 8 cards
Dimensions: Approximately 4.13 inches x 2.76 inches x 0.28 inches
Weight: Around 0.67 ounces
Materials: Leather and cotton (or MIRUM® plant-based leather alternative)
Features: Quick-draw slots on front and back, pull-tab access to stacked cards in center pocket, minimal design with no linings or zips.

Price: $55

Check out Matador’s detailed review of the Bellroy Card Sleeve

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Nomatic WalletPhoto: Tim WengerPhoto: Tim WengerPhoto: Tim WengerPhoto: Tim Wenger

Matador’s gear editor used to be a Costanza wallet guy – until he got a Nomatic Wallet. The wallet helped him slim down what he carried from a bunch of random nonsense to just the essential cards, ID, and cash. The pull tab slides all contents out for easy selection when it’s time to pay for something, and the separate cash sleeve on the outside holds a few bills without making the wallet bulge. It’s easy, reliable, and lasted him nearly a decade until he finally had to buy a new one.

Capacity: Holds up to 15 cards depending on thickness
Materials: Elastic leather, polyester
Dimensions: 3.4 inches x 2.2 inches x 0.1 inches
Weight: 0.60 ounces
Features: Slim profile, hidden cash holder, key holder pocket, lifetime warranty

Price: $19.99

Check out Matador’s detailed review of the Nomatic Wallet

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Disney walletPhoto: Debbie Gonzalez CanadaPhoto: Debbie Gonzalez Canada

Of course there are the pessimists among us. Those who refuse to jump on the bandwagon of trendy travel wallets, and instead opt to hold onto the nostalgia of their younger days. Matador’s SEO editor has traveled and lived abroad for years with the same cheap Disney wallet she bought 20 years ago. Thing is, even this Disney wallet forces her to be a minimalist, which she naturally isn’t. It doesn’t have RFID technology, it’s not washable, and in her opinion it could be a bit longer to accommodate currencies that use large bills – but overall, it’s done just fine and she expects it to continue to do so well into the future. Plus, it’s got Mickey on it, and is an epic conversation starter. In her detailed review, there are numerous options for Disney-themed wallets that are similar and will hold up for you on the road.

Check out Matador’s detailed review of a 20-year-old Mickey Mouse wallet

Price: Varies

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