GRIP6 Ninja Wallet Review

The GRIP6 Ninja Wallet is highly durable, has a unique fanning feature for quick card access, and has add-ons like a loop to stick your finger through and a cash band for physical currencies. This wallet’s look and design certainly aren’t for everyone, but will it work for you? Let’s dive in and find out.

The Rundown

The wallet’s body is crafted from aluminum. This is highly durable and looks sleek, thanks to its matte finish. It’s still prone to smudges, but not nearly as much as if it were shiny. The aluminum will pick up nicks and scratches over time through typical wear and tear, but the shell will last longer than most other materials.

The aluminum offers RFID protection, which metal does naturally, ensuring that your money and digital identity remain safe, no matter where you go. If you put cards in the exterior sleeve, they won’t receive the same level of protection, but that’s mostly for cash, as we’ll get into.

The loop, or circle on the top side of the wallet, is an optional addition. It doesn’t help the wallet function better, but it makes it easier to hold onto and fun to play with, especially if the line for coffee is long and you’re anxiously waiting for your morning caffeine. We dig this feature, but it makes the wallet’s footprint significantly larger, deterring some travelers.

You can fit five or six cards inside, depending on the thickness of the cards that you own. To access the cards, you click the lever on the lower side of the wallet, which shoots them upward. You have to pop them all out, which makes card placement essential. If the card you need is in the middle, you have some finagling to do before you can access it. Popping the cards in and out of the wallet is fun, but not ideal for every situation. If you need to move quickly and the card you need is hidden away, it’s not the best choice. Still, once you get used to it and master your card placement, it works well.

The wallet comes with or without the external money band, which we dig. Not all travelers need cash, though we almost always recommend bringing some. If you order the wallet with a cash band, you must attach it yourself, which is easy, but a bit anxiety-riddling, as you might not get it perfectly straight. Like Slim Shady said, you’ve got one shot. Don’t mess it up!

At the time of writing, the cash band costs about $20, roughly the cost of some minimalist wallets. It’s crafted from elastic and feels durable, but the price seems high for what you’re getting. The standard wallet’s aluminum body feels worth it, but we’re not sure about the money band for the price.

The primary wallet is durable as heck and acts as a fidget, which we dig.

Packability

The loop adds a lot of size to the wallet’s footprint, making it harder to fit into some pockets. You can put a finger through the loop, which adds security and feels unique. Additionally, you can attach the wallet to things using the loop. This works inside your daypack or sling, and you could padlock it onto something if you felt the need, as the loop is pretty broad.

The wallet’s rigidity doesn’t work well in tighter-fitting pants, especially when you try to sit down. Thicker jean materials will bunch up in the same area where the wallet sits in your pocket, making for an uncomfortable experience. We’re being nitpicky, though, and most pockets will accept the GRIP6 without issue.

Overall, the minimalist wallet is pocketable inside most travel pants, though those who wear tighter-fitting jeans should be wary of the size, especially with the loop attachment. The materials make it unique to carry in another bag, as the aluminum could damage sensitive devices, like a phone or watch, so keep that in mind when packing it inside your bag.

Quick Comparison

Despite looking and feeling nothing alike, the GRIP6 Ninja Wallet has much in common with the NOMATIC Wallet, another of our favorite travel wallets. They have different vibes, but the concept is the same.

There’s one primary card slot and an external cash slot for bringing physical currency for the ride. The NOMATIC Wallet can carry 14 cards, and a separate slot for cards you use more often makes grabbing the important ones seamless. Getting cards out from the main compartment is more challenging with the NOMATIC Wallet, as no lever pops the cards out.

The cash slot is built in and isn’t an add-on for the NOMATC Wallet, and the entire thing costs roughly the same as just adding the money band to the GRIP6 Ninja Wallet. Sure, the GRIP6 is way more durable, but you could get 5.95 NOMATIC Wallets for the price of one GRIP6 Ninja Wallet with the cash band and loop.

Both wallets do very similar things at their simplest, but the NOMATIC is smaller and lighter, and the GRIP6 is sleeker and more durable. If you haven’t tried a minimalist wallet before, we’d recommend going with the NOMATIC Wallet because the price is very fair for an entry-level model. If you want something more substantial and durable, upgrade to the GRIP6 Ninja Wallet!