# Floating Keychains and Phone Floats for Boats (2026): What Each Float Is Rated to Hold

> 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.

- Source: https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats
- Publisher: SaltProofLab (https://saltprooflab.com)
- Published: 2026-10-01
- Category: dry-storage
- Tags: floating keychain, boat key float, phone float, floating wrist strap, floating phone pouch, kayak fishing, Chums, Floatys
- Method: picks chosen from Amazon listings and brand specs; not hands-on tested; current Amazon prices are on the page; content checked 2026-10-01.
- 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.

## Key takeaways

- Chums says to test the float with your own keys in shallow water, since key weights vary.
- A float rated in keys doesn't tell you grams; one rated in grams can be checked against a kitchen scale.
- No key float here is rated to hold up a phone; a floating pouch or case is the job for that.

## Products (chosen from listings, not tested)

1. **Chums Neoprene Floating Keychain** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B0F49CRSQX) — Buy 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
2. **Floatys Floating Keychain, Pocket Size (3 Pack)** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B0DHJQQH5V) — Buy 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
3. **Floatys Floating Keychain, Extra Large (2 Pack)** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B0FK1XR7W7) — Buy 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
4. **Chums SportFloat Floating Wrist Strap** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B0F44W54WM) — Buy 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
5. **Pelican Marine Floating Waterproof Phone Pouch** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B08GHKMR82) — Buy 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

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](https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B0F49CRSQX) | Key float | 1.4 oz (40 g), about 3 keys | 5.75 x 1.75 in | Chums Inc | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [Floatys pocket size, 3 pack](https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B0DHJQQH5V) | Key float | Up to 3 keys | Pocket size | Floatys | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [Floatys XL, 2 pack](https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B0FK1XR7W7) | Key float | Up to 12 keys or a large boat key | 6.5 x 2 in | Floatys | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [Chums SportFloat wrist strap](https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B0F44W54WM) | Wrist float | Not stated | Wrist strap | Chums Inc | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [Pelican Marine phone pouch](https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats#product-B08GHKMR82) | Floating pouch | One phone, screen up to 6.1 in | 8.27 x 4.53 in | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page |

## 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](https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/waterproof-phone-cases) 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](https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/best-dry-bags) for the makers' ratings.

Related: [kayak fishing accessories](https://saltprooflab.com/kayak-paddle/kayak-fishing-accessories) for leashes that keep paddles and rods aboard.

## 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](https://saltprooflab.com/life-jackets-safety/kill-switch-lanyards-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](https://saltprooflab.com/life-jackets-safety/marine-binoculars) weigh 37 oz or more per their makers; some have floating armor or a float strap included.

---

*SaltProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.*

---
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Canonical URL: https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats
How to cite: "Floating Keychains and Phone Floats for Boats (2026): What Each Float Is Rated to Hold", SaltProofLab, https://saltprooflab.com/dry-storage/floating-keychains-and-phone-floats (checked 2026-10-01).
Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate SaltProofLab earns from qualifying purchases. Safety information summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice.