Theft Prevention: The Best RFID-Blocking Wallets

RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) is a constant in our world that operates below most people’s radar. Originally used to track cattle, it is now used to track a multitude of products and personal items. Odds are good that unless you’re living in a cabin with strictly analog items that you made yourself, something you own has an RFID tag. In many ways it can be useful, scanning items for checkout quickly or keeping track of dangerous criminals. It can also be an easy way for technological thieves to steal your credit card information and your identity. These days, many wallets have RFID-blocking technologies built in, and in this guide, we explore the best options available.

How RFID Theft Works

The smarter our credit, debit, and identification cards become, the more connected they are to the invisible web that surrounds us. Using a process known as digital skimming, a person with an RFID reader can pick up your credit or debit card number, all while doing nothing more than standing nearby. Wallets that disrupt RFID signals prevent this from happening and are quickly becoming the only way to stay safe in a WiFi world.

Do RFID-Blocking Wallets Really Work?

It’s easy to be skeptical about RFID-blocking wallets since you can’t actually see the device that’s doing the blocking. However, these wallets definitely work in protecting your identity and your money. Materials such as metal, reinforced leather, and metal-infused fabrics can all deflect a scanner’s ability to steal your info.

The Ridge Minimalist Slim Wallet

Best Metal: The Ridge is a set of metal plates (either aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber) held together by expandable elastic. The full coverage of your cards makes skimming from any angle completely impossible, blocking signals from getting out or going in. The screws and the elastic can all be easily replaced, and are the only parts likely to wear out, unless you anticipate this wallet taking gunfire on a regular basis. Capable of holding approximately 12 cards without stretching out, or whatever combination of cards and cash you so deem necessary, it comes in both an elastic band and money clip style to suit your EDC purposes.

Read our full Ridge Wallet review here.

Bellroy Hide & Seek

Best Bifold: Amidst a world of high-tech aluminum and carbon fiber wallets with built-in deployment functions, there’s nothing more classic than a simple leather bifold wallet, and Bellroy makes some of the best. This Hide & Seek isn’t just a handsome wallet with RFID protection but it features its own hidden compartment for stashing some extra bills or cards behind the main bill compartment. Available in seven colorways, this wallet sports a slim profile despite being able to carry upwards of 12 cards and even some coins.

Read our full Bellroy Hide & Seek Wallet review here.

Normest AirTag Bifold

Best AirTag: AirTag is Apple’s proprietary tracking technology that works like a charm, so long as you’re not in rural areas with no people or cell service. If any of your devices (or pets) has an AirTag chip attached to it, you can simply track it down on your phone. Many wallets today sport additional or build-in AirTag holders, but this bifold from Normest is fantastic for its versatility — able to hold 25 cards and 50 bills — and its slim profile. Featuring RFID-blocking capabilities, the wallet also has a super secure AirTag compartment that snaps right on.

Pioneer Passport Wallet

Best Travel: A reliable wallet is crucial when traveling, but if you’re headed across national borders you’ll want to pack as little as possible. That’s why Pioneer’s Passport Wallet is your best bet, securely holding your money and passport in the same unit, fitting everything you need without any extra space. Built with a proprietary waterproof ripstop fabric that’s ten times stronger than steel and perfect for changing weather and humidity, the wallet holds eight cards, some bills, and even a few tickets. And of course, it has RFID-blocking functionality. 

Ekster Parliament

Best Quick-Access: Wallets have come a long way in the past decade or two. No longer do you have to settle for bifold or trifold options — that is, unless you prefer those. Ekster has made waves with its viral quick-access wallets, and this Parliament allows you to add some class to your mechanical tech. Built with a premium leather exterior, it holds an aluminum cardholder inside that fans out up to 12 cards at the push of a button so you don’t have to fiddle with a giant stack. It can also hold some bills and a tracker card in case it gets lost.

Pelican G5 Personal Utility RF Field Wallet

Best Waterproof: Picking the right wallet for the toughest conditions can be a challenge. You won’t want to bring along your expensive leather bifold, but your mechanical wallet can succumb to the outdoor elements. Pelican, who’s known for its heavy-duty gear cases, made an insanely rugged wallet that won’t break the bank. The G5 Personal Utility RF Field Wallet is completely waterproof at an IP67 rating, meaning it can be submerged 1m for up to 30 minutes. Inside of its aircraft-grade aluminum RFID-blocking shell, it can hold upwards of 5 cards, some bills, and even a couple of keys.

Herschel Supply Company Charlie Wallet

Best Minimalist: Herschel Supply Company’s minimalist Charlie Wallet won’t set the world on fire, but it’s a solid, affordable option that comes in a plethora of colors and patterns. So slim, lightweight, and compact you won’t even know it’s there, this non-folding wallet takes up about 4” x 3” and features four card slots that you can stuff to the gills if you really want to — although we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. And of course, it sports an RFID-blocking layer.

The Best Metal Wallets for EDC

If you’re a fan of hard-sided card holders and want to explore the finest options on the market right now, check out our guide to the best metal wallets for everyday carry.