PS: posting this as a joke as of course this will not replace your archaic analog paddles in the field
PS2: I haven’t tried this and I don’t own AirPods
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Another method here:
For this one you need a laptop. Yes I know 
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Try an 8 AWG carpenters nail to slip neatly into the key socket. Set menu to SK. Use the nail in a push pull action to send slow Morse.
Even one that’s a bit loose but available from a nearby fence could be used. Replace after use.
Much more innovative than using mic buttons or PTT.
Carrying a nail might be useful in other situations. A 30 mm long piece of brazing rod would be good.
I have been known to whistle Morse code when stuck. Select SSB of course.
No SSB? Sacrifice 50 mm of antenna wire, strip insulation and bend conductor to form a narrow loop to use instead of the nail.
No internet connection required.
73
Ron
VK3AFW
Has used two wires when sans key.
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I have been known to use Voice Morse down the microphone, mouth the dahs and dits, always a good standby.
73 Phil
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In the early days of my SOTAing, I would sometimes set up my rig on the summit cairn [No more!]. Once, I accidentally dropped my Palm Pico iambic paddles down a gap in the cairn rocks. Luckily, I managed to retrieve them. My KX2 has the bolt-on KXPD2 twin paddles. I don’t care to use them - the paddles are too thick and far apart. But, at least that’s the one bit of redundancy I have [apart from a spare pencil] in my activator’s kit in the event I ever forgot the PPP or they broke on summit.
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Who sent the picture of their little rig with a little piece of wire
soldered at one end, the loose end used as a key to tap onto
a solder point to make CW ? I forgot. It was cool. And it worked!
JL
K6YK
P.S. Where are all the activators today? It’s 38c here in the valley,
must be cooler up in the mountains? Gotta be a better day up
there! AE7I and W7DLZ are up there.
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These wacko solutions are all very amusing but I wouldn’t want to use them for a 20-minute pile-up. And I enjoy using a well-crafted straight key or paddles. The answer to this thread’s title is always to stow the paddles in the same ‘go’ bag as the rig at home and when travelling. Do mental checklisting of all your essential kit when packing the rucksack. After many activations it becomes routine. I never end up on summit without them.
#8 wire fencing maybe? You can make / fix anything with #8 wire …
Not sure if it would fit in the keyer socket though …
Not arriving back home with them was my sole paddle-related failure …
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Indeed, The Seven P’s
Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents P**S Poor Performance
(and I always pack a spare key HI and ear buds)
Dec
ei6fr
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PPPPPPP should be an improving process incorporating lessons learnt from past mistakes. Once, I carefully packed my rucksack but accidentally left it by the front door while putting my boots on. I didn’t realize until I got to the parking for the walk. ‘Rucksack-in-car’ is now another item on my mental checklist.
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