The Best Lightweight Padlock

Buying Guide

With the theft of private property on the rise in college campuses and other locations, it’s more important than ever to protect your belongings with a padlock.

But as home expert Vicki Liston points out, you may not always need a heavy-duty padlock to lock up your stuff.

“Lightweight padlocks can still provide some peace of mind as you lock up, say, a gym locker or a bike for a short period of time,” she said.

When shopping for a lightweight padlock, you must first decide if you need to use the lock indoors or outdoors.

“Make sure your lightweight padlock is up to withstanding its environment if you plan on using it outdoors,” recommends Liston.  “If it will be exposed to the elements, it should be weather and moisture-resistant, so its locking mechanism doesn’t suffer as a result of corrosion and rust damage.”

You’ll also need to determine whether a combination padlock or a key-operated padlock is best. Combination locks are an excellent choice if you tend to forget where you leave your keys, however, Liston notes that key locks “have proven to be the most resilient in impact tests.”

If you opt for a key lock, pay attention to how many locking pins are used. You’ll also want to check that the lock has dual locking levers, as these are harder to pry apart.

“Padlocks with four pins are harder to pick than their three-pin counterparts,” says Liston.

Look for any extra features that the lightweight padlock may have to offer. For example, locks that are designed for use on a gym locker may come with non-slip grips on the sides and bottom of the lock.

• Sometimes a padlock’s combination can be difficult to reset. You’ll want to make sure the company has a customer service team that is known for being helpful when technical difficulties arise.
• Liston says, “Smart locks have recently come on the scene; however, I would discourage their usage simply because of their uniqueness.  While this type of lock employs the convenience of your smartphone to open, it will also catch attention. With a much loftier price tag, you may find your padlock to be the focus of a thief and not the potential items being protected by this cool piece of technology.”
• Some locks are available in a variety of colors. Check to see whether the company randomly assigns those colors or whether you are given the opportunity to pick the color yourself.
• “Padlocks with digit or word-dials pose a risk of being easily opened,” warns Liston. “If the manufacturer of your digit dial lock has directions posted on their website for how to reset the code, your thief won’t need to struggle with incorrect guesses.”
• Liston recommends “mindfully resetting all dials to their ‘home’ or ‘zero’ position, as this is an indicator to a burglar that your lock won’t be a quick pick.”
• When it comes to the cost of lightweight padlocks, you’ll find that key locks tend to cost less than combination locks. Size also plays a role in price. The Desired Tools Combination Padlock is larger than some others, and therefore, costs a little more.