Frequently Asked Questions

Products and performance

What makes The Faraday Co. different from other brands?
We use verified conductive fabrics, reinforced stitching, and we test what we sell. We also tell you what our products do not do, which is rarer in this category than it should be. Off-brand blockers can look identical and offer a false sense of security. Ask us for the test report before you buy — from anyone.

Do Faraday products really work?
Yes, and you can verify it yourself in about thirty seconds. Place a phone inside a sealed Stuff Guard and call it. It will not ring. Tap a contactless card through a sealed pouch. It will not read.

What frequencies do your products block?
Our shielding materials are tested against the bands in everyday use: cellular including 5G sub-6, Wi-Fi at 2.4 and 5 GHz, Bluetooth, GPS, and the UHF bands used by keyless entry. RFID and NFC at 13.56 MHz are covered for card and passport products.

Attenuation is reported in decibels across frequency rather than as a single percentage, because shielding performance varies substantially across the spectrum and a single number without a frequency attached tells you nothing. Ask us for the test report on any product and we will send it.

Do your bags block 5G?
Yes. Our Stuff Guards and Key Guards are tested against 5G sub-6 bands. Proper closure is essential — always fully seal the flap or zipper. A partially closed bag is an open bag.

Can I still use my phone inside a Faraday bag?
No. Sealed inside a Stuff Guard, your phone cannot send or receive calls, messages or location data. That is the entire point. Remove it to restore connectivity.

How do I know my Faraday product is working?
Test it. Seal a device inside and try to call it, connect over Bluetooth, or tap a contactless card. If nothing gets through, it is working. For a measured result rather than a demonstration, use an EMF meter to compare readings with the product open and sealed. And ask us for the laboratory test report for your specific product — we will send it.

What will shielding fabric NOT do?
Three things worth knowing before you buy. It will not shield low-frequency magnetic fields from building wiring or appliances — those need ferromagnetic materials, which we do not supply. A garment is not a sealed enclosure; it attenuates energy reaching the area it covers, and signal passes through openings and gaps. And shielding does nothing about sources already inside the shielded space — a canopy over a bed does not affect the phone on the bedside table underneath it.

Are Faraday bags waterproof or fireproof?
Many feature water-resistant and fire-retardant outer shells, but they are not dive cases. They handle spills, splashes and brief exposure, not submersion.

What size should I buy?
Small: car keys, credit cards, passports. Medium: phones, wallets. Large: tablets and e-readers. XL: laptops and multiple devices. If you are between sizes or unsure, email us with the device and we will tell you.

Will my credit cards work after being stored in a Stuff Guard?
Yes. RFID chips are not damaged, only shielded while inside. Once removed, cards function normally.

Can I travel with Faraday bags?
Yes. They are useful in airports, hotels and rideshares. Security screening may ask you to remove electronics, but the bags themselves are travel-friendly.

Grounding

What does a grounding sheet actually do?
Physically, one thing, and it is measurable: it connects your body to earth potential through a conductive path, so your body voltage relative to ground drops — typically from a few volts to near zero — within about a second of skin contact. In a wired building your body couples capacitively to the AC wiring around you and floats at a small potential above earth. The sheet gives that charge a path to ground. You can verify it yourself with a multimeter.

Beyond that electrical effect, grounding has been studied in humans for outcomes including sleep quality, overnight cortisol and stress markers. Those studies are small and early, and we summarise them with full citations on our Earthing & Grounding page so you can read the sources yourself. We do not make health claims for our products, and we would be cautious of anyone who does.

Do your Grounding Guards plug into electricity?
No. They use no electricity and draw no power. The cord connects only to the ground pin of a standard outlet, or to an approved external ground rod.

How do I know my outlet is properly grounded?
Check it before use. An outlet tester costs very little and takes a moment. If your building's wiring is old or ungrounded, or you are unsure, use an external ground rod or ask an electrician. A grounding product connected to an incorrectly wired outlet will not work as intended.

Are your grounding products safe for children and pets?
They are passive, non-powered conductive fabrics that connect to ground. Keep cords and snaps secured and out of reach.

Do your products interfere with pacemakers or medical devices?
Shielding products only block external fields. Grounding products may not be suitable if you have an implanted medical device — consult your doctor before use if you have a pacemaker, insulin pump or similar.

What is the difference between shielding and grounding?
Shielding puts a conductive barrier between a signal and whatever is behind it — Faraday bags, shielding fabrics. Grounding connects your body to earth potential through a conductive path — sheets, mats, wristbands. They are different things and they do different jobs.

How do EMF meters help?
They measure the fields in your home, office or vehicle, so you can see what is actually there rather than guessing. Useful for deciding where to place a router, what is worth shielding, and whether a product is doing anything measurable.

Orders, shipping and returns

How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are processed within 1–2 business days. Standard international delivery then takes 10–20 business days depending on destination and customs clearance. Every order is tracked end to end and you receive the tracking number by email at dispatch. If you need an item by a specific date, contact us before ordering and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.

Where do your products ship from?
Our shielding materials are manufactured by specialist textile producers, principally in Asia, chosen on tested shielding performance rather than price. Orders ship from our fulfilment partners. We tell you this plainly because you should know what you are buying and from where — and because every batch is verified against specification before it is offered for sale.

What is your returns policy?
30 days from delivery, full refund, no restocking fee. Items must be in original condition. Underwear, headwear and unsealed bedding are final sale for hygiene reasons — everything else comes back. If an item arrives damaged, defective or not as described, we cover return shipping and refund in full. See the full returns policy.

What if my order is late or does not arrive?
If tracking has not updated for seven days, or your order has not arrived within 30 days of dispatch, email info@thefaraday.co and we will trace it. If it cannot be located we will replace it or refund it in full. You do not have to argue with us about this.

Do you offer gift cards?
Yes. Digital gift cards in multiple denominations, delivered instantly by email. Good for anyone who cares about privacy, security and keeping their equipment protected.

Do you offer bulk or corporate pricing?
Yes. We supply corporate security teams, legal and financial firms and public sector buyers, with volume pricing, consolidated invoicing and procurement documentation. Contact sales@thefaraday.co.

Where can I learn more about the science?
See What is Faraday? for how shielding works and what it will not do, Testing & Certification for how we measure it, and Earthing & Grounding for the research on grounding with full citations.