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By: Tim Huber Published: Jul 23, 2024 magnetic bottle opener for fridge
By: Tim Huber Published: Jul 23, 2024
Developed from the mountain climbing devices of the same name — which were, themselves, based on rifle clips used by armed soldiers — everyday carry carabiners are a handy means of organizing your keys while keeping them out of your pockets yet still secure and at-the-ready. Having evolved quite a bit over time, there are now numerous offerings that are impressive in their design, capabilities, construction, and materials. And for today’s buyer’s guide and hands-on review, we’ve rounded up the most outstanding of them for the following list of the best keychain carabiners for everyday carry — or “everyday-carry-biners” if you will.
The James Brand The Mehlville
Article OverviewThe Best EDC CarabinersSelection & TestingNite Ize S-BinerMatador BetaLockCRKT CompanoOrbitkey Clip V2Dango Carabiner & ShackleHandgrey H3The James Brand The MehlvilleEDC Carabiner Comparison ChartWhat Exactly Is A Keychain Carabiner?How To Use An EDC Carabiner With KeysWhy Carry An EDC Carabiner?What To Consider When ShoppingHonorable MentionsTested: The Best Key Organizers for EDC
From carabiners engineered from the ground up specifically for everyday carry to models that just happen to lend themselves to EDC, there’s no shortage of “everyday-carry-biners” currently on the market. So, when we set out to uncover the very best this segment has to offer, we kicked off our search by first making a list of criteria that would be used to judge each potential pick, scrutinizing areas such as dimensions and design, material selection, number of gates, and integrated tools or functions. With these features and qualities guiding our search, we then scoured the market in order to generate a shortlist of candidates that we suspected of representing the latest and greatest.
In order to get a more comprehensive understanding of what it’s actually like to use these carabiners and live with them on a day-to-day basis, we managed to track down examples of each carabiner on our shortlist in order to put them through a rigorous in-house hands-on testing process. This primarily consisted of each carabiner taking its turn carrying our keys while suspended from a belt loop. In addition to how they perform day-to-day, our hands-on testing process also enabled us to glean information in other crucial areas such as each carabiner’s overall build quality and fit and finish, and how secure each carabiner’s gate is (and how much or little side-to-side play said gate exhibits).
This hands-on testing phase also helped shine a light on how well any of the carabiners’ supplementary tools or secondary functions actually worked in practice. What’s more, getting hands-on with these carabiners also allowed us to determine if any of them offer any additional non-advertised features or functions — such as being able to be utilized as a bottle opener or doubling as a self-defense knuck. With the information and intel gained through getting hands-on with every model on our shortlist, we were then able to narrow our original selections down to a final list of what we found to be the very best carabiners for everyday carry.
Editor’s Note: Though it may seem obvious to some, it’s nonetheless crucial for us to point out that the carabiners we’ll be exploring today are designed for carrying your keys and general EDC use — and are NOT meant or intended for climbing.
Best Budget Pick: Since its inception in 1989, Nite Ize has been offering capable pieces of gear at unbeatable prices — an MO perfectly encapsulated by the Colorado brand’s value-laden S-Biner. The Nite Ize S-Biner is a pretty straightforward example of “what you see is what you get” — which in this case is an all-stainless steel S-shaped carabiner with a dual-gated design. Though the S-Biner is offered in five sizes, we opted for the Size #4 variant (which measures 3.50” L x 1.6” W x 0.40” H).
The S-Biner’s frame is also markedly beefier than I expected it to be, having been crafted from a slab of steel that’s roughly 0.10-inches-thick. This no doubt plays a major role in this carabiner’s ability to support up to 75lbs. And, while it may not be quite as secure or well-crafted as its pricier competitors, and even though it lacks their more premium material selections, Nite Ize’s S-Biner nonetheless affords what’s unquestionably some of the best value in this entire space — and gets the job done nearly as well.
I appreciate how this simple design uses a dual-gate setup, as it allowed me to leave my keychain in the lower gate and clip the upper gate to my belt loop. And, though they exhibit some side-to-side play, the S-Biner’s gates are surprisingly robust and secure despite their steel wire construction. So, while I was at first a bit dubious as to how secure the S-Biner would actually be when I first got my hands on it, I ended up trusting it enough to suspend my keychain from a belt loop when commuting to work on a motorcycle.
As a $5 carabiner, it shouldn’t come as a shock to hear that there are a few downsides to the #4 S-Biner. First off, I wish that the company had opted to bestow the S-Biner with one of the small tabs found on the Nite Ize Ahhh… is this allows the dual-gate carabiner to also serve as a bottle opener, which is always a welcome addition on any EDC gear in my opinion. Second, while it’s entirely subjective, I’m just not a huge fan of how the S-Biner looks, at least when compared to other more design-conscious EDC carabiners like TJB’s Mehlville, Handgrey’s H3, or even Dango’s Carabiner & Shackle. It just has a cheaper, less-secure look to it — though it’s hard to fault Nite Ize for this too much, as it is in fact quite a bit cheaper than those aforementioned models.
Verdict: Affording what’s unequivocally the best value of any everyday-carry-biner on the market, the Nite Ize S-Biner is a simple yet functional dual-gate carabiner with a simple, straight-forward design — and unbeatable bang-for-your-buck!
Material(s): Stainless Steel Number Of Gates: 2 Extra Tools: None Dimensions: 3.50” L x 1.6” W x 0.40” H Weight: 1.1oz Manufacturing Origin: China
Best For Travel: If you’re familiar with the Matador brand and its offerings, then you’ll no doubt be privy to its unique ability to churn out items that lend themself to both travel and everyday carry use. For proof of this, look no further than the Matador BetaLock. Fully-TSA-compliant, the lock is crafted from forged 6061 aluminum that comes in more-than-half-a-dozen anodized color options (including the matte black variant that I opted for when testing). Its primary aircraft-grade aluminum construction has been supplemented via a combination of rugged 304 and 316 stainless steels for its gate and locking components — the latter of which have been further fortified via all-around zinc plating.
Despite its size, the BetaLock incorporates an actual deadbolt lock into its gate. On top of making it ideal for travel, its locking gate also allows it to serve as a particularly secure EDC carabiner, pretty much guaranteeing you’ll never lose your keys. And, even when not locked, this carabiner’s gate exhibits almost no side-to-side play.
When clipped to one of my rear belt loops, the carabiner is just big enough to allow my keychain to dangle into my back pocket. And, as someone that’s occasionally known to misplace keys and other small objects, I really appreciate the fact that the BetaLock ships with two included keys. The BetaLock’s overall build quality is another highlight. It’s incredibly well-crafted and its matte anodized finished both looks and feels fantastic.
Though I was fairly impressed with the BetaLock right out of the gate, the thing only grew on me with time, as the more I used it, the more it became increasingly clear that an enormous amount of time went into fine-tuning every millimeter of this locking carabiner in an effort to maximize its conduciveness to both travel and everyday carry uses.
Even its set of keys is extremely calculated, being just large enough to easily use while being plenty-small-enough for travel use. Made from a ridiculously lightweight alloy with what appears to be a bead-blasted finish, the keys are also perfectly sized and shaped to easily be carried in a coin pocket or in a wallet (though they can obviously be carried on a keyring too).
While I appreciate the added level of security is offers, I’ve found dual-gate carabiner designs to be plenty secure, making the locking element a bit superfluous — albeit still pretty cool, plus it no doubt makes it far more conducive to travel use. It’s also quite a bit larger than every other everyday carry carabiner that I tested, and often felt like carrying a climbing carabiner (albeit without the screw-locking gate). All in all, these minor gripes are massively outweighed by everything the BetaLock has going for it — which is a lot.
Verdict: The Matador BetaLock is a precision-machined all-alloy carabiner with an integrated deadbolt lock — making it perfect for travel and EDC use alike.
Material(s): 6061 Aluminum, 304 Stainless Steel, 316 stainless Steel, & Zinc Plating Number Of Gates: 1 Extra Tools: Deadbolt Lock Dimensions: 3.7” L x 2.5” W x 0.47” H Weight: 2.1oz Manufacturing Origin: China
Best Carabiner Knife: Knives are some of the most popular and commonly-carried EDC items — and for good reason, as they’re wildly versatile and lend themselves to a wide array of different day-to-day uses. As such, the concept of incorporating a functional blade into the design of a carabiner seems like a natural one — and one that’s been brilliantly pulled off by the CRKT Compano.
Penned for CRKT by Mike Bond — a renowned Oahu-based knife and tool designer and head honcho at Ti2 Design — the Compano is constructed around a stainless steel handle with a polished jimped back-spacer and an over-sized pivot that acts as a finger hole. The carabiner comes armed with a 1.42-inch plain-edge 5Cr15MoV drop point blade with a jimped spine and a thumb-hole-opener. In total the thing spans 3.23” in length — or 4.59” overall with its blade deployed.
The Compano’s blade folds around a large open pivot that doubles as a finger hole. When combined with the jmping at the spine of the blade and the small jimped metal insert set directly behind it, the thing’s 3.23-inch handle provides a ton of leverage and grip — an area only furthered by how well the user’s fingers nestle into the space on the back of the carabiner, just behind the finger-hole pivot.
The combination of a black-stonewashed frame, bronze-anodized gate and finger hole pivot, satin-finished blade, and polished alloy trim together afford the Compano a unique eye-catching look. Additionally, CRKT also makes a version of the Compano with a blue-anodized gate and finger hole pivot and a blade steeled in 8Cr13Mov. Practically devoid of any side-to-side play whatsoever, the Compano’s gate also employs a super unique design that’s modeled after the shape of a WW2 era bomb.
I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that, despite its stubby sub-1.50” length, the Compano’s 5Cr15MoV blade clocks in at a decidedly beefy 0.14” (as a point of reference, the famed Spyderco Para Military 2’s blade comes in at 0.145” thick). This actually gives the Compano some real workhorse capabilities, rather than limiting it to the kind of tasks one would carry out using a Victorinox Classic SD.
I also really appreciate how CRKT bestowed the Compano’s blade with the same attention to detail and fit and finish found on the brand’s non-carabiner-knives, as its factory edge was razor-sharp and effortlessly diced through paper right out of the package. I also found that, in a pinch, the area where the top of the gate connects to there carabiner can be used as a bottle opener.
When viewed as an EDC carabiner I absolutely love the CRKT Compano and legitimately have no notes. Judging it as a blade, however, is a different story, as there were a few minor areas that I’d love to see changed. First off, the very end of the blade’s spine also has a small tab on it that if were only ever-so-slightly-larger, would be able to function like a front-flipper tab. Second, I really wish Mike Bond has incorporated some kind of locking mechanism into the design instead of opting for a slip joint, as this is the one area that, if changed, would make it a true work horse (which would be super impressive considering its size).
The other, bigger issue stemming from the slip joint is where the user’s middle and ring fingers rest when gripping the knife, as they’re directly in the way of where the blade folds into the handle, putting the carrier at serious risk if the blade were to accidentally close while being used. What’s more, the stiffness and resistance provided by the slip joint mechanism also makes the blade harder to open with one hand — though it does get smoother and easier to deploy once it breaks in a bit.
Verdict: The CRKT Compano is a trustworthy everyday carry carabiner that incorporates a compact yet thoroughly utilitarian drop point blade into its design. If you’re looking for a bit more utility from your carabiner (or want a backup knife), this is almost certainly your best bet.
Material(s): 5Cr15MoV & Stainless Steel Number Of Gates: 1 Extra Tools: Knife & Bottle Opener Dimensions: 3.23” L x 1.25” W x 0.62” H (w/ Blade Closed) Weight: 2.2oz Manufacturing Origin: China
Best Quick-Release Pick: First introduced in late 2020 as a follow-up to the uber-popular V1 model, the Orbitkey Clip V2 is a simple yet effective key-carrying solution that combines a quick-release-style keychain with an EDC carabiner — and does so to great effect. The Clip V2 is crafted from a combination of zinc alloy and stainless steel and comes accented via a Hypalon pull tab. The Clip V2’s carabiner attaches to its D-ring using a magnetic Fidlock-style buckle.
As soon as I started using it, one of the first things that jumped out at me was the carabiner’s gate and how it exhibits very little side-to-side play. The magnetic buckle makes re-coupling incredibly easy while still being plenty secure. Its Hypalon pull tab makes removing the keyring from the carabiner just as easy. Additionally, the little tab at the bottom of the carabiner’s gate also allows the Clip V2 to function as an impromptu bottle opener — though it does require a good deal of effort.
The stealthy combination of black plastic, black Hypalon, and the carabiner and keyring’s matte black finish collectively results in a fully-murdered-out aesthetic that I really appreciate. I also love the sizing of the Clip V2, as it’s just long enough for my keychain to sit within the lip of my back pocket when the carabiner is clipped to one of my rear belt loops — preventing it from bouncing around and jingling, and ensuring that, should the carabiner or QR mechanism somehow fail, my keys will likely just fall into my back pocket.
Though it’s undeniably one of the best QR keychain and carabiner combos currently on the market, the Clip V2 isn’t without a few issues. First off, while I like the blacked-out keyring that comes on the Clip V2, I wish it was of the split-ring variety instead of being closed, as this forces the user to hang their own split-ring keyring from the Clip V2’s keyring which feels a bit unnecessary (and sort of like putting a hat on a hat).
Second, and more importantly, is the fact that this item’s quick release mechanism’s magnet is set into a recess behind a piece of plastic that’s been glued into the detachable keyring element (rather than being secured using hardware). After carrying one of Orbitkey’s second-generation Clips as my EDC keychain last year, the glue failed, resulting in the magnet falling out — and without the magnet, it’s pretty useless. I’m not exactly sure when the glue failed either, and because I lost the little plastic piece when that happened, I was unable to glue it back on myself.
Verdict: A new and improved second-generation take on an already stellar piece of EDC gear, the Orbitkey Clip V2 combines a carabiner and a quick-release keychain into a single, highly-functional item with a magnetic-coupling QR mechanism and a fully-blacked-out finish.
Material(s): Zinc Alloy, Stainless Steel, & Hypalon Number Of Gates: 1 Extra Tools: None Dimensions: 4.13″ L x 1.38” W x 0.43” H Weight: 1.2oz Manufacturing Origin: China
Best USA-Made Pick: Whether it’s the brand’s tactical takes on wallets or EDC pens, practically everything that Dango makes is over-built, over-engineered, highly-calculated, and brought-to-life using premium materials and American manufacturing. And Dango’s Carabiner & Shackle are far from an exception, as this shackle and carabiner combo unquestionably makes for one of the best — and most secure — key-carrying options that money can currently buy.
In typical Dango fashion, the Carabiner & Shackle is made right here in America and features a unique yet hardwearing design that’s been manufactured using premium materials. Tipping the scales at only 1.5oz in total, the Carabiner & Shackle is comprised of a aerospace-grade 6061 aluminum carabiner and a stainless steel shackle — both of which are milled on a CNC machine before being mated together using stainless steel bolts and hardware.
The carabiner element comes mated to the shackle piece via a small screw that’s capped off with a knurled circular top that reminds me of the crowns on many of the field watches I’ve worn over the years. What’s more, thanks to the shackle element being removable and the carabiner itself sporting a dual-gate setup, this item makes for a fantastic EDC carabiner even when used without the shackle. And, unlike every other carabiner I tested, Dango’s Carabiner & Shackle is the only one that lets you mount keys directly onto it (rather than having to suspend them from a separate keyring).
I think this is also the first carabiner that I’ve ever used that features steel wire construction gates that don’t exhibit any side-to-side play —which is honestly a really impressive feat on its own. Another really cool detail is how Dango has managed to deliver a carabiner and shackle design that’s wildly secure yet can be broken down and taken apart without requiring the use of any tools.
I also appreciate how Dango’s logo and the “MADE IN USA” text adorning the carabiner are milled into the alloy construction rather than being painted on. Dango also makes gold-anodized and black-anodized versions of the Carabiner & Shackle, as well as a larger Carabiner XL & Shackle and a top-shelf Titanium Carabiner & Shackle.
Because it’s so different from the other models I was testing, I didn’t know exactly what to make of Dango’s Carabiner & Shackle when I first got my hands on it, but I eventually grew to love almost everything about it, from its design to its material selection to its execution to its actual user experience and utility. As such, my complaints are few and far between. My first minor gripe with the Carabiner & Shackle is that finish of the gates. While they’re admittedly super strong and practically devoid of any side-to-side play, I still wish their color/finish matched either the carabiner or shackle.
My bigger issue (which is still pretty minor all-things-considered) is the fact that, even when screwed down as tight as possible, there’s still a little bit of rattle that’s created by the carabiner and shackle. Sure, it’s impossible to notice when the thing’s loaded up with keys, but I was definitely aware of it when examining it sans keys. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Dango turn one of the corners of the carabiner into a mini pry tool or bottle opener, as either of these small tweaks would cost very little, be easy to execute, and would bolster the item’s overall utility (and conduciveness to everyday carry).
Verdict: Made in America, the Dango Carabiner & Shackle is a unique two-piece key carrying solution with a precision-machined construction, a dual-gate carabiner, and a tool-less removable shackle that can directly hold keys without needing a keyring.
Material(s): 6061 Aluminum (or Titanium) & Stainless Steel Number Of Gates: 2 + Shackle Extra Tools: None Dimensions: 3.34” L x 1.45” W x 0.51” H Weight: 1.5oz Manufacturing Origin: USA
Best Titanium Carabiner: Very few outfits possess both the eye for design and ability to blend form and function quite like Handgrey. This boutique brand delivers stunning-looking pieces of gear backed by true levels of utility — and does so using a thoroughly top-shelf material selection and construction techniques. Take for example; the Handgrey H3; a Bauhaus-inspired dual-gate titanium carabiner engineered specifically for everyday carry.
The entire carabiner and gate are also EDM wire-cut, making it the very first of its kind. Unlike a CNC machine, EDM machining consists of an advanced electrothermal manufacturing process that utilizes electric discharges in order to remove material from an object — and do so with greater accuracy and tighter tolerances than computer numerical control milling. The dual-chamber design provides two layers of security for your keychain.
In addition to its unique appearance, what really makes the H3 special is unquestionably its dual-gate design. By opening the gate halfway, you gain access to the first compartment, while pulling it back all the way also provides access to the second, lower compartment. This allows you to securely carry your keyring in the lower section and clip the upper section to a belt loop — without ever having to worry one bit about the keyring coming free when clipping or unclipping to a belt loop. Making the lower compartment even more secure is the fact that it features a soft barb-like element that’s designed to snag your keyring and prevent it from accidentally escaping.
Not only do I thoroughly appreciate Handgrey’s decision to leave the H3’s 6Al4V construction on full display, but I also love that they’ve treated it to a stone-tumbled finish, as this not only affords it a unique aesthetic, but it also does a phenomenal job of hiding the kind of minor scrapes, scratches, and scuffs that pretty much all EDC gear is prone to facing. Furthering its unique appearance and feel is the fact the H3’s only branding has been hidden on the inside-facing wall of the carabiner (and is limited to just a “Handgrey logo,” “H3,” and “Titanium”).
And, while I’m confident this wasn’t an intentional design feature, I couldn’t help but notice that, when devoid of a keyring, you can slip your finger through the top of the carabiner’s main opening and then nestle the bottom of the item in your palm, allowing it to serve as an impromptu knuck/duster — and actually works pretty well in this regard. At the end of the day, the H3 does an overall incredible job of marrying form and function. The carabiner has a super idiosyncratic design and appearance that not only looks great — and sports some major Bauhaus vibes — but it also serves an important function in its ability to provide ultra-secure carrying for your keys.
Despite my best efforts — and a good hour or two spent searching for shortcomings — I ultimately came up with very little that I didn’t like about the H3. I did have a slightly harder time removing my keyring from the lower gate than I did every other carabiner I tested, though at most it just called for an extra 2-to-5 seconds of guiding it out past the little barb. The H3 is also a bit smaller than I expected it to be in person — though is definitely big enough to get the job done, yet is still compact enough to be carried in a pocket.
Verdict: Sporting a finish that hides scuffs and scratches, the Handgrey H3 is a compact, idiosyncratic EDC carabiner that benefits from an ultra-secure dual-gate design and an EDM wire-cut grade 5 titanium construction.
Material(s): Grade 5 Titanium Number Of Gates: 2 Extra Tools: None Dimensions: 2.59” L 1.06” W x 0.37” H Weight: 0.5oz Manufacturing Origin: Thailand
Best Dual-Gate Pick: Launched in 2012, The James Brand has built a name for itself in everyday carry circles over the last decade-or-so with its functional and fashion-forward knives, tools, and accessories. Each piece TJB makes is engineered from the ground up specifically for EDC duties. And such is the case with The James Brand’s The Mehlville carabiner.
The Mehlville features a spring-loaded dual-gate designs that’s been precision-machined from a quarter-inch-thick slab of grade 5 titanium billet. This dual-gated design offers several benefits. Above and beyond affording an interesting aesthetic, it also means your keyring is secured by two separate gates. More importantly, the design also means the carabiner can have its upper gate clipped to a belt loop while the lower, more secure gate houses your keys. What’s more, because of the way the dual-gate setup is designed, you can simply open the thing and have your keyring automatically drop into the second gate (unlike Dango’s Carabiner & Shackle).
Though TJB offers The Mehlville in 6063 aluminum construction in multiple anodized color options, I’ve always been particularly drawn to the top-shelf 6Al4V titanium variant seen here. Because of the way the gate’s pivot sits on either side of the carabiner, the design prevents it from having any side-to-side play. I also really like how The Mehlville’s gate, like the rest of the carabiner, is crafted from matching 6Al4V titanium rather than using a steel wire item like several of the other models on this list.
Because of how snappy the spring-loaded gate is — and due to the satisfying clicking sound it makes — I also found The Mehlville to be surprisingly fidget-friendly, which is something I can’t say for any of the other everyday-carry-biners that I tested. It’s just a really attractive carabiner. Its design is both modern and minimalistic, and the entire thing has an unmistakably premium look and feel to it (and that’s before even knowing its crafted from top-shelf 6Al4V titanium).
Cloaked in a matte finish complemented via laser-marked branding, The Mehlville also features an integrated bottle opener made from rugged 304 stainless steel. So, while it isn’t devoid of branding, what is present is subtle and tasteful, with markings on The Mehlville being limited to James° text and TJB’s Arrowhead logo — both of which are laser-etched onto the carabiner’s grade 5 titanium construction. And, in addition to shipping in what’s easily the nicest packaging of any model I tested, The Mehlville also comes with an included titanium keyring — a small touch, sure, but one that nonetheless elevates this product as a whole.
Everything from The Mehlville’s performance and user experience to design and fit and finish is just stellar. Consequently, I have very few critiques, as this is another damn-near perfect piece of EDC gear. The only real gripe I have is with its price. Even with the top-shelf billet titanium construction, nearly-$120 is just a lot to spend on an EDC carabiner — even a great one like The Mehlville. I also wouldn’t mind seeing The James Brand offer a myriad of anodized color options for the 6Al4V titanium version like the outfit does for the 6063 aluminum Mehlville models.
Verdict: Sporting the company’s usual fashion forward minimalist design language and signature use of top-shelf materials, The James Brand’s The Mehlville is a sleek carabiner that’s been engineered from the ground up specifically for everyday carry — leading to a titanium item with a spring-loaded dual-gate setup and an integrated bottle opener.
Material(s): Grade 5 Titanium & 304 Stainless Steel Number Of Gates: 2 Extra Tools: Bottle Opener Dimensions: 3.125” L x 1.625” W x 0.25” H Weight: 1oz Manufacturing Origin: China
As the monicker suggests, an everyday carry carabiner is a type of carabiner that’s specifically designed to be carried on a daily basis. Unlike carabiners for climbing — which often feature strength ratings measured in Kilonewtons — EDC keychain carabiners aren’t engineered to support massive amounts of weight, and are instead made to simply carry a keyring and maybe a flashlight or keychain or two. With that said, some of the stronger keychain carabiners on the market can also be used to attach other pieces of gear to bags or racks — though we don’t recommend using EDC carabiners for this.
There’s a bit of a misnomer going on here that can make EDC carabiners for keys a bit confusing at first. Everyday carry carabiners do hold one’s keys, however, said keys are all mated to a keychain or keyring which is actually held by the carabiner — and then suspended from the loop of your belt, bag, etc. Using these items is as easy as slipping a loaded keyring into the gate of a carabiner, attaching it to a connection point, and you’re good to go.
In theory, one could simply keep their keys and keyring in their pant pocket, though there are several factors that make EDC carabiners an objectively superior option. Hanging a carabiner from a belt loop is markedly more comfortable than having a set of keys poking your leg through your pocket, plus keychain carabiners are markedly easier to deploy, as they’re right there on your hip and don’t require you to dig through your pockets. It’s also substantially faster to add an extra key or keyring onto a carabiner than it is to mate a new keyring onto another keyring — as these can just be slipped into the gate of a carabiner. Most importantly, using an EDC carabiner is a markedly safer and more secure way of carrying your keys that massively mitigates the chances of losing your keys or keyring.
Now that you know what an everyday carry carabiner is, why they’re useful, and how to they’re used, let’s dive into some of the most pivotal factors that should be considered when shopping for one.
Materials: With the vast majority of EDC gear, the materials used to craft an item play an enormous role in determining its overall quality and performance, and everyday carry carabiners are far from an exception in this regard. Like climbing carabiners, EDC-specific carabiners are pretty much exclusively made from a variety of alloys, however, while most climbing items are made from steel, EDC carabiners are machined from everything from brass to copper to stainless steel to aluminum to top-shelf titanium. The type of metal used will also play a major role in a carabiner’s weight and strength. It’s also worth noting that quite a few of our favorite keychain carabiners are offered in multiple color or finish options.
Designs & Gates: Traditional carabiners almost always sport a oval shape with an opening gate on one side. And while these items could in theory be used to carry a keyring on one’s belt, carabiners designed specifically for everyday carry are a far superior option, largely due to their unique designs — and often more premium constructions. EDC carabiners come in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes, many of which feature ultra-secure designs that feature more than one gate, allowing for an extra degree of security. Dual-gated carabiners also make it nearly impossible to lose your keys, as the keyring would have to somehow find its way past several gates in order to slip off of the carabiner — again, a situation that’s all but impossible.
Integrated Features: In addition to their ability to securely carry your keys and keyring, some keychain carabiners also boast supplementary features that have been integrated into their design. This includes everything from deployable boxcutter-style utility blades to built-in bottle openers to integrated charging cables to even integrated flashlights and flint-striking wheels.
Strength: Unlike carabiners made specifically for climbing, most EDC carabiners don’t advertise or cite their respective weight ratings, as these items aren’t meant to support the weight of a human, however, they can still differ pretty considerably in this arena. The larger, stronger, and more robust everyday carry carabiners aren’t just more rugged and long-lasting, but they also afford a bit of extra versatility as they can also be used for mounting or attaching small bags or pieces of gear.
Offered in a trio of sizes — all of which afford excellent bang-for-your-buck — the Flytanium Titanium Gate Clip is a super-simple carabiner with a titanium construction, a spring-loaded wire gate, and a lower opening for suspending a split-ring keychain. If lacks the more involved designs of its pricier counterparts, though for those looking for an affordable minimalist option, this one really is hard to beat.
Unlike pretty much anything else currently on the market, the MecArmy CH22 is a super-unique two-way carabiner keychain with a clever slide-lock design that makes it ultra-secure — an area furthered by its precision-machined all-TC4 titanium construction. Though we’re very fond of this carabiner, it ultimately lost out to Handgrey’s H3, resulting it the CH22 being a particularly honorable mention.
Serving as an addition to your keychain rather than being a centerpiece, the Everyman New Cowan Carabiner is a compact, minimalistic item that allows your keyring to be securely clipped to your belt loop or bag. Weighing just 1oz, the thing features a stainless steel mini carabiner paired with a brass locking wheel that affords it a bit of old-school flavor.
Offered in a blacked-out version or with a bare alloy finish, the WESN CB is a cleverly-designed carabiner that’s milled from a solid block of titanium billet. Small cutouts in its construction allow its gate to flex open, despite being a singe construction — functioning similarly to a frame lock on a pocket knife. This clever flexing design allows the CB to easily stand up to a lifetime of use — before potentially being passed down to future generations, making it a great modern-day family heirloom (not unlike the rest of WESN’s catalog).
The EOS Titanium Carabiner is a top-shelf EDC carabiner that puts an unmistakably futuristic spin on the traditional design — and sees this futuristic motif brought to life in top-shelf titanium. Because it comes at a fairly high price, we’ve opted to make this otherwise stellar titanium construction carabiner an honorable mention — though one that you should still seriously consider when shopping.
Combining carabiners and multi-tools, the CIVIVI Polymorph is a thoroughly utilitarian carabiner that incorporates a sliding, locking utility razor into its design, along with a hex opening and a bottle opener. The entire thing is milled from grade 5 titanium — plus it ships with 9Cr18MoV blades!
Want to check out an additional selection of key-carrying options for your everyday carry? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best key organizers for EDC for a curated selection of compact yet capable EDC key carriers.
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