The Best Type Of Wallet To Use During Your Travels
Traveling is always going to be a mix of fun and excitement, but it may also come with a tinge of anxiety. Though part of the fun of discovering a new city can be wandering around and losing yourself in little neighborhoods, you don't actually want to get lost. While you might want to purchase a trinket or two from a charming salesman on the street, you don't want to get scammed.
The same goes for how you carry your most valuable items. How do you keep them safe while not constantly having to worry about where they are or struggling to pull them out of your bag or a money belt when you need them? And how do you protect yourself against pickpockets who use RFID scanners to access your credit or debit cards? The answer is simple: Make sure to pack an RFID-blocking wallet. Here's everything you need to know about these nifty devices and other clever ways to protect your money and other valuables while you travel.
Here's why you should consider using an RFID-blocking wallet
Almost every credit card company and banking institution now provides customers with contactless payment cards. While tap-to-pay cards are a great way to quickly and hygienically pay for items at a store or a restaurant, they are also the target of savvy pickpockets. These thieves will get close to people and use RFID scanners to try and collect credit card information from their contactless cards in your purse or pocket.
These days, it's much harder to maliciously use the information that's collected this way without additional data, such as your security code. However, it's definitely still worth considering when you're out and about. So, we recommend using an RFID-blocking wallet. They work by using a thin layer of carbon fiber or aluminum to block the electromagnetic signals that are emitted by your card. This way, an RFID scanner can't read your card information, even if it's pressed right up against the wallet.
If you don't want to buy a whole new wallet, you can also purchase RFID-blocking cards. These are credit-card-sized blockers that you can put into your existing wallet. These also work to block those signals regardless of which side the RFID scanner is attempting to read the card from. So, the scanner could be right on top of the card, but as long as the RFID-blocking card is next to the credit or debit card, the information won't be transmitted.
Ways to safely hide your wallet in plain sight
Let's face it: While money belts are one of the best ways to protect your passport and other valuables, you can feel a little goofy pulling money out of them in front of a cashier. It also throws up a big ol' "I'm a tourist" flag, making you more of a mark than you were before. So, how do you go about blending in while still keeping your valuables safe? Firstly, if you carry a purse, only ever use zippered handbags that fully close the entire internal part of the bag, not just a portion of it or one pocket. Any bag that is open is just waiting for a pickpocket to reach into.
For those who keep their wallets in their pockets, make sure it's always in a front pocket and that you are hypervigilant of who is around you. If someone is getting in your personal space, a sign that someone is trying to pickpocket you, don't be afraid to give a little nudge or tell them to back off.
You can also use infinity scarf wallets. These are just infinity scarves that have little pockets in them where you could hide some emergency cash or cards. Just don't take it off and forget it somewhere! There are also money belts that look and function like real belts but they also have small pockets you can use for small valuables.