The 30 Best Keychain EDC Items

Pictured Above: The James Brand Halifax

Your keychain is an integral component of your EDC, and is designed to be portable, compact, lightweight, and just big enough to manage your many keys and still fit in a pocket.  Before you resign yourself to using your keychain for only its intended use – to corral your keys – you should know that there are all kinds of EDC peripherals you could add to this compact carry-all to increase convenience in myriad ways.

Whether you find yourself in need of a pen, a flashlight, a bottle opener, a minascule phone charger, or a multi-tool, you’ll be pleased to find you can stow them all out of sight on your keychain, thanks to a thriving market in keychain EDC products.  There are so many options that choosing the ones offering the greatest value and convenience can be difficult.

If you’re on the lookout for the height of utility at an affordable price, you’re in luck.  We’re happy to help you narrow your search to the very best in keychain EDC products.  You never again have to dig through your car in search of a working pen or pop a bottle top with the edge of a counter and splash your shoes in the process.  Here are some of the best EDC essentials that will easily fit on your keychain.

The James Brand Halifax Keychain Multi-Tool

Sleek, minimal, and functional EDC products make The James Brand a go-to source for many looking to upgrade their everyday carry in a noticeable way. Their latest — the Halifax Keychain Multi-Tool — adds keychain functionality to the brand’s growing everyday carry collection.

The Halifax is crafted from Cerakote-finished billet titanium and outfits your existing keychain with an assortment of daily essential tools, including a bottle opener, a combination flathead/Phillips driver tip, a scraper, and a pry bar. Attach it your keychain or a lanyard and keep this one-piece multi-tool within arms reach.

Gerber Shard Keychain Multi-Tool

If someone told you there was a prybar the size of a housekey, you might wonder when you’d have occasion to pry open the door on the Keebler treehouse.  Don’t pretend you wouldn’t steal a metric ton of Fudge Stripes Cookies from those crafty elves.  Fictional burglary aside, you can, in fact, get a keychain-sized multitool featuring a pry bar, 2 flathead drivers, a wire stripper, a bottle opener, and more.  It’s airline safe and made from stainless steel coated with titanium nitride to resist corrosion.

ThruNite Ti3 XP-G2 Flashlight

As tiny EDC flashlights go, this one really packs a punch with solid construction and creative features.  The body is aircraft quality aluminum coated in premium type III hard anodized anti-abrasive finish.  The LED offers a lifespan of 20+ years of run time.  The weight is just 12 grams (sans a AAA battery).  It’s waterproof to IPX-8 standard.  It also provides several light output modes, including firefly, low, high, and strobe.

KeySmart Key Organizer

Are you tired of your keys jingling away in your pocket?  It’s easy to corral those bad boys thanks to KeySmart’s handy key organizer, machined from robust, aircraft grade aluminum complemented by a hard-coat anodized black finish. Nearly any modern key will fit, and you can add 2-8 keys by simply unscrewing the flatheads on the ends to slip keys inside the jacket before securing them.  When you need a key, just slide it out like a tool in your Swiss Army Knife.

PicoPen

Whether you’re calculating the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow (African or European?) or you’re jotting down phone numbers of birds at your local watering hole, having a working EDC pen on hand is a must.  The stainless steel PicoPen offers a quick release from the cap attached to your keychain thanks to magnetic functionality.  Not only will you enjoy this speedy-grab feature, but you can also rest assured your pen won’t come undone and leave you with an unsightly pocket stain.

The James Brand Holcombe Carabiner

This two-compartment carabiner is heralded as the “smaller, smarter carabiner for everyday carry”.  How does it live up to this description?  It’s certainly tiny, designed to fit perfectly on a single belt loop.  So, that takes care of small sizing.  As for the intelligence factor, that comes in the aspect of slim design that hangs straight and won’t swing around when clipped into place.  The lower compartment ensures that your keys won’t accidentally pop out should the spring clip accidentally be opened.

Titanium Pocket Bit

Covert carry doesn’t begin to describe the hidden utility in this tiniest of pocket tools.  It looks like a spare screwdriver bit that somehow ended up on your keychain, thanks to a hole drilled equidistance between the flathead and Phillips drivers on either end.  It does more than fix the loose screw in your cupboard, though.  It also acts as a mini pry bar or bottle opener and it hides among your keys.

Schrade Titanium Keychain Pry Tool

At first glance, this titanium keychain tool looks a bit like a tribal design necklace.  Truly, there’s nothing to stop you from wearing it around your neck.  Of course, in addition to looking sharp, it also provides you with a strap cutter, a bottle opener, a flathead screwdriver, a pry tip, and a wrench driver.  At three and a quarter inches and roughly an ounce, this rugged EDC multi-tool can go with you anywhere.

SOG Key Knife

Somewhere, somebody thought, “What if I put a tiny bayonet on the end of a key?”  In my mind, this is how the SOG Key Knife came to be.  It’s a key.  It’s a knife.  It’s – you guessed it – a key knife.  They key part is just for looks, as in, it won’t look out of place on your keychain.  Then you fold out the knife and you have the perfect tool for carving apples or practicing self-defense.

FireStash Keychain Lighter

If Bics are too big for your EDC preference, and Zippos are out of the question, you’ll be happy to hear there’s a minascule lighter just right for your minimalist sensibilities.  Shaped like a horse pill, this product measures 1.8 inches in length and pops open to reveal a lighter that is diminutive in size, but no less capable of lighting your smoke or starting a campfire.  P.S. It’s waterproof.

Dango Pocket Clip

This streamlined clip in black or satin silver finish features a CNC machined 6061 aluminum body, a formed stainless steel clip, and mil-spec stainless steel bolts for the perfect blend of lightweight strength.  Not only does it clip to your pocket or belt to hold keys, but it can double as a money clip for folded bills and it brings with it a built-in bottle opener for popping the top on a cold craft brew after a long day at the office.

SOG MacV Tool

This stainless steel multi-tool comes with 12 tools, including a carbide sharpener, a cord cutter, small and large flathead screwdrivers, a Phillips screwdriver, a quarter-inch hex bit, a nail puller, a pry bar, three wrench sizes (1/4”, 3/8”, and 5/16”), and a bottle opener.  The best feature, however, is the shape of the tool.  It’s a skull in hardcase black coating.  The only way it could be any cooler is if it pointed the Goonies the way to hidden pirate treasure.

Fuse Chicken Titan Loop Keychain Cable

EDC must-haves used to be limited to pocket knives and pens.  Nowadays, technology demands more, and most people would agree that a portable phone charger tops the list of essentials.  Whether you’re out in the woods for a week or stuck in the library for hours on end, the Titan Loop, featuring nine inches of cable wrapped in rugged metal tubing, lets you jack into pretty much anything with a USB port to charge your most vital mobile devices.

Pixel Ti Flashlight

It’s hard to believe that something about the size of a quarter can offer you ample illumination, but you might be surprised by what you’ll get from this microlight.  Attach it to a keychain or necklace for easy carry and enjoy white or red LED lighting at 21 or 25 lumens (for warm and cool white light, respectively).  Titanium construction offers durability, even when your flashlight is tumbling around in your pocket with a bunch of keys.

Bomber B-2 Nano Blade

What the heck is a nano blade?  One that measures just 30 mm in length.  Touted as the world’s smallest tactical pocket knife, this trusty blade still offers a versatile means of whittling some wood, cutting a steak, or fending off a would-be attacker in a parking garage.  Stainless steel construction ensures rugged durability, and it’s not hard to believe that this miniature knife was inspired by B-2 stealth bombers.

Nano Torch Keyring Flashlight

This small cylinder is shorter than the keys on your ring, and the circumference is small enough that it won’t garner any notice on your keychain.  What it will do, when the need strikes, is offer 25 lumens, which is more than the average handheld flashlight in your garage or glove compartment.  With solid, stainless steel construction, this EDC flashlight is rust-proof, break-proof, and built to last whether you attach it to a keychain or wear it on a necklace.

QuicKey

This 5-in-1 multi-tool in durable stainless steel could probably pass for a key if no one looked too hard.  On closer inspection, however, you’ll find a serrated cutting edge, a scoring point, a file, a flathead screwdriver, and a bottle opener.  Not only does its small stature (just 2.5 inches in length) make it extremely portable, but it’s also airport friendly, which means you really can take it with you wherever you go.

Fisher Trekker Space Pen

Space pens rank among some of the coolest tools known to man, thanks to the fact that they can put ink to paper upside down, underwater, and over grease, even in extreme hot or cold temperatures.  Oh, yeah, they also continue to work in zero gravity situations – you know, in case you want to write a love note from outer space.  This stellar EDC pen comes in matte black with a breakaway lanyard for ease of use.

CRKT K.E.R.T. EDC Keychain Tool

Simple, streamlined styling and slender construction mean this multi-tool stashes in your wallet or joins your keys with equal ease.  Utilitarian features include essentials like a strap cutter, a flathead screwdriver, wrenches, and a bottle opener.  Whether you’re suffering a serious emergency that requires you slice your seatbelt off or a minor one that calls for a bottle to be opened, this EDC tool does the trick and slips right back in your pocket.

Ballard Bottle Opener

EDC has become a bit harder in this era of TSA security checkpoints, which is why you’re always on the lookout for handy products that are airport friendly.  This is one you’ll want to add to your growing collection.  Six ounces of stainless steel deliver your most important EDC functionality – a bottle opener that looks like a slim whistle.  It can’t turn a screw or core an apple, but you won’t care when you’re four bottles into your six pack.

SOG Centi II Keychain Knife

With a closed length of 2.9 inches and a blade length of 2.1 inches, this knife is truly a mini, but don’t let anyone tell you two inches isn’t enough. This razor-sharp blade in stainless steel is strong enough to handle your EDC demands, from cutting clothing tags or zip ties to whittling wood.  The lockback design keeps the blade closed tight and it easily fits on your keychain or stows in your pocket.

Leatherman Brewzer Keychain Tool

When you hear the name “Leatherman”, you naturally anticipate a spring-loaded multi-tool with all the bells and whistles.  However, the company known for delivering a toolbox in a tiny pouch are unafraid to pare down and offer a simpler EDC tool.  The Brewzer offers only a bottle opener and mini pry bar, but really, what else do you need from 2.5 inches and 0.5 ounces of stainless steel that seamlessly slots in with your keys or slips in your pocket?

True Utility Telescopic Keyring Pen

Writing with keychain EDC pens could cramp your style (and your writing hand).  Instead, you might prefer a telescoping pen that provides both diminutive sizing when closed (just 2.4 inches in length), and a longer, more comfortable grip when opened (nearly 4 inches in length).  The brushed stainless steel tubing is beautiful to behold and the anodized aircraft-grade aluminum body is durable and resilient.  A magnetic cap offers quick and easy access.

Griffin Mini Pocket Tool

This mini multi-tool in stainless steel, titanium, or brass delivers a lot of function with very little bulk.  It offers nine tools, including a flathead screwdriver, a pry tool, a scoring tool, a bottle opener, and four wrenches, as well as a pocket clip.  At just two inches in length, with a weight of 14 grams, it’s a perfect fit for your keychain or an understated addition to your belt loop.

Nite Ize DoohicKey Key Tool

With the Nite Ize DoohicKey Key Tool on your keychain, you’ll be ready for anything. This wicked little keychain multi-tool comes with a box cutter, three wrench sizes, a flathead screwdriver, carabiner, and bottle opener. Made of stainless steel, it weighs just twelve grams and is TSA-friendly and beautifully compact, perfect for keeping in any pants pocket. And at the price tag, you won’t find many better options.

CRKT Pry Cutter Keychain Tool

The CRKT Pry Cutter Keychain Tool has a few unique features you’re guaranteed to love: a replaceable cord cutter, a pry bar section, an O-ring secured hex bit, a Phillips head screwdriver, three built-in hex wrenches, and a bottle opener to crack a cold one at the end of a long day. It’s just over two-and-a-half inches long and weighs just one ounce, making it both incredibly versatile and wonderfully portable.

Everyman Porter Key Multi-Tool 2.0

Hang the Everyman Porter Key Multi-Tool 2.0 on your keychain, and you’ll always have a blade handy no matter where you go. Literally. Though it’s shaped like a key, it’s actually a sharp edge that’s perfect for cutting boxes, opening packages, or slicing envelopes. It’s subtle enough that no one will notice it, making it ideal for taking on business trips, and the built-in bottle opener is the vacation tool you’ll need anywhere, anytime.

Orbitkey V2 Multi-Tool Key Attachment

Orbitkey delivers an interesting keychain EDC item in this V2 Multi-Tool Key Attachment. Under three inches long and weighing roughly one ounce, the multi-tool comes with two screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips head), a ruler, pry bar, bottle opener, a file, and a box cutter. It’s made from hyper-tough stainless steel and finished with a titanium coating that makes it incredibly scratch- and break-resistant. It can even be paired with any Orbitkey product—the perfect addition to your everyday carry items.

Lever Gear BitVault

Need a carrying case for your EDC items? Look no further than the Lever Gear BitVault. The fully keychain carrying case is sized perfectly for drill bits, pills, even compact USB drives—really, anything small you need to take with you on the go. It’s fully watertight so you can use it in the rain, on a boat, or even when scuba diving. The removable tray dividers make it easy to organize everything.

Glow Rhino Tritium Glow Fob

You’ll definitely want to have the Glow Rhino Tritium Glow Fob on you when you venture into the outdoors, just in case. The glow fob doubles as a portable light source (great for rummaging through your gear in the dark) and an emergency light in case you’re in need of rescue (it’s visible up to 30 feet away). The ring makes it easy to slip it onto your keychain, and the glass-breaker tip is beautifully handy to have no matter where you are.

inCharge 6 The Six-in-One Keychain Cable

Keep the inCharge 6 The Six-in-One Keychain Cable close at hand on any business trip or working holiday. The universal cable connector comes with four different inputs and outputs (USB Type C, standard USB, micro USB, and lightning), and it’s fully compatible with PC, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. The zinc aluminum metal housing protects all the delicate electronics from damage, but you’ll find the TPU cable guard protecting the braided copper wires is incredibly tough. It’s even suitable to use as a charging cable, thanks to the fact that it supports power transfer between your laptop and mobile devices.

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