The $18 Walmart badge reel saved my badge and my elbow

I was tired of the flimsy retractable badge holders corporate gives us, they kept snapping every few months. Tried a cheap padded lanyard but it messed up my neck during a full shift at the distribution center in Fort Worth. Picked up a heavy-duty coiled badge reel at Walmart for 18 bucks, it clips to my belt loop and keeps the badge out of the way when I'm leaning over pallets. The coil tension is way stronger too, so it doesn't yank my hip when I reach for a scanner. Anyone else got a cheap gear swap that made a big difference on the job floor?

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shane_clark29d ago

Huh, that's funny because I went the opposite way with mine. I had one of those heavy duty reels and it actually ripped the belt loop right off my work pants after about a month, the tension was so strong. I ended up going back to a cheap lanyard but I wear it so it breaks away if it gets snagged, that way it doesn't yank my neck or my hip at the wrong moment. Guess it depends on how much you're leaning and reaching through tight spots, but I'd rather have it snap off than take my whole belt with it.

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susan_adams29d ago

Snap off beats torn pants any day. My old reel yanked a button clean off my coat once, wedged in a pipe opening. Switched to a plain breakaway cord, never looked back. Losing a cheap tool is annoying, getting injuries on the job is worse. That tension is a hazard, not a help.

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