ID badges are light and portable while containing just a sufficient amount of information about the persons carrying them.
The badges let the other person view the required information swiftly and effortlessly. They also contain the codes needed by ID machines to identify the wearer. Their compactness and portability again come in handy while swiping them for entry or exit. The one drawback, however, is that these attributes can sometimes work against them.
These attributes make them an item that’s easy to lose. Their lack of weight means one might notice their absence from one’s pockets, and their compactness makes them hard to find if misplaced. They must be secured in some manner to the user to prevent this. Badge reels are an excellent answer to the problem. They share the positive attributes of badges while adding the ability to keep them from going astray.
Catching Hold of the Right Type of Badge Reel
To cater to the variety of badge types around badge reels come in varieties of their own. Choosing the right one for the requirement can be tricky if one’s unaware of the exact needs. This problem is solved by surveying the market and learning about them in detail. That way, you’ll find the perfect one for your specific needs.
The No-Twist Type
The no twister is the most basic version of the reel. It contains a simple piece of plastic that prevents the ID from twisting itself, hence the name. They are attachable to a belt or clothing with a swivel back. Buyers can sort through a range of colors to get the one that suits them.
Round/Square Reels
The round reel has an opaque or translucent plastic casing that contains a spooled-up retractable cable. The end of that cable is attached to a plastic hook that continues to the plastic strip holding the ID. The casing has a metal clip at the back to help secure it onto a belt or clothing. A square reel is similar but has a square-shaped case instead of the round one.
They allow the user to pull the ID to the entire length of the cable, usually 34 in, without the fear of losing it. These come in many colors, and the small space upfront can contain the company logo.
Logo Reel
The logo reel type is a bigger version of the round/square reel, with the extra space meant exclusively for putting a logo. In some cases, it could be more than 150% larger. The larger casing allows for increased cable length too. Logo reels come with both a belt clip and a loop through which a lanyard can get passed.
Lanyard Badge Reel
Lanyards are popular among many users, but not everyone needs to display logos on their reels. For such people, there’s the lanyard badge reel. It has the diminutive size of a round-type but exclusively hangs using a lanyard. Some “smart” versions allow for the holding of adjusted length and are retractable at will by using a unique mechanism.
Carabiner and Heavy-Duty Reels
They are both made of durable, high-quality material for rugged use. The carabiner comes in a host of colors and is available in both the belt-clip and lanyard versions. They prevent the twisting of the badge.
The heavy-duty version lets you customize the cable. You can choose from plenty of options like metal wire, chain link, nylon, etc., for the ultimate durability. They tend to be between 18 and 24 inches long.
The ID badge lets you go places that you couldn’t otherwise, especially in a medical or healthcare setting. Badge reels will ensure that the badges don’t go places they aren’t supposed to.