Axwell Wallet Review

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The Axwell wallet is the flagship product from a company that seeks to improve the everyday carry experience. Myself and two team members each tested a wallet for about 30 days. Here is what we thought about the Axwell wallet.

Pros

• Durable materials that are RFID blocking and resistant to scratches
• Customizable cover plates that allow for upgrades or mixing of colors
• Can hold up to 12 cards + Bills

Cons

• Heavier than other metal wallets
• No internal organization; just one stack of cards
• Not as many customizable options

Scoring

In This Review

30-Day Test | Testing Experiences | Design | Size | Accessories | Customization | Should You Buy

Our 30-Day Tests

The testers for this review included team members Kyle, Nathan, and myself (Derek). We each have long-term experience with minimalist wallets like the Axwell. My review of the Ridge wallet is over a thousand days at this point.

The testing included fully switching to the Axwell wallet for the duration of the testing period. Kyle and I used about 5 cards, as is our preference. Nathan tested the higher end of the capacity range by including 9 cards on his daily carry.

None of us went easy on these wallets. From pockets to bags, to cup holders in cars, the wallets had a trial by fire to see how they held up.

Individual Wallet Tests & Experiences

Derek

Overall, I like the Axwell. I’ve been using a Ridge wallet for several years. The design between Axwell & Ridge is extremely similar considering the metal plates, elastic bands, metal plates, and even the cash strap.

The most noticeable difference to me was the weight. The Axwell is notably heavier than Ridge. I tested the copper version, which is the heaviest version of the Axwell. But even the other Axwell wallet versions were heavier than Ridge by a good bit.

Is Axwell better than Ridge?

I don’t think so, but it’s not worse either. Both feel well made, feel good in the hand, good in the pocket, and hold my cards and cash securely.

All that said, I think the real test is still to come. Long-term durability is key. I’ve used the Ridge for over 1,000 days and it’s held up extremely well.

The last minimalist wallet I tested seemed great in the first few weeks, but by 6 months it had fallen apart. I am a few weeks into my Axwell test and I plan to test for at least the next 6 months. We’ll do an update on durability and long-term use at the 6-month mark.

Kyle

When I first saw the wallets I was excited. They looked high quality and felt durable, but the part I was most interested in was the magnetic plates. There are many of these types of wallets on the market these days, so I was excited to see something that made it unique. 

After use, I was a little disappointed. In terms of build quality, I still think it is excellent, no complaints there. However, the magnetic plates left much to be desired, in my view. I found no real use for these magnetic plates. I was hoping for unique attachments that would enhance the wallet’s capabilities, but this wasn’t the case.

In addition, I came from a wallet that has a trigger mechanism to push my credit cards out when I need them. The Axwell lacks this trigger and made retrieving my cards feel clunky. 

In my view, the wallet is perfectly fine, but there is nothing that truly sets it apart from the rest.

Nathan

I was using about 9 cards to test the upper range of the wallet. I was surprised at how smooth operating the wallet was. Aside from some extra weight, I didn’t find the 9 cards added that much more difficulty to my daily wallet use.

I find the biggest drawback with these wallets to be finding and retrieving the card you need. From the 3 wallets like this that I have used (name the 3 wallets), I found the Axwell to be the easiest to operate. Reinserting my cards, in particular, is painless.

This allows me to simply pull out all or chunks of my card stack to find the one I’m looking for without worrying about the process of putting them back. This experience was truly painful on the last metal wallet I had tested.

The feel of the Axwell wallet is nice to operate and only marginally noticeable in my pocket. Occasionally, when it shares a pocket with my keys, the two items can position themselves to poke into my thigh.

Just before testing the Axwell, I was using a generic leather wallet. The differences are shown below, each filled with 5 cards.

Compared to a leather wallet, there is no give or cushion. But it is still quite comfortable, takes up less space, and feels weightier than my leather one.

After 30 days, I think the durability is great. It’s been dropped and scratched plenty and I only see some fine marks on the finish. There is nothing that could be classified as a dent.

Between the three of us testing the wallets, we played around with mixing the cover plates. We found that two tone are better than one. Knowing that you can customize them is an enticing feature for me as a customer.

Design

The design of the Axwell is similar to competitors like Ridge with a few key differences. The biggest difference in the aesthetic is the lack of any external screws. This gives the Axwell a cleaner look that matches the minimalist design.

Axwell uses magnets to hold the wallet’s external plates to its internal ones. From a functional perspective, the use of magnets instead of screws allows for modification without the need for specialized, tiny tools.

This is where you can attach the money clip or cash strap to the wallet. If you don’t like either one, they can be removed as easily as pulling the plate off and sliding them out.

There are grooves on the center perimeter of each plate that facilitate insertion of cards into the wallet. Finally, the indent in the metal plates for pushing cards out is a different shape than the Ridge’s. It is more square, has a wider opening, and is not quite as deep.

Size and Dimensions

Here are the exact specs for the Axwell wallet:

• Length: 86 mm (3.39 in)
• Height: 54 mm (2.13 in)
• Depth: 8 mm (0.31 in)
• Weight (Copper): 5.35 oz
• Weight (Solid Color): 2.60

This weight is more than other metal, minimalist wallets, especially the copper model. For reference, the standard color Ridge wallet is 2 oz. 

This size is as small as possible to allow for front pocket use.

Accessories

Here is a list of all possible accessories found on the Axwell website:

• Cash Strap
• Money Clip
• Multi-tool wallet card
• Coin tray
• Tracker chip
• D ring buckle

The cash strap and money clip comes with every wallet purchase. The multi-tool insert, coin tray, and tracker chip are sold separately. The D-ring buckle is only available in a bundle at this time.

The multi-tool has 23 different functions and fits as an insert in the wallet. The coin tray is similar, offering a place to put your coins within your wallet.

The tracker chip is actually a partnership with a company called Chipolo. They are rated favorably across popular sites like Amazon and Best Buy. You would use this chip like you would if you bought it from those places. This bundle comes with an insert designed to fit this chip like a card within your wallet.

Other products

Axwell also sells key holders that share the magnetic cover plate feature. The base version can hold up to 6 keys with an included extension that can increase that number to 10. It also comes with a belt clip and a ring to hold car keys and fobs.

At the time of this review, it is only available for purchase inside a larger bundle.

Customization On The Axwell Wallet

Overall, I think the wallet and company are promising, but the customization potential feels largely untapped.

The fact that interesting accessories like the coin tray, multi-tool, and tracker chip are all just inserts to the wallet and do not utilize the innovative maglock system they developed is disappointing.

A modular wallet that allows you to customize the utility along with the appearance is something I find enticing over other brands.

I’m hopeful that Axwell will expand on the magnetic locking system with an expanded line of accessories.

Speaking of customizing the appearance, at the time of this review, we could only find 2 cover plates for individual sale. Both of these were the same American flag design. I expected to find all of the basic color options, at least.

It would be neat if they also had a variety of interesting patterns and graphics to upgrade from their solid color cover plates. I feel like this aspect of their product can be developed further.

Should you buy the Axwell Minimalist Wallet?

I would recommend the Axwell Wallet if you are looking for the following features:

• Sleek, minimalist look: From an aesthetic perspective, the Axwell is the cleanest metal wallet we’ve seen. The use of magnetic locks instead of screws creates a solid look that is distinct from competitors.
• Modification and customization: The Axwell wallet is made for adding and switching out parts. For wallets with this durability and at this price point, it is a big benefit to have accessories and other options to match your functionality and aesthetic preferences through the years. As noted above, it does seem like they need to update their a la carte offerings on their website.
• Improved durability: This wallet is a bit thicker and heavier than many other minimalist wallets we’ve tested. But these increases are small and their payoff is greater durability. If you are going to be changing out cover plates and accessories, it is nice to know that the base wallet is an investment that will last.

For more information or to buy the Axwell minimalist wallet, click here.