No matter how streamlined your EDC is, there’s no avoiding carrying keys. If you’re going to toss them on a keychain anyway, why not use one that adds some extra functionality to your EDC?
A good EDC keychain will not only carry your keys, but also handle everyday tasks like opening bottles and boxes, prying, and driving screws.
Whether you’re looking for something discrete that won’t look out of place at work or something a little more tactical, a multifunctional keychain is a quick and easy way to upgrade your key situation and round out your carry.
In this guide, we’ll help you carry smarter with 10 of the best multifunction keychains you can get.
Grovemade Ring
Sometimes simpler is better, and the Grovemade Ring is as simple as it gets. This solid circular ring is made from a solid block of either steel, brass, or titanium with a handy bottle opener hidden along the inside. The metal build also makes it durable enough for EDC, while maintaining a small enough footprint to easily keep in your pocket when belt loops are unavailable.
Kershaw Jens Anso Carabiner
You might know Jens Anso for his iconic EDC knives, but he can also make some quality tools. If you’re a fan of his design check out the Jens Carabiner Tool, the result of his collab with Kershaw. This carabiner is made with a stealthy and strong black oxide stainless steel, with numerous tools located around the edges. You’ll get a cord cutter, bottle opener, and three sizes of hex drives in a body only 3.6-inches in length.
Griffin Pocket Tool
The Griffin Pocket Tool is one of those multi-tools that does a little bit of everything, even carry keys. You’ll find it on a few of our buying guides and plenty of user submissions because it checks a lot of boxes. Its small, all-metal construction makes it easy to carry, but the clever design is what makes it so useful. You’ll get a bottle opener, flat head screwdriver, pry tool, and a few hex wrench sizes all on a tool you can clip to your pocket or through your belt loop.
Keyport Pivot
The Swiss Army Knife is one of the most recognizable designs in tools, and the Keyport Pivot brings that same functionality to your keys. It’s a modular system that lets you customize your carry with everything from an LED light to a drop point blade. You can store up to 15 keys in it’s all-metal build and thanks to a unique locking mechanism, your keys will only flip out when you need them to. The Keyport Pivot even compatible with some micro tool inserts, making it is a great way to add custom functionality to your keys.
Corter Bottlehook
For a classy carry, the Corter Bottlehook is an EDC classic. It features a hook-like design with a discreet bottle opener built-in. The Bottlehook is made of steel or solid brass which means it’s not going to break easily. It also provides you with plenty of surface area to work with when opening beverages. If you find yourself fighting to get keys off your belt loop, you can retrieve your keys hassle-free thanks to the hook design of the bottlehook. If you do happen to forget them somewhere it also comes with a leather tag so you can write your information on it for the good Samaritan who finds them.
Leatherman Carabiner Cap Lifter
The Leatherman Carabiner doesn’t have all the same functionality as their higher end multi-tools, but it does make quick work of simple tasks like opening a bottle or screwing something down. You’ll find a handy hex driver in the upper corner for those times when a multi-tool isn’t available, and thanks to its stainless steel construction it’ll stand up to the everyday wear and tear of EDC. At a little less than 3” in length, it’s a great way to keep your keys organized.
Bond-Vox HALO
Carabiners are a simple and effective to carry keys, but the Bond-Vox HALO isn’t your average carabiner. It’s made of grade 5 titanium and has strategically placed tools throughout so you’ll get the most out of your keychain. The HALO might not replace your plier-based multi-tool, but it can complement it or serve as your backup. You can do everything from opening boxes to opening beverages without needing to reach for extra tools.
Pickpocket Alpha
Keys can often become bulky and noisy, but the Pickpocket Alpha aims to fix that. This titanium key chain features a bottle opener on one side, and a pocket clip on the other. The Alpha’s designed to dangle your keys quietly inside your pocket (instead of hanging them off your belt loop), while also keeping them from bulging up at the bottom of your pocket. Three holes in the body save on weight and also let you attach extra accessories, lanyards, or even more key rings. For a dependable way to carry your keys, the Pickpocket Alpha is a solid option.
Machine Era Key Square
Machine Era is known for their rugged built quality and utilitarian design, and their Key Square lives up to that reputation. Made from stainless steel, it’s durable enough for EDC but sports a clean aesthetic that won’t look out of place in a work setting either. You can securely hook this 1 ounce piece of metal to your belt loop for an easy way to carry your keys that also doubles as your go-to bottle opener.
OBSTRUCTURES Small Pry/Open
Stop using your EDC knife to scrape and pry stuff! Instead, reach for the Obstructures pry/open tool. It’s touted as the “knife savior” because it tackles tasks unfit for your EDC knife while adding some useful functionality to your carry. It’s made of stonewashed stainless steel and has a flat prybar tip that you can use for scraping, screwing, and breaking tape as needed. You can also attach your keys to a metal cable so that they’ll slide out of the way when you need to access a tool.
Any of these keychains will get the job done, but how do you carry your keys? Comment down below to let us know if there’s one we missed that might deserve to be on here.
