Keychain Conundrum

[Rosiv]

I like having things on my person when i leave the house, like on a keychain or in a wallet for it makes me feel more secure. I was wondering if anyone one else felt the same way and if they had any cool ideas for keychain or wallet accessories they would like to share. I have a crappy keychain flashlight and multitool.

 

[Frezzato]

I'm fairly paranoid about having things on me. Instead of growing to accept that I can't be prepared for everything, I just got better at hiding the telltale signs.

One solution for me was Leatherman.com which sells these cheap yet durable Velcro nylon holsters [http://www.leatherman.com/945300.html#start=12] for their multitools. They're usually around $7 each, so I tend to buy either 3 or 4 at a time. These holsters can be stretched to accommodate smart phones like my old iPhone 4. Once the 6 comes out, or if I decide to get a Samsung, I'll have to look for a new solution.

Another reason I like the holsters is they have a a pocket under where the tool goes, pictured here:

Spoiler: Internal Pocket

This is an Irwin brand utility knife blade securely taped to the back of a card I no longer use.
[/spoiler]

The other side of the card has a few safety pins and some standard black/white thread, with sewing needles.
[spoiler=Other Side][img src=http://i.imgur.com/v5OhgnE.jpg][/spoiler]

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In addition, I have a few spares of this highly efficient flashlight, the Fenix E01, which costs maybe $11. It's waterproof to three feet for several hours and works off of a single AAA battery. It will last up to a total of 20 hours on a single AAA due to a chip-regulated LED, which is sealed into the head. I use it with a lanyard which I braided in a fashion that I think I invented. It's a variation on the Sinnet Chain [http://www.animatedknots.com/chainsinnet/index.php?Categ=decorative] and can be taken apart with ease if I wanted to wear the light around my neck.
[spoiler=Fenix E01 With Lanyard, Sinnet Chain Variation][img src=http://i.imgur.com/ZbE7QFI.jpg][/spoiler]

This is what the braid looks like on the other side:
[spoiler=Sinnet Chain Variation, Top][img src=http://i.imgur.com/Xzjb4Nx.jpg][/spoiler]

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And finally, I keep a handy little blade on me, the Gerber E.A.B. (Exchange A Blade), hence the spare blade in the holster. It's tiny and shiny, and resembles a money clip. When the blade goes dull you remove one screw and swap the blade out. I think this cost me $10 at Target.
[spoiler=Gerber E.A.B. - Closed][img src=http://i.imgur.com/Hzq5Yzr.jpg][/spoiler]

[spoiler=Gerber E.A.B. - Open]
I decided to buy nicer Irwin blades, which are made out of spring steel. Once one side goes dull I just turn it around.
[img src=http://i.imgur.com/4FpA4Jb.jpg][/spoiler]

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In case you were wondering, I carry a variety of stuff, including a handkerchief, wallet, house/car keys, spare house/car keys, Gerber EAB, a Gerber Clutch [http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-31-000021-Pliers-Keychain-Functions/dp/B001QVKSKE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400965989&sr=8-1&keywords=gerber+clutch], Chapstick, Fenix flashlight, and cigarettes. I wear nothing but dark dress pants, like all the time, and everything hides extremely well.

 

[Vegosiux]

You know what I never understood? People who keep their wallets in their back pockets. I mean, where I keep one, any kind of pickpocket pretty much has to nearly grab my junk in order to get to my wallet in my front pocket.

So, I keep my wallet in this pocket, and I keep my keys in that tiny inside-pocket. Or in the breast pocket of my jacket if I have that with me.

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

I never go anywhere without my backpack.
I even have a little memorable list of the most essential items that I recite every time I'm about to go out the door.
I keep everything..and I do mean Everything, in it.
It weighs in at about 10-15 kilos. depending on what series of books I'm reading, or what I've just bought.
Several of my co-workers even joke about it. "you need a spare tire? my colleague probably has one in his purse".

*Edit* Oh, more OT, Nobody is wont to run away with my shouldered 15 kilo backpack either. ,)

 

[Rosiv]

i have a laptop over the shoulder case, i use it for mostly school stuff though, i wish i had the space for extra stuff, but my laptops a bit beefy, and with binders and the like, all i can hold are a few small trinkets in there, like a magnifying glass, or some cd's.

 

[Batou667]

My keys go in my backpack, if I'm going to the gym or somewhere that would merit me taking a bag, or else in the inside pocket of my jacket. If I'm not wearing either then that big uncomfortable bunch of keys goes in my pocket.

I used to wear a big bike-chain style keychain that was fastened to my belt on one end and clipped on at the other, during my short alt/goth phase - it wore my jeans out pretty badly, so I can't recommend it...

 

[purf]

Hm. I like to keep that stuff minimal. My key ring comes with a ribbon and a LEGO spongebob (which over the years has become an amorphous blob) and that's about it. Which is a good mixture between something I can know whether it is in my pocket without it being heavy/bulky. Same with my wallet. I keep enough crap in it so I can feel it resting in my trouser's back pocket but from time to time I remove the small change from it.

And that's what I need: a system that enables me to not ever lose or forget these things. Two pats and I know I'm good to go (or leave)

 

[Frezz]

I pretty much carry my sketchbook like a security blanket, so I always have a bag or purse at least big enough to carry it. It's usually accompanied by the obvious drawing utensils, erasers, a craft knife or two, maybe some makeup, etc.

At minimum I keep a lil' victorinox rambler on my wallet keychain, and I also like to keep a small roll of tape, sewing kit, and safety pins whenever I can (though unless I'm wearing my biggest-pocketed pants I usually have to borrow some of the boyfriend's pocket space). There are a lot of things that the urban survivalists will tell you to carry in case of disaster, but for the everyday emergency handyman I've found this set works brilliantly, and I always feel a little nervous when I'm too dressed up to keep it basically attached to my person.

I keep thinking I should get a good flashlight to round out the set. That's one thing I usually do end up borrowing from time to time, I have a bunch of cheap LED freebies (the kind of thing businesses give away like pens), but they're not ideal. I haven't yet put much time into researching good ones. :^

As for fun non-necessities to hang on your wallet, my boyfriend has a habit of just hacking keyrings onto random junk and attaching as much crap as possible to his wallet. I think the largest and strangest is a barbie head with the worst hair day you've ever seen.