10 Of The Most Popular Key Ring Brands

Have you read our guide on how to select the right keychain? If you haven’t, I’ll urge to do so before continuing. If you did, maybe the decision is close at hand but you’re looking for inspiration to expand your research. Thus, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to 10 of the most popular key ring brands.

All brands on this list offer at least one key ring with the following characteristics:

  • Made of metals (e.g., steel, titanium), or in rare cases plastic (e.g., Ultem).
  • Traditional key ring style, usually without adornment.
  • Usually includes a clip (carabiner, lanyard) or another way to secure the keychain to another object (e.g., backpack).

Simply put, a key ring would be the easiest way to secure and organize your daily use keys. No muss, no fuss.

We won’t cover organizer or pouch keychain formats in this post (check out these blog entries instead: key organizer brands, key pouch brands).

BrandMetalPlastic
CountyComm
Craighill
Handgrey
Kobashi Studio
Nite Ize
Prometheus Lights
Tec Accessories
The James Brand
Urban Carvers
Wingback
Brand comparison table (information taken from brand sites in April 2024)

CountyComm

  • Origin: United States
  • Materials: Titanium, stainless steel, copper, brass, carbon fiber, Ultem
  • Standard options: Hook, carabiner, quick release
  • Prices: $2 – $40 (USD)
  • Website: countycomm.com

Based in Sunnyvale, CA, CountyComm was established in 1992. They primarily manufacture and sell tactical gear to U.S. government agencies, but retail any excess inventories to the general public. Within those products, CountyComm distinguishes itself by offering standard key rings besides quick release, hook, and carabiner options. Their products are made from metals like titanium and copper, as well as a couple models made of plastic.

CountyComm key ring
QR Snap Shackle
CountyComm key ring
Key Amigo
CountyComm key ring
Spring Clip 3-Pack

Craighill

  • Origin: United States
  • Materials: Brass, titanium, stainless steel
  • Standard options: Hook, carabiner
  • Prices: $15 – $44 (USD)
  • Website: craighill.co

Founded in 2015 in Brooklyn, NY, Craighill aims to design products that are functional and timeless, while also being beautiful and intriguing. They sell key rings with very simple designs, in addition to one hook and one carabiner models. Craighill manufactures its products using only metals, including titanium, brass, and stainless steel (certain models in this metal also come with a PVD finish).

Craighill key ring
Offset Keyring
Craighill key ring
Closed Helix Keyring
Craighill key ring
Wilson Keyring

Handgrey

  • Origin: United States
  • Materials: Titanium
  • Standard options: Hook, carabiner
  • Prices: $19 – $87 (USD)
  • Website: handgrey.com

American brand Handgrey was established in 2014, by a Thai designer raised in North Hollywood, CA. Their philosophy (and name) refer to handmade, personal creations, using middle grey as they consider it to be the most permanent among colors and contrasts. Handgrey manufactures key rings, heavily influenced by Bauhaus design, exclusively made of titanium. Their models usually come in hook or carabiner format, with a single, simple ring option.

Handgrey key ring
H4 Carabiner
Handgrey key ring
Knox Keyring
Handgrey key ring
KIN No.6 Key Hook

Kobashi Studio

  • Origin: Japan
  • Materials: Brass
  • Standard options: Hook, carabiner, chain
  • Prices: €7 – €70 (EUR)
  • Website: kobashistudio.com

Kobashi Studio was founded in Tokyo in 2015. They specialize in handmade solid brass products and accessories made by Japanese craftsmen. Kobashi Studio produces single key rings in addition to hook, carabiner, or chain attachments for easily securing their key rings to another object. However, they only sell their products through several stockists and online retailers located across multiple European countries.

Kobashi Studio key ring
Square Wire Rolled Key Hook
Kobashi Studio key ring
Flat Key Ring
Kobashi Studio key ring
Sand Casted Key Hook

Nite Ize

  • Origin: United States
  • Materials: Aluminum, stainless steel, polycarbonate
  • Standard options: Carabiner
  • Prices: $4 – $15 (USD)
  • Website: niteize.com

Nite Ize was established in 1989 in Boulder, CO. They aim to manufacture invention-driven products aimed to help with organization and protection of gear. Nite Ize produces extremely affordable key rings and carabiners made of aluminum or stainless steel, the latter complemented with polycarbonate micro-locks in certain models. Their key ring models come in either simple ring or carabiner format.

Nite Ize key ring
Infini Key Chain
Nite Ize key ring
S-Biner Dual Carabiner
Nite Ize key ring
SideLock Carabiner

Prometheus Lights

  • Origin: United States
  • Materials: Titanium, aluminum, brass, copper, nickel, Delrin, Lexan
  • Standard options: Hook, quick release
  • Prices: $29 – $99 (USD)
  • Website: darksucks.com

Prometheus Lights is based out of Mountain View, CA, and it was started in 2017. Their mission is to create products based on simplicity and usability without compromising quality. Prometheus Lights offers standard ring, dual ring with quick release, and hook formats. Their key rings are made of metals such as titanium, aluminum, copper, brass, and even nickel. Prometheus Lights also offers a few models made of polymer (Delrin) or polycarbonate (Lexan).

Prometheus Lights key ring
Pocket Hook
Prometheus Lights key ring
Quick Release Lexan
Prometheus Lights key ring
Pocket Hook Titanium

Tec Accessories

  • Origin: United States
  • Materials: Titanium, stainless steel
  • Standard options: Clip, quick release
  • Prices: $12 – $37 (USD)
  • Website: tecaccessories.com

Styled as ‘TEC Accessories’, it was established in 2004 in Queen Creek, AZ. They design products that are not only practical but also offer pride of ownership, in what they’ve come to term ‘practical obsessions’. TEC offers key rings in typical format as well as clip and quick release options. Their products are made of either titanium or stainless steel (bead blasted).

Tec Accessories key ring
Python Quick Release
Tec Accessories key ring
Suspension Clip
Tec Accessories key ring
UFO Key Holder

The James Brand

  • Origin: United States
  • Materials: Aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, brass
  • Standard options: Hook, carabiner
  • Prices: $12 – $119 (USD)
  • Website: thejamesbrand.com

The James Brand was founded in 2012 in Portland, OR. They pride themselves in designing gear and tools aimed for people who like to live adventurously and pull up their sleeves. The James Brand produces key rings that include hook and carabiner additaments. Their products are made of metals, mostly titanium and aluminum with a couple options machined from stainless steel or brass.

The James Brand key ring
Holcombe Carabiner
The James Brand key ring
Mehlville Carabiner
The James Brand key ring
Rowan Key Hook

Urban Carvers

  • Origin: United States
  • Materials: Brass, copper, titanium, aluminum, zirconium, Delrin, Ultem
  • Standard options: Quick release
  • Prices: $21 – $120 (USD)
  • Website: urbancarvers.com

Urban Carvers was established in 2018 in Choctaw, OK. They started thanks to a DIY enthusiast with a knack for transforming raw materials into masterpieces. Urban Carvers manufactures exclusively a quick release dual key rings model, made of different material options, including metals (e.g., titanium, aluminum, zirconium) and plastic (e.g., Delrin and Ultem).

Urban Carvers key ring
V2 Quick Release

Wingback

  • Origin: United Kingdom
  • Materials: Brass, titanium, stainless steel
  • Standard options: Loop, FOB
  • Prices: £15 – £60 (GBP)
  • Website: wingback.co.uk

British brand Wingback started in 2014 and is based out of London. They design products that pursue to be straightaway a pleasure to use, to improve with age and become a cherished item passed down through generations. Wingback offers unorthodox FOB or loop options, with only one model that includes a standard key ring attached to a bills cache. They are made of metals such as brass, titanium, and stainless steel.

Wingback key ring
Fob
Wingback key ring
Cache
Wingback key ring
Loop

Key takeaways

In conclusion, here are some pros and cons of choosing a product from any of these popular key ring brands.

Pros of a key ring:

  • More storage capacity
  • More resistant and durable
  • Usually less expensive (depending on material)
  • Very easy to clean

Cons of a key ring:

  • More noisy – keys will jingle in pocket or backpack
  • Some metal options might be heavier
  • Not as fashionable as other keychain types