If there’s one thing in your EDC you make sure to have when you step out the door, it’s your keychain. That makes it a great place to include the EDC essentials that you’ll need in a pinch. It’s a convenient way to maximize your carry while keeping things as small and light as what’s on your keychain. However, some keychain tools can be bulky and awkwardly shaped, which takes away from their utility overall. You can avoid this tradeoff by sticking to tools that are designed to fit right in with the rest of your keys instead. In this guide, we’ll show you our favorite key-sized (and key-shaped) EDC tools and essentials.
Everyman Porter Key Knife
This is Everyman’s take on a portable EDC folding knife that fits on your keychain. Use the knife to open letters and boxes, and the bottle opener to crack open a drink when you’ve got the time.
Swiss+Tech Utili-Key 6-in-1 Multitool
This tool is very popular in the EDC community, and with how versatile it is it’s easy to see why. In about the same size and shape of a standard key, you get a flathead and Phillips screwdriver, a precision screwdriver, a combo edge knife, and a bottle opener to round out its toolset. The tool easily detached from your keychain too when you open it, making this one convenient EDC favorite.
Streamlight KeyMate USB
If you find yourself fumbling around in the dark with your keys a lot, you’re going to want the KeyMate. It’s a USB-rechargeable LED backup flashlight that’s no bigger than your car keys. It’s made to give you a nice diffuse light in your immediate area, making it easy to find what you need in the dark.
SOG Key Knife
If a full-sized knife will raise too many eyebrows, the SOG Key Knife can be a far more discreet way to EDC a blade. When closed, the knife looks like a standard key, but it packs a 1.5″ long blade. It opens with a nail nick and a lockback mechanism keeps it in place during use.
MyKee Brushed Titanium Multitool Key
Made out of a solid piece of grade five titanium, this tool packs wrenches galore. It has a bunch of standard hex wrenches in its skeletonized body, and one of them works as a bottle opener as well. The most innovative part of this tool is the claw design at the tip. This lets you use the tool to pry small things open, sparing your other tools from potential damage.
NiteIze DoohicKey QuickKey
The DoohicKey is a small key-shaped multitool that’s travel-friendly thanks to its lack of a sharp edge. The bottle opener is the most prominent part of the tool, but it also includes a flathead screwdriver at the tip. It also has rough indents that’ll help you open boxes and cut through things with the help of force and friction.
MSTR Key
This looks a bit more exotic than the other keychain essentials on this list, but it packs a punch. Its 304 stainless steel key-sized design packs twenty different functions. Every angle of this tool packs wrenches, pry bars, cutters, screwdrivers, and openers.
Nomad Key
Unlike the other items on this list, the Nomad Key is not a multitool. But it is an essential if you carry a mobile device. The Nomad is a compact key-sized cord without all the tangle and fuss regular cords have. It comes in both micro-USB and Lightning flavors to suit the device of your choice.
ARKTYPE Masterkey
This is a eight-function multitool cut out of a piece of aircraft grade 7075-T6 aluminum. Its minimalist key-shaped design includes four hex wrenches and two bike spoke wrenches for urban commuters. It also includes a bottle opener and an inch ruler.
Prometheus Epsilon EKO
EKO stands for ’emergency key opener’ and it’s a solid piece of 6/4 titanium that looks like a standard key. Unlike a regular key, the Epsilon EKO makes opening boxes a breeze with its finger-safe beveled edge. The EKO also includes a bottle opener in the side and a 1/4″ hex wrench as well.
Got any tools riding incognito with the rest of your keys? Share your favorites in the comments below.
