So, youve decided to get into badge holders. Perhaps the blog I shared last week about our new ID Neck Lanyard piqued your interest. Maybe you inherited a beautiful MLB lanyard from a family member or got inspired by the collection of a friend?
No matter what your path was to get here, the first hurdle most people must clear is that of realizing you want to carry your ID more efficiently. As with any other gear these days, the options are endless, price range vast, and feature sets diverse.
With no past experience, the process can be a little intimidating but fear not. I was in the position of clueless beginner a short time ago and can report back that once you learn a little lingo and make a few decisions regarding your needs and desires, there are a lot of really great badge holders out there just waiting to find a cherished place in your day to day activities.
Continue reading below to learn how to choose a badge holder thats right for you!
To get you started, were going to cover three basic badge holders; lanyards, badge reels and armband holders. The first experience most people have with wearing an ID badge holder is usually as children wearing a lanyard. Lanyards are those ID Badge Holders you put over your head, that hang an ID card around your belly button area.
Students on campus wear them, after-school care programs like The Boys & Girl Scouts of America use them too. Large events and sponsors have been printing their logos on them and distributing them for years because theyre economically priced and simple to wear. Just put your head inside the loop and youre good to go.
Lanyards come in either breakaway or non-breakaway versions. Its important to note the difference between the two when deciding which would better suit your needs. Breakaway lanyards offer a safety feature that will allow the lanyard to snap apart when snagged or snared. They are usually required for children or people operating heavy machinery. The non-breakaway option, however, has a stronger hold because it won't buckle under pressure. We also have a dedicated blog post on the differences between the breakaway and non-breakaway lanyards that you should read if youre interested in owning a lanyard. In recent years, many sports fans have been carrying their keys and tickets with sports lanyards. Its easy to hold a beer and a hot dog when youve got your tickets hanging from a lanyard. Check out our large selection of lanyards to find one thats great for you.
Badge reels are a personal favorite of mine. Theyre great for those people that want to carry their keys, small tools, or IDs discreetly by their side. They come in many different shapes and colors and fit right in with both professional and outdoor environments. You can attach them to anything from your belt loop to a book-bag strap and youll hardly even notice it there. Retractable Badge reels come with a cord that lets you reel your item from 20″ to 42″ towards an object like a lock or a card reader. Afterward, the snappy reel will retract back into itself, so you dont have to worry about losing your keys or ID. Some of these are more rugged than others and come in heavy duty versions which can retract more weight.
Armband ID holders are a top choice for active people that need to be able to perform swift motions while wearing a visible form of ID. Youll see these wrapped around the arms of airport ground officials, people operating heavy machinery and more. Many come in bright colors that reflect light so they can still be seen at night, and are made from a nylon material thats great for keeping IDs from being weathered by the elements. They can be worn in rainy, sunny, and snowy conditions. They usually come with velcro straps that can be adjusted to fit just about anybody. Just slip your arm inside the holder and tighten the velcro to your liking and display your ID card vertically or horizontally.
Now that youve read this Beginners Guide to Buying Badge Holders, youve seen how they can enrich your life in everyday activities. From the lanyard around your chest to the badge reel zipping in and out and the armband badge holder that can be worn anywhere, theres a badge holder out there for everybody. Its just a matter of finding out whats right for you. If you still need help choosing the right ID badge holder for you, leave us a question or comment below and well get back to you as soon as we can!