I’m a fan of Keyport, the key management system/customized multitool reviewed by Z. last year. Orbitkey—which has been a featured GeekDad Daily Deal in the past—is a similar concept in that it securely organizes your keys into a neat stack, reducing pocket clutter, key jangle, and protecting other objects like your smartphone from scratches. It also offers optional attachments that let you create a customized multi-tool, kind of like your own personalized Swiss Army knife. Orbitkey sent me a sample to try out, and here’s what I thought of it.
Based in Australia, Orbitkey crowdfunded its first key organizer in 2013, ending up with 21 times its funding goal. Besides the functional purpose of key organization, the emphasis on that campaign seems to have been on a stylish design, and clearly, there is demand for that approach.
in 2016, the followup Orbitkey 2.0, with a slimmer locking mechanism (the version I tested) raised over $552,000 with a goal of $20,000.
Instead of an anodized aluminum enclosure like the Keyport Pivot, Orbitkey goes with a soft loop form factor, in leather, canvas, or TPU polymer. My review unit was the Orbitkey 2.0 Active in midnight blue. The “Active” part means its made of the TPU polymer, which is water and dust resistant and feels very similar to an Apple Watch Sport band. Offered in a handful of colors, the Active series goes for $24.90, the leather version (available in 10 colors and with optional monogramming) ranges from $39.90 to $43.50, while the canvas version ranges from $34.90 to $37.50. There also a $27.90 limited edition black rubber model.
Between the various materials and colors, there’s an Orbitkey to match pretty much any look you’re going for.
On one end of the loop is a metal D-Ring that can be used for attaching car keys. The business end is a stainless steel locking mechanism. Unscrew it using a coin, thread your keys and any accessories, screw it back on, and it holds everything securely (a wave washer helps there). Keys fold under the protection of the loop when not in use, and you flip them out when needed. The Orbitkey can accommodate anywhere from two to seven keys or accessories, plus anything you choose to attach to the D-Ring.
Optional add-ons are Flash drives ($19.90 for 8GB and $34.90 for 32GB), a bottle opener ($6.00), and a stainless steel multi-tool ($12.00). You can also buy additional locks and D-Rings in different colors, and the company also sells key clips and rings.
Adding keys to the Orbitkey couldn’t be easier, and I found the multi-tool included with my review unit was quite useful. It incorporates a box cutter, bottle opener, file, pryer, flat head screwdriver, and hex wrench.
It’s only natural to compare Orbitkey to the Keyport Pivot, but I really found they serve two different demographics. The Keyport offers far more extensive customization options and its anodized aluminum enclosure is rugged and functional. Orbitkey, on the other hand, is more focused on being a slim, fashionable accessory, with a few add-ons available to make it more useful than just a standalone key organizer.
Which one you pick is largely going to depend on which approach you prefer, but if you’re looking for something stylish to organize your keys, Orbitkey 2.0 is definitely worth considering.
Disclosure: Orbitkey provided a sample for evaluation but had no input into this review.
