Culture

5 RFID-Proof Wallets and Passport Cases

They're (slightly) more secure, and they look good.

Do you need an RFID wallet or passport case? A lot of people aren’t convinced just yet. RFID-blocking prevents scammers from stealing your credit card/personal information by using wireless scanners to hijack the signals given off by RFID chips. The only catch? The vast majority of credit cards in the US don’t use RFID yet, and your passport’s front and back covers block RFID anyway.

Nevertheless, better safe than sorry. You don’t want to the that one person who gets scammed this way and it becomes a whole thing and then everyone panic-buys aluminum foil to wrap all their gadgets in, do you? Most wallet/case manufacturers build in RFID protections anyway these days, whether it’s fully necessary or not. And, let’s face it, you could use an upgrade on your trifold black leather wallet you bought in 2006 that’s bursting with the business cards of people you’ll never meet again.

Amazon

Travelambo Front Pocket Minimalist Leather Slim Wallet

Full disclosure: I own this exact wallet, but since I bought it with my own money and Travelambo haven’t backed up a garbage truck full of cash into my driveway (yet!), I think it’s okay to recommend this. It’s tiny, nice-looking, and holds a surprising amount of notes, even if you’re the kind of lazy jerk who goes to the $1.99 fee ATM at their deli that only gives out 10s (The accounts in this situation are hypothetical and fictional.)

Amazon, $14.99

eBay

ROCO MINIMALIST Aluminum Slim Wallet

For the most utilitarian money-haver, the ROCO slim wallet is made up of two pieces of metal and a band and… that’s it. It’s the exact size of a credit card, and can be adjusted to hold a good number of cards and notes. Some nice metallic finishes, too.

Amazon, $14.95

eBay

Motion Trend Men’s RFID Wallet

A simpler, more classical profile for the simpler, more classical among us. Nice leather, two-fold wallet with a little window for licenses. No frills, but still pretty modern and elegant.

Amazon, $14.95

Travel Navigator Leather Passport Holder

The one-man-band of wallet/passport holders. This thing carries your money, your cards, your IDs, and, yes, your passports, all in one fairly small-profile package.

Amazon, $24.88

Amazon

Fintie Passport Holder Travel Wallet

Does the same as the Travel Navigator, but with a plethora of funkier color and pattern options. Who says international travel can’t be full of glamor and luxury?

Amazon, $9.99

So whether RFID crime actually exists, if you lean toward the “better safe than sorry” camp, these RFID-proof wallets and passport cases just might be for you.

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