RFID blocking

RFID blocking refers to a layer of metal fiber or foil built into a wallet, sleeve, or bag pocket that is designed to block the radio frequency signal used by contactless credit cards, passports, and some transit cards. The idea is to prevent a scanner from reading a card's data without physically touching or swiping it.

In practice, real-world skimming through RFID scanning is uncommon compared to other forms of card fraud, such as skimmed card readers or stolen card numbers used online, but RFID blocking wallets and sleeves are inexpensive and add no real downside, which is why many one-bag travelers carry one anyway as a low-cost precaution, particularly for a passport that also contains an RFID chip.

When choosing an RFID product, check that it covers the exact cards or documents you want protected, since a blocking sleeve only works on items placed inside it, not a whole bag unless the bag itself is lined. A common confusion is assuming a wallet needs to be bulky or expensive to block RFID signals effectively, when a thin blocking sleeve does the same job for a fraction of the price and weight.