Useful in their own right, carabiners also free up room in your pockets for other important gear.
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The concept of everyday carry hinges on a few factors: usefulness, versatility and expedience. But the latter factor can actually impact your loadout’s value, as the speediness with which you can access your tools can deeply impact their value.
A smart EDC enthusiast knows that you can’t (and shouldn’t) ever compromise security in the name of quickness. However, with a carabiner keychain, you can have your proverbial cake and eat it too.
Why You Should Use a Carabiner
If you’re looking for a way to make accessing your keys, keychain tools and other accessories a good deal more convenient, all the while keeping them all safe and secure, swapping out your old keychain for a rock climbing-inspired carabiner could be in your best interest. They can actually free up room in your pockets for other gear (like a folding knife).
But not any run-of-the-mill option will do, which is why we’ve wrangled together a roundup of well-designed, high-quality carabiner keychains that are actually worth your hard-earned cash.
Best Overall EDC Carabiner
HuckberryThe James Brand The Mehlville Carabiner
Pros
- Beautiful and elegant
- Secure key-capturing design
Cons
- Expensive
- Quite large
As far as carabiners go, The Mehlville magnificently exemplifies all the things that The James Brand does right. It’s gorgeous, convenient, secure and even has some multi-functionality in the form of an integrated bottle opener. And while it’s a tad pricey, you’ll see those returns for years to come.
Best Budget Carabiner
AmazonNite Ize Size-1 S-Biner
Not only is the price of the Nite Ize S-Biner incredibly affordable, but you actually get two carabiners per purchase. This makes the value proposition even greater.
Combine that with a dual-gate, key-capturing design and a relatively sturdy stainless steel construction and you get the perfect starter keychain carabiner for EDC. Of course, you can also upgrade to one of four other larger options if you so desire.
Best Carabiner with a Bottle Opener
LeathermanLeatherman Carabiner Cap Lifter Keychain
Pros
- Integrated tools
- Lightweight
Cons
- Gate prone to wearing down
- Bottle opener can snag on clothing
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$20
(5% off)
Leatherman is the king of multi-tools, so it should come as no surprise that the brand’s take on an EDC keychain carabiner comes with some integrated multi-functionality in the form of a hex driver and bottle opener. It’s also crafted from sturdy stainless steel, so it can handle whatever daily wear and tear you might throw at it (and then some).
Best Carabiner with a Knife
AmazonCRKT Compano Carabiner
Pros
- Integrated slipjoint folding knife
- Sturdy construction
Cons
- Not travel-friendly
- Not for beginners
Versatility and discretion are the name of the game when it comes to the CRKT Compano. Equal parts keychain carabiner and everyday carry folding knife, the integrated 5Cr15MoV steel slipjoint blade is a handy addition for daily cutting tasks and hides away nicely. However, since the blade doesn’t “lock” in the closed position, we’d suggest caution when choosing to add this to your EDC.
Best Carabiner for Minimalists
WESNWESN The CB
Pros
- One-piece design
- Titanium construction
Cons
- Could be more secure
- Allows keys to bounce around
One way to ensure a piece of gear requires no maintenance is to eliminate anything that might break (say, moving parts). Or at least that seems to be the philosophy behind WESN’s ultra-minimalist, single-piece CB. Although pared-down, this keychain carabiner is still made from super-durable, lightweight titanium.
Easiest Carabiner to Use
AmazonOrbitKey Key Clip Carabiner
Pros
- Magnetic quick-release
- Secure in transit
Cons
- Hangs low off belt loops
- Magnet attracts most metals
Bypassing perhaps the most frustrating part of most EDC keychain carabiners, the OrbitKey Maglock Key Clip has a handy magnetic quick-release that allows you to separate its clip from its keyring. It’s also beautiful with its minimalist design and duo of colorway options, making for a great design-forward addition to any loadout.
Read our review of the OrbitKey Clip V2.
Best Carabiner for DIYers
AmazonCivivi Polymorph Titanium Carabiner Multi-Tool
Pros
- Numerous integrated tools
- Rock-solid construction
Cons
- Not travel friendly
- Cumbersome
There’s certainly something to be said for packing as many functions as possible into a single tool — namely that it makes for simple fixes on the go. And if you’re a fan of DIY work, you’ll likely be drawn to CIVIVI’s titanium Polymorph with its retractable utility blade, hex wrench, multi-driver, etc. It more than makes up for its bulk (and price) with its array of integrated functions.
Best Designed Carabiner
HandgreyHandgrey H4 Carabiner
Pros
- Sturdy
- Lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
- Harsh angles
If you can look past its relatively exorbitant price, Handgrey’s H4 carabiner has one of the best designs of any keychain carabiner on the market by pulling from the realms of both Bauhaus and brutalism. Beyond that, it also boasts a rock-solid and lightweight titanium construction and a silhouette that was inspired by vintage motorcycles.Best Carabiner for Techies
Most Durable Carabiner
DangoDango Carabiner & Shackle
Pros
- Super tough
- Dual gate two-compartment design
Cons
- Cumbersome
- Aggressive design
Slotting somewhere between traditional and industrial design, Dango is beloved in the everyday carry industry, especially among those who like military-inspired gear. The brand’s take on a carabiner slots perfectly right into that space, as well.
It’s CNC machined from aerospace-grade aluminum and stainless steel, has dual spring-loaded gates (perfect for keeping your keys secure), and was made in the USA.
Best Gold-Colored Carabiner
TrayvaxTrayvax Carabiner
Pros
- Made in USA
- Separate key ring slot
Cons
- Upcharge for titanium
- Standard version only comes in gold
Simple, sleek and straightforward, the Trayvax Carabiner looks fairly basic but has a couple of hidden bonuses — like a separate slot to attach your key ring to, which will keep it from ever falling off your carabiner by accident. The basic version only comes in gold — which is great if you like that colorway but not so great if you don’t — but you can swap it for a titanium edition in silver for an upcharge. It doesn’t break the mold, but it does get the job done right.
Best Small Carabiner
AmazonTibitdeer Titanium Key Chain
Pros
- Lightweight and sturdy
Cons
- Much smaller than it appears online
Some things are better in small packages. Fun-size candy. Puppies. And perhaps, this bite-sized carabiner keychain. It may appear to be standard sized, but this tiny titanium wonder measures in at two inches long. However, its small size doesn’t detract from its usefulness. The spring is tight, the titanium build is strong, and the built-in bottle opener comes in clutch. If you have smaller hands or don’t mind this pint-sized version of a standard carabiner, you’ll appreciate what Tibitdeer has to offer.
A Brief History of Carabiners
The history of carabiners is kind of strange. Most people know these devices as essential pieces of climbing equipment, but this specific application dates back to the early 1900s when a famous climber by the name of Otto “Rambo” Herzog saw a fire brigade wearing clips to secure their gear. This fellow then had the bright idea to repurpose these clips for their most common purpose, to be used as a rock climbing aid.
Interestingly, the overall concept dates back even further to the 1600s, at which time French soldiers (known as carabineers) used similar clips to secure their guns. Yes, that means that carabiners were actually used for purposes more closely related to EDC (everyday carry) than their seemingly traditional use in the outdoor world.
Up through today, this is still the most common usage for carabiners. However, over the last few decades, a number of intrepid designers have repurposed them yet again to somewhat return them to their original usage: as clips to secure gear to one’s person.
Nowadays, these devices are typical fare in the world of everyday carry and they differ slightly from gun clips — although there is some cross-pollination between the two (that is to say: gun clips are sometimes used as an alternative to EDC carabiner keychains, as can be seen in Defy’s application).
