The Best Keychains & Keyrings for Everyday Carry (2024)

If you’re reading this, you’re probably already somewhat familiar with ourstance on EDC— that there are a few pocketable pieces of gear we deem “necessities” that we believe everyone should carry day-in and day-out. Of course, there are some items that are a lot more ubiquitous than others. For instance, many people aren’t too keen oncarrying a knifewith them at all times — likely because of their reputation as weapons and the concerns of danger therein. However, just about everyone has some version of a wallet they keep on their person almost compulsively.

Well, one of the absolute most widely carried pieces of everyday carry gear might actually be something you don’t give much thought to in your comings and goings. We’re talking, of course, about a keychain and/or keyring. Like a wallet — the device used to carry your money and identification — an EDC keyring is likely a true necessity, as most people need a means of carrying and organizing the keys to their house, car, mailbox (if you live in an apartment), etc. And while picking one out is a distinctly personal process, we’ve gone ahead and stacked the deck by putting together the following list of the best EDC keychains and keyrings you can but right now.

If you’ve only ever carried a standard steel split-circle keyring, you may be under the impression there isn’t much complexity to the EDC keychain or keyring segments, however, there are actually numerous finer points that are crucial to be privy to when shopping — the most important of which we’ll be breaking down directly below.

Design: Overall design is unquestionably one of the main areas to focus on when shopping in this space, as a monumental portion of an item’s overall performance and user experience will ultimately come down to design. Each design will possess its own unique strengths and weaknesses — such as smaller more minimalistic models being more pocketable and weighing less while larger keychains and keyrings are markedly bulkier, though often come loaded with additional features or functionality.

Materials: The material or materials used to make it will play a pivotal role in any EDC item’s overall quality and durability, and EDC-style keyrings and keychains are no exception in this regard. As such, it’s crucial to pay close attention to the materials used to make each product, as well as the construction technique (or techniques) used to piece those materials together. In this space, the most common constructions tend to be alloys such as aluminum, stainless steel, brass, and titanium, though it’s also not uncommon to see metal constructions supplemented with materials like Paracord, or leather.

Gate Or Closure: How a key actually attaches to a keyring or keychain — and how that keychain connect to the user’s pants or belt on dual-gated models — is also of monumental importance when shopping, as a given keychain or ring’s overall level of security and ease of use will be hugey impacted by the type(s) of gate and/or closure being used. This can include everything from quick-release buckles to split-rings to carabiner-style closures.

Features: Though their primary job is to organize and/or house your keys or keyring and keep it tethered to your pants or belt, EDC keyring and keychains sometimes come outfitted with supplementary features or functions such as bit drivers or bottle openers — making any model’s list of features another important area to review when shopping.

Style & Finish: Justlike with most pieces of everyday carry gear, EDC keychains and keyrings are produced in a huge range of different shapes, sizes, and styles, including everything from super contemporary designs to unmistakably old-school offerings. The wealth of available options on the market does mean there are a lot of choices to sort through, however, it also practically guarantees that there will be one or more EDC keyrings and keychains that jive with your personal style and aesthetic taste — an area furthered by the fact that a great many of our favorite models are offered in more than one material option or colorway.

Real-World Use: You can glean a great deal of information simply from looking at photos and reading spec sheets, however, it isn’t until actually using one of these EDC items firsthand that you start to get a complete sense of its real-world performance, as some keychains look well-designed but have flaws that reveal themselves after an extended period of use. As such, real-world use is another important area to review when shopping.

Selecting the best EDC keychains may seem like a fairly straight forward process, though the reality is that a great deal of thought goes into the design and manufacturing of these items, and as such a great deal of thought I’d required when sussing out the best models currently on the market. We started by first making a broader list of everyday carry keychains that we suspected of comprising the best there currently is, primarily based on each model’s design, features and utility, material selection, bud quality, and appearance.

Looking at keychains online and reading about materials and specs can provide a decent amount of information on each product, however, it isn’t until actually using these items day in and day out that one can really gain a sense of what makes each keychain special — and just as importantly, where the chinks lie in the armor of each keychain. Based on a combination of our original criteria coupled with our hands-on experience testing each entry, we then generated a finalized list of what we found to be the very best everyday carry keychains that money can buy.

Exotac FREEkey Slim System

Best Keyring System: f there is beauty in simplicity, then the Exotac FreeKey System is a work ofbudget-friendlyart. Designed specifically for organizational purposes, this split-ring system lets you group together keys so as to keep specific ones together should you need to remove them from your larger collection. Most people likely don’t have enough keys to make use of this pick, but if you’ve got a key collection that’s akin to those used by janitors, this could save you some major hassle.

Type: Keyring Set
Primary Construction: Stainless Steel

TEC Accessories P-7 Keychain

Best USA-Made Pick: Proof that elegance andextreme minimalismcan definitely go hand-in-hand, the TEC Accessories P-7 Keychain Suspension Clip does quite a lot for such a tiny piece of gear. Simply attach your keys to this device and you can keep them secure and at-the-ready in your pocket — but not jingling in a lump toward the bottom. It’s small and simple, but it can be a lifesaver in a pinch and gets big points across the board for convenience and simplicity.

Type: Suspension Clip
Primary Construction: Stainless Steel

Big Idea Design Titanium Pocket Bit

Best Minimalist Tool: Big Idea Design’s Titanium Pocket Bit comes with a keyring, but the real star of the show is the attached dual-purpose bit driver. You see, thisclever titaniumkeychain gives you access to a Philips and flathead bit at all times — so long as you have your keys on you. Better still, it doubles as an ad-hoc bottle opener and pry bar for a bit of versatility in its overall functionality.

Type: Keyring
Primary Construction: Titanium

KeySmart Mini

Best Key Organizer: The original KeySmart key organizer offers a stellar means of hugely streamlining your everyday carry loadout, however the brand’s newer KeySmart Mini model takes its incredibly spartan nature several steps further, downsizing this already compact EDC item to an even tinier package. Secured using a coin or flat-head driver, the KeySmart Mini is comprised of a loop-style key organizer that can accommodate up to five keys. Sold with an included blacked-out keyring, this item is crafted around a stainless steel hardware set wrapped in either black Flex TPU or premium full-grain ModLeather.

Type: Suspension Clip
Primary Construction: Stainless Steel & Leather Or TPU

Craighill Wilson Keyring

Best Retro-Inspired Pick: Most folks don’t need to add or remove a bunch of keys orkeychain toolsoften — but those that do might be interested in a keychain that allows you to take them off or put them back on without hurting your fingertips and/or fingernails. Such is the case with the Craighill Wilson Keyring — which uses age-old spring technology to stay secure and makes for easier opening when you need it. It’s also elegant, beautiful, and available in your choice of brass or black.

Type: Keyring
Primary Construction: Brass, Titanium, Or Black PVD-Coated Stainless Steel

HANDGREY Knox Titanium Key Ring

Best Key Ring: The keyring, as we know it, was invented quite a long time ago and then, so it seems, completely forgotten about by designers and craftsmen — meaning it hasn’t really been improved upon since. That is until the Handgrey Knox came along. This clever keyring improves upon the innocuous device in two ways: it’s made from lighter, stronger titanium and it boasts a split-ring design that makes removing or adding keys and keychain tools much less frustrating and painful without sacrificing security.

Type: Keyring
Primary Construction: Titanium

Prometheus Lights Kappa Quick-Release

Best QR Keychain: For many of us, there are a few keys or keychain tools we need access to more than the rest. And trying to use them while they’re lumped together with the rest can be frustrating. That’s where the Prometheus Lights Kappa Quick-Release shines. This device lets you keep two separate groupings of keys and/or tools that can be separated in a split-second for easier manipulation. Then, once you’re done, you can reattach them just as quickly and they’ll stay securely fastened until you need to separate them again.

Type: Keyring Set
Primary Construction: Copper, Brass, Titanium, Lexan, Derlin, Or Electroless Nickel

Taylor Stitch The Keyhole

Best Suspension Clip: Another key hook offering, this time from the exceptional, trusted designers at Taylor Stitch, the brand’s appropriately-named Keyhook is made in small batches fromsolid brass. Each comes with a pocket hook, solid ring, and a split keyring for all your keys and keychain accessories. Like its brethren, this one is also handy for hanging your keys at the top of your pocket, but the brand also touts it as a fidget accessory that’s “fun to spin on your finger.”

Type: Key Hook
Primary Construction: Brass

ARKTYPE RMK Paracord Quick-Release Keychain

Best Mil-Spec Keychain: For those with an appreciation for tactical design cues and functionality, there might not be a better keychain or keyring on this list than the EDC-friendly Arktype RMK Paracord Quick-Release Keychain. This device comes in three parts: a mil-spec rifle hook, split keyring, and a neodymium magnetic quick-release in the center. And those three parts are all connected via woven550 paracordthat, in a pinch, can be used for emergency applications. Best of all, the whole thing was made in the USA.

Type: Key Clip/Keychain
Primary Construction: Stainless Steel & 550 Paracord

Bradley Mountain Charter Key Fob

Best Key Clip: For die-hard EDC enthusiasts, putting your keys in your pocket takes up valuable room that might otherwise be better used. As such, some prefer to clip their keys to a bag orbelt loopinstead — which is managed quite simply by using the Bradley Mountain Key Fob you see here. With a simple rifle sling clip crafted from solid brass and mated to a strip of genuine 5oz Bridle leather, you can keep your keys secure and within reach without feeling like they could be lost at any moment. And it definitely doesn’t hurt that this 5-inch item was made by hand entirely in America using USA-sourced materials.

Type: Keychain/Key Clip
Primary Construction: Brass & Leather

Dapper Design KLIP

Best Integrated Knife Pick: At most, the largest portion of available keychains and keyrings offer a quick release function and maybe an integrated bottle opener. But this one from Dapper Design functions beautifully as a key suspension hook and offers up something none of the other ones do: an integrated knife blade. It’s definitely unique when compared to the competition and, if you’re trying to figure out how to get a blade into your carry without having to haul a full-sizedfolding knifein your pocket, this is an elegant and subtle way to manage that.

Type: Suspension Hook
Primary Construction: Titanium & 440C Stainless Steel

Tanner Goods Key Lanyard

Best Premium Pick: If you’re looking for top-tier craftsmanship in a unique, heritage-level package, go no further than the Tanner Goods Key Lanyard. It’s built from a combination of stainless steel and natural tool leather, boasts secure double rivets, and comes with your choice of black or silver hardware. Made by hand in America, this definitively premium everyday carry key lanyard also comes backed by a lifetime warranty. So, while it may not afford the best bang for your buck, Tanner Goods’ Key Lanyard will undoubtedly provide a lifetime of use — and will look handsome as hell while doing so, slowly forming a patina over time with regular use.

Type: Keychain/Key Lanyard
Primary Construction: Leather & Stainless Steel