I was out shopping today when I came across the Orbitkey. What initially caught my eye was how sleek it looked, sitting in department store Tangs. While I haven’t been directly looking for an upgrade from the KeySmart system I’ve been using for years, I have found myself wanting a better key organiser that feels and holds better, especially when I’ve added my car keys to the mix.

Because my previous car keys were crank-start, I didn’t want to have my house keys on the same organiser as they would be swinging around and scratching up the plastic around the keyhole of the car.

With the new key fob, the keys don’t have to be taken out of my pocket to start the car, so now it makes more sense for me to have both key sets in the same organiser. With the aluminium of the KeySmart though, it might cause a lot more scratches with the key fob itself. This is where a new leather key organiser would be a lot more useful.

After checking online that the brand uses genuine leather, I was more interested in actually buying it. They have a few variations, leather, crazy horse leather, saffiano, and active (which I believe is a polymer material). I went for the obsidian black with red stitching and my partner picked a pink leather one. Each set was about $56 at Tangs.

The packaging is simple and intuitive. Opening up the cardboard holder reveals the straightforward instructions on how to get your keys in. Unlike the KeySmart which came with multiple washers, the Orbitkey only comes with 1 metal washer, which is only good for up to 2 keys. The washers are needed so that the keys can be individually pulled out of the organiser for use.

Setting up takes a bit of getting used to if you have more than 3 keys, as you need to hold each key in place to align the holes up to close the organiser. I had 4 keys and I used my washers from the KeySmart system. The keys fit nicely within the organiser, with a few cm to spare. Having more keys would widen the band and shorten the length, something to keep in mind.

The Orbitkey has a unique locking notch on the inside of the screw top that holds the screw in place, something that the KeySmart does not have. In fact, I’ve once had my KeySmart come undone while outside. Since then, from time to time I would make sure to tighten the screws.

The Orbitkey will end up slightly thicker than the KeySmart, as the KeySmart uses 2 pivot points, like a Swiss army knife, whereas the Orbitkey uses only one. The crazy horse leather feels a bit more rugged and aged in a nice way, and feels good in the hand. The genuine leather also carries a pleasant smell. The other upside the Orbitkey has is the included D-ring, which is bigger than the one from the KeySmart.

Overall I’m quite pleased with the purchase. While it is an upgrade for me, it may not be for everyone. The Orbitkey is slightly larger, clumsier, but looks and feels better. The KeySmart is more compact, sturdy, and also looks a better fit for a younger user.