The 7 Best Money Belts of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Money belts can offer a secure and convenient way to carry your valuables while traveling—but in my experience, some styles can mark you as a tourist. Choosing the right design and size for your needs makes all the difference; I shied away from using a money belt for travel for years, preferring to carry a classic purse. These days, with the proliferation of different styles and sizes available, I’ve found one that functions as a part-time replacement for my purse, allowing me to navigate new cities blissfully hands-free with my phone, earbuds, and credit cards stored safely on my person.

Whether you’re looking for a fitness-friendly bag, a sleek pick that keeps your essentials in easy reach yet out of sight, or a spacious option to store your phone and passport, you’ll find an option to suit your travel style on this list.

Testing Money Belts (Video)

I joined the Travel + Leisure editors in testing 50 travel money belts during our real-world travels. Each of us was given a set of dummy essential items that people would be most likely to store in a money belt for travel, including a passport, credit cards, cash, a cell phone, a set of keys, sunglasses, and earbuds. During the testing period, I first examined the components and quality of the belt, assessing the number of pockets, style of closure, and how durable the hardware looked. Next, I examined how easy it was to put on and if it required any adjusting, before packing it with as many items from our list as I could fit—paying close attention to how well the zippers worked, and if they glided smoothly when the bag was fully packed. I also noted any organizational and security features that enhanced the bag’s usefulness, like pockets and RFID-blocking card slots.

To test for water-and sweat-resistance on belts that claimed some level of waterproof capabilities, I sprayed them with water until they were soaked, then checked the contents to see if any water seeped through. I also timed how long it took for the belt to dry out.

Our team will continue to test these money belts over six months in the real world to ensure they lived up to these initial impressions.
Tips for Buying a Travel Money Belt

Know your measurements

Most travel money belts are adjustable to accommodate a range of waist sizes, so while there’s usually a fair amount of wiggle room, it’s important to know your waist size—you can measure it yourself by placing one end of a tape measure at your navel, then wrapping it around your waist. Some belts, like the Yoder Hidden Money Leather Belt, are only available in individual sizes, so it’s best to read reviews to get a sense of if the item runs true to size.

Look for the right organization to accommodate your needs

Opt for a design that suits your travel style and storage needs so you’re not rummaging around at airport security or while navigating an unfamiliar city. The right organizational features, like multiple zippered compartments or hidden pockets, can make a big difference in what you’re able to store inside a money bag, and how easily you’re able to access your items on the go. If you’re looking for a place to stash your cash, credit cards, hotel keys, earbuds, and more, you’ll want to prioritize a travel money belt with various pockets—small, large, and zippered alike—to keep your items from jostling around; if you’re planning to use the bag for larger items, like phones and passports, you’ll need to look for a model that’s large enough to fit them, like the Lanney RFID Travel Blocking Money Belt.

Choose your style

Before buying a travel money belt, consider the primary ways you’ll use it—whether as a hands-free purse alternative, fitness accessory, or a discreet safeguard for your valuables. We’ve highlighted a variety of styles here, including traditional money belts, runner’s belts, classic leather belts, and ultra-discreet spandex compression bands. Some are more easily accessible on the go than others, so it’s crucial to think about how often you’ll need to remove your items. Another consideration is if you want a bag that’s easily concealed under clothing, or if you just need a more spacious, hands-free bag to fit all your travel essentials. Pick a bag that fits your travel needs, wardrobe, and travel routine for the best experience.

Credit: Amazon

Why I Love It

It’s comfortable, easy to adjust, and boasts plenty of pockets to secure all our travel essentials.

This slim, classic money belt checks all my boxes: it’s comfortable, boasts five pockets for optimal organization, can easily fit a phone and passport, and is crafted from water-resistant ripstop nylon. The variety of pockets is ideal for keeping track of your items on the go, with a large primary zippered compartment that can fit a phone and passport, two interior mesh slip pockets for stashing smaller items, a hidden mesh pocket, and a medium zippered pocket on the front. T+L editor Taylor Fox found it easy to pack all of the items on the testing list inside without having to fuss over the zipper, which glided smoothly even when the bag was fully loaded.

One standout feature is the belt’s round, double-release buckle, which feels sturdier than the standard three-prong clips on most of the models I personally tested. While its slim silhouette did become more noticeable when fully packed—even under two layers of clothing—it still felt secure and durable. After six months of long runs and regular use, it still looks good as new.

Travelon Rfid Blocking Undergarment Waist Pouch Travel Wallet

Credit: Amazon

This compact travel money belt, filled with pockets, is made from durable and flexible polyester that feels tough enough to withstand frequent use. Smooth zippers make it easy to access your belongings while the belt’s secured around your waist, and the soft, stretchy elastic waistband offers a snug, comfortable fit without digging in.

During testing, the belt stayed comfortably in place as I walked, sat down, and bent forward to adjust my shoes—it was so comfortable that I forgot I was wearing it after the first five minutes. I found the belt easy to conceal under clothes, particularly if you only pack it with flatter items, like a passport, credit cards, and a phone. It’s more visible when stuffed with bulkier objects, like a sunglasses case, so this may be better suited for just holding the essentials.

The Details: 10.75 x 5 x 0.12 | 6 ounces | 5 pockets | Polyester | Buckle closure

Credit: Amazon

For runners, hikers, and active travelers in general, this bag offers hands-free convenience while on the go. To properly test this running belt, T+L senior testing editor Jackie Cucco strapped it around her waist and wore it while jogging along the Hudson River. She was impressed by how well the stretchy elastic stayed in place as she ran, and by how comfortable the belt felt. “It wasn’t too tight or uncomfortable in any way—I could barely notice it was there,” she said.

While the material is equipped with sweat and splash protection, the belt did get damp after Jackie worked up a brief sweat. Luckily, the material dries rather quickly, and is easily hand washable. This travel money belt is very flat when empty, and expands to accommodate a surprising number of items—it fit earbuds, sunglasses, keys, hand sanitizer, credit cards, cash, and lip gloss inside, and still had room to spare. I love the dual pockets, which are easy to access while wearing the bag, and allow you to separate valuables like your phone or sunglasses from your keys.

Credit: Amazon

Whether you’re traveling to Thailand during monsoon season or just want to ensure your valuables are protected from unexpected showers, you can count on this water-resistant money bag to keep your items safe and dry. I was impressed with how well this lightweight polyester bag repelled water during testing. According to T+L writer Jasmine Gomez, “the belt repelled water excellently. I soaked the side that lays across the skin, and absolutely no water got inside of the bag.”

In addition to its weather protection, the bag is crafted from durable, rip-resistant material that feels structured without compromising comfort. It’s easy to access while on the go, but given its larger size, this isn’t the most inconspicuous pick. Rather, it’s a great option for anyone looking to store larger items like a phone or passport, as the main pocket is super spacious and features only one divider.

Credit: Amazon

Stylish and subtle, this leather travel money belt is one of the most unique designs I’ve come across. Crafted from genuine USA tanned English bridle leather, it’s designed to look and function like a standard belt—but with the added bonus of a secret zippered pocket on the backside. I was able to fit nine tri-folded bills inside the hidden compartment, and while it took a bit of finagling to fit them into the small opening, they were easily retrievable and completely undetectable once inside.

“This is definitely a thicker, heavier belt and it was oversized on me with a smaller waist and frame,” says T+L associate editor Anna Popp. “However, I still found it to be really comfortable to wear like a standard belt.” I think this is a particularly great pick for anyone who gets hot or uncomfortable wearing a money belt for travel under their clothes.

The Details: 1.5 x 3/16 inches | 10.4 ounces | 1 pocket | Leather | Buckle closure

Amazon StashBandz Unisex Travel Money Belt

Credit: Amazon

This StashBandz travel money belt is the next best thing to invisible pockets. Designed as a waterproof compression band, it’s made from skin-hugging spandex material that keeps your essentials as close to your body as possible, and completely protected from sweat or moisture. T+L editor Taylor Fox found it undetectable under a T-shirt, making this an optimal choice if you’re looking for a discreet design or a belt to wear during workouts.

To put it on, you pull the 360-degree band over your head or step into it; the elastic feels durable but may stretch out over time, and she found it tended to roll up whenever she sat down. The band is divided into four spacious pockets—two on the front and two on the back. Notably, this isn’t adjustable and runs small, so I recommend sizing up for the most comfortable fit.

The Details: 16 x 0.25 x 6.5 inches | 2.8 ounces | 4 pockets | Spandex | Water-resistant

Amazon Lanney RFID Travel Blocking Money Belt

Credit: Amazon

Why I Love It

Compact yet spacious, this water-resistant belt can comfortably fit passports, paper bills, a phone, and more.

If you’re looking for a spacious bag with plenty of compartments to keep your valuables organized, this money belt is an excellent and budget-friendly choice. There are five pockets, including a main compartment with two interior mesh slip pockets—one large enough to fit a passport, the other for credit cards—plus another zippered front pocket, and an open mesh sleeve on the back. I appreciate how comfortable the belt was to wear for extended periods, and that it didn’t require any adjusting once on. If security is top of mind, you’ll also find the 10 included RFID-blocking card holders an added bonus.

The strap fits waists measuring 24-50 inches, but I found that the elastic could likely stretch to fit larger sizes. Beyond its impressive capacity, this bag also boasts a water-resistant coating that kept the items inside completely dry during our water bottle sweat test.

Other Travel Money Belts I Liked

Several of the other travel money belts deserve honorable mention for convenient features like water-resistant coating, unique style, and comfort—while they fell short of my best-of list due to slight drawbacks over quality or size, I think these would still work well for a wide range of travelers.

Bison Designs T Lock Money Belt: While I loved the utilitarian style and dual-functionality of this money belt, I wish it came in a wider size range.

Travel + Leisure

Boxiki Travel Hidden Money Belt: I appreciated how well this spacious bag performed in our water testing (it kept all our items dry and the bag itself dried completely in 15 minutes), but I’d prefer a buckle closure instead of having to pull it on from overhead or underfoot.

Travel + Leisure

Samsonite RFID Security Waist Belt: This travel money belt fits comfortably thanks to soft, breathable padding on the back, and it did a great job of holding all my items. It held up well to our water testing, keeping all my items dry—but ultimately I felt hesitant about trusting the flimsy elastic strap, which seems easy to tear or cut.

Travel + Leisure

My Testing Process

We tested 50 travel money belts during our real-world travels. I, along with several other editors, was given a set of dummy essential items that people would be most likely to store in a money belt for travel, including a passport, credit cards, cash, a cell phone, a set of keys, sunglasses, and earbuds. I first examined the components and quality of the belt, assessing the number of pockets, style of closure, and how durable the hardware looked. Next, I examined how easy it was to put on and if it required any adjusting, before packing it with as many items from our list as we could fit—paying close attention to how well the zippers worked, and if they glided smoothly when the bag was fully packed. I also noted any organizational and security features that enhanced the bag’s usefulness, like pockets and RFID-blocking card slots.

To test for water-and sweat-resistance on belts that claimed some level of waterproof capabilities, I sprayed them with water until they were soaked, then checked the contents to see if any water seeped through. I also timed how long it took for the belt to dry out.

We will continue to test these money belts over six months in the real world to ensure they lived up to our initial impressions, and tested several new models in June 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will money belts keep my belongings safe from pickpocketing?

Compared to traditional wallets, which might be more easily stolen from a pocket or a purse, a travel money belt provides a safer way to carry your cash, cards, ID, and other valuables on your person—particularly in tourist destinations or places where pickpocketing is common. By keeping your belongings beneath your clothes and out of sight, a compact money bag is less likely to attract unwanted attention. The inverse holds true as well: bulkier styles or those worn over your clothes may mark you as a tourist, and highlight where your valuables are stored. To that end, a discreet, comfortable style is best suited to protecting you against pickpockets.

What else can you put in a travel money belt?

Despite the name, money belts can hold more than just cash—think of them as minimalist, security-enhanced fanny packs, which can safely store everything from cards and earbuds to phones and passports. What you can pack ultimately comes down to capacity, as some belts are designed specifically for cash (like the standard belt styles included in this list), while others boast several pockets to accommodate larger items like sunglasses.

Can you wear your travel money belt through airport security screening?

No, you’ll need to remove your money belt in order to go through airport security, as you would with a fanny pack, classic belt, or other personal item. To stay discreet, I’d recommend packing your belt in your carry-on while going through security, then putting it on in the bathroom afterwards to avoid drawing attention to it in the airport.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

T+L writer Sophie Dodd has over 10 years of travel writing experience and personally tested many of the travel money belts on this list. After the initial tests, our team of T+L editors took the belts out on runs, errands, and trips before sharing their feedback. Sophie then combined her testing insights and information from her colleagues’ experiences to create this list of the best options for travel, focusing on ones that have travel-friendly features like multiple pockets, secure zippers, RFID-blocking materials, comfortable waistbands, and water-resistant fabrics.

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