The Wallet Shoppe
We all know Trayvax wallets are made for folks who love the outdoors and a good adventure.
We also know their wallets look really wild and gnarly. They have a tactical style to them that might look “interesting” when running through an x-ray machine.
So are all Trayvax wallets TSA-approved? (Or is that TSA-compliant?)
Are Trayvax Wallets TSA Approved?
Trayvax assures us on its website that its wallets are designed with TSA guidelines in mind (which is great), though it can’t guarantee every officer will agree. And folks do still get stopped, questioned and (at the very least) slowed down when a curious agent wants a closer look at this cool little wallet of yours.
Below we’ll take a closer look at each specific wallet and what might slow you down if you’re late for a flight.
The Contour
The Contour is probably the least “tactical” of all their wallets. Its design focuses on quality, precision and all of the things we love about Trayvax. It doesn’t look like anything suspicious under an x-ray, but it will definitely set off the metal detector, so take it out of your pocket before you go through. The Contour shouldn’t give you any trouble when traveling.
The Element
The Element has more of an edgy feel to it - literally. One side has ridges along the outer edge (for grip). A question we often get: “are any of the edges sharp?” The answer is no. It wouldn’t work very well in your pocket if they were! But under the x-ray, those ridges can look serrated, and Trayvax itself notes that agents sometimes pull it aside for a closer look. We’ve never heard of one being confiscated, though.
Recommendation: see our tip at the end for getting through with less fuss.
The Ascent
The Ascent will probably run into similar situations as the Element. With a double “notched” edge, it can look serrated or sharp on the x-ray. That said, we haven’t heard of anyone having issues with this one, so it’s probably good to go.
The Axis
If you already own an Axis, it’s very similar to The Original (next), but without the bottle opener. Being steel, it will definitely set off metal detectors, but nobody we’ve heard from has had issues with it at security.
The Original 2.0
The Original tactical wallet by Trayvax. Version 1.0 was (by far) the one that gave people the most trouble at security. The issue was the bottle opener on the end: it had a pointy tip that raised a few red flags. It would be hard to use as a weapon, but it definitely looks strange going through an x-ray machine. If you still have one, be prepared to explain to some unsuspecting TSA officer that this is actually your “wallet” and not a knife of some sort. The 2.0’s redesigned bottle opener is much less likely to draw attention.
Verdict: We’ve even heard of regular travelers removing the old bottle opener (with a small saw?) just so security won’t slow them down. Our suggestion: if you like The Original, get the 2.0 instead.
The Summit (Minimalist)
The Summit is their “most” minimalist wallet if that’s possible? It’s completely stripped down to the bare essentials, so it shouldn’t give you any issues at the airport. Just check any accessories you add (anything with a blade is a different story).
TSA Compliance - How To Get A Tactical Wallet Through Security
It’s important to note that there isn’t really any way to guarantee that a wallet (or anything else) will sail through. TSA officers have a lot of discretion, and the final decision is theirs. Use TSA’s What Can I Bring? tool to check any accessories.
The TSA travel checklist says to empty your pockets, wallet included, before the scanner, and your carry-on is the official place for it. But with a tactical-looking wallet, put yourself in the officer’s shoes for a minute. Which is easier: spotting something “interesting” on the x-ray and having to pull someone aside to dig through their bag? Or seeing a wallet (clearly a wallet, with credit cards and everything) sitting in the bin with your watch and keys, where they can pick it up and instantly see what it is? If your lane allows it, we think the second one draws less attention.
Make it easy, be polite, and you’re less likely to have trouble with anything that’s borderline. Just human nature …
