12 keychain gadgets worth carrying every day (and why they're worth it)
Home & Office Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many…
Home & Office Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Close Home Home & Office 12 keychain gadgets worth carrying every day (and why they're worth it) We test dozens of gadgets each year - these are some of our favorite keychain accessories we're still using. Written by Kayla Solino, EditorEditor July 28, 2026 at 12:27 p.m. PT Olight iUltra Rechargeable Flashlight Olight iUltra Rechargeable Flashlight View now View at Amazon She's Birdie Rechargeable Safety Alarm She's Birdie Rechargeable Safety Alarm View now View at Amazon Slice Box Cutter Keychain Slice Box Cutter Keychain View now View at Amazon Nomad ChargeKey V2 Nomad ChargeKey V2 View now View at Nomad Goods Heat it Bug Bite Healer Heat it Bug Bite Healer View now View at Amazon Slice Multi-Tool Cutter Slice Multi-Tool Cutter View now View at Amazon Yubikey 5C NFC Yubikey 5C NFC View now View at Amazon DottorPod iSesamo Mini Spudger DottorPod iSesamo Mini Spudger View now View at Amazon KeySmart AirTag Holder KeySmart AirTag Holder View now View at Amazon Show more (4 items) Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET's team of editors and reviewers has tested dozens of gadgets and gizmos over the years. From junk drawer heroes to tiny gear packed with purpose, we've found that the very best gadgets can help upgrade your daily routine and lifestyle -- and what better way to do so than by elevating your everyday carry items with your keychain. Also: One of these 13 gadgets could be the hero your junk drawer needsFrom tiny blades to staple essentials like flashlights, here's every gadget we think is perfect for keeping on your keys -- and why. The keychain gadgets worth carrying everywhere Olight iUltra Rechargeable Flashlight Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET ZDNET's veteran gadget reviewer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says this bizarre keychain flashlight is one of his most useful tools, and that it's perfect for everyday carry. It's built with toughness and simplicity in mind -- pull off the magnetic base, and you'll activate a strong, 90-foot beam of light. It's also built to IPX6 standards, which means it is resistant to rain, splashes, and water jets, along with drops of up to 5 feet.Also: I dropped my old keychain tool in the sea and replaced it with the Olight iUltra Show more View now at Amazon She's Birdie Rechargeable Safety Alarm Christina Darby/ZDNET The pocket-sized She's Birdie is a personal safety alarm with a built-in, wildly loud siren. I've carried this on my keychain for almost 7 years, and it's a great investment for college students, parents with small children, older adults, and more, but for about $30, I recommend everyone scoop one up. When the top pin of the Birdie is pulled out, a 130db siren sounds and a strobe light flashes for up to 40 minutes. To put that in perspective, a 130db sound is equivalent to a jackhammer and nearly equal to the sound of a jet engine in the distance, according to the Hearing Health Foundation. Also: My favorite personal safety alarm is as loud as a jackhammer Show more View now at Amazon Slice Box Cutter Keychain Kayla Solino/ZDNET This teeny box cutter from slice comes in a basic iteration or a heavier stainless steel model for a few dollars more. It has a tiny ceramic blade for slicing boxes and mail, and is a great addition to your keyring. Show more View now at Amazon Nomad ChargeKey V2 Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET Need a compact cord to keep 24/7? Nomad's ChargeKey V2 fits the bill, and ZDNET writer Cesar Cadenas says it's uber useful. It provides charging speeds up to 240W for laptops and data transfer speeds up to 10Gbps. It's the perfect addition to your keys.Also: This $30 keychain accessory is way more useful than half the gadgets I tested last yea Show more View now at Nomad Goods Heat it Bug Bite Healer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Prone to pesky bug bites? Heat It could be for you. It's a little gadget that plugs into your phone (it's available in USB-C or Lightning adapters) and delivers a warming zap that's supposed to quell itchiness from bug bites. Expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says it could make a difference if you're an outdoorsy person, and as someone who also owns one, I can confirm that it works. It also can be added to your keyring for bug-bite relief anywhere. Also: This USB-C accessory gave my iPhone and Android a surprisingly useful functionality Show more View now at Amazon Slice Multi-Tool Cutter Kayla Solino/ZDNET This keychain knife is not only great for breaking down boxes, but it also features a bottle opener, screwdriver, and pry tool. It's made of stainless steel and looks sleek on a keyring. Show more View now at Amazon Yubikey 5C NFC Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET In 2026, you need to take steps to stay safe online. Expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has relied on the Yubico YubiKey to keep his passwords and personal info protected. "While passkeys offer much more security, sometimes, having a physical dongle that you have to use to authenticate that you are actually you is the way to go," he says. Also: The security gadget I never leave home without (and it's not an AirTag) Show more View now at Amazon DottorPod iSesamo Mini Spudger Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET The Mini iSesamo is durable, flexible, and surprisingly capable. You can use it to pry things open (or for a multitude of other things), and it's just the right size for attaching to a keyring. Also: This $12 gadget quietly became the most useful thing on my keychain Show more View now at Amazon KeySmart AirTag Holder Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Gadgeteer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says, "after nearly three years of daily use, the KeySmart AirTag holder has held up impressively." It's still one of his favorites for its form and function. Also: This AirTag accessory completes my lineup of keychain gadgets (and it's very durable) Show more View now at Amazon Even more keychain accessories Slice Clip Cutter View now at Amazon Slice Mini Pen Cutter View now at Amazon Slice Carabiner Cutter View now at AmazonFeatured reviews I walked 3,000 steps with my Apple Watch, Google Pixel, and Oura Ring - this tracker was most accurate After using the MacBook Neo for weeks, switching to the Air has been refreshingly sweet I bought an earwax camera for my toolkit and use it for everything but my ears LG G6 vs. Samsung S95H: I compared the best OLED TVs of 2026 and made a tough choice I walked 3,000 steps with my Apple Watch, Google Pixel, and Oura Ring - this tracker was most accurate After using the MacBook Neo for weeks, switching to the Air has been refreshingly sweet I bought an earwax camera for my toolkit and use it for everything but my ears LG G6 vs. Samsung S95H: I compared the best OLED TVs of 2026 and made a tough choice Editorial standards Show Comments Log In to Comment Community Guidelines Related One of these 13 gadgets could be the hero your junk drawer needs (here's why) I turned my Moto Razr into a tiny workstation - and wrote this entire story on it 5 smart home gadgets I consider completely non-negotiable - and why