Gear Picks
Keep Your Stuff Safe with These Money Belts
Should you use a money belt when you travel? Probably. Here are six of our favorites.
Featured
$30.00
from Backcountry
If you want to travel ultralight, Sea to Summit’s version of the money belt is made from featherweight Ultra-Sil Cordura that weighs just two ounces and has a 3-D mesh back for extra breathability. You also get two zipper pockets for organization, a soft elastic waistband for comfort, and an RFID-blocking liner to keep hackers at bay.
$15.00
from REI
Wear this wallet around your neck, and tuck it under your shirt or sweater to keep all your important documents out of sight. The wallet also has an RFID-blocking liner so thieves can’t snag your goods digitally. It’s made from a water-resistant ripstop nylon that will hold up no matter how long you’re traveling.
$23.00
from Amazon
StashBandz is part running belt, part money belt. It’s twice the width of your standard hide-away belt and made from a soft spandex fabric that hugs your waist. Four separate pockets keep your goods organized and decrease bulk, and you can sprint to catch a train without any annoying belt bounce.
$14.00
from REI
No, it doesn’t stuff inside your bra. It clips to the side of your bra and hangs down your side, hiding credit cards, keys, and cash beneath your shirt where pickpockets can’t reach. The pouch is made from a supersoft mix of nylon and spandex that feels like lingerie and weighs just 0.4 ounces.
$31.00
from REI
This is a larger money belt, big enough to fit your passport, cards, cash, and any other important documents you might be carrying around. It has two zippered pockets that keep everything organized, and it’s made from a soft, washable silk that resists sweat. The waistband is elastic, so it doesn’t bind as you snack your way from café to café.
$15.00
from REI
Emergency cash—you can never have too much of it. This simple nylon belt has a hidden pocket big enough to stash a few bills, in case you find yourself in a Thailand bar without your wallet and the bartender is looking to you to pay the bill.
All Gear
$13
$10
from Backcountry
23% off
Ultramarathoner, coach, and mom Meghan Laws swears by five-toe socks from Injinji. “Without them, I get blisters between my toes,” Laws says. Injinji has a patent on its popular five-toe design, and the lightweight mini crews are made with synthetic, breathable Coolmax and nylon.
$180
$117
from Backcountry
35% off
The Altus MIPS won a Gear of the Year award in our 2021 Winter Buyer’s Guide: “Testers wore the Altus for multiple self-powered laps up southern Oregon’s Mount Ashland on a 50-degree afternoon, never wanted to take it off, and came away with dry hair,” we wrote.
$15
$11
from Huckberry
27% off
This polyester microfiber neck gaiter is printed with a map of Grand Teton National Park. There are a dozen ways to wear sweat-wicking neck tubes like this one—we think it’s handy as a headband, too.
$56
$39
from Huckberry
30% off
The timeless Crazy Creek is still one of the best camp chairs on the market. “My Crazy Creek is an essential part of my adventure kit that has literally saved my butt more times than I can count,” wrote podcast producer Maren Larsen. “Its classic design isn’t going anywhere—except on every outdoor excursion I take.”
Sponsor Content
ATG by Wrangler™ Mixed Material Shirt (Women’s)
$40
from ATG by Wrangler™
Bring comfort and style with you on your next outdoor adventure. The Women’s Mixed Material Shirt made with 85 percent recycled materials is quick drying with UPF 50 to keep you cool and protected from the sun. The comfortable stretch and zipper pockets add the functionality you need to play (or work) hard outside.
$24
$18
from REI
25% off
If you’re a skier who wants less cushioning, these are the socks for you. “Icebreaker’s take on the superthin ski sock features moisture-wicking merino wool, nylon, and Lycra,” wrote associate editor Abigail Barronian. “It has little cushioning to speak of, but it still feels substantial, striking a good balance between weight, warmth, and breathability.”
$170
$110
from Backcountry
35% off
The Looper MIPS was the best helmet on a budget in our 2021 Winter Buyer’s Guide. It “retains the fantastic fit and rich feature set we have grown accustomed to at a much lower price,” wrote one tester. “Perhaps most significantly, the Looper is remarkably breathable, with two slits each at the front and back of the helmet connected by internal channels.”
$169
$110
from Huckberry
35% off
Contributor Kaelyn Lynch fell in love with this wearable sleeping bag, which she thinks is the cure for winter blues. “An Everest expedition suit for the common folk, it is essentially a ripstop nylon, water-resistant, synthetic insulated Snuggie with legs,” she wrote.
$120
$84
from REI
30% off
What’s the best base layer top for women? Contributor Kassondra Cloos thinks it’s the Kari Traa Rose. “With a deep half-zip and thin side panels running from hip to wrist, the top also works in a wide range of temperatures,” she wrote. This version has a slim hood to seal in extra warmth.
$299
$165
from Backcountry
45% off
We gave the Micro Puff jacket a Gear of the Year award when it debuted in 2017. Tester Frederick Reimers described its innovative insulation: “[It’s] tacked between sheets of ten-denier nylon fabric in long strands, so it won’t shift and create cold spots.”
$499
$399
from Evo
20% off
The Sabre Snow Pants are our Gear Guy’s favorites. He included them in his ultimate ski touring kit. “The perfectly articulated legs bend and move like champs while I’m skinning, and ample zippered vents prevent sweat buildup,” he wrote. If you plan to really get after it this winter, these are the pants you want.
Gear Picks is a curated selection of products we’ve tested and heartily recommend. We stand by this gear—and the brands that sell it—and many of our editors and writers use this stuff weekly. Whenever possible, we provide a link to a past review so you can make sure it’s something that suits your lifestyle—ideally at a steeply discounted price. Happy shopping—and gear-picking.