Which Conference Lanyard Clip Should I Get? Here’s a Guide Based on Our Research:

In event planning, every small detail can be a win or a loss.

Bulldog clip? Lobster clip? Swivel clip? No more confusion and waste of time browsing useless articles, event planners! We ran the necessary tests on the 5 most common types of lanyard clips and rated them based on 4 factors; Functionality, Tear-ability, Cost, and Speed.

• Lobster Clip
• Standard/Oval Clip
• Bulldog/Alligator Clip
• Plastic No-twist Clip
• Swivel Clip

Before we dive in, we would like to clarify that a lanyard clip, also known as lanyard hook or attachment, is the connecting part between a lanyard and a name badge/plastic kangaroo pouch. With the right type of clip, you can improve your check-in efficiency and your attendee’s experience during the event.

Lobster Clip

The lobster clip is a common sight at conferences – many organisers choose it because it is usually the default lanyard clip and has proven to be reliable. We wanted to put the status quo to the test, and found that it did not prove to be the best choice based on the 4 points of comparison.

• Simple and versatile; able to hold almost every material
• Seemingly easy to fasten onto the badge, but can take slightly more time due to the difficulty of using the opening handle
• Its shape is slightly narrow hence it would not be advisable to hold overly heavy materials. This shape also increases the chances of strain on the badge when pulled – increasing the risk of tear
• It is cost-effective

Standard/oval Clip

The oval clip is also a common sight at major conferences. It is gaining popularity among organisers due to its ease of attachment to the badges – needing to only push down to open the clip.

• Increasing in popularity
• Easy to attach, but speed may be affected slightly due to its smaller entry-way
• Can hold most materials, restricted only by the size of the badge hole
• Its shape allows for durability and strength
• Relatively cost-effective, slightly costlier than other materials

Bulldog/alligator Clip

Contrary to its given names, the bulldog/alligator does not bite! It is an extremely safe and fuss-free option for all users.

• Easiest and fastest to clip onto badge
• Can hold most materials, except for ones with small holes
• Badge is more susceptible to tear due to the large surface area of grip
• Cost-effective for conferences

Plastic No-twist Clip

It received its name because it won’t twist your lanyard around, so your badge will always display at the front. It has two versions: 1. Narrow, which works for holes and small gaps, and 2. Wide, which works for normal gaps and notches (Shown above is the wide version).

• Structure of the clip allows for excellent grip on the badge
• Despite its appearance, it is simple and easy to attach onto the badge
• Able to hold varying badge materials with ease
• Measures up with the rest in terms of cost effectiveness

Swivel Clip

The swivel clip, as its name suggests, allows the badge to rotate. In most cases, they are used as double clips on conference badges – clipping onto the two top corners of the badge.

• Light-weight option for conference badges
• Easy opening and fastening
• Can hold most materials, except for heavy materials (you can choose Double Swivel Hook for heavier materials)
• Cost-effectiveness is comparable to the other clips discussed

Here’s a quick table summary of our findings after running some tests on the 4 factors – functionality; tear-ability; cost; and speed. We have scored the clips with 1 being the lowest score and 5, the highest.

	Functionality	Tear-ability	Cost	Speed	Overall Score	Ranking
Lobster Clip	4	3	5	1	13	3
Oval Clip	5	4	4	3	16	1
Bull Dog Clip	2	1	5	5	13	3
Plastic No-Twist Clip	3	2	5	4	14	2
Swivel Clip	1	5	5	2	13	3

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The oval clip is our clear winner! However, do note that this is just a useful tip for those who do not know where to begin. Ultimately, you should consider your attendees’ preferences when making a decision on which clip to use. Regardless of your final choice, we hope that we have made your decision-making process easier with our findings!