REVIEW– I recently posted an article about how I’ve been on a makeover kick of my EDC for 2020 (that’s Every Day Carry for you home gamers out there).  The first thing that had to go was my wallet.  I selected a Minimalist wallet from Sermon Brands as a replacement.  It was a fine choice for a slim wallet if I do say so myself.  The next item to tackle was the key situation.  I chose the Key Smart Rugged for my every day carry.

I’ve been a long time user of Keysmart products.  I was first introduced to them when I received a Key Smart key chain as a gift about 3 years ago.  I loaded up the Key Smart and suddenly– no more jingle.  My bulk of 8 keys or so was combined into slim package which easily slid into my front pocket.  I loved it, and never even considered that there might be other options out there, which isn’t really like me.  I’m also looking for that new piece of gear or tech which can make my life just a little bit simpler.  So when I began evaluating my EDC, I began to look for alternative options at the off chance there was something better out there.  I found that there were quite a few options out there with some new names I hadn’t previously heard of:

• Orbitkey
• KeySmart
• KeyKlip
• Bellroy
• KeyBar
• Keyport

That’s a lot to choose from.  So let’s start with the criteria I was looking for:

1. It had to subdue the jingle (obviously)
2. It needed a solid build
3. It needed to be black
4. A belt clip was preferred
5. I wanted the ability to add additional tools

The last one wasn’t really a requirement, but I was specifically desiring a small screwdriver.  This was something that was on previously on my Leatherman Skeletool that I used all the time.  The Skeletool was part of my EDC for several years and I absolutely loved it I feel like the true die hard EDC dudes are never Leatherman fans.  What can I say, Leatherman haters gonna hate, but I loved that thing.  After I lost it for the second time [moment of silence, please] I decided to consider alternative options for my EDC specifically what it would look like if I didn’t carry a multitool every day.  The Skeletool pretty much just offered a knife, screwdriver, small pliers, and a bottle opener.  The screwdriver and pliers I used frequently.

My previous keysmart was starting to show it’s age with everyday wear and tear.  It was also orange, a color for which I have great affinity, but it was time for a change.

Of the above 6 options, I narrowed the field down to two main choices : The KeySmart Rugged and the KeyBar.  Both options offered a quality build; both offered key holders in black; and both came with an included belt clip.

KeySmart Rugged beside KeyBar Aluminum

I think that you probably can’t go wrong with either of these options.  I personally like the look of the Key Smart a little better.  I think it’s primarily because of the logo.  Maybe I’m nitpicking, but I can appreciate the Keysmart logo and clean, lightweight typeface opposed to the blocky and overly large placement of the KeyBar branding.  As you can see from the image above, the KeyBar does have the option to order a more subdued version of the branding, but i’m still just not a fan of that logo.

The Key Smart Rugged

I’ve been using the Key Smart Rugged for few weeks now.  It definitely has a rugged feel, and it’s much heavier duty than my original Key Smart.

KeySmart Rugged (left) beside Original KeySmart (right)

The color that I bought is called Midnight Diamond, which, at the time of writing this (just a few weeks after I bought mine), looks like is no longer available from Amazon or even Key Smart directly.  That’s a shame because it is by far the nicest looking color in my opinion even if it did come at the premium price tag of $44.99.  It definitely checked the “must be black” requirement for me in that it includes black key bolts which the regular black Key Smart Rugged does not.  The standard rugged colors are just $34.99.  It is currently available in Blue, Red, Black, Camo, and another premium color option– US Army Camo.

Key Smart Rugged in Midnight Diamond

The addition of a belt clip (or pocket clip) on the back is a nice touch up from the original.  It is an optional accessory that is included when you buy it.  You don’t have to put on, but you would have an open slit on the backside where the clip is supposed to go.   One thing I would have liked to have seen is a deep carry clip.  As it’s designed, the clip comes through the side wall just below the upper key bolt.  This makes the Key Smart stick out of your pocket by a half an inch or more when it’s clipped to your pocket. This may not seem like a huge deal and it’s definitely not a deal breaker, but I would have liked the added security or a deep carry clip.

Key Smart Rugged Clip

Key Smart Rugged Clip from the Back

There is an bottle cap opener included as well which has a lanyard or key ring hook on the other side.  There is also a standard key ring hook included without the bottle cap opener.

The Key Smart’s in general take some time to get right when setting them up.  If you crank on the screws too hard, it will be unusable and difficult to get the keys out.  If you put the keys in backwards, it’s not as good looking.  My advice would be to lay the keys with the teeth facing inwards toward each other from both sides.  If you have keys that are thicker than others, there are included spacers which help you to balance out the two sides before you tighten down the screws.  Yes, it takes some work to get the Key Smart setup, but once it is, it can dramatically improve your EDC.  One recommendation I’d make is that if you are the type of person who’s key set is constantly changing, this might not be the best solution for you just because of the effort involved in setting it up.

One thing that you may have noticed in these couple pictures is that screwdriver.  That is not something that is included with the Key Smart.  I bought that separately for about $13 dollars.  It is a great addition to the Key Smart.  It’s got a standard flathead and philips head screwdriver tip that can be reversed.  When not in use, it just tucks right back in with the rest of your keys.