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Been thinking about getting hold of one of these for a while. They make sense if there's a chance that a group will get split, or on an uplift day when the key would just have to staying in my pocket (and will possibly/likely get smashed in a crash).
Does anyone here use one, or know of any that are particularly good/bad?
This is what I'm talking about for anyone that doesn't know what I mean:
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I just keep my key in my camelbak. But for times I need something waterproof (eg in the sea) then I have a simple key with no remote that can open the doors.
Looks like a good idea to me, if the group gets split up etc. Also would be handy for the house. Where do you get them ?
I can't imagine anything worse than leaving the key with the car in a rural car park security wise - and I wouldn't like to have to explain it to the insurance company when my car was nicked either.
Don't use one of these. You'd be safer leaving the key in the car!
These things have a flimsy case and a weak combination lock but worst of all - they sit in full view so anyone knows that inside that box are the keys to your car.
It's madness.
I have a quicksilver key box. It's made of plastic, has no lock but is small and magnetic so you can put your key in and then hide it someone discreet.
I have regularly put a key in a drybag and hidden it up the path/trail/riverbank a little under a rock/log/wall etc where no-one else is looking. Never had a problem, but then there tends to be fewer people around.
Don't use one of these. You'd be safer leaving the key in the car!
These things have a flimsy case and a weak combination lock but worst of all - they sit in full view so anyone knows that inside that box are the keys to your car.
It's madness.
I have a quicksilver key box. It's made of plastic, has no lock but is small and magnetic so you can put your key in and then hide it someone discreet.
That's obviously a concern, but I've done worse in the past! Of course, keeping it hidden is still a good idea.
There's loads of places doing them if you do a quick google. Loads of surf and paddling shops stock them as you'd imagine.
they sit in full view so
Nope, hang em on a suspension member or similar hidden...
richiethesilverfish - Member
Don't use one of these. You'd be safer leaving the key in the car!
These things have a flimsy case and a weak combination lock but worst of all - they sit in full view so anyone knows that inside that box are the keys to your car.
The one in the photo does look shit, it was just an example. No reason to leave them in full view though
I can't envisage a problem they'd be a reasonable solution to.
Unless you want a weak but massive lock capable of storing teeny-tiny things in a fairly obtrusive fashion, in which case you should definitely buy one.
They'll massive so they're actually quite hard to hide.
You see cars at the beaches down here with them attached to the towbars!
IvanDobski - Member
I can't envisage a problem they'd be a reasonable solution to.
- Group gets split and someone needs to head back to the trailhead early
- Uplift day, no camelbak so fragile key needs to live in pocket
- Surfing
Guess we'll have to agree to disagree on what constitutes a reasonable solution.
I actually looked at one of these for surfing, on a surf forum, several people posted and said that if you get your car broken into or stolen with a key placed in one of these boxes it will not be covered by insurance. I have a simple door locking key which was super cheap to have cut and only opens doors. Maybe get a couple of spares to share among the group!?
Lots of people in our running club hide their keys on the inside of their bumpers / other places for this reason.
I like the idea of the magnetic box as then you can hide it somewhere very imaginative.
You can get similar things for the house but think you'd be asking for trouble, unless you put this in an obscure location.
As ali69er says, the insurance companies wont pay out if anything happens, as the key has been left on the car. Its not worth the hassle. A cheaper way would be to get blanks cut and give one to everyone in your riding group.
Take a spare key and give it to some one else. Those things can be opened with a moderate whack with a hammer. Your insurance would be void and its not worth it. Flawed design imo.
Insurance pfft. Company van, and not even mine 😉
I think there's a few holiday places using this sort of thing attached to the doorframe so you don't have to arrange to meet the owner/agent to check in or out. Had it on 2 places, one in Brighton centre and one on a cottage in Ambleside, both seemed to work pretty well and didn't seem too flimsy when attached to the wall. Don't know about locking to a car but sure you'd be ok if it was out of sight.