Review: Orbitkey Key Organiser Pro – The solution for jangling keys?

Orbitkey, a Melbourne-based design collective, has been creating life-enhancing products since 2013. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign the Key Organiser was developed with the aim of “solving everyday problems and simplifying people’s lives.” Through various iterations, the Key Organiser Pro is one of their standout products currently on sale.

I hate fumbling around in my pockets searching for keys. Being a private landlord, this is a bugbear of mine as I often have to carry at least two sets of keys – one for my home and another for my rental property. Now, I  like to be organised as much as I can, so I ensure keys are always where I expect them to be – in my left trouser pocket. One of the drawbacks of having too many keys is the damage they do to your clothing. My favourite pair of designer jeans has succumbed to fading and holes have appeared in the pocket region due to continuous abrasion. So, when the Orbitkey Key Organiser Pro came into my life, I was delighted.

In the box

The Key Organiser Pro is fundamentally a keychain, so it’s not the most complicated bit of tech. However, its simplicity is also what makes it a compelling product. Made from ethically sourced materials, the strap is made of Leather Working Group (LWG)-Certified Saffiano Leather. This certification ensures the leather is produced by a company that conforms to environmentally responsible working practices. Available in a choice of eight colours; Lilac, Liquorice Black, Olive, Oxford Navy, Cedar, Blackout, Evergreen and Sapphire, you’re sure to find a hue to suit your tastes.

The two end pieces are brought together with a micro-adjustable tension mechanism. There is a fixed D-ring at the closed end onto which you can attach other keys and fobs.

Setting up

The Key Organiser Pro includes black card key templates to help you pre-plan your key configuration. To assemble, simply unscrew the tension rod that holds the keys in place. A small but essential component, the Quick Flip Tool, acts as a spacer, allowing you to quickly separate and access your most-used key from the rest. The primary key should be placed between the spring-loaded spacer (that is fixed to the receiving end of the tension rod pin ) and the Quick Flip Tool. The Quick Flip Tool conveniently has a notch which should stand proud of the Key Organiser. As if by magic, a flip of this notch spins the primary key out of the organiser, ready for use. Don’t ask me how but it just works.

Sum up

The Orbitkey Key Organiser Pro is a handy product that will appeal to many. And for those people, it will offer a real benefit. However, in my experience, it does have one flaw that should be considered before purchase. Keys are like people in some ways. They may all work in the same way, but not all keys look alike. To be specific, the tension rod, which needs to pass through the keyring hole in the bow/ head (the bit you hold to turn the key), won’t fit through every hole. Some keys have a circular bow/ head. Other keys may have hexagonal or square bows. The hole for the keyring may look different and not appear consistently across a set of keys. This is an issue that I have. If the front door key fits in the Key Organiser Pro and the back door key doesn’t, what are you going to do? This is where the D-Ring comes into action. Any keys that don’t fit into the Key Organiser Pro can be attached to the D-Ring, which is a valid solution, but in my opinion, it’s not ideal. The only alternative I can think of is to drill a suitably large hole in the actual key but I doubt this option will appeal to many.  Or the diameter of the shaft (of the tension mechanism) to be made shorter to allow it to fit through a greater variety of key shapes.

Where to buy and cost

The Orbitkey Key Organiser Pro is available from www.orbitkey.com and is currently priced at £54.90 GBP or $64.90 USD.