No-spin / no-flip ID badge holder and lanyard?

May 12, 2021 5:30 AM

Help me find an ID badge holder / lanyard solution that doesn’t always flip to face the wrong way!

This is silly but I haven't been able to find a solution: I am looking for a lanyard / ID badge holder that doesn't spin. I'm a middle school teacher and I wear an ID badge around my neck each day (I don't want something that clips to a pocket or belt). I also keep two keys (used infrequently but they need to be on there) and a small Tile tracker sticker since I'm always losing my badge. Ideally the keys would be tucked away inside a pocket or flap or something, they don't need to be out all the time but I like to have them on the badge itself.

Even before I put the Tile sticker on, this dang thing is always spinning around. I have tried several different options, and no matter what it seems like it's always facing backwards. It's not a huge deal but it's distracting and annoying. It seems like there must be a better solution. Any ideas out there?

posted by rossination to Grab Bag (10 answers total)

Not sure what options you’ve tried. Landscape is better than portrait for this style but try some with 2 holes near each corner or a double ended clip on each corner. (Like this. Lots being marketed for masks.) Think old camera style. (And a thin camera strap may work too as a thicker strap is less likely to twist.) That should help as it has 2 points of restraint and a longer distance between the two rather than one point of connection in the center.
posted by Crystalinne at 5:47 AM on May 12, 2021 [2 favorites]

Get another badge and attach them back-to-back.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:55 AM on May 12, 2021 [3 favorites]

If it is really always on the wrong side, turn the badge around in the holder and put it on the same way as before. Now it will always be on the correct side.
posted by AugustWest at 6:01 AM on May 12, 2021 [2 favorites]

I recently went down a rabbit hole on this issue and found a great product. My needs are a little different than yours, because I have multiple badges and no keys. But the product I found is no spin and has been a game changer. Good quality as well. Again, my needs are different but I recommend looking through this product catalog. I went to SpecialistID.com and got the "MRI Safe Lanyard with Breakaway Clasp & "No Twist" Plastic Hook (2137-474X)," and the "Three Card Vertical ID Badge Holder B-Holder (Holds up to 3 ID Badges)," part # 1840-6661. The holder is durable, lightweight, and doesn't cause any problems with electronic card readers. The lanyard clip does not spin.
posted by happy_cat at 6:45 AM on May 12, 2021 [1 favorite]

Badge magnets, they clip together through your shirt. You could do the low-fi method with a safety pin, but the magnets will come apart before your shirt rips, if you snagged the badge on something.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:41 AM on May 12, 2021 [1 favorite]

Attach the badge to the lanyard by the 2 upper corners of the badge, not a single point in the center of the top edge. You can punch holes in the holder and thread the lanyard through them or use 2 small safety pins.
posted by mezzanayne at 9:03 AM on May 12, 2021 [2 favorites]

Attach the badge to the lanyard by the 2 upper corners of the badge, not a single point in the center of the top edge. You can punch holes in the holder and thread the lanyard through them or use 2 small safety pins.

Exactly. You need two connections to the badge and then your problem is solved
posted by chasles at 9:49 AM on May 12, 2021

Riffing on Huffy Puffy's soln: make a photocopy of your badge (I'm assuming it's got your name and photo, so'll need to be a color copy), and slide that in the back so now it's just 2 front sides.
posted by at at 1:35 PM on May 12, 2021

Thanks for asking this question, and thanks to happy_cat for mentioning SpecialistID.com! It had just the thing that I personally needed, even though I never thought to ask the question.
posted by theatro at 1:36 PM on May 12, 2021 [1 favorite]

I personally use this "tactical" ID Card Holder. If you go through the two holes in the corners so it's horizontal it won't flip at all.

AND it has extra pockets for your Tile tracker and other stuff. Even has a pen loop.

You can also opt for this larger version that even fits your phone, and other stuff. And it's cheaper.
posted by kschang at 6:26 PM on May 12, 2021