RFID Blocking Sleeves - Information and Two Reviews

Nowadays, banks and credit card companies are rolling out more and more RFID chipped cards, so I've decided to learn more about them.  While using RFID chips in your cards is supposed more secure and more convenient than the magnetic stripes we’re all used to, they’re still not 100% safe. The problem with RFID chips is that people can create or buy and then use a card reader to steal the information off your RFID chip and then use it to create a new card with all your information on it for their spending spree. So, how do you stop this theft when the person doesn’t even need to get close to you to take your information? By using tools such as RFID blocking sleeves.

So what are these sleeves? Sleeves that shield your credit card or passport are inexpensive, and are basically all they are is a pouch lined with heavy aluminum foil. They’re smaller, and are designed to hold one or two of your cards in them. Keep in mind, most sleeves don’t entirely block transmission of card data (nothing is 100% fool proof), but using a sleeve or wallet makes the likelihood of the card being read much less.

And thanks to Consumer Reports and theinfomine.com for the great tutorials and background (and for giving me my testing idea).

So, to test out my theory, I received two different brands (for free) of RFID blocking sleeves to put to the test and see how they work. And so, here’s my reviews:

BLOCKIT RFID Products, Inc. Blocking Sleeves

BLOCKIT Sleeves will protect your privacy and secure your most valuable data from digital pickpocketing. Each sleeve is engineered using 3 performance layers - A layer of aluminum material blocks 13.56MHz frequencies, a copper substrate layer blocks all 125kHz, while the outer layer is a glossy paper with attractive full color design

My Review:

4 stars

These sleeves are absolutely gorgeous! I received the rose and the sunflower ones to review. One had the slit on the top and the other had the slit on the side. I found that the card with the slit on the top was easier for me to use, but both work fine.

However, my biggest concern was if these actually work. The fact that these sleeves have gone through government testing (approved FIPS 201 for Use as Electromagnetically Opaque Shields) was very reassuring to me, yet I still wanted to find a way to test them that didn’t require me breaking the law. 

While looking up ways to test it, I found several articles including one from Consumer Reports that gave me my testing idea. Keep in mind, this is just my own personal test, so I’m not claiming any expertise. Since these are designed to block radio waves, I tested these by using a radio. I put the cards on top of the radio antennae to see if the signal was distorted or blocked in any way.

I found that when I used the cards, the radio signal was affected. The difference was noticeable between me using the card and not using it. The volume lowered and it sounded like the songs were skipping some since words were being left out (due to being blocked). However, the radio antennae was still able to pick up radio waves, just not all of them. So while this didn’t block all of the radio waves, it did block some of them, which would make my information on my RFID chip harder to steal.

So, even though it didn't block all the radio transmissions, after researching, I discovered that virtually no sleeves or wallets block all transmissions. However, these sleeves did block the transmissions significantly, to the point where I feel like my information would be safe.

All in all, these are fun, colorful sleeves that work, and have gone through rigorous government testing (which not many other sleeves can claim). So even though they may be more expensive and you get fewer sleeves, I still think these are a good value and recommend getting them.

*I received this product in exchange for an honest review.*

RFID SECURE Blocking Sleeves

RFID SECURE was founded on the premise of equipping consumers with the right tools to combat digital pick-pocketing and provide peace of mind.

If you aren't 100% satisfied with your RFID SECURE sleeves, we will provide you with a refund or a free replacement.

Current Sale - For a limited time only, we're offering a discount of 73%.

My Review:

3 stars

These sleeves didn't fit into wallets as well as they claim. The sleeves increased the size of the cards to the point where they wouldn't fit into some of my tighter fitting wallet sleeves. Also, the passport sleeve didn't fit, and I actually ripped one of the sleeves attempting to get my passport to fit.

However, my biggest concern was if these actually work. When looking for a way to test these that didn’t require me breaking the law, I found several articles including one from Consumer Reports that gave me my testing idea. Keep in mind, this is just my own personal test, so I’m not claiming any expertise. Since these are designed to block radio waves, I tested these by using a radio. I put the cards on top of the radio antennae to see if the signal was distorted or blocked in any way.

I found that when I used the cards, the radio signal was affected. The difference was noticeable between me using the card and not using it. The volume lowered whenever I put the card on top of the antennae, presumably due to being blocked. However, the radio antennae was still able to pick up radio waves, just not all of them. So while this didn’t block all of the radio waves, it did block some of them, which would make my information on my RFID chip harder to steal.

So, even though it didn't block all the radio transmissions, after researching, I discovered that virtually no sleeves or wallets block all transmissions. However, these sleeves did block some of the transmissions, to the point where I feel like my information would probably be safe.

All in all though, the card sleeves do work and they are cheaper than others on the market. So if you're looking for a cheaper alternative to other sleeves, you might want to look into these.

*I received this product in exchange for an honest review.*