You know the drill – you’re all packed for your trip, with everything as neat, compact, and organized as possible in your bags. You head out the door and grab your keys to lock up, realizing you’re about to have to lug your clunky key ring, and all of its inhabitants around the whole trip. When I saw a KeySmart key ring, I was intrigued. Its sleek design keeps the majority of your keys neatly tucked and aligned. I tried the Pro version that has a bottle opener, flashlight, and bluetooth tracker so I won’t ever lose my keys. Here’s what I thought of the KeySmart and how it helped streamline my travel experiences and everyday life.

Attach key fobs and thick car keys to the loop at the end. All other, regular keys, will fit just fine on the KeySmart – between 8 and 10 keys, depending on which style you buy. Photo courtesy KeySmart.

The story behind KeySmart

The company got its start after the owner, Mike, found himself annoyed with his bulky ring of keys that simultaneously poked him in the thigh and wore holes in his pants. Not to mention the jingle-jangle of all that metal. He set about designing and testing prototypes until he came up with the tool with an aluminum frame and stainless steel hardware. A 2013 Kickstarter campaign got things going and Mike was able to quit his job to focus on KeySmart full time. We love hearing success stories like that!

Much, much tidier! I opt for the KeySmart on the left, thank you! Photo courtesy KeySmart.

What we loved about KeySmart Pro

Indeed, it did take my mass of keys and put them into something that’s easy to hold, find, slip into pockets, and purses. The flashlight at the end was helpful on numerous occasions and, though I hate to admit it, there was that time that the bluetooth tracker found the keys, pronto. And you can even have the KeySmart find the phone, conversely. Handy!

I also liked that I could add a flash drive when I needed it and still easily remove it when I really didn’t need to have it with me.

Although my thick car key wouldn’t fit between the two plates, the Pro does come with a metal loop on the end and you can add a super-strong, magnetic attachment. I attached the car keys, no problem.

The bottle opener came in handy on several occasions, and not just for opening bottles.

What we didn’t love about KeySmart Pro

With keys neatly tucked away, it was sometimes hard to either grab and pull, or push the edge of the side of a key out, to expose it. I mainly use one key so I just kept it pulled out slightly so I could grab it quickly. I also had to experiment with loosening and tightening the two screws that hold the keys, sandwiched between their plates, so that the ring could be used like a handle, when turning it in the lock. If it was too loose, it made turning the key more difficult. A little tighter was just right but I’ve found I’ve had to adjust the tightness a few times.

The consensus? It gets our Real Food Traveler recommendation.

Overall, the KeySmart Pro has been a real asset. In my day-to-day life, making my keys much more streamlined, perfect for putting in a small purse for evening (it’s not much bigger than a lipstick!), into a small compartment of my backpack so I don’t have to fish around, and even just putting it in my pocket when I go for a walk. When traveling, it has been really helpful, knowing I still have my keys with me but that they are out of the way, neat and tidy, not poking me or taking up a bunch of space in my purse or backpack.

I’ve had several people ask me about it and I’m happy to recommend the KeySmart to them. Check out their website for this and other versions of the KeySmart. You can purchase key rings and other accessories (including wallets) on their site or through Amazon.com.

Hungry for more? Here are some other products that we keep on hand and slip into our bags whenever we’re on the go.

https://www.realfoodtraveler.com/kates-real-food-bars-product-review/

https://www.realfoodtraveler.com/must-have-travel-item-recess-cleaning-wipes/

https://www.realfoodtraveler.com/wineblock-social-media-giveaway/

https://www.realfoodtraveler.com/mer-sea-tassel-wrap-for-summer/

RealFoodTraveler.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn a small amount of  advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com while providing convenience for the reader. Also, I was provided with a sample KeySmart key ring to facilitate this review. I tried it over the course of several months and, as always, have provided my honest, unbiased opinion of the product.