My Favorite Minimalist Wallet Brand Sneakily Dropped an Equally Sleek Tiny Knife

There comes a time in every man’s life when he must step away from the overstuffed ticking time bomb Costanza wallet and invest in something slimmer. 

For me, that transition was greatly eased by the emergence of Ridge, whose signature wallet is essentially two plates attached via thick elastic bands, plus an elastic cash strap or money clip. 

Ridge

The design, which has garnered nearly 60,000 five-star reviews, essentially forces you to reduce your card count to 10 or fewer — plus a bit of cash — while fitting so much better in your pocket and never threatening to explode.

Now the brand is looking to bring that same philosophy to your EDC knife, stripping it down to the bare essentials and enabling it to ride on your keychain. 

It’s called the Mini Folder, and while it’s not quite as revolutionary as the wallet, it’s definitely worth a closer look.

Slim for the win

Now, how mini is this Mini Folder? Pretty dang mini. 

A little bigger than half the size of the Everyday Folder the brand released last year, it measures just 2.64 inches closed. 

That’s plenty small enough to sit on your keychain via one of the two included stainless steel key rings that attach to the built-in lanyard hole.

When needed, the Mini Folder’s Sandvik 14C28N steel drop-point blade deploys via nail nick, pivoting on smooth ceramic bearings and stretching the overall length to a still-small 4.25 inches.

The blade stays in place courtesy of a reliable slip-joint mechanism, while its 1.6-inch length takes on everything the day can throw at it, from opening boxes and removing clothing tags to cutting through clamshell packaging or slicing a juicy apple. 

Ridge

The Mini Folder is available with multiple handle treatments, including aluminum scales, stonewashed titanium scales and Carbon Fiber 3k scales.

All should prove tough enough for the daily wear and tear of keychain life.

Super dupe?

Now, eagle-eyed EDC fans might notice a pretty strong resemblance between this knife and The James Brand’s Elko, a longtime GP favorite.

In terms of their silhouettes, dimensions and price, the similarities are pretty hard to miss.

Ridge

Choosing between the two could just come down to brand loyalty or aesthetic preference, as TJB does offer some intriguing colors and handle treatments.

That being said, the Mini Folder does differentiate itself in one subtle way that tips the scales in its favor.

Its blade steel, the aforementioned Sandvik 14C28N, is a slight upgrade over TJB’s Sandvik 12C27.

Ridge

While the difference is not monumental, the former boasts superior hardness, edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance. 

If it happens to match your wallet, that’s just a bonus, really.

Availability and pricing

The Ridge Mini Folder is available now with Basecamp Orange or Matte Olive aluminum handle scales for $65.

You can upgrade to Stonewashed Titanium or Carbon Fiber 3k handle scales for $85.

Ridge

Ridge Mini Folder

• Starts at $65

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