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Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
My wallet keeps emptying the further we plunge into the future. I started paying with my phone almost as soon as it became an option. Later when the MTA announced it was discontinuing the Metro Card, the continental wallet in my work bag began to feel obsolete.
At this point, my average weekday is full of microtransactions. For the past three years, Bellroy’s Apex Slim Sleeve is the only wallet I’ve carried. It’s tiny and sleek with enough space for just the basics: my debit card, driver’s license, insurance card, and a few bills.
This wallet earned the title of best overall pick in our guide to the best wallets for men, but because it perfectly intuits how the average person uses a wallet in 2026, it also earned a spot in our guide to the best wallets for women .
Considering I use it daily, the $135 price tag has proven to be well worth it. The low-profile design is for anyone who doesn’t carry much cash and prefers to keep their wallet in their pant pocket or small shoulder bag.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
The RFID-protected clamshell is about two-thirds the length of an iPhone. It’s light in my palm, and the molded leather feels smooth and firm. Inside are four slots and an interior pull-tab so I can access the rear cards more easily.
The leather scratches, but it’s still highly durable. I’m not always careful with my things, and have accidentally soaked the Apex Slim Sleeve completely through before. It dried overnight without any signs of warping or cracking. The bonded seams are also perfectly intact even after years of being crammed into tight spaces.
I can flip it open using only one hand. This is not only convenient when my hands are full, but very helpful if you have dexterity issues that make it hard to open a clasp or zipper. The wallet shuts on its own with a satisfying magnetic snap.
It actually fits in my front pocket. This is coming from someone who wears women’s pants, which have infamously little pocket space. It’s also barely noticeable if you sit with it in your back pocket (though I don’t recommend making a habit of this, because even a slight wedge can throw off your natural alignment).
The bottom line
This wallet comes with a 3-year warranty, but in the three years I’ve carried it, I haven’t detected a single design flaw. Unless the next fintech innovation does away with cards entirely, the Apex Slim Sleeve will remain in my pocket.
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