Key Leashes, because loosing your keys is NO FUN!

Gear
By Gems Of Travel
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Bring your own key leash!  Keys are small, easy to loose.  Nobody wants to loose a key.  Home key, motorbike key, locker key – clip them all on a leash!

Loosing a key can result in: (1) being stranded, (2) a money fine, (3) a headache – a pain in the butt!

Most places you’ll stay will give you a key with a big, chunky, thing attached to it.  Not comfortable.  So, you’ll want to remove it and put your key on a leash.

Tip

Put keys on a leash.

Put keys in a zipper pocket (shorts/pants with zipper pocket) so that they do not fall out of your pocket.

A small tether leash (essentially a small lanyard) with a key attached. This leash is made by BlackRapid, which is made for tethering a smartphone, but can be used for a key, too. The leash has a quick-attach hook (similar to a rock climbing clip) on one end that the key is attached to, and locking clip on the other end. The locking clip is adjustable. For example, you can slide a belt through the leash, unlock the clip, and slide the clip tight with the belt, and then lock the clip. This is great to ensure that the leash is tethered to something (your belt in this case) and cannot be lost easily.
A person wearing shorts with a side cargo pocket that has a zipper on it. Having a zipper pocket prevents loosing things.
A pair of shorts with a side cargo pocket that has a zipper on it. Having a zipper pocket prevents loosing things.
A pair of [knock-off] Nike sport shorts that have zipper pockets. Having a zipper pocket prevents loosing things. These are for sale at a shop in Southeast Asia.
A pair of long pants that have zipper pockets. Having a zipper pocket prevents loosing things.

Note

This post is similar to the phone leash post – check that out, too!

Key Leashes

BlackRapid WandeR Smartphone Tether System

The leash has a lockable clip – pull it tight and lock the clip in place so it doesn’t come off.  It’s an important feature to keep keys (and phones) secure. That is a big selling point.

Find it on the BlackRapid website, or for sale on Amazon.

A cellphone tether tab mounted to a cellphone with a small leash attached to it. This tether tab and leash combo is made by BlackRapid. The least has a quick-attach hook (similar to a rock climbing clip) on one end, and locking clip on the other end. You can slide your hand through the leash and use the locking clip to tighten it around your wrist, so that it stays on securely. Double-sided tape is provided. The tether tab is aligned with the bottom of the cellphone and meant to stick out where the charging port is. If a cellphone case is used, the tether tab will stick out through the hole for the charging port.
A cellphone tether tab mounted to a cellphone with a small leash attached to it. The locking clip on the leash is closed (in the lock position). This tether tab and leash combo is made by BlackRapid. The least has a quick-attach hook (similar to a rock climbing clip) on one end, and locking clip on the other end. You can slide your hand through the leash and use the locking clip to tighten it around your wrist, so that it stays on securely. Double-sided tape is provided. The tether tab is aligned with the bottom of the cellphone and meant to stick out where the charging port is. If a cellphone case is used, the tether tab will stick out through the hole for the charging port.
A cellphone tether tab mounted to a cellphone with a small leash attached to it. The locking clip on the leash is open (in the not lock position where it can be adjusted by sliding it up or down the leash in a different position). This tether tab and leash combo is made by BlackRapid. The least has a quick-attach hook (similar to a rock climbing clip) on one end, and locking clip on the other end. You can slide your hand through the leash and use the locking clip to tighten it around your wrist, so that it stays on securely. Double-sided tape is provided. The tether tab is aligned with the bottom of the cellphone and meant to stick out where the charging port is. If a cellphone case is used, the tether tab will stick out through the hole for the charging port.
A cellphone tether tab mounted to a cellphone. This tether tab is made by BlackRapid. Double-sided tape is provided. The tether tab is aligned with the bottom of the cellphone and meant to stick out where the charging port is. If a cellphone case is used, the tether tab will stick out through the hole for the charging port.

BlackRapid sells this as a combo – the leash + phone tether tab, but you can buy the leash separate (Short length or Long length leashes – you’ve got options)! We prefer the short length, which is the leash that comes with the phone tether system.

Other

Any standard lanyard will do.  However, we feel that lanyards are a little too long.  We really using the leash from BlackRapid (the regular short one, not the longer ones).

A lanyard with motorbike keys attached to it. The motorbike key is in the ignition of a motorbike, and the lanyard leash is dangling.
A lanyard that has a quick-attach hook (similar to a rock climbing clip) on one end to clip things onto it such as keys, badge I.D.'s and name cards, etc.
A section within an isle at a bookstore with lanyards for sale. The lanyards are all the same, but are of various different colors.

Using The Key Leash

Hang around your neck

Tether to bag

Tether to belt or belt loop

Tether to belt or belt loop -> prevent getting lost & pick pocketing.

The BlackRapid-brand short leash tethered & locked onto a pants belt. The belt was fed through the tether, the lock clip was tightened, and then the locked clip was set to the locked position. Since the leash has a quick-attach hook (similar to a rock climbing clip) on the other end, a key is clipped onto the leash. The key is sticking out of the pants pocket to display this leash tether system, but the leash is just long enough for the key to go completely into the pants pocket. The benefit is to show how the key cannot be lost - the leash tether system keeps it securely attached to the hip (the pants belt).
The Blackrapid-brand tether tab and short leash combo tethered & locked onto a pants belt. The belt was fed through the tether, the lock clip was tightened, and then the locked clip was set to the locked position. Since the leash has a quick-attach hook (similar to a rock climbing clip) on the other end, the leash is clipped onto the tether tab mounted on the cellphone. The cellphone is sticking out of the pants pocket to display this leash tether system, but the leash is just long enough for the phone to go completely into the pants pocket. The benefit is to show how the phone cannot be pickpocketed - the leash tether system keeps it securely attached to the hip (the pants belt).

Dongle

Simply have a dongle to prevent it getting lost.

A small tether leash (essentially a small lanyard) with a key attached. This leash is made by BlackRapid, which is made for tethering a smartphone, but can be used for a key, too. The leash has a quick-attach hook (similar to a rock climbing clip) on one end that the key is attached to, and locking clip on the other end. The locking clip is adjustable. For example, you can slide a belt through the leash, unlock the clip, and slide the clip tight with the belt, and then lock the clip. This is great to ensure that the leash is tethered to something (your belt in this case) and cannot be lost easily.

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