If by "durable" you mean only the material used to make the device, it is better to use metal than plastic.
But if by "durable" you mean "long lasting", it is better to choose the device with the least sophisticated electronic components.
The biometric kit, the camera, the color screen and the battery do not have a long life (especially the battery).
And if you have to rely on these components, your hardware portfolio will not be "durable".
A smart card such as Tangem, Satochip or Satscard might be the best choice for long-term storage.
What if you could simply "detach" the secure element from the rest of the device? So that you can plug it into another compatible device when the first one dies? Thinking out loud...
Topic: Most Durable Hardware Wallets - page 2. (Read 324 times)
What can you do?
- You can post any public or private information you have about durability of hardware wallets.
- You can perform your own tests and post results here.
- Post videos and articles about destroying various hardware wallets.
I bought my ledger nano S hardware wallet in about September 2017.
Since then I used it about once every 2-3 months.
I am very careful with it, and it is still new. Zero scratches, working 100% , all updates, etc.
I noticed that ledger nano price is now about 5x more expensive in Brazil compared to 2017, and I would be very sad if it breaks somehow.
I am satisfied with its durability so far.
edit: i agree with m2017. my device never leaves my house and it never takes any load or heavy conditions
Every answer so far has been well elaborated.
Even though it is not a straightforward answer to the original question, I want to add the SeedSigner to the conversation. It is custom-built, which means that you buy the parts to build your signing device. Therefore, I believe its durability depends on the user. I have built a seed signer in 2021 and I have used it extensively. It had never had any issues.
Even though it is not a straightforward answer to the original question, I want to add the SeedSigner to the conversation. It is custom-built, which means that you buy the parts to build your signing device. Therefore, I believe its durability depends on the user. I have built a seed signer in 2021 and I have used it extensively. It had never had any issues.
Most hardware wallets are made of plastic but there are few exceptions that use more quality materials like metal and glass, that will have higher rating.
Given my experience with phones, I can't agree glass is stronger than plastic. It offers better protection against scratches, but breaks easier.the quality of the physical performance of HW devices is often of poor quality.
Isn't that intentional? If it breaks, you'll have to buy a new one, so it's not designed to be physically strong (just like phones).they should be able to survive natural disasters.
I'm thinking flooding, volcanos and forest fires. There's no need for any device to withstand that. Just keep your backup safe.It seems that none of the existing HW devices is designed to survive natural disasters.
Just like phones, TVs, furniture and cars 
For my phone, I use a rubber case. It turns out they exist for Trezor too:
If you're worried about dropping it, this solves it.
- Post videos and articles about destroying various hardware wallets.
Found two more:- Tangem HW is being tested in water and also to a small extent by a car [source]
- Cutting into an Ellipal Titan Mini Hardware Wallet [source]
It'd be nice to see some of these tests on customized versions of popular hardware wallets as well...
Hardware wallet, this is not a device for extreme recreation and hiking, respectively, will not experience excessive load.
You don't have to bring hardware wallet on hiking with you, but you can cross border, bring it on business trips and they should be able to survive natural disasters.I understand that it's not normal when plastic breaks in the hands, but the test with hammer blows will be too much. I can test any device in the world in this way and after I break it to smithereens, I will say that it is poorly made. 
I can clearly show you multipole hardware wallets that can survive test with hammer and they would survive without any issue or damage.Almost every hardware wallet in format of credit card will score high in this test, and I know few wallets with screens that are using tempered glass, gorilla glass and metal instead of plastic.
I think this is an extra check for HW devices. Whereas a drop test (not only on the ground, but on hard surfaces too) is necessary. Testing for water permeability is also a dubious test. Under normal circumstances, who will use the HW in the bathroom or at sea? You need to test under normal average conditions.
What can I say... you obviously live in perfect world...I personally know examples of people who washed their clothes with hardware wallets or they dropped it in water like it happens with smartphones all the time.
I don't see why hardware wallets should be made like cheap chinese toys that easily breaks and stop working when sprinkled with water.
Floods are very common in some parts in the worlds, even my friends old house was totally flooded few years ago.
Even wrist watch I have is proven to be water resistant and it's not expensive at all.
We should not expect too much from manufacturers, as this is still a business and their main goal is to make a profit. Therefore, they will save on the quality of materials if the device is not initially designed for high quality performance.
There is another option. Use special cases or capsules to store HW devices that compensate for their shortcomings. For example, from metal, in a sealed case and waterproof, as well as fireproof. But discussion of this will be beyond the scope of this topic.
interesting initiative.
I understand that the trend is to get a physical device and test it until destruction in front of a camera, however, I am more of a fan of simulation approaches, in order to save money and not having to deal with the statistical problems that come with manufacture.
One could carry an approximate study by importing a model of the cases of each HW and (knowing the material of them) test them under static loads and cyclical loads. Of course, that would mean an assumption of all the load being bore by the case only and would not say anything about the resistance against scratches, screen or inner components.
Trezor's models are available on their repository so it is a matter of finding out what kind of plastic they use.
I understand that the trend is to get a physical device and test it until destruction in front of a camera, however, I am more of a fan of simulation approaches, in order to save money and not having to deal with the statistical problems that come with manufacture.
One could carry an approximate study by importing a model of the cases of each HW and (knowing the material of them) test them under static loads and cyclical loads. Of course, that would mean an assumption of all the load being bore by the case only and would not say anything about the resistance against scratches, screen or inner components.
Trezor's models are available on their repository so it is a matter of finding out what kind of plastic they use.
Hardware wallet, this is not a device for extreme recreation and hiking, respectively, will not experience excessive load.
You don't have to bring hardware wallet on hiking with you, but you can cross border, bring it on business trips and they should be able to survive natural disasters.I understand that it's not normal when plastic breaks in the hands, but the test with hammer blows will be too much. I can test any device in the world in this way and after I break it to smithereens, I will say that it is poorly made.
I can clearly show you multipole hardware wallets that can survive test with hammer and they would survive without any issue or damage.Almost every hardware wallet in format of credit card will score high in this test, and I know few wallets with screens that are using tempered glass, gorilla glass and metal instead of plastic.
I think this is an extra check for HW devices. Whereas a drop test (not only on the ground, but on hard surfaces too) is necessary. Testing for water permeability is also a dubious test. Under normal circumstances, who will use the HW in the bathroom or at sea? You need to test under normal average conditions.
What can I say... you obviously live in perfect world...I personally know examples of people who washed their clothes with hardware wallets or they dropped it in water like it happens with smartphones all the time.
I don't see why hardware wallets should be made like cheap chinese toys that easily breaks and stop working when sprinkled with water.
Floods are very common in some parts in the worlds, even my friends old house was totally flooded few years ago.
Even wrist watch I have is proven to be water resistant and it's not expensive at all.
You touched on an important topic, because the quality of the physical performance of HW devices is often of poor quality. Information that allows you to understand which models of hardware wallets have a fragile body will be useful to buyers and allow them to choose a device for their needs.
But I see a number of questionable points.
Hardware wallet, this is not a device for extreme recreation and hiking, respectively, will not experience excessive load. I understand that it's not normal when plastic breaks in the hands, but the test with hammer blows will be too much. I can test any device in the world in this way and after I break it to smithereens, I will say that it is poorly made. I think this is an extra check for HW devices. Whereas a drop test (not only on the ground, but on hard surfaces too) is necessary. Testing for water permeability is also a dubious test. Under normal circumstances, who will use the HW in the bathroom or at sea? You need to test under normal average conditions.
I agree that such testing of devices is necessary, but it must be done within reason.
It would be just great if you can get information about device testing from manufacturers and what loads it is designed for.
Good luck in your endeavor.
But I see a number of questionable points.
Hardware wallet, this is not a device for extreme recreation and hiking, respectively, will not experience excessive load. I understand that it's not normal when plastic breaks in the hands, but the test with hammer blows will be too much. I can test any device in the world in this way and after I break it to smithereens, I will say that it is poorly made.
I think this is an extra check for HW devices. Whereas a drop test (not only on the ground, but on hard surfaces too) is necessary. Testing for water permeability is also a dubious test. Under normal circumstances, who will use the HW in the bathroom or at sea? You need to test under normal average conditions.I agree that such testing of devices is necessary, but it must be done within reason.
It would be just great if you can get information about device testing from manufacturers and what loads it is designed for.
Good luck in your endeavor.
We talked a lot about most durable solutions for keeping seed words backup, using stainless steel washer or plates from strong metals like titanium, but we didn't about durability of hardware wallets.
Jameson Lopp tested a lot of backup solutions, and there are people who are testing smartphones (JerryRigEverything), but I never saw anyone testing hardware wallets like this.
Most hardware wallets are made of plastic but there are few exceptions that use more quality materials like metal and glass, that will have higher rating.
I will divide hardware wallets in few basic categories based on the big list of hardware wallets we are maintaining in our local board.
Hardware wallets are usually small electronic devices that usually have small display and few buttons, there are bigger devices that looks like phones and have more buttons, and third type of wallets looks like a regular credit cards.
Note that in some cases it might be a good idea to have hardware wallet that can be easily destroyed, to prevent anyone ever extracting any information from your device.
What are my plans for this research?
- I will try to contact hardware wallet developers and ask them if they conducted any testing on durability and if they can provide some information in public.
- I will consider if device would survive drops to ground and hits with hammer.
- Using common sense I will assume if wallet can easily be broken with hands (real testing is possible in future if manufacturers are willing to donate).
- Water resistant and waterproof features will be rated higher.
- Glass screen protection from scratches and breaks will be checked.
What can you do?
- You can post any public or private information you have about durability of hardware wallets.
- You can perform your own tests and post results here.
- Post videos and articles about destroying various hardware wallets.
Videos and articles of destroying hardware wallets:
- Destroying BitBox02 hardware wallet
- Destroying Trezor One hardware wallet; Trezor One 2nd video; Trezor One 3rd video; Trezor One 4th video
- Destroying Ellipal Titan Mini hardware wallet
- Destroying Keystone hardware wallet with a hammer
- Tangem HW tested in water; Tangem HW tested in ice cold
This is work in progress, research will take time and rating for hardware wallets is not yet standardized, but I would like to see this improved and changed in future with your suggestions.
Jameson Lopp tested a lot of backup solutions, and there are people who are testing smartphones (JerryRigEverything), but I never saw anyone testing hardware wallets like this.
Most hardware wallets are made of plastic but there are few exceptions that use more quality materials like metal and glass, that will have higher rating.
I will divide hardware wallets in few basic categories based on the big list of hardware wallets we are maintaining in our local board.
Hardware wallets are usually small electronic devices that usually have small display and few buttons, there are bigger devices that looks like phones and have more buttons, and third type of wallets looks like a regular credit cards.
Note that in some cases it might be a good idea to have hardware wallet that can be easily destroyed, to prevent anyone ever extracting any information from your device.
What are my plans for this research?
- I will try to contact hardware wallet developers and ask them if they conducted any testing on durability and if they can provide some information in public.
- I will consider if device would survive drops to ground and hits with hammer.
- Using common sense I will assume if wallet can easily be broken with hands (real testing is possible in future if manufacturers are willing to donate).
- Water resistant and waterproof features will be rated higher.
- Glass screen protection from scratches and breaks will be checked.
What can you do?
- You can post any public or private information you have about durability of hardware wallets.
- You can perform your own tests and post results here.
- Post videos and articles about destroying various hardware wallets.
Videos and articles of destroying hardware wallets:
- Destroying BitBox02 hardware wallet
- Destroying Trezor One hardware wallet; Trezor One 2nd video; Trezor One 3rd video; Trezor One 4th video
- Destroying Ellipal Titan Mini hardware wallet
- Destroying Keystone hardware wallet with a hammer
- Tangem HW tested in water; Tangem HW tested in ice cold
This is work in progress, research will take time and rating for hardware wallets is not yet standardized, but I would like to see this improved and changed in future with your suggestions.
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