I don't know about you, but I lose my wallet at home at least once or twice per day. This bad habit of mine often results in me being late for meetings and get-togethers by at least 5-10 minutes. While it would be easy for me to blame my toddler who steals my belongings on a regular basis, the truth is I'm a bit of an airhead and terribly disorganized. And to make matters worse, I'm also guilty of overstuffing my wallet which typically leads to frantic, and rarely fruitful, search and rescue missions for the one card I happen to need at that moment (cue a disheveled home).
So, I decided it was time for a change. No more wasted time or lost cards, I needed a smart wallet ASAP that was trackable and could actually hold onto all of my essentials (i.e. my debit card, credit cards, driver's license, health insurance card, etc.) with ease. After reviewing the top brands in 2023, Ekster blew me away with its features. Here, I'll explain everything you need to know about the Ekster wallet from its pros and cons to its key features and accessories, as well as how it fares against its competition.
Ekster Wallet Pros & Cons
Pros
- Holds 1-12 cards and bills
- Quick card access at the click of a button
- Blocks RFID to prevent wireless theft
- Tracker Card prevents a lost or stolen wallet
- Environmentally certified leather
- Plenty of colors/styles to choose from
Cons
- Slightly higher price point than standard wallets (but not unreasonable)
- Tracker Card is an optional separate purchase
- Some customers have reported issues with defective buttons (but Ekster will replace/refund)
What Is Ekster?
Ekster emerged from the founders' (Olivier and Rick) frustration over old bifold wallets. After being burdened with all-too-common issues like bulkiness, wear and tear, and lack of data protection, they decided it was time to build a wallet that actually worked for the needs of the 21st century. Within 5 years of its launch, Ekster is now the most successful smart wallet brand in the world and offers an incredible range of smart wallets, cardholders, accessories, and more. Their wallets are loved by customers worldwide due to their sleek design, ease of use, and user safety.
Ekster Wallet Features
(Stolen Wallet/Lost Wallet Tracker, Slim Wallet Design, And More)
When buying a wallet, most people want a product that's compact, durable, and aesthetic. However, most wallets available in basic stores or places like Amazon are cheaply made and deliver the bare minimum when it comes to features. Ekster, on the other hand, goes above and beyond in all of these areas. Let's take a look at some of the key features of Ekster wallets.
Slim Wallet/Minimalist Wallet Design
Ekster wallets are designed to hold up to 12 cards and bills, it holds 4-6 cards in the RFID blocking compartment and, depending on whether they're embossed or non-embossed, up to 6 more in the expandable backplate while keeping a slim profile. Its patent friction mechanism prevents cards from falling out upon being opened and also keeps them staggered for ease of use. Ekster's cardholder wallets were made specifically to hold standard credit card-sized plastic cards, so they serve the needs of most consumers. You no longer have to struggle with bulkiness or having your cards fly out with these features.
RFID Skimming Protection And Lost Wallet Finder
When it comes to safety, Ekster is a pro as it blocks RFID skimming to help avoid bank fraud and provide identity theft protection. You can also purchase a Tracker Card that's easily inserted into one of the card slots and can be tracked down via your phone. Tracker Cards are built with lost-and-found BLE technology that locates your wallet even when it’s out of range of your paired device. If you've ever lost your wallet, then you fully understand how crucial this feature is.
Ekster Wallet Materials
(Traditional Leather Wallet Options, Metal Cardholders, And More)
Ekster is all about style and offers wallets in several different colors and materials. Choose from traditional leather wallet designs, or go with an aluminum or carbon fiber cardholder. There's even metal-plated options like gold and vegan-friendly leather. Regardless of the style you choose, you can be sure that your wallet will flaunt a sleek design that's user-friendly and durable.
Ekster Wallet Pricing
Ekster offers 12 smart wallets and cardholders in total that fall under one of four categories: Parliament Wallets, Senate Cardholders, MagSafe Wallets, and Bifold Wallet. The Parliament Wallet is the most popular style of wallet by Ekster and is also their flagship product. It's made with premium leather and ranges in price from $62-$105. Senate Cardholders are the second most popular product from Ekster and feature a patented card ejection mechanism along with an expandable backplate. It's available in several different materials including aluminum, carbon fiber, 18K gold, and leather, and ranges in price from $55-$250. The MagSafe wallet turns your iPhone into a slim wallet with its use of auto-aligning magnets and costs $27, whereas the Bifold Wallet captures the essence of a traditional leather wallet and costs $55.
Most Popular Ekster Products
Ekster Parliament Wallet
The Ekster Parliament Wallet is by far the most popular product among consumers. This flagship wallet is best known for its premium leather build, slim design, and quick access to cards. The Parliament Wallet features top-grain leather that's been tanned under silver-rated environmental protocols, making it one of the most environmentally friendly leather wallets available today. It's designed to look like a traditional leather wallet but sports all of the key smart wallet features mentioned above. And customers have access to 13 different colors/styles and can also personalize their wallet by adding up to 30 characters of text. Below is a video of one of the latest models of the Parliament Wallet, the Airtag Wallet.
Ekster Money Clip 
In addition to its wallets, Ekster also offers a money clip as a minimal way to carry cash on the go. Since most Ekster wallets are designed for carrying credit cards specifically and not bills, this is the perfect way to maximize your carrying potential. It also serves as additional storage for 1-3 credit cards in case you can't fit all of your essentials in your Ekster wallet.
Ekster User Manual
Wondering how to use your new Ekster wallet? You can check out the Ekster user manual for further guidance and tips. Ekster offers user manuals for each of its wallets and cardholders, each providing detailed steps for how to set up your Ekster wallet including an instructional video for most models.
Ekster Reviews on Trustpilot
Prior to choosing Ekster, I made sure to read its Trustpilot reviews. Not surprisingly, Ekster has an overall rating of 4.5 stars based on 1,392 reviews on Trustpilot (78% of which are 5 stars). Here's what several customers had to say about Ekster wallets:
"Ekster wallets are of such strong and great quality. Both myself and my boyfriend got Ekster wallets, and we absolutely love them! They're small and thin, very durable and you can fit everything you need (up to 12 cards plus cash). The customer service is also PHENOMENAL, the team is very responsive, quick and kind- if you have any questions or concerns they are always available. Wonderful company and genius products!" - Viktoriya
"Really cool products, functional lever, excellent choice in styles now - I have a glow-in-the-dark wallet just because! Really amazing service too, USPS lost my package for about five days and refused to do anything and customer service instantly tried to send me a replacement. USPS found the package after my complaints, but really excellent service!" - A. Lo
"Terrific and quick customer service response. I bought my son the Parliament Wallet for Christmas and my son absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, the wallet broke 7-8 months later. The website gave clear instructions on how to initiate a warranty claim and within 4-6 hours my son’s new (and free) wallet order was being processed. Thank you for standing behind your product and for friendly, responsive customer care." - Hunter
Is Ekster Worth It?
If you're tired of losing your wallet or want a smart wallet that goes above and beyond, then Ekster is 100% worth purchasing. The Ekster wallet is practical, versatile, and downright stylish. Ekster is a major upgrade to the traditional bifold wallet due to its key features which include a slim wallet design, large carrying capacity for cards, quick card access, RFID protection, and traceability. While it may be a bit more expensive than your standard wallet, its premium features immediately make up for the additional cost and prove vital in the long run.
Ekster Wallet Alternatives
Ekster Vs. Ridge
Ridge has an incredible array of hard-case wallets available in excellent materials like aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. They're also available in more colors and designs than Ekster which is a major factor for consumers who crave customization. They tend to be more expensive than Ekster but offer a lot of the same features such as RFID protection and holding up to 12 cards. However, they don't come with a Tracker Card which is a deal breaker for many people.
Ekster Vs. Secrid
Similar to Ridge, Secrid is well known for its range of wallet designs and offers 6 different wallet types that are available in all sorts of colors and styles. Their most popular wallets feature an aluminum card protector that allows you to slide out cards in one simple motion and protects them from bending, breaking, and unwanted wireless communication. However, Secrid wallets do not come with a tracking device and most versions do not carry as many cards as Ekster. Their price point is also a bit higher than Ekster due to their leather material and more intricate designs.
Ekster Wallet FAQs
How many cards can an Ekster wallet hold?
Ekster wallet are designed to hold up to 12 cards and bills, 4-6 in the RFID blocking compartment and up to 6 more in the expandable backplate.
How long does an Ekster wallet last?
Ekster wallet are designed to last for quite some time. Their leather wallets are projected to last up to 10 years whereas their carbon fiber wallets may last an entire lifetime.
Can you put cash in Ekster wallet?
Yes, you can store cash in an Ekster wallet, there is a strap to hold bills, and/or receipts.
How far can you track your Ekster wallet?
You can track an Ekster wallet for up to 200 ft (60 m).
Does Ekster use full-grain leather?
Yes, Ekster uses full-grain leather in several of its wallets including its flagship product, the Parliament Wallet, the Bifold Wallet, and several versions of its Senate Cardholders.
Does Ekster have a lifetime warranty?
No, Ekster does not have a lifetime warranty. However, their wallets do come with a 1 year warranty policy that protects your purchase from any manufacturing defects that may arise within the first year of use.
How to charge Ekster tracker card?
Charging the Ekster tracker card is quite simple! Rather than have to worry about plugging it in to charge like most other tracking devices, all you have to do is place it in direct sunlight for 3-4 hours. Three hours of sunlight equates to roughly 2 months of being charged and it's recommended to provide 2 hours of sunlight per month.
Where are Ekster wallets made?
Ekster sources the materials for its wallets from the US and Europe, but assembles its wallets in China.
Where to buy Ekster wallet?
You can purchase the Ekster wallet directly from Ekster's website or purchase it on Amazon.
