Key carabiners and keychains

Accessory carabiners and key holders to keep your essentials close

Looking for the convenience of clipping something to your belt loop without the weight or price tag of a load-bearing carabiner? Accessory carabiners and key holders are great for gathering up that pocketful of essentials to keep together and accessible right at your fingertips.

Accessory carabiners come in a selection of shapes and closing mechanisms depending on your needs and preferences. D-shaped and pear-shaped biners are common, leaving lots of room for your keys plus anything else you can hang from a ring or lanyard, from multi-tools and compasses to flashlights and water bottles. S-shaped biners are another great option and add a little organization to your keychain. Some options even include locking mechanisms like screw gates to keep your things secure.

Accessory carabiners aren’t just for your belt loops. Attach them to your pack to keep things handy on the outside, or to the inside of your tent for somewhere to hang your headlamp at night. And keep an eye out for options that come with accessories of their own – compasses, thermometers and even fire-starting tools are just a few examples of what you might find.

Finally, the most important thing about accessory carabiners? They’re not for climbing. Check out climbing carabiners and quickdraws for those options.