This holiday gift guide focuses on keychain gifts under $25 for that special someone on your gift list. We all know someone who loves keychain gadgets. Or someone who needs a gadget for their keychain.
Note: We promise to stay under $25 for this list. However, there are some really cool gift ideas just over that limit that are worthy of consideration as well. Don’t forget to check out Amazon’s “Recommended” items, too.
Keysmart Key Organizer
The best place to start a list of gifts for the keychain is with a way to organize your keys!
I’ve been using a Keysmart on my own keyring for years and it has made my keychain much more manageable!
This model comes in a variety of colors and can hold up to 14 keys with the included expansion pack.
The Keysmart is such a great gift idea that it’s also part of our 10 Super Useful Stocking Stuffers Under $25, along with our next item!
SMART TOUCH Touchless Door Opener
There are a ton of these tools on the market right now. Given the world today, we had to include one of these handy gadgets in our list of keychain tools.
This one comes in a 2-pack and it includes a soft tip that can be used on most keypads and touch screens.
Whether you choose this one or some other model, these tools are a must-have in our world today. They make a great addition to any keychain this Christmas!
Gerber Shard
The Gerber Shard has definitely earned the BRED Seal of Approval! I always carry one when I travel and my wife keeps one on her keyring for work and uses it all the time!
In this small package you will find small and medium flat drivers, a philips head driver, a wire stripper, a pry bar, and a bottle opener.
I am, frankly, amazed at how many things I need a scraper or a pry tool for in the average week. And, it’s a great shape for fidgeters too!
Gerber Mullet
Another excellent tool from Gerber, the Mullet could be considered the Shard’s big brother.
With 9 tools including a pry bar, wire stripper and nail puller, scraper, small and large flathead drivers, cross driver, 1/4 hex driver and a bottle opener there are a few additional features in the Mullet without too much additional size.
Finally, the Mullet is designed so that it can be easily clipped to a pocket or belt loop!
Nite Ize DoohicKey
Another tool endorsed by us here at BRED, the DoohicKey is a very handy keychain tool.
The folks at Nite Ize call the DoohicKey a “5-in-1 keychain mutitool” with an integrated bottle opener, a box cutter, 3 wrench sizes, metric + standard ruler, and a flat screwdriver.
What I love about this tool is the straight-edge / ruler, the scraping tool (which also makes a good pry tool), and the carabiner clip. This is a great little keychain tool!
Kershaw Cinder
There are only a few cutting tools that I feel are worth putting on a keychain. The Cinder, by Kershaw, definitely “makes the cut.”
The Cinder is 4 inches long, opened, which makes it a decent size for use on a keychain. The 2.6 inch blade is substantial enough to handle most light duty cutting tasks.
Also, the Cinder boasts a bottle opener (Because bottle openers are mandatory if you want to call something a “multitool”)!
Gerber Curve
This is one of the coolest keychain multitools I’ve ever seen.
With a small, well designed, cutting blade along with flat and phillips screwdrivers, this is a tool that almost begs to be on a keychain!
Add to that that all the tools lock and the larger flat head could also be used for light duty prying and the Curve earns the BRED Seal of Approval!
Victorinox Classic SD
Almost everyone is familiar with the Classic SD by Victorinox. A good set of basic tools that fits easily on a keychain. Not to mention all the cool designs it comes in! My wife carries the “Llama Fiesta” design on her keychain and has a ruby red version in her car’s first aid kit!
The Classic SD sports an impressive toolset for its size with a small blade, a nail pick/small screwdriver (that’s where it gets the “SD” in the name!), nail file, scissors, tweezers, and toothpick.
Victorinox Signature
I added this one to this year’s list of gifts under $25 for one reason – Covid-19.
The Signature is really just a Classic SD with a retractable pen instead of the toothpick. For me, that’s a great trade!
How many times have you been somewhere and needed to sign something? You’re offered a pen off the desk and cringe as you quickly sign and then run straight for the nearest dispenser of hand sanitizer, right?
Not if you have a Signature! You know where it’s been, you’ve taken care of it, and you can use it to sign anything instead of using what I call the “Covid pen.” Heck, at these prices, grab one for yourself too!
OLIGHT i3E EOS
The Olight I3E EOS is an AAA size pocket light that utilizes a twist cap switch that Olight does extremely well. At almost the same size as a AAA battery with a 90 lumen output, the i3E EOS is a welcome addition to any keychain.
LUMINTOP EDC01
The Lumintop EDC01 is also barely bigger than the AAA battery that powers it, but it manages three brightness levels with a maximum output of 120 lumens.
The EDC01 comes in two colors, black and blue, and includes a clip that makes it easy to attach to, or remove it from, a keychain.
OLIGHT I1R 2 Eos
The Olight I1R 2 EOS is a departure from the rest of the flashlights we’ve showcased this year. It is extremely small and is USB rechargeable! This is the current keychain flashlight used by the BRED home team.
The I1R uses the twist cap switch design that Olight does so well to provide two brightness settings; a 5 lumen setting and a high output of 150 lumens. That is a lot of brightness out of a light this size.
No list of keychain tools would be complete without including an actual multitool. There are a number of really good keychain-worthy multitools on the market today, but there are only a few good ones that we can recommend as gifts under $25.
Both of these are from Gerber and, having used them both, I can say that they are each a good choice, depending on the tasks for which you need them.
Gerber Vise Pocket Tool
The only good reason, in my estimation, for carrying a folding multitool on a keychain is because the pliers or needle nose is an often needed tool. If that’s the case, the next question is what other tools do you need to compliment the pliers?
The Gerber Vise includes a good, small needle nose and plier combination tool with a small wire cutter. On the outside of the handles, you will find both flat and phillips screwdrivers and two cutting tools.
If you’re looking for a gift idea for someone who needs to cut cordage, rope, or line of any type on a regular basis, the Vise is a great choice simply because of the serrated blade.
Gerber Dime
My daughter carries the Gerber Dime on her keychain and describes it as “A sturdy, compact, do-it-all kind of tool.”
The Dime is a classic in the EDC community because of the number of features included in the tool. It sports the same good quality combination pliers we saw in the Vise, but with a completely different set up handle tools.
You will still find a flat screwdriver and a tool that will work on phillips screws, along with a good little cutting blade. In addition, the Dime includes a package opener (love it!), a scissors, and a file.
If you need to carry a plier with you, and a scissors would serve better than a serrated blade, the Gerber Dime is an excellent keychain tool and one of the best gifts under $25 on this list. It definitely carries the BRED Seal of Approval
Nite Ize S-Biner MicroLock
No list of keychain tools can ever be complete unless it includes a way to attach, and remove, the tools from the keychain. For us, the attachment tool of choice is the MicroLock S-biner from Nite Ize.
An S-biner is essentially a two-sided carabiner. In this case, with a lock to keep either side from opening accidentally.
Here you can get a five-pack, in various colors, for under $10. We promise that the value and peace of mind far exceeds the price.
All the gifts under $25 on this list are an excellent value. For more great gift ideas, check out our other gift guide, 15 Sharp Gift Ideas Under $25!
What’s your favorite keychain tool? What would you add to this list? Or take away? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Featured image by Jerzy Górecki from Pixabay