In climbing, a good carabiner can quite literally mean the difference between life and death. The spring-locked clips invented by Otto Herzog have become a mainstay in most adventure activities. From climbing to caving to white water rafting, you need a quality carabiner. But in everyday life, a good carabiner can mean the difference between having your keys and losing them (and subsequently probably wishing you were dead). Carabiners have become the defacto keychain for many. But, the problem with most carabiners is that they’re huge, lunky, and not really designed for everyday carry. Luckily, a lot of really awesome companies caught on to the carabiner trend over the last 15 years and have started releasing some handsome, purpose-built EDC keychain carabiners. They probably won’t save you from a climbing fall, but you can bet your ass they’ll keep your keys on your person. Here are 12 of our favorite carabiner keychains for your EDC:
Bauhaus K11 Carabiner
We first started making this roundup with the intention that none of these carabiners would be qualified for climbing. However, if we had to trust one with our life, it might be this heavy-duty key carabiner. Made of Grade 5 titanium, this unibody carabiner is simple, sleek, and designed to last. No springs to flatten or pop, no hinges to fail, and no pieces to break off over time means that this thing will last longer than you. Buy
TEC Accessories Python Clip
The definition of small but mighty, the TEC Python Clip is a minuscule carabiner keychain that will more than get the job done. With a stainless steel construction, this carabiner is strong and durable enough to handle a full ring of keys. Or, since the carabiner also comes in sets of 3 and 5, you can separate a few sets of keys on each individual carabiner key ring. Form and function combine beautifully in this mini carabiner keychain. Buy
HEROCLIP Carabiner Clip and Hook (Mini)
The HEROCLIP’s unique design turns this carabiner keychain into a fully-funcitonal hook. So, whether you’re lounging in the park or at basecamp, you can securely hang your gear–up to 40 lbs–from the HEROCLIP’s built-in hook. So, this durable aluminum carabiner can easily pull double-duty as a keychain. Clip your keys to your belt, backpack, or simly keep them organized in your pocket. Buy
MecArmy FL10 TC4 Titanium USB Rechargeable Flashlight, 360 Lumens Innovative EDC Carabiner
Some of us aren’t looking for simple and clean design as much as we’re looking for diverse functionality. Well, the MecArmy FL10 EDC Carabiner is the answer to literally every problem we can think of. Does it hold a bunch of keys? Yeah, sure. But it’s also a 360 lumens flashlight, a rechargeable six-hour battery for all your electronics, and a multi-purpose pry-bar for whatever life throws your way. It’s made of hardened TC4 titanium, and is completely scratch resistant. It’s not here to look pretty; it’s here to kick ass and take names. Buy
Key Titan Carabiner
Aside from its simple modern design, aside from being constructed from Grade 5 titanium, and aside from its extra features (bottle opener and quarter-inch slip driver), we really love the Key Titan Carabiner because of its ingenious design. This thing won’t just carry your keys; it’ll also eliminate the incessant jingle-jangle that goes along with them. Thanks to its elastic bands that hold keys in place and prevents them from clattering around, you’ll never have to worry about people hearing you coming from a block away again. Buy
James The Mehlville Carabiner
When it comes to a key carabiner, we require of it the same thing we do our everyday wardrobe. We’re looking more for minimal, handsome, and purposeful over pomp and flash. The Mehlville Carabiner from the team at James is everything we look for in a good EDC accessory and more. This tough-as-nails carabiner is CNC machined from anodized 6063 aluminum and features a key-stop design that holds keys in place once you put them on. It also features a thumb stud bottle opener, which means there’s officially one less thing for you to carry around with you. See? We’re already doing the hard work for you. Buy
Fortius Arms Inc. KeyBiner Carabiner
The KeyBiner is a work of art for even the most versed EDC enthusiasts. This modern take on the classic carabiner features a specialized “key retention system” that keeps your keys quiet and organized, as well as a bottle opener, various wrenches (10mm, 3/8, 5/16, 1/4 , 3/16, 1/8), and a hybrid screwdriver-pry bar-file. The KeyBiner can store up to 14 keys in one easy-to-find place, and you can even at an additional 16GB thumb drive to it if you’re feeling so inclined. Buy
Nomad Carbon Carabiner
Add a little tech to your EDC with the Nomad Carbon Carabiner. Not only does this Nomad carabiner work as a keychain, it discreetly carries a USB to lightning cable. So, you can organize your EDC and connect your iPhone to a portable charger. It’s a simple, ingenious piece of gear that means you’ll always be ready when your phone runs out of juice. Buy
Black Diamond Hotforge
While most of the picks on this list only feature the classic carabiner clip, the Black Diamond Hotforge offers extra security with a screwgate sleeve. Meaning, you can screw the clip closed so your carabiner will never accidentally slip off your belt loop. The Hotforge is lightweight but strong enough to support simple climbing excursions, hammocks, or even that bulky set of keys. Buy
WESN CB
Classy and minimalist, the CB from WESN is perhaps the simplest carabiner keychain on this list. Crafted from a single piece of titanium, each CB comes backed with a lifetime warranty. There are no EDC add-ons or multi-tools built into it, but the CB does its job well. And that is securely carrying your keys. Buy
Lancher Key Chain
If you’re looking to ditch your basic dollar store carabiner for something a little more office-friendly, the Lancher Key Chain is an excellent option. Its elegant and modern design ensures the flip can be activated with the push of a button, and its stainless construction will ensure it never fades or rusts. It comes with two separate key rings, so you’ll be able to carry every key you need, all in one handsome place—even the key to that old Ford you sold two years ago. Buy
Valtcan Titanium Carabiner
The Valtcan Titanium Carabiner is a unique, brutalist piece of EDC gear. Not only can it easily carry your keys and multitools, it features a Philips head and flat head screwdriver, hex wrench, and bottle opener. It’s a lightweight, strong carabiner keychain that is sure to start a conversation. Buy
