Review on 🔑 Stainless Locking Retractable Key BAK with Retraction by Peter Parks

My main working key set is probably 12-15 commercial Schlage/Best/Sargent keyways plus 3-4 elevator/electronic key fob/padlock size. This load is the limit for my LOCK48. It will still fully retract and "get stuck," but only *about* 1-2 ounces of tension will hold it in place. A vigorous, rhythmic motion (hip/buttock rebound) causes the button set to "dial" the keys 3-4 inches from the fully retracted position. This can be mitigated by wearing your keys on a 3/9 o'clock strap, unfortunately these areas are usually reserved for multi-tools/various holsters/pouches/radios etc. This is not the fault of the -Bak/T- REIGN key or LOCK48 in my opinion. My LOCK48 has just passed the 1 year mark and despite intense heavy use it still performs well mechanically. I probably pull 40-50t of keys once a day during operation. I work 5-6 days a week so this number definitely showed me that the retraction mechanism is solidly built. This is a great testament to the build quality of the Keybak/T-REIGN. The tab slider at the top of LOCK48 saves you from this problem; but it can be awkward to get to or frustrating to turn on and off all the time if you frequently pull keys. Some users have had issues with the force required to flip the latch, mine is average in this regard. There is no noticeable tactile click to indicate the latch is on/off. The range of motion of the slider itself is small, making it difficult to determine by touch whether the retractor is engaged or not. I have a few comments on the negative points. In my case the holding power has dropped quite a bit (maybe by a MAXIMUM 0.5 oz) but I put that down to probably overloading it since I bought mine. The belt clip is of decent spring steel construction but is very thin. Without further ado I would estimate the thickness to be 3/32 inch. If you get snagged on the LOCK48 by something prying/unscrewing the belt clip, you will need to flex the retaining arm to properly engage the raised edge of the belt. This can be avoided to an extent depending on where you carry your keys or what activities you do at work, but it's food for thought. I haven't encountered this, I can definitely see where it could be a problem. partly with/without Velcro inserts. If the KB tensioner had mud in the "tunnel" belt passage, I could see where the edge of the clamp itself might start cutting through tissue in the immediate vicinity. The thickness of the steel belt clip is the real culprit, not the clip itself, which comes with sharp edges from the factory. Finally, the biggest downside in my circumstances Not the LOCK48 or T-REIGN retractors themselves (I have two different models), but the cost/availability of the various 'easy-to-replace end pieces' they offer. After a quick search of their site, it turns out each end piece is around $4 up to shipping and shipping (if you don't have Prime). This can really add up if you love key-bak retractors and regularly switch multiple sets of keys at work. It would be nice if KB could offer a keyring version of the end piece without the included split rings to lower the RRP. $20+ for five tiny SRB clips with a hole in the base is pretty expensive in my opinion.