Good day fellow travelers, traveling Chuck back after a brief hiatus to share with you my pick for best money belt for international travel.
Over the years, I’ve tested several hidden money bags, and I’ve found that the waist belts are the best. There are also over-the-shoulder versions, neck wallets, and the actual belts with hidden zippers, but those have a very limited capacity.
When purchasing a money belt for international travel, it’s important to keep the RFID blocking feature in mind.
What is RFID blocking material?
The idea behind RFID blocking material is to block RFID skimmers from electronically stealing your credit card or passport information using an RFID reader.
For most people, the thought of RFID blocking may be overkill, but I personally like having as many layers of security as possible while traveling, particularly in the Third World.
The electronic thieves may only be able to obtain limited information – your full name, passport number, country of origin, credit card number, etc. – but do you want to cut out any possibility of people in a foreign land collecting data on you?
I know I do.
As trivial as stealing your name may sound, I personally don’t want strangers having any of my information.
I think the people who downplay the advantages of RFID blocking materials are people who haven’t been to more sequestered places on the map or the Third World.
Do I think you need RFID blocking materials when traveling strictly in the United States? Probably not, but it doesn’t hurt.
My Pick for Best Money Belt
Now that you have an idea of what RFID blocking materials are and how thieves can use RFID readers to obtain your information, I’ll share with you my top pick.
The waist belt I’ve been using for years to travel through Latin America and Southeast Asia is the one pictured below:
Aside from RFID blocking materials, this belt also comes with theft protection insurance and a global recovery feature that may give you a chance of recovering your lost travel documents.
I’ve learned that any extra peace of mind I can get while traveling is worth a few extra bucks upfront.
When traveling internationally, it’s easy to overlook insurance options.
By spending a few bucks extra upfront, you can save yourself thousands and a ton of aggravation.
Peak Travel Money Belt Features
- Lightweight materials that can breathe and feel comfortable against your skin
- Moisture-wicking back material
- YKK zippers
- 2 zipper pockets that can hold multiple passports, money, credit cards, plane tickets, coins or other valuables
- Double-release safety buckle located at the front instead of the back where thieves can easily unbuckle it
- Theft insurance of up to $250 and a lifetime recovery service
- The entire bag is made of RFID blocking materials
- 46″ maximum adjustable waist size
- Holds larger cell phones
- Weight: 2.4 ounces
- Dimensions: 5″ x 11″ x .7″
What’s the Verdict?
Everyone I’ve ever met who owns one of these waist bags loves theirs.
It’s almost like a hidden community of people in the know.
Whenever I meet someone who uses one too, we instantly can’t stop talking about how much we love them.
- It’s so comfortable, you might forget that it’s there.
- You’ll feel safer while abroad.
- It holds up well over several long trips.
- Great to use as a backup when you only want to put a small amount of money in your pocket
My Review
In my opinion, you get the best bang for your buck with this bag with the extra peace of mind the insurance offers.
I haven’t seen other bags offer the same feature.
The comfort and durability of hidden waist bags are also critical features to consider.
I’ve had other bags that started falling apart in under a year after heavy use.
Additional Tips
The most important tip I can give you is don’t think that you’re invincible with this bag.
It’s not a good idea to bring your passport outside if you don’t need it even with a hidden belt.
There’s no point in exposing your passport to risk if you don’t absolutely need to.
What I do is turn my suitcase into a safe.
My Samsonite suitcase has a zipper-lock built into the bag.
Click the image below #ad to see the exact suitcase I’ve been using steadily for the past several years without any problem at Amazon:
You can then go a step further by locking the suitcase to a fixed object using a cable lock.
If you can’t tell yet, I love keeping my possessions extra safe while traveling.
Additional Money Belt Options
In case the Peak money belt isn’t your cup of tea, there are several other types of hidden travel wallets #ad:
Peak also makes a passport holder neck wallet #ad:
And last but not least the actual belt with a hidden compartment to hold your money #ad:
The main problem with these is they can’t hold your passport and are hard to access.
However, they are great for hiding money that you may need in case of an emergency.
Bottom Line
I recommend sticking with the hidden waist belt.
I’ve used the neck wallet before, and it’s not as hidden since you’ll need to keep moving the strap around your neck to make sure it stays below your shirt.
With the money belt, you don’t have to worry about people seeing it because of its slim profile.
No matter what choice you make, always be sure to stay safe while traveling internationally!
