With the Steelwallet Pro, the Swiss hardware wallet manufacturer BitBox presents another stainless steel backup solution. In contrast to the previously available model, the Steelwallet Pro is reusable and its simple and compact design also makes it less conspicuous and easier to handle. We have tested the new model and provide a brief overview!
Scope of delivery and mode of operation
In addition to the stainless steel capsule already visible in the pictures, the Steelwallet Pro from BitBox also comes with other important components:
- 256 engraved letters sorted on four plates
- One screw including Allen key
- Two security stickers
Unlike many other stainless steel backups, there is no need to hammer or punch. Instead, you simply slide pre-engraved letter plates in the desired order into the four rails provided and can thus assemble the 12 or 24 recovery words of your own wallet. There is space for four letters for each word from the BIP-39 word list, which are always unique regardless of the actual length of the word. There is a nub at the end of the four rails to prevent the tiles from falling out. The letters can only be inserted into or removed from the Steelwallet Pro with enough force.
Inserting the letters is not only convenient (and quiet), but also offers the advantage of reusability. Normally, backups of this type are literally "carved in steel" once they have been created and can no longer be subsequently adapted. If you want to change your own wallet or have simply made a mistake when punching or hammering, you have to buy a new backup.
At €199, the Steelwallet Pro is more than twice as expensive as the normal Steelwallet from BitBox, but it also offers more flexibility. As the letter tiles can be removed and rearranged at any time, switching to other recovery words is no problem. Theoretically, the Steelwallet Pro can therefore be used and inherited forever, even across generations.
Protection against fire, water & co.
Protection against fire, flooding or even strong forces is almost a basic requirement for a stainless steel backup. In other words, everything that could happen in a worst-case scenario, e.g. during storage at home. The Steelwallet Pro has been tested at a temperature of over 1000°C, can withstand shots from a rifle and is of course also waterproof.
Unfortunately, the Steelwallet Pro is not yet one of the frequently cited steel backups tested by Jameson Lopp.
Secure closure
Once the backup has been created, the Steelwallet Pro can simply be pushed into the casing until you can hear and feel it click into place. A screw is also included in the scope of delivery with which the Steelwallet can be firmly closed. If you then stick the numbered security sticker on the head of the screw, the Steelwallet Pro is effectively tamper-proof. To open it, you would at least have to destroy the sticker, which would be immediately noticeable at first glance. As long as the sticker is intact or the number matches, you can be pretty sure that nobody has seen the backup inside, which can be relevant for multisig setups, for example.
Conclusion
If you don't mind paying €200 for a stainless steel backup, the Steelwallet Pro is a practical and durable solution for protecting your Bitcoin from fire and water. The Steelwallet Pro "feels good in the hand" and has a very high-quality feel thanks to its weight and build quality. Creating or customizing the backup is very easy and thanks to its reusability, the rather high investment remains a one-off, unless you take the Steelwallet Pro on a boat trip...
BitBox Steelwallet Pro
- Sehr robust und hochwertig
- Backup kann beliebig angepasst bzw. wiederverwendet werden
- Kompatibel mit bis zu 24 Wörtern
- Manipulationssicherer Verschluss
- Kein hämmern oder stanzen notwendig
- Vergleichsweise teuer
