Anyone else prefer folding picks over a full kit for everyday carry?

I almost always end up going with a small, dedicated case instead of a folding set for anything more than a quick check. I used to carry one of those slim cases holding my basic picks, and it was a big improvement over trying to fiddle with a set of small tools in my pocket. The reach difference is huge, expecially when you are dealing with a good quality cylinder lock that isn't a basic pin tumbler. You just don't have the leverage with a tiny folding tool. If I had to settle on a daily carry, it's something compact but with decent depth. I mean, if a friend is locked out, you need to get the job done quickly, and you don't want to spend five minutes trying to maneuver a delicate pick with awkward, short handles. For my home use, the tiny picks are fine for basic maintanence, but for an emergency call, you need the right angle and enough space to work the pins properly. My preference is having the compact case readily accessible in my toolbox, and only pulling out the dedicated entry tools when the job demands it. The convenience of the pocket set just isn't worth the compromised performance when you are facing a real lock.

For me, the real issue isn't whether you use a case or a pocket set; it's about accessibility when you need it quickly. I found the dedicated slim case a bit bulky for my daily carry. I prefer a smaller arrangement, almost like a modular rig. I keep my tension wrenches in a small tool pouch attached to my belt, and my primary picks are kept in a durable slip secured to my keychain. This lets me grab the right tools in seconds without digging through a case or fiddling with tools crammed into a jacket. It feels like a much more profesional setup for someone who actually has to use it. When I'm at a job site or dealing with a client, I need the picks ready to go, and fumbling with a folding set is too slow. The small pouch setup gives me quick access to the essential pieces. Even when I'm just testing locks at a desk, I prefer this minimal setup because it keeps the tools organized and ready, rather than having a jumbled mess in my pocket. It's all about minimizing friction between the need and the action. The idea of 'always having it' really comes down to how quickly you can get the tools out and onto the lock. My belt pouch arrangement makes the trade-off work for me.

Total opposite end of the scale here, I only mess about with practice locks at my kitchen table so far, so take my take with a grain of salt. I got one of those clear training padlocks and honestly the short folding picks have been fine for that. But last month my neighbor got locked out of her shed and I brought the same little set, and I just could not get comfortable. My hands cramped up and I gave up after twenty minutes. So maybe the question is less about what you carry and more about how much real-world practice you have with whichever tools end up in your pocket? I'm wondering if I'd have done better with a full kit or if I just need more hours on the padlock first.

I'm brand new to all this so maybe a dumb thing to ask, but does the folding style get loose at the hinge over time? I borrowed a set like that from a coworker for a week and the one with the little bumps on it kept wobbling around while I was trying to feel them out inside the lock. Made me wonder if that's just how they are or if his was worn out. The long handles felt way steadier to me even though I have no skill yet.

I settled this by stopping the flip flopping and just accepting I carry two diffrent things. The little folding set lives in my jacket for messing around at my desk, and that's it. Anything that matters, like the time my buddy locked his keys in his garage, I grab the roll from the truck. Took me one frustrating evening of bending a pick at a bad angle to stop pretending the pocket tool could do both jobs. Honestly the deciding factor for me was feedback. With full length handles you feel the pins properly, and that alone made me faster than any convenience the folding thing gives me.

The thing that killed the folding set for me wasn't the handles, it was the selection. You get like six picks and if your lock wants something else, tough luck. I kept running into locks where the one pick I acutally needed was back in the drawer at home. These days I carry a short zippered pouch with maybe eight picks and two wrenches, lives in my bag and I don't even notice it. Weighs about the same as the jackknife honestly. Only downside is I occasionally get asked why my bag jingles like a keychain factory.