Keeping your keys safe is key. Photo: KGUARD
Car thieves are getting smarter. Masterlock boxes are no longer safe and stashing your keys on your tire or in the bushes could very well end with you getting out of the water to find your car has vanished. What’s a surfer with an electronic car key to do? It’s actually simpler than you might think — just bring the key with you. Scary? We all know salt water and electronic car keys don’t mix, but with one of these waterproof pouches, they don’t have to. I got my hands on four waterproof pouches you can use to bring your electronic car key into the water, putting them to the ultimate test in the pounding surf of Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Don’t become a car thief’s next victim: bring your keys into the water with you with one of these great options, ranked in order of personal preference. Let us know which is your favorite in the comments below!
The KGUARD is a nifty little pouch made of durable silicone.
1. KGUARD
Durability: 5/5. Ease of use: 4/5. Comfort While Surfing: 5/5
Price: $35.50 on Amazon
The KGuard was easily my favorite car key pouch. It’s a literal pouch made of thick, durable silicone. You just pop your car key inside, cinch the top, and you’re good to go. Not much bigger than the car key itself, it fits easily into the chest zip of my wetsuit, where I secured it to the wetsuit’s key loop. While I was initially a little skeptical about the closure system, which led to a couple of panicked double-checks to make sure it hadn’t come undone, I soon grew to trust this nifty little gadget.
The closure system is intuitive, but not the easiest to operate.
The KGUARD’s biggest downfall is that it’s quite difficult to actually get the key inside. Being made of silicone, the pouch is quite grippy, so popping the key in is more of a two-handed job that includes wrenching the thing open and shoving the key down its gullet. It became a lot easier once I got the hang of it and realized it was going to take a lot more than me using the product as intended to rip the durable silicone. Although you can’t see the buttons of your car key, if you memorize where they are it’s pretty easy to use the key while it’s inside the pouch. If you keep a little air inside when closing it up, it’ll float too!
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The Keymaster by Aquapac
2. Aquapac Keymaster
Durability: 4/5 Ease of use: 5/5 Comfort while Surfing: 5/5
Price: $27.21 on Amazon
Another great option, the Aquapac Keymaster has been around for years and has been trusted by many. The cheapest option on this list, the Keymaster boasts a foolproof and easy-to-operate closure system, a clear plastic pouch so you can see and operate the buttons on your car key, and it will float too. This also fit comfortably in the front zip of my wetsuit. I just folded it in half around the key fob so I could keep the hard plastic closure system horizontal.
This was where my main concern with the product came up. I couldn’t help but be a little paranoid that with hard use over time, (especially with me folding it in half to stuff in my wetsuit) some leakage might occur as the pouch itself is made of rather thin material. That being said, so far so good and I’ve used it on some bigger days when I was well and truly thrashed without a drop of water getting inside. James, a rep from the company who responded to me on Instagram, assured me folding the pouch shouldn’t be an issue. Another good option that avoids the folding problem and keeps your front-zip uncluttered is to wear it around your neck with the pouch hanging down your back.
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DRFT Waterproof Leg Pouch
3. DRFT Waterproof Wallet
Durability: 4/5 Ease of use: 5/5 Comfort While Surfing: 4/5
Price: $43.00 on Amazon
The DRFT pouch takes a slightly different approach to storing your key with a neoprene sleeve that fits over your leg or bicep. A set of three ziplock seals protect your key while in the water, and the sleeve can fit over or under your wetsuit with an included velcro strap to cinch it down and keep it in place. Wearing it under the suit can be a little uncomfortable, depending on the fit of the neoprene. For added security to make extra sure it doesn’t slip over your ankle and into the ocean (it won’t) put it on your leash leg and it isn’t going anywhere.
The main problem I had with this item was the ziplock closure system, similar to the Aquapac. I found myself wondering how many attempts to open the ziplocks with cold hands it would take to bust one and let water in on the next use, but I guess that’s why there are three ziplocks and not just one. On another note, this probably isn’t the best option for shortboarders, as it can create drag when kicking into waves.
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The Keyfender protects your keys from just about anything
4. Keyfender
Durability: ?/5 Ease of Use: ?/5 Comfort While Surfing: ?/5
Price: $38.95 on Amazon
To be fair, I never did get my hands on the Keyfender to try out in the water. I reached out to the Keyfender team and was apparently sent a product to test, but never received it in the mail. Between international shipping during the pandemic and porch piracy around the holidays, I don’t fault Keyfender for the package not arriving, though I was pretty excited to give this product a shot. From the videos on the website, it looks simple enough to use. Just choose the right foam insert to keep your car key from rattling around inside and click the case shut. A clear plastic window on the outside lets you operate the car key buttons while it’s inside the Keyfender, and it floats!
The hard plastic case seems to be its greatest strength and biggest downfall. While it seems to be an absolutely bombproof case, it is pretty bulky, the main downside other reviews online pointed to. For some water activities such as SUPing or kiting this shouldn’t be too much of a problem, but in my situation where I’d be tucking it into the front zip of my wetsuit and then lying down on my surfboard to paddle, I was worried it might be uncomfortable. Less of a problem for other water sports. The Keyfender does come with a nylon armband which you can use to wear it outside of your wetsuit, but this seems like a less secure option, especially in bigger surf.
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZONOverall, any of the above products are a great way to keep your electronic car key dry and give you peace of mind knowing your keys are safe with you instead of in the hands of a thief taking your car (and credit cards) for a joyride.
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