Seems like an easy way to have a few essential items - Either on a jacket pull or on your key ring.

Commercial key fob with tools inside

I am sure there is a market for such gimmicks, however I think that few, if any on this forum would part with $13.00 for this...

I have an easier way to have a few essential items....Pockets.

What a waste of money.

I use a short length of aircraft cable, that way it is easier to grab what I need rather than searching through my pockets and pulling everything else out first. It is just a method for organizing your stuff so you can get to it easier. That fob is way too expensive though. You can get anything you need for pennies at a good hardware store.

I've not had any luck with zipper pull items - especially tiny compasses. They just haven't lasted.

These days EDC involves stuff in my pockets - carefully selected. I don't carry massive amounts - just the basics - whistle, light, knife, small ferro rod ...

When out and about - I carry gear in a daypack ... which is getting too heavy since I have too much gear in it - including weather radio, lightening detector, GPS, several knives (Leatherman, Mk1 fullsize, Mk3), and more.

I don't carry small kits (tins). Nothing against them - I just don't carry them. If I did it would be Doug's PSP with some additions (purification tablets, lighter, ...).

Pardon me asking Ken, but what is a lightning detector exactly? I mean I get the principal behind it (it obviously detects lightning)but I have honestly never heard of that. How big? how does it work? Lightning must be a real concern in your neck of the woods.

I never warmed up to the things on my zipper idea either, with the exception of a small knife (outdoor edge brand I think) which is real handy pinned to the zipper of my life vest when kayaking.

The design merits of that key fob are debateable. However seeing the plethora of absolute junk for sale elsewhere on that site (who has the moral ineptitude to market a $2.48 compass?), I won't be shopping there.

An inner zippered pocket is better, I agree.

I like my emergency items easy to reach, not all tied up in paracord. That said, if someone decides to purchase a fob like this, I can't fault them for it (except to say that it looks like something they could easily make themselves.)

http://www.strikealert.com/

Its a pretty cool little device that not only can tell you when lightening is a real threat - which is a big issue when camping without grounded shelters - but it can also tell you whether the lightening strikes are "coming" or "going". That is pretty cool.

Thanks Ken,

Usually I am fairly antigadget as I break everything I touch, but I can surely see the utility of one on these.

It would be a blessing for those long canoe trips where I have had to paddle like a madman to get to shore after a storm brewed up out of nowhere.