Pacsafe RFIDsafe Z50 Review: A Trifold Travel Wallet on a Chain

Most wallets are designed to look good. The Pacsafe RFIDsafe Z50 is designed to stay with you. It is a polyester trifold with a coin pocket, a hook-and-loop closure, an RFID-blocking lining and, the part that defines it, a metal chain with a Turn & Lock hook that tethers the wallet to your belt or to the inside of a bag. This Pacsafe RFIDsafe Z50 review explains what each of those features does on a travel day, where the marketing overreaches and who should carry one.

Ivan, our editor, bought the Z50 in 2016 with his own money. His own notes on the wallet are being collected separately and will appear in their own box; the analysis below is built from the current listing, Pacsafe's own product pages and well-established facts about how contactless cards and wallet materials behave.

The short version: the chain is the reason to buy it. The RFID lining is a reasonable extra, but it addresses a much smaller risk than the one the chain does.

Pacsafe RFIDsafe Z50 at a glance

Pacsafe built its brand on anti-theft travel bags, and the Z50 applies the same thinking to a wallet: make it hard to lift, hard to open by accident and hard to forget.

Where the listing and Pacsafe disagree

We checked the Amazon listing against Pacsafe's own US product page, and they do not match on every point. The listing says six card slots, a divided bill pocket and 5.1 oz. Pacsafe's page says five card slots, a zip compartment for bills and 0.37 lb (about 5.9 oz, or 168 g). Pacsafe's page also describes the current version as made from recycled polyester. Products like this get revised over the years, and listings get edited, so a wallet bought in 2016 and one bought today may differ in details. We are not going to guess which number is "right"; if a specific detail matters to you, check the live listing photos and Pacsafe's page before you buy.

The Turn & Lock chain: what it actually protects against

The chain is what separates the Z50 from every other trifold. It is a detachable metal chain with a hook on one end and the wallet on the other. Pacsafe gives the total reach, hook and ring included, as up to 20.1 in (51 cm), and sells a matching TurnNLock chain separately, which it lists as zinc alloy. You clip the hook to your belt, a belt loop or the attachment point Pacsafe builds into the inside of many of its bags. Pacsafe spells the hook "TurnNLock"; as the name suggests, the hook has to be turned before it opens, so it does not release with a simple push.

Three real risks it addresses

1. The quick lift. Most pickpocketing relies on a fast, quiet removal from a pocket or bag in a crowd: a metro door, an escalator, a busy market. A wallet that is tethered cannot be pulled clear in one motion, and the tug on your belt is hard to miss.
2. The forgotten wallet. Leaving a wallet on a taxi seat, a café table or a security tray is one of the easiest ways to lose it, no thief required. A chain makes that close to impossible, because you cannot walk away without it.
3. The drop. Pulling a wallet out to pay while juggling a bag and a ticket is when it slips. On a chain, it dangles instead of landing on a platform or in a gap.

What it does not do

A wallet chain is a deterrent, not a lock. Anyone with cutters can get through a light chain, and it offers no protection against a robbery. It also does nothing about the most common travel scams, which rely on distraction or persuasion rather than a stealthy lift. Think of the chain as raising the effort for the opportunistic thief, which is the one you are most likely to meet.

Where to clip it

• Belt or belt loop, front pocket. The classic setup. The wallet goes in a front pocket and the chain runs to the nearest belt loop. Any slack can ride in the pocket with the wallet so the chain does not swing.
• Inside a bag. Pacsafe's own bags have an internal clip point made for this. In other bags, any sewn-in key leash or sturdy D-ring works on the same principle, though it will not be as tidy.
• Not a back pocket. A chain to a back pocket is easier to reach from behind you and far more awkward when you sit.

Trifold layout: cards, bills and coins

A trifold folds twice, which gives it a smaller face than a bifold with the same capacity. At 5.1 x 3.9 in per Pacsafe, it is much shorter than a long wallet but noticeably bigger than a deck of cards (about 3.5 x 2.5 in).

Cards

Plan on one card per slot. Travel is a good time to carry less, not more: a driver's license, two payment cards from different networks (in case one is declined abroad), a debit card for cash withdrawals and a health insurance card cover most trips. Leave loyalty cards and anything you will not use on the trip at home.

Bills

The listing calls the cash section a divided bill pocket, which is handy for keeping two currencies apart: say, US dollars on one side and the local currency on the other. Pacsafe's page instead mentions a zip compartment for bills, so if keeping two currencies apart matters to you, check the live listing photos for a divider before you buy.

Coins

This is a genuine advantage over most slim wallets. Coins pile up quickly in many countries, and Canadians in particular carry one- and two-dollar coins every day. A dedicated coin pocket keeps them out of your pants pocket and off the floor of a taxi.

What does not fit

A passport booklet is about 4.9 x 3.5 in (125 x 88 mm). That is close to the Z50's outer face, which means it will not sit inside the wallet's compartments. Keep your passport in a passport holder or a zipped inner pocket of your bag.

RFIDsafe blocking: how much protection you really get

Pacsafe calls its RFID lining RFIDsafe and describes the wallet as having blocking pockets and material. Pacsafe does not describe how the lining is built; RFID-blocking material is generally a conductive layer that surrounds the card pockets. Contactless cards work at 13.56 MHz and need a reader within a few centimeters to power their chip; about 4 in (10 cm) is the practical ceiling for standard readers. When the card is fully surrounded by the conductive layer, the reader's field cannot reach it with enough strength, so it does not respond. Pacsafe does not publish which frequencies the lining was tested against or how much signal it blocks.

Do you need it?

Less than the marketing implies. When you tap a contactless EMV card, the chip creates a one-time code for that transaction and the issuer checks it. A thief who reads your card in a crowd does not get a reusable key, and depending on the card might get the number and expiry date but not the security code on the back. Real-world card fraud mostly comes through data breaches, phishing and tampered card readers, not through someone brushing past you with a hidden scanner.

What about passports?

Modern passports contain a contactless chip too. The chip is protected by Basic Access Control, which requires the data printed on the photo page before it releases its contents, and US passports add a thin metal layer in the cover that blocks reads while the passport is closed. The Z50 cannot hold a passport anyway, so it plays no part here.

The practical downside

Blocking works on your own cards as well. If you plan to tap a transit card at a gate, it has to come out of the wallet first. On a trip with daily transit use, keep that card in an outside pocket of your jacket or bag rather than inside the Z50.

Materials and weather: what 1000 mm water resistance means

Pacsafe's page describes the current Z50 shell as 750D recycled polyester with a PFC-free water-repellent treatment, rated water resistant to 1000 mm, with a 75D recycled polyester twill lining. A few of those numbers deserve translation.

• 750D is the denier, a measure of yarn weight. Higher numbers mean heavier, more abrasion-resistant yarn. 750D is a sturdy fabric for a wallet, comparable to everyday backpack material.
• 1000 mm water resistance refers to a hydrostatic head test: the fabric held back a column of water 1,000 mm (about 39 in) tall before leaking. That is enough for light rain and splashes. It is not waterproof, and water can still get in through the opening and the seams.
• PFC-free means the water repellency does not rely on perfluorinated chemicals, a class of compounds that persist in the environment. PFC-free finishes are better for the planet, though they generally need refreshing sooner than older treatments.

Pacsafe also says the recycled fabric uses the equivalent of three plastic bottles. Ivan bought his Z50 in 2016, and the recycled-fabric description applies to the current version, so a Z50 made years ago may use a different fabric.

Polyester versus leather

Polyester is lighter than leather, shrugs off rain, does not mind sweat and costs less to replace. It also looks like what it is: a piece of travel equipment. If you want something that matches a suit or a dinner jacket, the Z50 is not it. That is why it makes the most sense as a travel-day wallet rather than an everyday one.

The hook-and-loop closure: a security feature you can hear

Hook-and-loop is a love-it-or-hate-it closure. Here is the honest case for both sides.

For: It keeps the wallet shut even when it is stuffed with receipts and coins, it needs no zip that can jam, and it is loud. That rip sound is a feature on a crowded train, because nobody opens your wallet quietly.

Against: It is loud in a quiet restaurant, too. The hook side collects lint and fibers over time and slowly loses grip, and it can snag knit fabrics if it touches them. A small stiff brush (an old toothbrush works) clears lint from the hooks and restores most of the hold.

How to set up the Z50 for a travel day

1. Pack it the night before. Cards for the trip only, one per slot, and a small amount of each currency you need in the bill section.
2. Decide where the chain goes. Belt loop nearest your front pocket is the default. On days you wear no belt, clip it inside your day bag instead.
3. Check the reach. Pacsafe gives one total length for the chain (20.1 in, or 51 cm, with hook and ring) and does not describe it as adjustable. From the clip point you chose, the wallet should sit fully in your pocket and still come out far enough to pay; if it does not, clip it to a belt loop closer to that pocket.
4. Keep your transit card outside it. If you will tap through gates often, give that card its own pocket so the RFID lining does not block it.
5. At airport security, unclip first. The chain and hook are metal. Unclip the chain, put the wallet in a bin with your belt and keys, and reattach it on the other side.
6. Check it at every transition. Getting out of a taxi, leaving a café, standing up from a train seat: a quick touch to the chain becomes a habit, and that habit is what the chain is really for.

Pacsafe RFIDsafe Z50 vs slim bifold and other travel options

Ivan also bought a leather slim bifold with a money clip, which we cover in our slim bifold wallet review. The two wallets do opposite jobs.

The slim bifold is better for daily life: thinner, smarter and quieter. The Z50 earns its bulk when you are in an unfamiliar city, carrying two currencies and surrounded by people.

Against other anti-theft options (compared on paper)

• Neck pouches and money belts. They hide your reserve cash and passport under clothing, which a chain wallet cannot do. They are slow to reach, though, so they work best for backup money, while a wallet like the Z50 handles daily spending.
• Leather chain wallets. The biker-style chain wallet uses the same tether idea in leather, usually with a longer chain and a larger, long-wallet format. More style, more weight, rarely any RFID lining or water resistance.
• Phone-case wallets. Convenient, but they put your cards and phone in the same place, so losing one means losing both.

If you are building a full travel kit, our BANGE weekender backpack review and the rest of the Travel Gear hub cover the bag side of the equation.

Who should buy the Pacsafe RFIDsafe Z50

• Travelers who worry about pickpockets. The chain is a real deterrent for the opportunistic lift.
• The absent-minded. If you have ever left a wallet on a seat, the chain makes that much harder to repeat, as long as you clip it every time.
• Multi-currency travelers. A bill section (divided, per the listing) and a coin pocket handle mixed cash better than a slim wallet.
• Pacsafe bag owners. The internal attachment points in Pacsafe bags are made for this chain.
• Outdoor and festival goers. Water-resistant polyester and a tether suit wet, crowded, active days.

Who should skip it

• Everyday office carry. It is bulkier and more utilitarian than a wallet you would want at work.
• People who hate hook-and-loop. The closure is loud and that is not changing.
• Passport carriers. It does not fit one.
• Anyone expecting real theft resistance. A wallet chain stops a quick lift, not a determined thief.
• Minimalists with three cards. A card holder in a front pocket gives most of the benefit with a fraction of the bulk.

Care, tips and common mistakes

• Brush the hook-and-loop. Lint is what weakens the closure. Clear it every few months with a stiff brush.
• Hand clean only. Wipe the shell with a damp cloth and mild soap, then let it air dry open. Machine washing a wallet with a metal chain risks damaging both the wallet and your machine.
• Refresh the water repellency. If water stops beading on the fabric, a spray-on water-repellent treatment made for synthetic fabrics restores it. Pick a PFC-free product to match the original finish.
• Do not overfill it. A trifold is three layers stacked; one extra card per slot shows up three times in the thickness.
• Detach the chain at home. Unclip it when the wallet is in a drawer so it does not scratch other things or tangle.
• Check the hook. Make sure the Turn & Lock hook closes fully every time you clip it. A half-closed hook gives you none of the security.
• Keep the warranty in mind. Pacsafe's warranty policy lists two years of coverage for accessories, counted from the date of purchase.

Final verdict

This Pacsafe RFIDsafe Z50 review lands on a clear conclusion: buy it for the chain. The Turn & Lock tether, the noisy hook-and-loop closure and the coin pocket make it a well-thought-out travel wallet for crowded cities, long transit days and anyone who has left a wallet behind before. The RFID lining is a reasonable extra, but it guards against a small, mostly theoretical risk, so do not let it drive the decision.

What you give up is polish and slimness. It is a polyester trifold on a metal chain, and it looks like one. Carry it on travel days, keep a slimmer wallet for home, and check the live listing for the card count and weight, since the listing and Pacsafe's own page do not agree on either.