Floating Keychains and Phone Floats (2026)
Floating keychains, wrist floats and a floating phone pouch for boats and kayaks, compared by what each maker says the float holds: keys, grams or a phone.
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Quick answer
For a boat key and a couple of others, the Chums neoprene float is rated to hold 1.4 oz (40 g), about 3 keys. For a full ring, Floatys' XL float is rated for up to 12 standard keys. For a phone, use a floating pouch such as Pelican's Marine pouch rather than a key float.
In this guide
- One float per crew memberFloatys Floating Keychain, Pocket Size (3 Pack)From the listing · not tested
Boat keys and phones go over the side in ordinary moments: off the dock while you untie, out of a shorts pocket when you lean for a fish, off a kayak when you reach for the paddle. A float on the key ring or phone makes the difference between a quick scoop with a net and a call for a spare. The number to check is what the maker says the float holds.
How we chose: we did not test these floats; we compared the buoyancy each listing states, and every one was sold by Amazon.com or the maker and in stock on September 30, 2026.
Five floats and what they're rated to hold
| Float | Type | Rated to hold (per listing) | Size | Sold by | Amazon price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chums neoprene keychain | Key float | 1.4 oz (40 g), about 3 keys | 5.75 x 1.75 in | Chums Inc | $6.99 (Amazon, as of Sep 30, 2026, 1:45 PM UTC)Check price |
| Floatys pocket size, 3 pack | Key float | Up to 3 keys | Pocket size | Floatys | $9.99 (Amazon, as of Sep 30, 2026, 1:45 PM UTC)Check price |
| Floatys XL, 2 pack | Key float | Up to 12 keys or a large boat key | 6.5 x 2 in | Floatys | $9.99 (Amazon, as of Sep 30, 2026, 1:45 PM UTC)Check price |
| Chums SportFloat wrist strap | Wrist float | Not stated | Wrist strap | Chums Inc | $13.99 (Amazon, as of Sep 30, 2026, 1:45 PM UTC)Check price |
| Pelican Marine phone pouch | Floating pouch | One phone, screen up to 6.1 in | 8.27 x 4.53 in | Amazon.com | $18.74 (Amazon, as of Sep 30, 2026, 1:44 PM UTC)Check price |
Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details
Rated in keys or in grams
Chums is the only key-float maker here that gives a weight. Its listing says the float "floats the amount of weight equal to 1.4 ounces (40g), which is equivalent to about 3 keys." That lets you weigh your own ring on a kitchen scale and know before you leave the dock.
Floatys rates its floats in keys: "up to 3 keys" for the pocket size and "up to 12 standard keys or a large boat key" for the XL. A key count is only a guide, because keys vary. Chums says as much: test the float with your keys in shallow water "since not all keys are made the same and key weight can vary."
Key point: test the whole ring you'll carry, fob and bottle opener included, not just the boat key.
Which size of key float
Pick the Chums float for a boat key plus one or two more, since its 40 g rating is the one you can check. Pick the Floatys pocket size when several people aboard each carry a key; the pack comes in three colors, so you can tell whose is whose. Pick the Floatys XL if your boat, truck and house keys stay on one ring.
Every float here uses closed-cell foam or buoyant foam inside neoprene, per the listings. Bright colors are the other half of the job. Chums, Floatys and Anchor Glasses Straps all sell theirs in fluorescent orange, yellow or green so they show on the surface.
Phones: a pouch, not a key float
None of the key floats here is rated to hold up a phone, and a phone weighs far more than 40 g. For the phone, use a floating pouch or case. Pelican's Marine pouch "floats," per its listing, has an IP68 rating to 1 m, and comes with a detachable lanyard for your neck or wrist.
Our waterproof phone case guide compares pouches and hard cases on their IP ratings, depth and time. The float and the lanyard matter as much as the seal: a sealed phone that sinks is still gone.
Floating wrist straps sold for cameras are rated in grams too. Nordic Flash rates its strap at up to 7 oz (200 g), but Amazon offered it only through a third-party seller when we checked. Weigh your phone before trusting any strap with it.
Wrist floats for kayaks
On a kayak, a pocket isn't secure and a dropped key sinks beside the hull. The Chums SportFloat is a foam-filled neoprene wrist strap with a removable clasp for keys, a small flashlight or a camera, per the listing. It gives no buoyancy figure, so test it with whatever you attach.
For a wallet, spare phone or anything bigger, a roll-top bag is the usual home; see best dry bags for the makers' ratings.
Related: kayak fishing accessories for leashes that keep paddles and rods aboard.
The products in this guide
In the order this guide discusses them, from listings, certifications and standards. Where a price appears it is Amazon's, with the time it was read.
A boat key and two more
Chums Neoprene Floating Keychain
From the listing · not testedBuy it if you carry a boat key and a truck key and want a rating in grams.
Pros
- + Rated to float 1.4 oz (40 g), about 3 keys, per the listing
- + Closed-cell foam wrapped in neoprene with a split ring
- + Chums lifetime warranty against defects
Cons
- - Chums says to test it with your keys first; heavier keys may sink it
One float per crew member
Floatys Floating Keychain, Pocket Size (3 Pack)
From the listing · not testedBuy it if several people aboard each carry a key or two.
Pros
- + Holds up to 3 keys without sinking, per the listing
- + Pocket-size foam core in neoprene, stainless steel key ring
- + Three high-visibility colors in the pack
Cons
- - Rated in keys, not grams
A full ring of keys
Floatys Floating Keychain, Extra Large (2 Pack)
From the listing · not testedBuy it if your boat, truck and house keys share one ring.
Pros
- + Holds up to 12 standard keys or a large boat key, per the listing
- + 50% larger than Floatys' other floats, 6.5 x 2 in
- + Stainless steel ring, foam core in neoprene
Cons
- - Too big for most pockets
Small gear on a paddle or kayak
Chums SportFloat Floating Wrist Strap
From the listing · not testedBuy it if you want the float on your wrist while you paddle or fish.
Pros
- + Foam-filled neoprene wrist strap for keys, cameras, small flashlights, per the listing
- + Removable clasp to swap what's attached
- + High-visibility colors; Chums lifetime warranty
Cons
- - No buoyancy figure given; the listing names phones without a weight limit
Phones on deck or kayak
Pelican Marine Floating Waterproof Phone Pouch
From the listing · not testedBuy it if your phone comes on the boat and fits a 6.1 in pouch.
Pros
- + Floats, with an IP68 rating to 1 m, per the listing
- + Detachable lanyard for neck or wrist, lock mechanism
- + Fits phones with screens up to 6.1 in
Cons
- - Too small for large phones; no time given for the 1 m rating
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check whether a key float will hold my keys?
Chums' listing says to test it with your keys in shallow water before you head out. If the maker rates it in grams, as Chums does at 40 g, weigh the ring on a kitchen scale first.
Do key floats lose buoyancy over time?
The listings don't give a service life. Floatys and Chums both use closed-cell or buoyant foam in neoprene, and Anchor Glasses Straps says its closed-cell foam won't absorb water. Retest the ring each season.
Will a floating keychain hold a boat's kill-switch lanyard?
None of these listings rates a float for a lanyard. Keep the engine cut-off lanyard on you as the ECOS rule requires, and float the ignition key separately.
Can I clip a float to binoculars?
Only if its rating covers their weight. The 7x50 marine binoculars in our marine binoculars guide weigh 37 oz or more per their makers; some have floating armor or a float strap included.
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