Keyrings & Keychains

Car culture keyrings in two styles: flight tags, such as the Bride, HKS, Hoonigan, Driver Apparel and Remove Before Flight tags, and shaped keyrings, from 6 spoke and BBS style wheels to a six-speed gear stick, a jerry can and the NOS keyring. There are also Gyeon and Sam's Detailing keyrings for detailers, and novelty designs like the chicken nugget.

How to choose

• Flight tag or shaped keyring: a flight tag is a light fabric strip that sits flat in a pocket; a shaped keyring is chunkier and more of a display piece.
• Driver Apparel flight tags come in black, pink, red and yellow, handy for telling sets of keys apart.

Good to know

On a car with a turn key, keep the ignition key light: a heavy keyring swinging from it as you drive wears the ignition switch. Put the chunky ones on your house keys.

What does Remove Before Flight mean?

It comes from aviation. A red Remove Before Flight ribbon is tied to parts that are only used while an aircraft is on the ground, such as a pitot tube cover or a control lock, so they are easy to see and are taken off before it flies (Wikipedia). The keyring copies that red tag: see the Remove Before Flight Tag and the Arrow Remove Before Flight Tag.

Why do people put flight tags on their keys?

Mostly for the look, as a tag carries a brand or a slogan from the car scene. It is practical too: the fabric strip is light, sits flat in a pocket and is easy to spot in a bag.

Related: Accessories & Everyday Carry, Lanyards, Bags & Backpacks, Gifts Under £10. Popular brands here: Keyring Co., Driver Apparel, Hoonigan, Late Brake Supply.