The safest place for your car keys when you surf is on you, sealed in a waterproof pocket, because every hiding spot on the beach or the car is a spot someone else can find. Wheel arches, towels and under-the-tyre tricks are well known, and modern keyless fobs don't survive a dunk in salt water.
Here's how the common options compare, and what we do after years of surfing in Byron Bay.
Why car keys are a surfer's biggest headache
Older cars had a simple metal key you could tie into your boardshorts. Most cars now use an electronic fob that hates water. Lose it or flood it and you're stuck at the beach waiting for a spare, or paying for a replacement and a reprogram.
The usual hiding spots, ranked
On top of the tyre or in the wheel arch
It's the first place an opportunist checks, especially at popular breaks where they know surfers park and leave for an hour.
Wrapped in a towel on the sand
Fine on an empty beach, risky on a busy one. You can't see it from the line-up, and a towel is easy to pick up.
A key lockbox on the car
Lockboxes work well for a spare key. The catch with keyless cars is that the fob may still unlock the car while it's sitting in the box nearby, so check how your car behaves before relying on one.
Tied into the drawstring of your shorts
Works for a basic metal key. An electronic fob will usually be ruined by salt water.
Sealed in a waterproof pocket, on you
This is the only option where the key never leaves your sight. A waterproof pocket built into your swim shorts keeps the fob dry while you paddle out, duck dive and wipe out.
What makes a pocket safe for a key fob
- A submersion rating. Look for IPX8, the rating for continuous submersion. Ours is tested to 30 metres.
- A seal you can't forget to close. Our pocket seals itself with magnets the moment you let go, so there's no zip to leave half open.
- A hidden position. The pocket sits inside the shorts, so nobody on the beach knows your keys are on you.
What we wear in the surf
Our men's black swim shorts have the waterproof pocket built in, with room for a key and a phone. If you prefer a longer cut, the swim and travel shorts add cargo pockets for the walk back to the car. Women's styles are in our women's range.
“I love paddle surfing, and what to do with the car keys and phone was a real headache. With these shorts, problem solved!” José Antonio A.
FAQs
Can I surf with my car key fob in a waterproof pocket?
Yes, if the pocket is rated for submersion. Ours is IPX8-rated to 30 metres and seals itself with magnets.
Will the pocket fit a key and a phone?
The pocket is 201 × 140mm inside, which fits a key fob alongside most phones. Check your phone in our phone fit guide.
What if the shorts don't fit?
Exchanges and returns are free within 60 days, and every pocket has a 3-year waterproof warranty.
