This is a detailed review of the Buffway Slim wallet, one of the most popular, unisex, minimalist wallets for men and women within a budget price range.
Buffway Slim Wallet Review
The Buffway Slim is a minimalist, unisex, lightweight, RFID-blocking wallet that has easy card access. It has a capacity of 8 cards, and it can hold a total of 12 cash bills. The wallet is super slim and lightweight and is one of the cheapest leather minimalist wallets on the market.
Should you buy the Buffway Slim wallet?
I would recommend the Buffway Slim wallet to anyone looking for a small and lightweight wallet that still wants to carry a lot of cards and cash.
Unlike other minimalist wallets, this one has an inverted design. I wouldn’t say that this is the best wallet for someone that doesn’t like all the wallet compartments to be out in the open.
Regardless, this wallet will be especially attractive to organized types of people, mainly because there is a separate place for every single thing you put in your wallet.
Buying
The Buffway Slim is available on Amazon. Even if you try to buy through the Buffway website, you will be redirected to Amazon, since this is where the seller sells its products.
Price and value for money
Typically this wallet costs around $19.99. This puts the Buffway Slim in the budget category of minimalist wallets. It’s probably the cheapest leather minimalist wallet you will find, and definitely one of the best wallets under $30 in my opinion.
However, the low price will not mean that the wallet is of low quality, since most consumers are very satisfied with their purchase.
Shipping
You can get free shipping within the US if you order $25 of eligible items shipped by Amazon. Alternatively, you can get faster shipping on this item starting at $5.99.
Overall customers are generally satisfied with the shipping. It takes 4-10 business days for the package to arrive.
Customer support
You can reach the customer support team through some of their social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Another way to contact them is through their Amazon listing page.
Interestingly, the brand doesn’t seem to have an official website.
Warranty
The seller offers a 12-month warranty for the Buffway Slim wallet. The warranty is shorter than what most other minimalist wallets have.
On the other hand, the price of this wallet is also much lower than the prices of others similar to it, so having a 12-month warranty is actually not that bad.
The majority of customers that have had to use the warranty are pretty happy with the seller’s response and how they’ve handled the situation.
Returns and refunds
If you decide that you don’t like the wallet, you have the option to return it. Amazon has a return period of 30 days.
The wallet must be returned in the same condition you’ve received it in. After you take the necessary steps, you can get a replacement or a refund.
Basics
This wallet has a lot more spaces to fill than other wallets. At first, this might seem a little confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. These are some of the details you should know about to understand the product better.
How to use the Buffway Slim
The main selling point of this wallet is that it has a separate place for everything.
In the product description on Amazon, there is a small guide, that shows you how to place your belongings in the wallet.
Simply put, every single card has a separate space.
There are:
- 4 slots for cards like a debit card, credit card and others
- 1 clear window slot for an Id or driver’s license
- 2 side-slip pockets for business cards, membership cards, train cards
- 1 middle pocket for cash bills, tickets, receipts, coupons, notes
This wallet allows a lot of different card placement variations, so you are free to choose what suits you best.
Unboxing
The wallet comes in a basic plastic ziplock sleeve. There is nothing else in the packaging except for the wallet and some test cards in the wallet.
Aesthetics
While the Buffway Slim maintains a minimalist look, its overall design sets it apart from other minimalist options. The design is inverted, meaning that all the compartments are on the outside.
Design
This type of design is a perfect mix of functionality and minimalism. The Buffway Slim wallet features 8 slot compartments, which is plenty of room for the cards you want to fit in it.
On both sides, it has slots for holding credit and debit cards, bank cards, ID cards, key cards, etc. In these slots, all of your cards are neatly organized and safe, since all of their contents are out of sight.
It also has 2 window slots with a finger glide for ID, work badge, or driver’s license. One of them is clear and one isn’t. This compartment is perfect for the cards you use the most since the finger glide allows you fast access to them.
On the side, there are 2 side-slip pockets for business cards, membership cards, train cards, etc.
The middle compartment is the best one in my opinion. It is a hidden middle pocket for cash bills, tickets, receipts, coupons, and notes.
Colors
The Buffway Slim wallet is a unisex wallet, so it offers many different color options, such as:
- Alaska black
- Alaska blue
- Alaska brown
- Alaska cherry
- Alaska green
- Alaska grey
- Alaska pink
- Alaska purple
- Alaska yellow
- At sahara carbon black
- At sahara coffee
- At sahara desert green
- Carbon fiber black
- Carbon fiber coffee
- Cross black
- Cross blackish green
- Cross coffee
- Cross Purple
- Lichee black
- Lichee blue grey
- Lichee green
- Lichee Khaki
- Lichee light brown
- Lichee orange
- Lichee red
- Sand black
- Sand chocolate
- Sand Rose Gold
- Sand silver
- Sand wather blue
There are so many color choices available that it’s nearly impossible not to find one that you like. This is one interesting advantage this wallet has over most other minimalist wallets, which are often available only in very few color choices, sometimes even just one.
Clothing style fit
Compared to other minimalist wallets, the Buffway Slim has one very unique property about it, which is it being unisex. This means that both the design and the available colors are tailored to appeal to both men and women. That’s unique because most minimalist wallets are made mainly for men.
This wallet will be perfect for neat, organized people since it has a specific place for everything.
One important thing is that the wallet compartments are on the outside of the wallet. So if you aren’t a fan of showing off your cards, you might not like the design of the Buffway Slim wallet.
Features
The Buffway Slim wallet has a couple of interesting features you should know about.
Weight, size, dimensions
The dimensions of the wallet are:
- width: 4.44 in / 11.27 cm
- height: 3.125 in / 7.92 cm
- depth: 0.125 in / 0.32 cm
The Buffway Slim weighs 1.05 oz / 29.77 g, which is quite lighter than most other minimalist wallets that typically weigh around 2.5 oz / 70 g. Naturally, the wallet is very easy to carry, since it weighs next to nothing and it occupies very little space.
RFID blocking
This genuine leather minimalist wallet is equipped with a protective layer that blocks 13-14Mhz electronic signals. Using an RFID-blocking wallet like this ensures that your sensitive information stays safe.
You should consider this if you worry that thieves might try to steal credit card numbers, expiration dates, identifiable details, and pretty much any important information that the cards in your wallet might contain.
One important thing to note is that even though RFID-blocking does well against typical radio frequencies, it can’t block 125 KHz signals, like those for hotel room keys & access cards. So, at least in theory, RFID scanning might still be a risk, and we can’t say that this wallet is 100% RFID secure.
The hidden pocket is located on the top of the wallet. It’s mainly a place where you can store cash bills, tickets, folded notes, etc. This is a good design strategy because it allows you to store your cash out of sight.
How many cards can the Buffway Slim hold?
Considering there are 8 slots, this should be the recommended amount of cards you can fit in this wallet. However, many customers have claimed that they have managed to squeeze in up to 12 cards in the different compartments. You should be wary though, as if you overstuff your wallet, it might tear or get damaged.
How much cash can the Buffway Slim hold?
A few customers have reported that they could keep up to 12 folded cash bills in the hidden compartment. Like most minimalist wallets, the Buffway Slim can’t hold change (see my guide on the best wallets for coins if you deal with coins often). Most people place the change they get in their pockets and don’t seem to mind this too much.
Water resistance
Water resistance could be a problem for the Buffway Slim. It might be able to handle small amounts of water, but full water protection is something that this wallet lacks. Most of the cards you place in the wallet stick out a little because the design is inverted and all of them are placed on the outside.
Another point to consider regarding water resistance is the finger glide on the front of the wallet. While it is very functional regarding fast access to your cards, it’s a fully open space that can easily get wet, so whatever you place in there is susceptible to potential water damage.
Customer satisfaction
There are a lot of customer reviews for this product, and a big percentage of them are very satisfied with the product. Some seem to have given it bad reviews, so let’s go into more detail about what both sides had to say.
Positive reviews
Some customers mention that the wallet fits just about anywhere and it’s very lightweight.
Many are also satisfied with how fast they can access their cards, just by using one hand.
One customer had a lot to say about the customer service. He was very happy since he managed to get a replacement for his wallet even after the warranty.
Customers also highlight the fact that the wallet is practically made for long-term usage, even going as far as to say that they are never getting back to their traditional wallets.
A couple of owners say that they just love how the wallet looks. They describe it as both smooth and original.
Known issues and problems
One person seems to have had a problem with the seams that are on the closed end of the wallet. After 8 months of usage, every closed seam popped. They have tried to contact the seller but failed to get a response, so overall this one person had a bad experience.
Another individual had trouble with the quality of the wallet and couldn’t use the warranty.
The majority of bad reviews refer to the stitching of the wallet, which seems to come undone, and also mention that the leather feels somewhat poorly on the touch.
How does the Buffway Slim wallet compare to other minimalist wallets?
This is a pretty popular wallet and it has a lot of good qualities that set it apart from its competitors. Here are some comparisons to give you an overall idea of the differences between the Buffway Slim wallet and other minimalist wallets.
The Buffway Slim wallet vs the Airo Collective Stealth Leather wallet
Both of these wallets are made out of leather. However, the Buffway Slim wallet can hold more cards and is a lot cheaper than the Airo Collective Stealth Leather wallet. The warranty for the Buffway Slim is shorter and the return period for both wallets is the same. If you would like a detailed description, check out my Airo Collective Stealth Leather wallet review.
The Buffway Slim wallet vs the Flipside 4 wallet
These two wallets are very different. The Buffway Slim is made from leather while the Flipside 4 is made from aluminum. The Flipside 4 can hold more cards but is also a lot heavier and more expensive. The Buffway Slim has an inverted design, while the Flipside 4 is fully enclosed. If you are interested in this type of wallet, check out my detailed review of the Flipside 4 wallet.
The Buffway Slim vs the Stealth Mode Leather Bifold wallet
The Stealth Mode Leather Bifold has a higher price. Both of them have RFID-blocking and have some water resistance. Both of these wallets are made out of leather. The main difference is that the Buffway Slim has an inverted design. They are similar in size, but the Buffway Slim is thinner, and it can also hold fewer cards. If you like traditional wallets, then a better choice would be the Stealth Mode Leather Bifold wallet. If you would like to know more about this product, check out my detailed review about the Stealth Mode Leather Bifold wallet.
The Buffway Slim vs the Trayvax Ascent
Even if they are both leather wallets, these two have a lot of differences. The Trayvax Ascent is more expensive and can hold fewer cards. Both wallets have some water protection and RFID-blocking. The Trayvax Ascent is bigger and a lot heavier than the Buffway Slim wallet. The warranty on the Trayvax Ascent is longer, however. If you would like to know more about this wallet, check out my full review about the Trayvax Ascent wallet.
Who should not buy the Buffway Slim wallet?
I wouldn’t recommend this wallet for people who like to keep everything in one place. A better choice might be a minimalist wallet that’s just an enclosed space like the Flipside 4, or a minimalist wallet that doesn’t have so many compartments.
This wallet won’t be a good fit for anyone who keeps a couple of cards in the same slot since it can easily tear.
Also, the Buffway Slim doesn’t really have a classy or elegant look. If you are looking for a minimalist wallet with a stylish and simple design, you should check out some wallets that are better designed, or simply just more expensive ones such as wallets under $100, or even wallets around or under $200.
A particular group of people who might not like the design of this wallet is businesspeople. Usually, they go for a leather wallet with a smooth surface, or maybe a classy aluminum wallet. The Buffway Slim shows most of its contents on the outside, so it might not appeal to this group of people. I recommend checking out my guide on the best wallets for entrepreneurs and businesspeople if you need that kind of wallet.
Lastly, I wouldn’t recommend this wallet to people that like luxury items. This is a simple leather wallet, that falls in the budget category, so it likely won’t satisfy your tastes if you want a luxurious accessory.
Who should buy the Buffway Slim wallet?
The first type of person that comes to mind is a person that travels a lot. Most reviewers say that this is the best wallet for traveling. This is because you can organize a couple of cards in individual places for easier access.
Since this wallet has a separate place for every single thing, it would be great for someone that likes to be organized. You will always know where you put your driver’s license, your ID card, your most-used payment cards, and your other essential cards.
Another particular type of person that comes to mind, that would love this wallet, is a truck driver. Since they are mostly on the road, a quick access wallet would suit them best.
Also, this is a great value wallet. Even if the price of the Buffway Slim is low, the quality is still good. So if you want a new minimalist wallet, but don’t want to spend a fortune on it, the Buffway Slim would be the best choice.
As the name suggests, this is one of the slimmest wallets available today, so consider it strongly if you like the concept of a small wallet.
And lastly, I would recommend this wallet to all of you that have a fast-paced lifestyle. The best part of this wallet is how fast you can get to the card you need, it even has a thumb slip on both sides for your most-used cards, and so it will be perfect for anyone that’s always in a hurry.
Where to buy the Buffway Slim from?
Buffway Slim Specifications
| Type | leather wallet |
| Max n. of cards | 10 |
| RFID blocking? | yes |
| TSA compliant? | yes |
| Materials used | leather |
| Height | 3.125 in / 7.92 cm |
| Width | 4.44 in / 11.27 cm |
| Depth | 0.125 in / 0.32 cm |
| Weight | 1.05 oz / 29.77 g |
| Features | RFID blocking, strong leather |
| Water resistance | some |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Return period | 30 days |
