Want some extra financial security? Here are 10 cool RFID-blocking wallets that we recommend.
Listen, I hate when I get to work in the morning only to realize I forgot my work badge. I work at a high-end auction house with billions of dollars worth of property on site, so the sign-in process is a whole thing.
Plus, having to use an actual pen-and-paper doesn’t help my impending carpal tunnel. In that sense, I know that RFID technology has a lot of pros.
Still, the cons can be really consequential. Money thieves and identity thieves have largely gone fully digital these days, after all.
Fortunately, there are quite a few stylish RFID-blocking wallets on the market these days. I’ve rounded up ten really great ones here.
Quick Take
Short on time? Here are our top picks for the best RFID-blocking wallets you can buy right now:
This is a traditional bifold, meaning you’ve got the main pocket for cash, or cards that you need constant access to. Still, the entire design has been slimmed down to contemporary standards, which adds to its packability and looks.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get an RFID-blocking wallet. Coming in at right around $10, this Travelambo Slim Wallet is just as affordable as any budget wallet.
This wallet is built for you voyagers. It is super sleek and slim with enough space to fit passports and boarding passes in there. The texture on the supple full-grain leather is impeccable right out of the lavish bronze paper packaging
Read on for more info and the complete list…
What Is an RFID Wallet?
First off, the RFID is an acronym for radio frequency identification.
As far as what that means, it’s a wireless technology that identifies who you are using radio signals. These days, IDs, whether it’s your driver’s license or passport, are scannable and hence susceptible to this technology.
Again, it’s all well and good when it comes to attendance monitoring at work, but it also makes you vulnerable to anything from targeted marketing to good old-fashioned identity theft.
An RFID wallet, or RFID-blocking wallet, serves as a protective barrier against this technology.
RFID technology is similar to NFC technology, otherwise known as near-field communication tech, which is used for contactless payments like Apple Pay.
The difference between the two is that RFID tech can gather your information from a much further distance, up to 30 feet away even, while NFC needs super close contact to activate.
10 Cool RFID Blocking Wallets for Guys
Here they are, all at different price points and styles.
Harber London Bifold Wallet
The no-frills quality of Harber London’s goods is exactly what makes them so attractive. They focus on simple, efficient designs that are only incidentally stylish, as this Bifold Wallet is.
It’s a traditional bifold, meaning you’ve got the main pocket for cash, or cards that you need constant access to. Still, the entire design has been slimmed down to contemporary standards, which adds to its packability and looks.
Since Harber London is all about details though, there is, of course, a pull tab in the inner pocket so that your cards don’t get trapped in there even if you do use it to its 18-card capacity.
Moreover, that magnetic closure adds a level of security. I personally hate when I have a stuffed wallet and can’t close it properly — it always makes me feel like something will fall out.
Even more, all of Harber London’s goods are made with full-grain leather and are handmade in Spain.
Stuart & Lau The Slim Wallet
The Stuart & Lau Wallets are one of my favorite designs because it’s slim but still structured. I’m a vintage fan, but I know the wallets my grandfather used would definitely be too bulky for me.
The added architecture to this wallet just gives it more personality than minimal card holders.
It holds up to 10 cards, has an easy-access back pocket for cards you’ll need to take out and put in several times a day, and comes in some really cool colors that look beautiful on the vegetable-tanned Italian leather.
Some colorways include navy and oxblood, which are still dark and neutral enough, but not so murky that it takes away from their primary-colored hues.
The Ridge Classic Wallet
I’ve gone on record to call The Ridge Classic Wallets as having Narnia-like efficiency. This design is one of those that have a more gear aesthetic than a fashion aesthetic. They’re like the wallet equivalent of a tool watch.
Though it’s only six millimeters high, you can fit a whole 12 cards in there.
You can get them in materials like aerospace-grade aluminum and even 24k gold. I’m talking about an almost 100% gold construction, with a PVD coat to ensure it’s as strong and UV resistant as it is fancy looking.
Dango M1 R-Spec Wallet
You can literally talk about the highly-tactical Dango M1 R-Spec Wallet as if it were a high-end sports car — likely because it was inspired by automotive racing. And despite how heavy-duty it looks, it’s exceedingly thin, weighs only three ounces, and can fit up to 10 cards.
Visually, it’s a veritable feast of textures: Carbon fiber paneling, aerospace-grade aluminum (likely why it’s so light), and a glossy prismatic finish next to some leather accents. The stainless steel bolts are also a nice and practical touch.
Naturally, this wallet is also equipped with anchors for tethering and compatibility with multi-tools. Suffice it to say, it’s a great camping wallet.
Bellroy Hide and Seek Wallet
The Bellroy Hide and Seek Wallet is another slimmed-down version of a classic bifold, making it an option for those of you who aren’t ready to part with traditional wallets or jump into super contemporary minimal card holders.
This 12-card capacity wallet comes in a bunch of fun colorways. The cloudy mix of dark midnight blue with cobalt and navy shades on the Ocean variant looks exquisite on the vegetable-tanned leather body. Meanwhile, the Ranger variation is a vivid and versatile green.
Other useful details include a hidden coin compartment, a rare feature in modern wallets (here in America at least), and rounded edges which won’t wear as fast as pointier ones.
Bellroy Flip Case
The Bellroy Flip Case is definitely one of the more fun options on the list. This extra structured hardshell wallet is made of strong polymer and eco-tanned leather, all backed by a three-year warranty by the way.
You access your cards and cash via magnetic trap doors, meaning they’re easy to open and will simply close and secure themselves, on their own.
Style-wise, it’s sleek, modern, and comes in nine colorways. It’s like hard luggage, but for your credit cards.
Leatherology Travel Zip Organizer Wallet
As its name indicates, the Leatherology Travel Zip Organizer Wallet is built for you voyagers.
Though it’s slim, it’s long enough that you can fit passports and boarding passes in there.
Also, you can store receipts in there without having to fold them up lest your HR coordinator questions the actual price of an expensed meal because the tab got smudged in a crease.
Regardless of whether you go for one of their neutral colorways or one of their livelier ones, the texture on the supple full-grain leather is impeccable right out of the lavish bronze paper packaging.
Ekster Aluminum Cardholder
Another gear-leaning wallet, the Ekster Aluminum Cardholder checks all of the EDC boxes. It efficiently holds up to 12 cards in a 10.5-millimeter build, and it’s made out of space-grade aluminum.
Specifically, 6061-T6 aluminum boasts excellent corrosion resistance and durability.
Ekster ups the security factor though. In addition to being RFID-blocking, it comes with a tracker that you can connect to your phone to monitor its location.
Also, it’s built with an expandable backplate that serves as a sort of hidden room to let you store more without adding bulk.
Secrid Card Protector
Secrid’s modern and minimal card protector is skinny but structured. It almost looks like a piece of Apple-built technology. In a way, it is high-tech.
You can put up to six cards in there, but instead of having to dig them out manually, there’s a spring-loaded mechanism that just pops them out. It’s a pretty smooth action that can also serve as a fun party trick.
The aluminum body is strong enough that your keys won’t easily scratch it, but also incredibly light.
Travelambo Medium Size Slim Wallet
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get an RFID-blocking wallet. Coming in at right around $10, this Travelambo Slim Wallet is just as affordable as any budget wallet.
It comes in a whopping 25 colorways, so you’ll definitely find one to match your personal style. At this price, of course, the leather itself isn’t high-grade, but I will say that the darker variations look more expensive than they are.
The ID holder has a push tab, which is convenient, but you might not even need to use it that often. While this wallet is genuinely RFID-blocking, it’s designed so that you can still scan cards, like hotel keys, without taking them out.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about RFID wallets and RFID blocking in general!
Do RFID wallets really work?
Yes, RFID wallets block the radio signals that can read the embedded identification chips in your credit cards and IDs. This reduces your susceptibility to being electronically pick-pocketed.
Is RFID blocking necessary 2023?
While financial experts are still debating if everyday people are actually high-risk enough to call RFID blocking truly necessary, it doesn’t hurt to have that extra level of protection, even if just for your peace of mind, especially since RFID wallets come at every price point.
Can RFID wallets go through airport security?
Since you have to empty your pockets at airport security, RFID wallets can get through the X-Ray just fine.
Conclusion
These days, a lot of wallets are built with RFID-blocking, whether you prefer more traditional bifolds or metal-forward card holders.
Again, how necessary they are is up for debate. Though again, they aren’t more expensive non-RFID wallets, so you may as well take that extra step. It’s like easy insurance.
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