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Every once in a while, a product comes along that so elegantly solves a problem that you have to think "why didn't I think of that?". I have repeated this epiphany for the last two weeks as I've tried out The Hitch Safe - a small combination lock that fits in the trailer hitch of your car/truck to stash keys. If ever there was a product made for trail runners, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts, this is it. And I have been pleasantly surprised at how much it came in handy.

If you're like me, you constantly have the dilemma of "what to do with the car keys" when you're parked at a trailhead. You can stash them in your wheel well, but then you risk car theft. You can take them on the run, but if you lose them, you're toast. So what's a good, secure alternative?

The Hitch Safe solves this by providing a secure, convenient place to stash your keys while you are out on the trail. It does this by turning your trailer hitch into a hidden combo safe. Simple idea, but I was surprised at how many times it came in handy. Here are a few examples of how I used it in the last two weeks:

1) Race day at the Way Tool Cool 50k. Just before the race, I locked my car keys in the Hitch Safe in my parking spot about 1/2 mile from the start. I felt better not carrying my keys with me during the race. It also had another hidden benefit - before the race started, a good friend had mentioned that she had forgotten her Technu for the post-race poison oak scrub down. I told her I had some extra in my car, and if she couldn't find me, just enter the combo on the Hitch Safe and get it. Very handy!

2) Group run at the Marin Headlands. A group run showed me another way the Hitch Safe is helpful. We put all of our car keys in the Hitch Safe before our run, and put in a new combination that we all knew. Now it didn't matter who was back first, they would be able to get in their car, as well as get all the food stashed in my car. An easy solution to group run coordination.

3) Car drop-off/pick up. I'm not if I mentioned this, but Christi and I were involved in a car accident while driving through the snow on I-80 after the Way Too Cool. So now her car is in the shop and we have to share the truck. Since the key is always with the car, we've been able to use the Hitch Safe to facilitate a car drop-off. I can leave it somewhere close to where she will be later in the day, and she can easily get the key and drive it home.

I thought this was going to be one of those crazy gifts I never used, but I have been pleasantly surprised at how much it has come in handy. It took about 2 minutes to install. I thought I would share the experience with y'all in case you hadn't heard of it. You can buy them online at http://www.neverlockedout.com for $89.95.

Let me know if you have questions!

Thx, SD