Maxpedition Keyper

The Keyper is a solid keyring from maxpedition that can be used as a keyring or as an attachment point for several items in backpacks, bags and other items.

The keyper has double loop (3 straps) of cordura nylon with reinforced stitches that closes using strong velcro. The three straps allow your belt or attachment strap to remain isolated from the velcro and then the velcro closure has contact in 100% of its surface for a stronger result. Attached to the loop is a metallic spring clip, the clip has an "eye" that can be used to pass a splitring or some paracord if needed.

The belt/backpach attachment loop is extremely strong and resistant regardless of the weight the keyper will not dettach or fall. The metal clip is quite good but the spring might lose some tension with constant use but not enough to make splitrings fall.

Retailing for about $9 the keyper is a very solid keyring and attachment accesory for your backpacks. You can read more in Maxpedition website.

Wenger Evo Nail Clip

For many people a nail clipper is a lot better to trim nails than a pair of scissors, specially if your weak hand is a lot weaker than your strong hand; this multi-tool from Wenger features both: nail clippers and scissors along other tools in a very small package certainly suitable for keychains.

The tool is 65mm (2.5 in) long and 18mm both in width and depth (0.7 in), the total weight is 40gr (11 oz).

The Evo Nail Clip has a small blade letter-opener style, a toothpick, nail cleaner with file, scissors with micro teeth and the lever operated clippers. The clippers work flawlessly they are easy to deploy, easy to use and cut perfectly. The scissors with micro serrated edges are very good and will cut more than what the size suggests. The nail file, blade and toothpick are good complements.

The shape of the tool is attractive offering a good grip and it comes with a split ring for keychain. Certainly an interesting tool if you prefer nail clippers to scissors for your nails.
You can read more and order for about $20 following this link.

Inova 24/7

The 24/7 is an octagonal shaped flashlight from Inova featuring 8 5mm leds: 4 white, 2 amber and 2 red. The flashlight is powered by a single C123A lithium battery.

The flashlight is activated rotating the octagonal bezel where the leds are, it has nine modes of operation.

The first mode is low-intensity white, good for general use as a task light it has a runtime of 15 hours. The next mode is high intensity white runtime of 6 hours brighter for signaling and suitable for walks or hikes if you use the light attached to your backpack strap.

Mode number 3 is a white strobe that can run for 100 hours. The fourth mode is an SOS signal using the white leds. The fifth mode is a red&yellow wig-wag. Mode 6 is a white, red and yellow strobe. Mode #7 is just red suitable for preserving night vision. Mode #8 can be accessed putting the bezel in between any two of the regular settings, then the two red LEDs will flick on every 15-20 seconds, this can be used as a locator to find the flashlight at night. The runtime is 15.000 hours in this mode. If you ask a bout a ninth mode then mode nine is off.

There is a clip on the back of the light to clip it to a backpack, epaulet or belt. It also comes with a neck lanyard. The construction is solid and the flashlight is waterproof. The interface is very easy to operate but not very powerful, brightness can't be controled except high-low white and the amber leds are completely wasted being only used in one of the many signaling modes. The red leds have only one mode of operation and the strobe can't be regulated.

For about $40 it is probably a good signaling and backup light to hang from backpacks or belts, if the modes suit your needs it is certainly a great item. It is available in yellow and black, you can read more in Inova's product page. To order check this links.

Swisstech Bodygard

This is a 5 in 1 emergency tool primary intended for drivers. The tool is 3” x 1-3/4” x 5/8” in size and weights about an ounze.

The first of the five tools is a window glass breaker, basically a spring activated mechanism to break side windows in case of emergency. Then you have a seatbelt cutter, an alarm to attract attention, a red beacon and a white flashlight.

The device is powered by a single AA battery, it is small enough to be carried in almost any compartment or even in a keychain probably intended to be carried with the car keys. It relases from they keyring with a quick tug for fast emergency use leaving the seatbelt cutter exposed.

The construction in ABS plastic is solid and the device will be waterproof and impact proof. The color is probably not the best option for an emergency tool and a whistle might have been better than the electronic alarm because it doesn't depend on the battery.

A small and practical tool for road safety. You can read more about it or get it for $20 from SwissTech's website.

Pro-Light SMJLED keychain light

This is a keychain light with the same size, case and interface as the common chinese Fauxtons. The difference is that these lights have an improved SMJLed as the led.

The SMJled is a lot brighter than the regular 5mm leds found in similar keychain lights, it is comparable to the output of an ARC-AAA premium.

The lights are powered by CR2032 lithium coin cell batteries they are splash proof but not water proof. Both the led and the case will resist wear from keychain use and impacts.

To activate you just squeeze the light for momentary activation or use a small sliding switch for constant on-off operation.

An improvement over the common keychain lights with extra brightness but without any extra features as those found in the Photon Freedom.

You can get them for $7 from Light Hound.

AG Russell Titanium Lockback folder.

This is a top quality keychain knife from AG Russell, the handles are made of titanium and the blade is VG-10 steel.

The knife is only 2.5 inches long with a 1-7/8'' satin finished blade. It weights just 0.5oz.
The locking mechanism is a lockback located in the middle of the handle, it is very solid.

This little knife can be carried in a keychain, a pocket, a coin pocket or inside any pouch, it is really small and thin. When opened the blade is good to do most typical cutting jobs, rope, cardboard, nylon, plastic and other common materials can be handled without damaging the blade. There is no hole for a split ring or attachment the knife comes with a small and nice real-leather pouch that has no holes either!, so the carrying options are inside a pocket or drilling a hole through the leather pouch and inserting a rivet. It fits great inside coin pockets of jeans if that is an option to you.

If you are looking for an excellent and very small titanium knife this is a great option.
It costs $25 and you can read more or order from AG Russell's website.

TAD Gear's OS Sheath

These sheaths from TAD gear have the nice characteristic of being able to be carried either in vertical or horizontal position. They are about 5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide with a velcro closure in a very long flap.

To carry them in vertical position you use the belt loop in the back; to carry horizontally you use two smaller velcro loops across the main loop you can then attach the sheath to your belt in horizontal position and it will be more confortable.

They are useful for flashlights, multitools such as the leatherman juice, SAKs, lighters, Survival capsules and other uses.

Made of strong nylon with reiforced stitches the sheaths will resist every day usage bumps and scratches without breaking, the closures are solid. The main flap is so big that accidental opening is almost impossible.

They are available in both green and black from TAD gear for $17.

Princeton Tec Apex Headlamp

The Apex (and the upcoming Apex pro) are the top of the line headlamps from Priceton Tech. The headlamp has a Luxeon III LED as the main illumination source and four 5mm LEDs surrounding the luxeon, two on each side.

Both the luxeon and the 4mm leds have 2 levels of brightness, high and low, the 4mm leds have a third mode for blinking. The idea is to use the 4mm leds for close works and long runtime and the luxeon led for distance. The leds are regulated offering flat light output regardless of the battery status.

The batteries are 4AA batteries located in a carrier at the back of the straps. It can use akaline, rechargeable or lithium batteries indistinctly. Using alkaline batteries the Apex can run for 24 hours (1 hour of regulation) in its brightest mode and up to 108 hours (5o of regulation) using the 4mm leds in low mode. There is a battery life indicator to know the status of the batteries.

To activate the leds there are two independant switches in the headlamp, turning one set of leds on will turn the other off, so it is not possible to use the luxeon and the 4mm leds at the same time, you have to choose depending on what you need. The luxeon throws really nicely and can reach long distances, the 4mm leds are fine for operation indoors or for close inspections.

The light is waterproof and impact resistant, it is a little heavy and bulky for every day carry but can be packed in a bag or backpack for outdoor activities. If you need a dependable headlamp powerful enough to rival incandescent headlamps with the versatility and durability of leds the Apex is a great option.

Available in black, olive green and orange. More information in the product page. You can get it for $64 from Lighthound.