The Best Passport Holder for World Travelers
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Passports are among the few things you absolutely need to take with you wherever you go. Losing or damaging yours while you’re abroad can be a time-consuming and expensive problem. Fortunately, the right passport holder can help you keep it safe.
So, let’s take a look at some of the best passport holders on the market.
Passport Holder Overview
Before delving into the reviews, let’s explore why it’s useful to have a passport holder or cover. We’ll also discuss what features the best passport holders have. But first, you might be wondering why you need one.
The Benefits of Having a Passport Holder
The best passport holder for travel is the one that best suits your needs. It should be unobtrusive while providing the following key advantages:
Protection Against the Elements
A passport holder will keep your most important travel document(s) safe from everything – from torrential rain to spilled wine.
The best passport holders for travelers who like to venture into extreme environments will keep each page dry and safe from damage. Plus, with digital passports becoming the norm, keeping them safe from crushing and water damage is more critical than ever.
Enhanced Security
One of the most important benefits that the best passport holders can offer is improved security and privacy.
Passports are a valuable commodity on the black market and are unfortunately, a prime target for pickpockets and thieves. A cover can cause a thief to overlook your passport, while a customized passport holder will typically have physical security features in place.
Protection Against Identity Theft
As well as physical security, you can also find passport holders that provide digital protection.
Modern passports feature a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip, which stores your personal information. RFID passport holders can prevent this data being scanned by criminals, protecting your privacy.
More Organized
Some of the best passport holders offer far more than just a simple cover.
Depending on the size and design, you can find a great many that can store additional vital items, such as cash, credit cards, boarding passes, receipts, hotel keycards, and even a pen.
Easy to Access at the Airport
The dark blue cover of a US passport isn’t always easy to find when you’re frantically rummaging through your carry-on luggage at airport security. Fortunately, passport holders come in a great many designs, patterns, and colors. So, choose something that stands out and can be found with ease at the airport.
What to Look for in a Good Passport Holder
Not all passport holders are made the same. Indeed, they come in many shapes and sizes. Some are packed full of features and extra storage, while others are more attractive.
When considering the best passport holder for travel, look out for the following features:
Security Features
If you aim to keep your passport as safe as possible, then it’s worth looking for an RFID passport holder. To prevent identity theft, an RFID blocking layer keeps digital pickpockets at bay and prevents them from stealing your data. Other security features include neck pouches that make it difficult for thieves to physically get their hands on your valuables. Zippered compartments add another layer of security.
Material and Durability
Passport holders can be made from a variety of materials, such as leather, PVC, nylon, hard plastic, and polyester. Check for the quality of stitching where relevant, and the toughness of the material. For example, leather offers excellent durability. Also, look out for waterproof and slash-resistant materials to further protect your passport.
Functionality
Different passport holders are designed to fulfill various needs. For organized group travel, multiple passport holders are a top choice, as they’re designed to carry all the group’s documents in one place. Other types of passport holders focus on different functions. For example, neck pouch or waist passport holders emphasize security and portability. Be sure to choose the passport holder that best suits your particular needs.
Extra Storage
Another thing to look out for is extra storage space. Some passport holders are simply stylized covers, while others might have a few slots for boarding passes or credit cards. Customized passport holders are often designed to take the place of a standard wallet. These generally feature plenty of storage for anything from the local currency to your cell phone.
Size
Finally, it’s essential to consider the size of the passport holder you want. Some are extremely thin and lightweight and are only marginally larger than a regular passport. Other types are much bigger and cannot fit so easily into your pocket or bag. The best passport holders for travel find the middle ground. They’re small and slim enough to fit comfortably into a pocket or hang around the neck while providing enough features to make them worthwhile.
The Top 5 Passport Holders for Travel
With a better idea of what to look for in a great passport holder, let’s take a look at our top 5.
Zero Grid Travel Wallet and Family Passport Holder
The Zero Grip Travel Wallet is perhaps the best family passport holder on our list. At 8¾ x 5¼ x 1⅛ inches externally, it probably won’t fit in your back pocket. However, it’s still relatively lightweight and should slip into most backpacks with ease.
Pros
Cons
Winks Travel RFID Passport Holder Neck Pouch
This waterproof passport holder is great for adventure travelers. With space for far more than just a passport, it’s great to carry around wherever you go, from crowded markets to challenging hiking trails. A comfortable neck cord ensures your most valuable items are always close to hand.
Pros
Cons
Herschel Raynor Passport Holder
This is an excellent choice for something durable and easily portable. It’s also available in a wide number of patterns and colors, making it a great gift.
Pros
Cons
Venture 4th Travel Neck Pouch Passport Holder
Made from high quality materials, the Venture 4th is perhaps one of the best passport holder neck pouches in this price range.
It features an adjustable neck cord and a moisture-wicking material that keeps it comfortable no matter the weather. At 8.3 × 5.9 × 0.4 inches, it’s spacious enough to carry all the essentials comfortably, yet can be concealed easily.
Pros
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Villini Genuine Leather US Passport Holder
If you’re looking for something that screams quality, this is a fantastic choice.
It’s available in a variety of colors and is handsomely embossed with the US coat of arms on the front, and the Brooklyn Bridge on the back. At 5.5 × 4 × 0.35 inches, it will fit in your pocket or bag with ease.
Pros
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The Verdict
Having browsed 5 of the best passport holders on the market, you’ve hopefully got a good idea of which is the ideal one for you. But if you’re still undecided, here are our thoughts.
For us, the best all-rounder was a close competition between the Winks Travel RFID Passport Holder and the Venture 4th Travel Neck Pouch Passport Holder.
However, in the end, the Venture 4th just had the edge. Here’s why:
The Venture 4th Travel Neck Pouch Passport Holder ticks all the right boxes when it comes to things to look out for in the right passport holder.
First, it provides a high level of security from both physical and digital thieves. An RFID layer keeps you safe from identity theft, while the secure neck cord allows you to keep your goods close and concealed.
Second, it is made from quality materials that offer protection from water and crushing damage. Double stitching ensures excellent durability. As for functionality, the comfortable neck cord keeps your hands free.
Finally, and what really sets it apart from the competition, the size is just right. It’s not too big that it’s bulky and difficult to conceal, while it’s large enough to carry all the essentials in an organized fashion.
As stated, it’s a tough choice and one that ultimately depends on your needs. The large size of a multiple passport holder may not be an issue if your priority is to keep the whole family’s documents safe. Alternatively, perhaps you just want a simple cover to personalize your passport a little bit. Whatever you choose, a passport holder can undoubtedly help ensure safe travels.
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