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When I first noticed the Utili-Key at my retailer, I thought the $10 price was a little high for something so small and simple, but the stainless steel finish seemed well done, and it looked like a high-quality tool so I bought it anyway. I have since found out that the tool also comes in a gold color (titanium nitride) at some retailers.

Now that I’ve had it for a while, it seems well worth the money. This product was made in China and unfortunately I have seen some low quality steel tools that were made there, thankfully this one is an exception. The tool opens and closes precisely and seems to have tight tolerances. The serration’s on the lower knife portion seem to have been carefully cut. It looks as though one side of the Utili-Key is slightly more polished than the other, probably for marketing reasons as the more jeweled side was facing up in the retail box. This is a minor point as the other side still looks just fine.

When I first bought the Utili-Key, it was not clear to me that it would open up a full 180 degrees. That would have been okay since the tool is completely functional when opened 90 degrees. There are no springs involved, and it appears to be made of out of exactly 3 pieces of steel. It clicks into either of the two open positions with a bit of pressure and stays in place fairly well, but it is not locked into position which means that it can still close up on your finger if not used carefully. The knife is very sharp and it could cause an accidental injury during the use of the philips part of the tool since the blade is opposite the philips head.

The tool is so small and unobtrusive that I cannot imagine why anyone would not want to have the easy convenience of it right on the old key-ring. The length of it is just slightly shorter than the ignition key for my vehichle. Even if you carry other types of multi-tools or a pocket knife, it would be worthwhile to have this in case you forget your other stuff.

I really enjoy discovering clever well made products and this one is a keeper.
Rating: 5 / 5

I’ve had this attached to my key ring for a number of years. I don’t need it often but when I have it’s been useful as long as I am very careful while handling it. The knife is extremely sharp and because the key is pretty thin it can rotate easily in your fingers. It’s not incredibly easy to close around a key ring with one hand, and does with a bit of a snap, so you need to make sure your fingers are well out of the way when you do. The Phillips screwdriver on the end of one of the tines is helpful for things like tightening eyeglasses, but it is slightly offset from the opposing blade and I’ve nicked or jabbed myself with it more than once while it’s in my pocket. You’re supposed to lock it at either 90 or 180 degrees when using it, but when you close it from 90 the keyring end easily grabs at your fingers. This isn’t a product for kids, and only should be used with extreme care.
Rating: 3 / 5