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I remember back when I was a kid, the easiest way to find my parents in the grocery store, was to listen for their keys shaking in their pocket or their purse. They had this large mass of keys, movie rental tags (remember those?), and anything else that could fit on a key ring – and it made a specific noise that could be heard from anywhere in the store.
Well, those days may just be in the past, as some amazing options are starting to hit the market that get that mess of keys back under control. One of the best of those is Keyport with this Pivot 2.0 (that they gifted me) that I have been using for quite a long time now, and I have thoughts. So stay tuned, as I’ll be telling you everything you need to know about it: what I like, what I don’t like, and exactly who it is for.
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What is the Keyport Pivot 2.0?
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- Very high quality
- Extremely easy to install or remove keys from the organizer
- Modules and key accessories are very well-thought-out
- Very customizable to be exactly what you want
- Only fits eight keys
- With accessories, it is more bulky than the competitions
- It can get expensive once you have built it the way you want
- Dimensions: 0.7" High by 3.47" Wide by 0.6" Deep
- Capacity: 1 to 8 keys
- Weight: 0.63 ounces
This is a single-sided, ridged aluminum key organizer that can handle up to 8 keys (excluding internal accessories, like multi-tools, pens, etc) that, as the name suggests, pivot outward via a screw for easy access. The outside of the key organizer offers a grid pattern that allows for additional accessories called modules that further add to the functionality (think flashlights, faceplates, etc). While the price of the Pivot 2.0 is relatively light, it can quickly go up in price when accounting for accessories (of which there are plenty).
How did I test the Keyport Pivot 2.0? Over the past year and a half of owning this key organizer, I have rotated it through my collection of key organizers as my daily driver. I make sure to note things that I do and don’t like about it in comparison to every other one I have ever tested. This is a culmination of all of that usage (and comparison).
What do I like about the Pivot 2.0?
1. Extremely easy to install or remove keys from the organizer
The biggest issues I have with most key organizers is how much of a pain it is to install keys on them. The main culprit of this is key organizers that require you to put keys on both ends of the organizer. While this may technically double the capacity of the key organizer, it requires you to perfectly line up and install keys on both ends of the organizer and screw them down perfectly without them falling over.
Instead, Keyport opted to only have keys on one end, with the other end being a strap. This means installing keys only requires you to line keys up on one side of the key organizer rather than two. This is such an easier process that it only takes a minute or two to complete.
I – no joke, will just attach a loose key on my other key organizers (that place keys on both sides) key ring because it is so annoying with most key organizers. That’s not the case here.
2. It has some impressive build quality.
The last thing you want to do when buying a key organizer is to buy it again when it breaks. That isn’t the case when it comes to Pivot 2.0. It’s a simple design with no real moving parts and high-quality aluminum. This is a recipe for something that can last quite a long while, and as you can see here, this is the case for me.
Sure, there are some nicks and scratches that have happened over time, however the actual usability of the key organizer is like day one. That said, the flashlight module (the older version, that has since been replaced), did brake on me recently, however it appears the version that can be purchased now has fixed the weak point that I ran into. In the images above, I am using the newer version!
3. Modules and key accessories are very well-thought-out
Most key organizers are a one-trick pony, where you can put keys inside of the key organizer, and they are pinned together by a short screw. You can either put keys or accessories that all go around that screw.
However, Keyport has done something a bit different, by allowing for modules to be placed on the organizer’s exterior via a rail system. This means that accessories that should be ridged (and not be able to pivot) can stay ridged. Meanwhile, accessories like multi-tools (that have no problem rotating) can be easy to access by bringing them out like a key.
Having the ability to do both styles of accessories allows for some high-quality tools that also don’t add to the bulk.
4. Very customizable to be exactly what you want
One of the biggest party tricks that the KeyPort Pivot 2.0 offers is its customizable (we talked about this above). However, its worth talking about again. Most key organizers offer accessories, that can be included on your organizer, in fact, most of those accessories are universal, and will work on any key organizer.
However, Keyport’s modules are game changing. You can have on-board USB sticks, RFID Tag holders, flashlights, and even a charging cable for your devices. All of these things wouldn’t normally work on a standard key organizer, however with the outer railing of the Keyport, it adds a lot of possibilities.
The module setup is a much better solution for this!
What do I not like about it?
1. Only fits eight keys
Now, I realize that I complained about key organizers that require you to put keys on both ends, however their benefit does still stand, and that is capacity. The Keyport Pivot 2.0 stands on the lower end of key capacity at only 8 keys (excluding accessories). Once you have more than that, the elastic band on the other end can’t stretch long enough, and it starts to pinch your keys.
A great example of this is the fact that KeySmart’s Rugged (which I was gifted by that brand) can hold up to 14 keys (nearly double) with about the same thickness. So it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth the trade-off of ease of installation or capacity. Me personally? I prefer the ease of installation.
2. It can be hard on other items in your pocket
I had reviewed the KeyPort Pivot 2.0 quite a while ago in its entirety, however I wanted to completely re-review this key organizer for the article you are reading here. Because of that, I started using it again (rather than the Ekster Key Case) and found this one additional concern with the Pivot 2.0. That would be how hard it is on other items in your pocket.
With its metal construction, I was finding marks on the Bamboo of the Fantom Wallet (that that brand had gifted me), and I have no doubt it could damage other items. This could be especially an issue if you keep your keys and phone in the same pocket (who does that anyways).
That said, just keep an eye on this, as the aluminum siding of the wallet can be quite hard. Not sharp, but hard.
I did have a conversation with the owner of KeyPort, and he mentioned this was a primary reason to add a faceplate, as it gives a softer, rounder edge for items in your pocket (might want to think about getting one of those with your kit).
3. With accessories, it is bulkier than the competition’s
While the ability to have modules and standard accessories is a fantastic idea, it has one major downside: bulk. Each accessory you add adds about a key or two’s worth of width to the key organizer. Quite often, once you have the setup that you were hoping for, it has become rather bulky. I have found that my Pivot 2.0 is quite a bit thicker than the Ekster Key Case, which I have also extensively carried out, primarily due to the modules.
4. It can get expensive once you have built it the way you want
The base version of the Pivot 2.0 is quite cheap! In fact, you could say it is extremely budget-friendly. However, additional accessories and expansions can nudge up the price considerably and can even make its way into the three-digit range in price.
It takes some serious willpower not to overdo things and to keep it budget-friendly. In the end, this is up to you, though, and, of course, your restraint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should you buy it?
While you can technically purchase a Keyport on sites like Amazon, I would highly recommend purchasing it directly from their website. Their site is built specifically so you can get the right setup with the right accessories for your own needs. Most other retailer sites require you to build your Keyport individually, which isn’t ideal.
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