There are now a lot of brands which market “survival wallets.” Honestly, most of these survival wallets are pretty gimmicky. The tools they include are cheap and useless.
You’d be better off carrying EDC tools on your keychain or getting EDC credit card tools.
What to Look for in a Survival Wallet?
Just because most survival wallets are gimmicks, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider your wallet as a survival tool.
You carry your wallet with you everywhere, so it can be a valuable part of your survival EDC.
As far as survival goes, you should look for these features:
- Has enough card slots: There are lots of great EDC credit card tools. Look for a wallet which has lots of card slots so you can carry these tools.
- Can fit other tools: If you don’t mind carrying a bit bulkier of a wallet, then look for one that can fit tools like a notebook, pen, knife, or multitool.
- RFID blocking: In today’s world, this is a very important feature to have to prevent your cards from being hijacked.
- Durable: You don’t want your wallet breaking quickly. Case-style wallets are good for preventing cards from breaking.
- Carabiner loop: If you are very active, you’ll want a carabiner loop. Then you can attach your wallet with a chain to your belt loop so it doesn’t fall out.
Once you’ve gotten the right wallet, you can build your own EDC survival wallet with tools that you actually need.
Top 5 Survival Wallets Reviewed
Because there are so many different wallets which could work for your survival EDC, I’ve decided to break them into categories by type.
Then I’ll give you the best survival wallet for each type.
Best Card Holder Wallet – Dango Tactical EDC Wallet and Multitool
I love how this wallet looks. It is sleek and cool-looking, yet still very practical. You can easily carry it in a front pocket. Or use a carabiner to clip it to your belt loop.
The main feature of this survival wallet is that it has a built-in multitool. The tool has 10 functions, including a tiny blade. This is great for minimalists who don’t want to carry around a separate multitool for EDC.
Pros
- Gorgeous design
- RFID blocking
- Very lightweight
- Comes with multitool that includes knife
- Very tough and durable
- Holds cash reliably in elastic band
- Made in USA
Cons
- Pricey
- Can’t be taken on an airplane (must remove the tool)
- Realistically only holds about 5 cards unless you remove the multitool
- Aluminum tends to scratch easily
If you don’t feel like spending the money for this card holder, then check out our second choice – the Trayvax Original Wallet.
It also has lots of great features but at a much lower price.
Best Leather Wallet – Truckers Hitch Notebook Wallet
This survival wallet is made by Timber & Hitch, a company which makes really gorgeous wallets from genuine leather.
The Truckers Hitch wallet is my favorite because it has a notebook inside – something that is very useful for EDC.
If you don’t want the notebook, you can always remove it to make room for other survival items (such as a small knife or multitool).
The wallet is a bit pricy, but it is worth the cost for the quality and functionality.
Pros
- Not bulky
- Holds notebook and pen
- Room for tools
- Beautiful design
- Has hole for chain carry
- Made in USA
Cons
- Only one card sleeve
- A bit annoying to remove cash from interior stash pockets
Best Tactical Wallet – RAPDOM American Tactical Patriotic
What makes this survival wallet stand out is that it has LOTS of compartments. You can stash just about anything in here, including media cards, a small knife, or multitools.
The wallet definitely isn’t for minimalists, nor is it for front-pocket carry. However, if your main goal is to get an affordable wallet that you can put a lot of tools in, this is a great choice.
Note that even though the wallet is called “USA”, it is NOT made in the USA. It’s made in Vietnam, hence why the wallet is so affordable.
Pros
- 18 compartments
- Discreet zippered compartments
- Can hold small tools
- Media card pockets
- Carabiner loop
- Multiple colors available
- Tough 1000 denier cordura nylon
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Made in Vietnam
- Not RFID-blocking
- Bulky even when not full
Best Slim Survival Wallet – SlimFold Minimalist Wallet
If you are already carrying around keychain EDC tools, then you probably don’t need a big survival wallet. As far as thin wallets go, the SlimFold is one of the best bets.
It is made from a type of material that resembles GoreTex. It’s completely waterproof, scratchproof, and really durable. The only annoying thing is that it is a bit flimsy in your hands when you open it.
Despite being so small, you can still fit a lot of cards and bills in the wallet. It will fit around 5 cards and 15 bills comfortably.
You could easily get 18 bills and up to 12 cards in there though (which is great if you carry wallet EDC tools).
Beware of a few annoyances: The RFID protection isn’t sealed within the wallet. It is a cardboard type thing with foil over it, and it is partially exposed.
The wallet also won’t lay flat when you take it out of your pocket, especially if you put a lot of cards in it.
Pros
- Very slim
- RFID blocking
- Holds cash and cards
- Larger model will fit all international currencies
- Waterproof and stain resistant
- Virtually indestructible
- Made in the USA
- Satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Doesn’t lay flat when full
- Pricy
- Material is flimsy in your hands
- RFID blocker is exposed
Best Indestructible Survival Wallet – Flipside 4 Wallet
If you’ve had problems with your cards breaking in your wallet, then this case wallet by Flipside is a good pick.
The problem with most case wallets is that the locking mechanism eventually breaks.
Not with the Flipside. The lock is very reliable and will hold up through many years of use. It also withstands scratching well.
Unfortunately, the Flipside is a bit bulky (which is true of all case wallets) and not very stylish.
Also be warned that this wallet is only meant for front pocket carry. It could slip out of your back pocket.
Pros
- Holds 8 cards and 10 bills
- Flips open easily
- Easy to organize items
- Indestructible
- Doesn’t scratch
- RFID blocking
- Automatically locks shut
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Only meant for front pocket carry
- Won’t hold bulky multitools
- Not very attractive
- A bit pricy
Do you consider your wallet as part of your survival EDC? What do you keep in it? Let us know in the comments.
Diane Vukovic spent her childhood roaming the woods of upstate NY, making brush shelters, backpacking and orienteering.
Now she is the proud mother of two adventurous girls whom she takes wild camping and teaches survival skills and self-defense. Learn more about Diane here.
I use an old Altoids tin. It is free and blocks RFID.
The downside is that it can be a struggle to remove all the cards.