How to load and use a pop-up cardholder, and keep it smooth for years

A pop-up cardholder looks simple: cards in, press the lever, cards out. But a few small choices make the difference between a case that fans your cards out perfectly every time and one that sticks. Here is how to set one up.

How the mechanism works

When you press the lever at the base of the case, it pushes the stack of cards upward. The cards come out in a stagger, each one sitting a little higher than its neighbour, so you can see the top edge of every card and pull the one you want with one hand. When you are done, slide the cards back down until they sit flush again.

Find the best spot for your daily card

Because the cards rise in a stagger, position matters. Put your most used card at the front, press the lever and pull it a few times. Then try it at the back. Keep it wherever you can grab it fastest without looking. Put your ID, or whatever you use least, in the middle. If two cards look the same from the top edge, a small sticker on one makes them easy to tell apart.

Do not overfill it

The case is made to a fixed thickness. Force in one card too many and the lever has to fight friction, so cards come out unevenly or not at all. If the lever ever feels stiff, take one card out before you try anything else. Carrying fewer, better chosen cards is the whole point anyway.

Embossed cards take more room

Older bank cards with raised numbers are thicker than flat printed cards. One or two are fine, but a stack of embossed cards fills the case faster. Many banks will send you a flat version if you ask.

What not to put in the case

• Folded paper. Receipts and notes go under the elastic band on the back, never inside the card case.
• Bent or cracked cards. A warped card catches on the cards next to it.
• Extra-thick cards. Some hotel keys, membership cards with raised logos and tracker cards are thicker than a bank card. Try them, and if the stack stops rising smoothly, carry them elsewhere.

Using the elastic band

The band on the back of the Monolith Cardholder holds folded notes or a spare card flat against the case. Fold notes so they sit inside the outline of the case. Do not use it as a receipt clip: a bundle of paper stretches the band over time. If you carry a lot of paper, a wallet with a proper pocket, like the Folio Wallet, is the better tool.

Contactless: tap the card, not the case

The aluminium shell blocks contactless signals. That is the point of RFID protection, but it also means tapping the closed case on a card reader will not work. Press the lever and tap the card itself, or pull it out. It takes a second and becomes a habit within a week. Why the metal blocks the signal is explained in how RFID blocking works.

Care takes almost no time

• Wipe the case with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Keep solvents away from the finish.
• If sand or crumbs get in, take the cards out, turn the case upside down and tap it gently.
• Keep it in a different pocket from your keys to avoid scratches. Our pocket system puts them on opposite sides.

And if the lever ever develops a fault, the lifetime warranty covers it: we repair, replace or refund.