What is an RFID wallet? Why do you need an RFID wallet, anyway? If you’ve ever found a wallet that offers RFID protection, you’re probably wondering what that is about, and why travelers seem to prefer it over every other type of wallet.
It’s undeniable that wallets have become more and more innovative over the years, and an RFID wallet is a true testament to that. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about RFID-blocking wallets. We will also list a few of the top-rated RFID wallets to protect your identity in 2023.
What is RFID?
RFID or radio-frequency identification is a type of technology where information is transmitted via radio waves. The RFID system has two main components: the RFID chip and the RFID reader. Embedded in the RFID chip are a circuit and an antenna, which work together to transmit digital data that are picked up by the RFID reader.
RFID’s applications include inventory management, supply chain management, access control, and more. Credit cards also contain RFID chips that allow users to pay without swiping the card into the card slot. Additionally, passports that were issued in 2007 onwards contain an RFID chip where your information is written.
Why Should You Be Worried About RFID?
See that chip on your credit card? That’s an RFID-enabled chip – it’s what companies use to allow you to pay without contact, or in other words, without swiping. As an innovation, RFID is convenient as it allows you to make contactless payments. Unfortunately, it also makes it so easy for “electronic pickpockets” to steal your credit card information without you knowing.
If you’ve never heard of RFID skimming, it’s the crime where a thief wirelessly steals your credit card information with the use of a device called an RFID skimmer, scanner, or reader. This device transmits radio waves, which are used to communicate with the RFID chip on your credit card. This allows the thief to copy your credit card information to commit fraud, identity theft, and more.
Fortunately, the truth is that wireless theft isn’t that prevalent. However, unfortunately, it will always be a threat. While criminals have found better ways to steal credit card data, the concern with RFID is that the tools to commit its crime are so accessible. The risk of RFID skimming is real.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Credit Cards?
The problem with RFID is that there’s no way to know if someone’s trying to ‘skim’ your credit card information. A thief could be beside you but you wouldn’t be able to tell because the card reader is so inconspicuous. The good news is that you can block the radio waves by investing in an RFID-blocking wallet.
Although you can wrap your credit card in tin foil, it’s not a fool-proof solution. There’s a risk that it will unwrap in your front pocket wallet. Plus, who would want to remove the tin foil every time they have to pay up? An RFID-blocking wallet, on the other hand, can keep your card protected at all times.
What is an RFID-Blocking Wallet?
An RFID-blocking wallet is the best way to keep your credit card safe from electronic pickpocketing. These wallets were intentionally created to protect the information on your credit card, passport, etc. with the clever use of certain metals that block the radio waves being emitted by the skimming device. An RFID reader will still be able to emit radio waves, but it won’t be able to pick up the data on your credit card.
Why Do You Need an RFID Wallet?
Not all credit cards are RFID-enabled, but there’s no doubt that it’ll become the norm in no time. More and more companies are adapting to contactless transactions, partly due to the pandemic, so it won’t be long until RFID-enabled cards are the only credit cards out there.
To steer clear of the risk of skimming, get an RFID-blocking wallet to keep your credit card data secure. Here are a few reasons why you should purchase an RFID wallet now:
#1 Better Than a Basic Wallet
A basic wallet won’t be able to keep your credit card safe from skimmers. Criminals are determined to get your information since it’s the essential “ingredient” for fraud, identity theft, and more. If you own a basic wallet, you will be at risk all the time – even when you’re walking along the sidewalk. And the worst part is that you won’t know if someone has skimmed you until you check your bank account.
Unlike a basic wallet, an RFID-blocking wallet acts as a barrier between your credit card and a reader. An RFID wallet is designed with metals that interfere with the radio waves being emitted by the device. That way, it won’t be able to steal your data no matter what.
#2 Sturdier Than a Standard Wallet
An RFID-blocking wallet doesn’t only keep your credit card information safe, but it also offers physical protection from scratches, falls, and so on. Unlike a standard wallet, wallets with RFID resistance are sturdier because they contain metals like carbon fiber, aluminum, and alloy nickel. These materials allow your wallet to survive whatever you throw at it, whether wind, water, or others.
If you’ve ever been frustrated by your wallet for creasing your cash, you will love the RFID wallet’s sturdy construction. RFID-blocking wallets are typically made of carbon fiber, a material that’s known to be stronger than steel. In other words, you won’t have to worry about wear and tear over time.
Since your wallet is safe from the elements, you don’t need to go the extra mile to protect your wallet. For example, instead of keeping your wallet in a bag, you can keep it in your front pocket.
#3 More Compact Than a Common Wallet
Minimalism is in. These days, keeping a bulky wallet in your pocket won’t make you look rich – it’ll only make you look like a mess. Fortunately, an RFID wallet will force you to narrow down your wallet essentials to not more than cash, cards, and coins. Doing this will allow you to slim down your wallet, which in turn allows you to easily access what you need when you need it.
There’s a wide variety of RFID wallets out there, but what they have in common is that they’re never massive. RFID wallets keep your information safe from all kinds of pickpocketing – it wouldn’t make sense for an RFID wallet to be so flashy that it can be seen from afar. If it’s designed to protect you from electronic pickpocketing, it should also be able to protect you from ‘basic’ pickpocketing, right?
By keeping a slim RFID-blocking wallet in your pocket, you can bid good riddance to hip pain, back pain, and more. Not many wallet owners are aware of this, but carrying a big wallet isn’t only uncomfortable, but it can cause posture problems. Besides, a bulky wallet makes you a target for pickpockets since it tends to draw an outline on your pockets.
#4 Available in ‘Hybrid’ Versions
One of the reasons why people don’t want to switch to an RFID wallet is that they think it doesn’t look sleek. They’ve associated RFID wallets with too innovative wallets – you know, the ones you’ll likely find in Sci-Fi movies. Fortunately, this isn’t the case.
The aesthetic of RFID wallets isn’t limited to metal. Some RFID wallets are made from a variety of materials that “break” the cold look and feel of a metal wallet. So, if you’re worried about not looking sleek but you still want to keep your personal information safe, you can opt for a wallet that’s a combination of metal and other materials.
Top 8 RFID Wallets to Protect Your Identity in 2022
If you own credit cards with RFID chips, you need to use an RFID wallet to ensure your data doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Remember that RFID relies on radio waves, so thieves can send a signal to your card’s chip even if they’re a few feet away.
Here are the best RFID-blocking wallets you can buy in 2022 to keep your information safe:
#1 Trayvax Original 2.0
The Trayvax Original 2.0 is an example of a sleek-looking RFID-blocking wallet. Its front plate is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum, and when you flip it over, you will find a stainless steel plate. Inside, you’ll find a metallic money clip where your cash can be securely fitted. The whole wallet is held together by a MIL-SPEC paracord, which can alter the width of the wallet so you can carry more cards or cash as needed.
#2 Trayvax Armored Summit
Another RFID-blocking wallet is the Trayvax Armored Summit, a metal wallet with a money clip that won’t break the bank. Like the Trayvax Original 2.0, the Trayvax Armored Summit offers a sleek profile and premium construction thanks to its stainless steel plate. The wallet is held together by MIL-SPEC nylon webbing, allowing it to accommodate up to seven cards and five folded bills.
#3 Trayvax Ascent
The Trayvax Ascent is another top-rated RFID wallet that’s not only fashionable but also affordable. Earlier, we mentioned that some RFID wallets are ‘hybrid’ wallets, and the Trayvax Ascent is an example of that. A combination of stainless steel and top-grain leather, the Ascent is the kind of RFID-blocking wallet that you can take anywhere, whether to work or to a dinner date.
The Ascent is capable of holding up to seven cards and a couple of folded bills. If the Ascent is the wallet for you, you can choose between two finishes for the metallic plate (Metal or Raw) as well as four colors for the leather (Mississippi Mud, Tobacco Brown, Steel Grey, and Stealth Black).
#4 Trayvax Contour
The Trayvax Contour is another hybrid wallet that combines top-grain leather with CNCN-machined metals including stainless steel, titanium, and brass. Its solid frame provides heavy-duty construction, so you can rest assured that it will never let you down. A wrench allows you to adjust the wallet to just the right width, allowing you to carry up to 13 cards and 10 folded bills.
Your essentials will be “sandwiched” between two plates that are each wrapped in leather, which develops a rich patina over time. If you’re looking for a wallet that strikes the balance between function and sophistication, this is where your search ends.
#5 Trayvax Element
The Trayvax Element is another example of a “modern mix” of fine materials. This front pocket wallet allows you to carry up to ten cards and secure up to five pieces of cash to its interior money clip. Unlike the Trayvax Contour, the Trayvax Element is more of a leather wallet than a metal wallet, with top-grain leather taking center stage as it envelopes its stainless-steel frame like a glove. Other noteworthy additions include a bottle opener, card selection window, and attachment point.
#6 Trayvax Kryptek Armored Summit Wallet
Keep RFID skimmers away with the Trayvax Kryptek Armored Summit Wallet. It combines the Summit Wallet’s minimalism with the Armored Plate’s reliable RFID resistance. Secured by a 1” MIL-SPEC webbing, this tactical wallet is the best bet for customers that want to keep their credit cards safe from “common” pickpockets and electronic pickpockets.
At $29.99, the Kryptek Armored Summit Wallet is a low-priced wallet that does not compromise security. It also comes with a cash clip that allows you to carry emergency money.
#7 Trayvax Axis Wallet
The Trayvax Axis is unlike any wallet you’ve ever seen. It secures two stainless steel plates with nylon webbing, resulting in a hard-wearing wallet that can accommodate up to 14 cards and 8 folded bills. Compared to other Trayvax wallets, the Trayvax Axis offers a bi-fold profile, allowing you to open it up to access the coin pocket or key pocket.
If you’re looking for a bi-fold wallet with RFID protection, the Trayvax Axis is an excellent choice.
#8 Trayvax Summit Notebook
The Trayvax Summit Notebook is a well-designed pocket notebook where you can secure the Trayvax Element Wallet to convert it into a versatile addition to your everyday carry (EDC). It comes with a Fisher Bullet Space Pen and an All-Weather Pocket Notebook to allow you to write down notes anytime, anywhere.
If you aren’t looking to use it as a notebook, you’re free to take out the All-Weather Pocket Notebook, and alternatively use the leather sleeve to stash your cash.
How to Keep Your Wallet Safe From Pickpockets
Now that you know how to keep your wallet safe from electronic pickpockets, you should also know how to keep it safe from the common pickpocket. Even if you own the strongest RFID wallet in the world, if it can be picked from your pocket, it still won’t be able to keep your wallet safe.
Here are a few ways to keep your wallet safe from pickpockets:
#1 Carry Your Cash in Multiple Places
Avoid stashing your cash in a single place. In case your wallet does get stolen, at least you’ll still be able to pay for the cab ride to your house. You can buy a money belt or hide a couple of folded bills in your shoes, socks, and the like. If you own multiple credit cards, do not carry the cards you don’t need in your wallet. Leave them at home.
#2 Keep Your Wallet in Your Front Pocket
It’s a bad idea to keep your wallet in your back pocket. This is because the back pocket is accessible to pickpockets. Remember, pickpockets are light-fingered, so they can grab your wallet without you knowing. Besides, you likely won’t be able to tell if your wallet falls out of your back pocket. Instead, keep your wallet in your front pocket, or your shirt pocket.
#3 Use a Clip-On Keychain
Another way to keep your wallet safe from pickpockets is by clipping it to your body. By attaching a carabiner clip keychain to your belt loop, you can make sure that pickpockets won’t be able to run away with your wallet.
#4 Beware of Crowds
Pickpockets work in places where they’re less likely to be spotted, like trains, markets, and tourist destinations. When walking through a crowd, make sure to keep your wallet in your front pocket. Or if your wallet is in a bag, be sure to position it on your front.
Conclusion
By now, it should be clear why you should buy an RFID wallet. RFID-blocking wallets not only keep your information safe from RFID skimmers but also allow you to narrow down your essentials.
At Trayvax, our wallets provide RFID protection, giving you peace of mind knowing that your information is kept safe at all times. Our wallets also protect your credit cards from day-to-day damage due to their top-notch construction. Invest in a hard-wearing wallet today to save money in the long run, as you’ll never need to replace your wallet again.
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