What's on your keychain? Keychains you actually use
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
A bottle opener, a multi-tool, a whistle or a Bluetooth tracker: which keychain will last and which will disappear into a drawer? What to consider regarding weight, ring and range.
Grab your keys. Chances are there's something hanging on them that you once received and never use: a plastic figure from a fair, a melted souvenir from Spain, a card from a loyalty program that no longer exists. And chances are equally good that something is NOT hanging on them that you could use every month.
A keychain is one of the few things you hold in your hand every day. That makes it worth thinking about for two minutes — especially now that the evenings are getting shorter and you're more often looking for a door in the dark. Below are the four types that ARE used, and what to look for when buying.
What to look for before choosing
Three characteristics determine whether a keychain stays on or ends up in a drawer within a month.
Weight. Everything you hang on your keyring also hangs on the ignition switch of a car. Heavy metal on an ignition key wears down the lock and pulls on your pocket. For house keys, it matters less, but above about one hundred grams, a bunch becomes cumbersome.
The ring, not the hanger. By far, most keychains don't break at the hanger but at the connection: a thin, bent-open ring or a glued loop. Check if the ring is solid metal and if it's closed. A cheap hanger with a good ring is better than the other way around.
Whether you recognize it in the dark. A keyring with three silver-colored items on it requires some searching at the front door in the evening. Color and shape have a function.
1. The bottle opener: the most used of all
Of all functions, this is the classic, and for good reason. A bottle opener on your keys weighs almost nothing, doesn't break, and always comes in handy at birthdays, festivals, and holiday homes.
Pay attention to the thickness of the metal. A thin pressed plate will bend with a stiff bottle cap; a cast or solid version will not. The silver bottle opener keychain (€7.95) and the blue version (€7.95) are compact enough not to get in the way. If you want a thinner and flatter model, there's also the bottle opener with Love is Love print (€7.95).
2. The multitool: handy, provided your expectations are correct
A multitool on your keys is not a toolbox. What it CAN do: tighten a screw, open a box, measure something, open a bottle. What it cannot do: replace what's in the shed.
The 10-in-1 stainless steel multitool keychain (€4.95) is a card or plate model with, among other things, a bottle opener. Two things to know before buying it. It weighs more than a regular hanger, so it's less suitable for a car key. And check which functions are on each model: if a multitool has a cutting or knife function, you'll have to hand it in at a security check — airport, some events. This doesn't apply to home, shed, or car use.
3. The whistle: small, light, and surprisingly useful
This is the category most often overlooked. A whistle weighs a few grams, never breaks, and can be heard over a distance where shouting no longer works. For those cycling home in the dark, walking a dog, or taking children to a busy place, it's one of the cheapest things you can add.
The mini whistles in five colors cost €2.95 each; there's also a set of 5 whistles in metallic colors for €7.95 — handy if you need several for a family, a class, or a group. Upon arrival, test whether the whistle actually makes a sound; cheap models with too small a chamber sound weak.
4. The tracker: for those who are habitually searching
If you search for your keys more than a few times a month, a Bluetooth tracker pays for itself in time. The principle: the disc connects to your phone, and you make it beep via an app. It also works the other way around — with a press of the tracker, you make your phone ring.
Important to know: the range of Bluetooth is limited to roughly the size of a house or garden. If you lose your keys in the city, a simple tracker only helps if you come back nearby. Also look at the battery: a replaceable coin cell is cheaper in the long run than a tracker you throw away after a year.
A useful combination is: one functional hanger that you actually use (opener or multitool), one small aid for on the go (a whistle), and possibly a tracker if you're a searcher. Anything above that is extra weight. If you still want to hang something sentimental on it, do so on a separate ring so you can detach it when you hand your car key to the garage.
Want to see what's available? The full range is under Keychains, trackers can be found under Smart Finder & Airtags, and openers under Openers. If you are looking for a larger quantity for a club, staff gift, or fair, please email info@verpakkingdeals.nl with the number you need — and we will check what is in stock.
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