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Not only is the ABUS Titalium Aluminum Alloy Padlock easy to open, but it's also compact and lightweight. Read More
With its easy-to-turn numbers and lightweight form factor, the Desired Tools 4 Digit Combination Padlock has a lot to offer. Read More
The Master Lock Bluetooth Padlock is super easy to use, as it unlocks with the press of a button. Read More
With its fun colors and affordable pricing, the Master Lock Word Combination Lock is perfect for a young student. Read More
The ABUS Diskus Padlock is a great option for storage units and moving trucks, as it's ultra-durable. Read More
While it might not stop a determined criminal dead in their tracks, an outdoor padlock can be an effective, affordable way to provide additional security to your home or valuables. You can use it with a heavy chain to secure a bicycle or grill in your backyard, or use it to lock down the latch on your garden shed. In some instances, just the sight of a sturdy padlock can be enough to make a crook look elsewhere for easier pickings.
After investing a significant amount of time in research and testing a selection of popular outdoor padlocks for durability and ease of use on a variety of different gauges of steel chain, we've determined that the best padlock you can buy right now is the Abus Titalium Aluminum Alloy (available at Amazon) .
Through rigorous testing, we found that the ABUS Titalium Aluminum Alloy Padlock is the best padlock for most people.
The Desired Tools 4 Combination Padlock is a fantastic choice for the gym.
We’ve rounded up some of the most popular padlocks and pitted them against each other to determine the best of the best. For the combination padlocks, we set each lock with a combination and open it several times to determine how easy each padlock is to unlock and lock. We also try opening the locks while they’re locked by pulling on them. Next, we put them on a bike lock and a chain and repeat the tests to see how they fare in action.
After our usability tests, we have some fun with a few destructive tests. Our testing experts chuck the locks from our office’s second-floor fire escape to see if they break, and also whether they open on impact. A little while after the impact tests, we return to see if the padlocks still work. The locks are then submerged in water for 24 hours to see if weathering would damage them.
Finally, we place the padlocks in a freezer for 24 hours and then attempt to open each one, to simulate how they would fare in cold weather. In the end, we subject these padlocks to just about every test short of bolt cutters.
Different uses call for different kinds of padlocks. Some of the main types you’ll encounter are keyed padlocks, combination padlocks, and discus padlocks.
Keyed locks are typically the easiest to use and are often made with a higher level of security in mind. When shopping for a keyed padlock, look for ones with more key pins, which means they’re more difficult to pick. You should also look for ones made of tougher metals.
Combination padlocks, also known as “locker locks,” are great for keeping a few simple things at locked up at a gym or an employee locker room. They’re also great if you have to share a locked space among several people who need access. Just bear in mind, you may struggle with a combination a few times before opening.
Discus Padlocks are great for outdoor storage units, moving trucks, and other specialty situations. Their unique shape makes them difficult to break with bolt cutters.
(Our SEO Updates editor, Garrett Steele, once had someone break into a storage unit that was locked with a discus padlock. But the padlock itself was so resistant to bolt cutters that they’d actually cut away the entire door’s locking mechanism. The storage unit, not the padlock, was the weak link.)
When you're shopping for a reliable padlock, look for locks made from weather-resistant materials such as brass, laminated steel, or aluminum. You might not plan on using your lock outside, but it's nice to have the option to do so, down the road.
If you're looking for a padlock that'll provide a higher level of security, Home Depot suggests die-cast zinc, solid-steel bodies, and boron-steel shackles as they "provide additional cut and pry resistance." You may also want to consider investing in a lock with a shrouded shackle: a covered padlock shackle makes it more difficult and, in some cases, impossible for a crook to use bolt cutters to circumvent a padlock's security.
It's important to note that the best padlock in the world won't secure your valuables if it's fastened to a poorly made door or cheap chain or latch. Your home's fixtures and a heavy-duty chain play just as important a role as finding the right lock does!
Courtney is an editor and shopper with a passion for finding the best things on the internet. She's a foodie and will talk about the latest batch of kombucha she's brewing to anyone who will listen. She has previously worked for Country Living, Woman's Day, and Our State Magazine.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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