How Do You Handle Your Keys? 763
arisvega writes "I lost my backpack some time ago, but was lucky enough to have left my laptop at home that night, and my cell and keys in my pocket. The inevitable habit-change that followed was to start strapping my keys on my pants, so at least I would still be able to get home (as long as I kept my pants on). But I realized I had a lot of keys: one for the outer door, two for the inner, three more for my girlfriend's place, one for the office, one for the postbox, one for my bicycle, the car, the motorbike and the roof. ... Plus, I keep a tiny Swiss Army knife on my keychain that I really wouldn't want to part with. Needless to say, this makes a jingly bunch that eats through my pocket. I ask you, Slashdot people, how do you carry/safeguard a hefty, pronouncedly jingly bunch of keys? What are the alternatives? Any suggestions on clothing or technology? Would having 'The One Key' make things better, or worse?"
RFID (Score:2, Interesting)
Solution: (Score:3, Interesting)
I prefer to use two keyrings: one with the bare essentials(1 key for car, 2 keys for house) and a big one for the more obscure keys that I could go pick up from home if I had to do something special. I also make backup duplicates of all my keys.
Hollow rocks and magnetic key holders are also good places to store backup keys in case you lock yourself out of the car or house.
One suggestion (Score:4, Interesting)
The only key I actually need to keep with me is my car key; I use the garage door remote to get into the house. But that is a non-issue anyway, since all your keys should be on the same keychain!
Carry Them (Score:4, Interesting)
Carabiner (Score:2, Interesting)
Hang it on my belt.
Work key - big old thing
GF's car key on a key ring with brass Iguana fob
GF's car remove in key ring that has a Forza 3 fob
House key on key ring
Truck keys (2) on three key rings with a Chevrolet key fob
Re:Easy! (Score:3, Interesting)
Are you smarter than a Realtor(TM?) (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:News for nerds. (Score:2, Interesting)
-- average slashdotter by the year 2011 if the current dumbing down trend keeps up.
Put a handkerchief in your pocket... (Score:5, Interesting)
I place a handkerchief in my pocket before I put my keys in, the handkerchief then protects the pocket from the sharp keys and pocket knife, and also provides padding that will at least muffle the noise of jingling keys in your pocket.
Re:Solution: (Score:3, Interesting)
Never really got into lanyards. My work id clips on a retractable hook, which also helps me do my wind-up-doll routine.
Lanyards are either a safety hazard, or are the breakaway type which means you'll lose them.
Keep an extra set of keys with friends and family, rather than hiding them around the house or car. But it's probably better just to simply not have any valuables.
Re:Solution: (Score:4, Interesting)
What you need... (Score:3, Interesting)
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Leather-Holder-Wallet-Available/dp/B0007IQF5Y [amazon.com]
or a belt clip key chain, which keeps the keys outside of your pockets.
http://www.keychains4you.com/belt-clip-key-rings.html [keychains4you.com]
Re:CDO Key Habits (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:saves time and money! (Score:1, Interesting)
I live in Finland, and we have a company named Abloy.
They have this thing called serialization of keys.
All the keys to for the apartments share enough characteristics, so that everyone going through the same entrance can get in with their apartment keys without other people getting into your apartment with theirs.
And you can commission for a lock that's serialized with your key from an authorized dealer.
Re:News for nerds. (Score:3, Interesting)
Even the trolls are weak these days!
More on-topic -- what I learned from the Special Forces and Rangers: dummy cord everything to you. If you don't like cord, use a carabiner [google.com].
Re:RFID (Score:3, Interesting)
My Mazda came with a credit card sized "key" that slips in my pocket and as long as I have it on me, the doors open and the car starts... it's just a bit too thick for the wallet. I use the garage door opener on my mirror to get in my home and I keep my mailbox key in a compartment inside my car. when I leave in the morning, I have my wallet, my car "key" and my sunglasses.
At work, I have a numeric keypad door to get to my desk.
In case the garage door doesn't open, I have a hidden key in my car for my apartment. I don't carry it with me.
that's how I manage my keys. ;)
I know this is so 1850's of me to ask, but what the hell do you do when there's a power outage? Drive the car through the garage door to get into your house?
Master key configurations reduce security (Score:2, Interesting)
multitool key mod (Score:5, Interesting)
http://lifehacker.com/399031/diy-leatherman-key-mod [lifehacker.com]
i bought a $5 multitool at the hardware store and removed the tools from it. get some copies of your keys made, cut them down to fit, and stick them in place of the tools. the multitool i bought holds eight keys, four in either handle. that just happens to be the number of keys i have too~
Re:Prioritize and partition (Score:3, Interesting)
I tried doing that at home, but mail is at the bottom of the stairs, on the way to my apt. No sense really in leaving my mailbox key in my apt, because I'll have to cover a flight of stairs twice to get mail that way.
I tried leaving my car keys in my Apt when I was out without it, but there were plenty of times when I rode a bus home and then wanted to hop directly into the car to go to eat, to the girlfriend's place, etc. No sense in covering a flight of stairs twice while unlocking two doors just to retrieve car keys.
The best I can do is 5 keys - 2 for work, 1 apt, 1 mailbox, and 1 car. I wish I could get rid of 3 of those, however....I have them on a carabiner on my hip. 2 keys (and no keyless entry car fob) would fit in a front pocket well.
Keyring? Keyknife instead. (Score:1, Interesting)