At a glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Waterproof and rugged
- Obscures AirTag’s nature from thieves
- Includes keyring hole and keyring
- Low cost for high utility
Cons
- Somewhat reduces maximum volume of AirTag sounds
- A little fussy to take apart and reassemble for battery changes
Our Verdict
The TagVault: Keychain features a clever design that gives Apple’s AirTag a greater range of use.
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Apple’s AirTag is a classic Apple product: it has exactly the features Apple wants and no others, even if that would make it more versatile. The AirTag provides months of tracking with a single lithium-ion battery using Apple’s Find My network. But it doesn’t offer a keyring nub, resistance to scratching or mars, or waterproof or water-resistant options.
ElevationLab has added all three via its TagVault: Keychain, a rugged case with a gasket that prevents water intrusion while passing through ultrawideband and Bluetooth signals and allowing about two-thirds of the AirTag’s sound volume. It has an integral loop for a keychain ring and comes with a simple but robust one.
The TagVault is $12.95 for one, $39.95 for four, and $74.95 for eight. It comes in black only. ElevationLab’s price compares to simpler and fancier keychain holders Apple sells through its store that run from $12.95 (for a Belkin holder) to $449 (for a Hermés luggage tag).
A slightly different waterproof design for attaching to pet collars, TagVault: Pet, has faced delays but is still on track. It offers piercing, self-tapping screws for mounting and a similar rugged case design. The pre-order price is $19.95 for one, $34.95 for two, and $64.95 for four.
The company notes that the somewhat anonymous molded casing, with just the name ElevationLab on it in recessed lettering, provides less of an advertisement that it’s attached to something valuable than most of the AirTag holders out there. If a Hermés case is made to be seen and envied, the TagVault is designed to fade into invisibility.
The case is secured with Torx T6 screws and comes with an L-shaped screwdriver of the sort you’re familiar with from flat-pack furniture. With a screw-tip that small, I find it a little awkward and prefer to use a T6 adapter from a screwdriver set I have. You only need to open the case every six months or so when you need to change out the AirTag battery, based on Apple’s estimates.
An AirTag gets plopped into the center of the TagVault inside a bright-orange seal. Center it and screw it back together, and that’s the entire process. I tested the case with an AirTag in place underwater, both for keeping the AirTag dry and producing a sound, and while muffled, it’s still audible.
ElevationLab is known for its gap-filling hardware, like holders, stands, chargers, and mounts. The TagVault fits right in among these items, providing a clever design for a greater range of use. It’s done its typical excellent job in affordably extending the utility of something you already own. It even ships the cases in fully recyclable paper and cardboard packaging.
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