Review: The Ultimate List of Best Padlocks 2020 [updated]
When I’m looking for a padlock, my main aim is to have one that will resist all kinds of intruder brutality. There are many types of the best padlocks on the market. Most, however, do not meet the standard requirements.
How do you know which is the best? This article will help you find the answer. Read on to find out more.
WINNER
VIEW ON AMAZON
A great multi-purpose padlock made of all-weather steel, suitable for use during severe winter conditions. Read more...
RUNNER UP
Stylish & Strong
A highly durable padlock that looks nice and it's easy to use. Comes in variety of sizes. Read more..
Padlocks Styles and Materials
Locks are available in various types, styles, sizes, and materials. Most have a solid body made of steel or brass among other materials. Standard styles include the closed shackle padlock and the straight shackle padlocks.
There are others like shutter locks, round padlocks, long shackle padlocks and combination locks.
The weatherproof ones are known as marine latches.
Different locks have varied strengths. Marine padlocks, in particular, are made of stainless steel, which doesn’t rust. Other padlocks are made of hardened steel or composite plastic.
Some of the padlocks are alloys with ceramic coatings and each has a different durability level.
The chrome plated or zinc plated are resistant to weather, rust or corrosion.
5 Things You Need to Consider Before Choosing Your Best Padlocks
What are the best padlocks? There is no simple answer to that question. Choosing the right high-security padlock is simple only if you know what you are looking for.
Pro tip: Just think like a thief who will smash it and get to your valuable possessions. This involves considering how resistant a padlock is to cutting, twisting and drilling.
It is important to fasten the lock to a strong door. Even the best padlocks in the world will be of no use if used on weak doors.
1. Size
Size matters in regards to how secure a padlock is. A bigger padlock with a beefier body and a thicker shackle is often the most secure padlock.
It is physically robust and resistant to many brute force methods. This strength, however, should be uniform throughout the whole padlock.
Apart from the size, ensure that the product you choose has a high strength-to-weight ratio. This will ease the burden of carrying it around.
2. Material
The body material matters when choosing the right padlock. What metals are the best? Primarily, most padlocks have a brass or steel make.
However, you should also consider other makes that incorporate weather resistant coatings.
Such types include plastic, chrome, and zinc. Reinforcing padlocks also makes them highly durable and resistant to corrosion and rust.
Hardened steel is preferably the best. Apart from some being uncuttable padlocks, they are also stronger and harder to break. Stainless steel materials, on the other hand, are resistant to rust and corrosion.
3. Key Size
The best lock offers a broad range of key variations. This makes them virtually impossible to copy.
Check the number of pins on the key, the more they are, the more secure the padlock is. Some manufacturers offer key options that cannot be copied at all.
Others can only replace them through your approval.
4. Shoulder Shroud
Shoulder shrouds are targeted the most because of their vulnerability. Intruders find them easy to cut through.
Choose a padlock that has thick and large shoulder shrouds made of extra hard materials. Hardened steel is a good choice. However, alloys with ceramic inserts also provide the best protection.
5. Anti-drill Plate
Anti-drill plates vary in effectiveness, depending on the type of material used. A protection plate should have a minimum requirement of hardened steel. Buy a product with a hardened plate, which deflects a drill bit from penetrating.
High-quality Padlocks Features
A good padlock that offers the best protection has the following features:
Why Do You Need a Padlock?
If you have once lost valuable things, you understand well the need for a lock. Lots of things in our homes are vulnerable to theft, and what better solution is there than a padlock? Here are some of the reasons:
How Much Should You Spend on a Good Padlock?
It all depends on the value of the items you want to secure. A low-cost padlock means a weak security.
Brass is the cheapest model, but it is easy to attack. You can spend more for a padlock that is more secure and highly durable.
Padlocks made of hardened steel can be chrome or zinc-plated to resist corrosion. They are often the most secure.
Locks are available from as little as $10 and as high as $100 or even more.
Padlocks Key Options
A padlock is paired with a unique key set to ensure maximum security. However, depending on your needs, there are other key options available, which include:
Types of Padlocks
The designs of padlocks are countless. Each of the following types of padlocks comes with unique features.
Combination Padlocks
These types of padlocks can only be open through a particular number sequence. Some have single dials while others have multiple. Single dials are commonly used on lockers and safes.
They are more secure than multiple dial locks. These are commonly used in bicycles and briefcases.
Check out best combination padlock!
5 Types of Key-based Padlocks
These types of padlocks require a key to be opened. They are available in a wide variety where others can be rekeyed while others cannot.
​Best Weatherproof Padlock
The best weatherproof padlocks are coated. They are also made of materials that withstand long use without rusting or corroding.
ABUS 83/80 – Best for Outdoor Use
The padlock is made of hardened steel and is coated with Nano-protect. The coating protects against harsh weather conditions. Its open shackle design uses high standard specific keys. These can only be obtained from the Lockshop Warehouse. You can regulate who makes the copies.
​Specifications
Weight | 3.1 pounds |
Dimensions | 1.6 x 3.4 x 5 Inches |
Batteries | No |
​Warranty | ​Limited Warranty |
​Best Luggage Padlock
​Safety is important for your luggage while traveling. To avoid the loss of your valuables, using an unpickable padlock is recommended.
​Master Lock 4688D – Best for All Types of Bags
​It is one of the best-rated padlocks for luggage security. Approved by TSA, it comes with a metal body and is available in a wide assortment of colors. This padlock has a flexible cable. It resists abuse from the handling accessories.
​Specifications
Weight | ​4.8 Ounces |
Dimensions | ​1.0 by 1.2 by 2.8 Inches |
Batteries | ​No |
​Warranty | ​Limited Warranty |
​Best Lock for Storage Unit
​The best lock for a storage unit depends on various considerations. Security is the topmost priority. A high-quality padlock will keep your assets safe from intrusion.
​Master Lock 187XD Titanium Padlock – Best for Locking Versatility
​The Master Lock 187XD Titanium Padlock offers the best resistance to twisting, drilling or cutting. It is characterized by a stainless-steel body and a shank made of hardened steel. It is reliable and strong. It has dual locking levers and 4-pin cylinder to guard against picking.
​Specifications
Weight | ​12.8 Ounces |
​Body Width | ​2.5/16 Inch |
​Shackle Diameter | ​8mm |
​Batteries | ​No |
​Warranty | ​Full Warranty |
Best Padlock for a Gate
​Locks used for outdoor use, like gates, fences among others, should be hard to cut, drill or twist. The following product is our pick.
​Stanley Hardened Steel Padlock – Best for Customization
​This padlock has good resistance to intrusion. It enjoys a good rating on the best padlocks reviews. It comes with few pins and a removable core, which means you can upgrade it to the highest quality of your choice.
The padlock is built from hardened steel to make it a cut-proof padlock and for durability as well.
​Specifications
​Size | ​60mm |
Weight | 2 pounds |
Dimensions | ​1.6 by 6.3 by 4.4 Inches |
Batteries | No |
​Warranty | ​Check manufacturers website |
Try this Best Padlock for Boats
​The marine environment is unforgiving to most padlocks. As such, people search for waterproof locks for their boats.
Although after a while, when brute force is applied it might break, here is our top pick.
​ABUS Diskus 24iB/70 Lock – Best Against Breakage
​It is made of stainless steel and has a round shape to minimize attacks using saws or bolt croppers. ABUS Diskus lock is weatherproof. It comes with a brass chrome plated cylinder with anti-pick pins. The key retaining feature is also an added advantage.
​Specifications
​Size | ​2.75 Inch |
Weight | 11.2 Ounces |
Dimensions | 3.4 by 2.9 by 1.3 Inches |
​Material | ​Stainless steel |
Batteries | No |
​Warranty | ​Limited Warranty |
Recommended Best Padlock for Bikes
​If your bike gives you a headache when you are away from it, it is because you haven’t, or didn’t use the best lock to secure it. Here’s is our top pick.
​Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 U-Lock
​It comes with a 13mm MAX-performance hardened steel. As a result, the lock is resistant to cutting and attacks. The lock also has a center keyway and anti-rattle bumpers. The vinyl coating and high-security bent foot style guarantee the best security.
​Specifications
Weight | ​2.9 pounds |
Dimensions | ​9.02 by 4.02 by 0.51 Inches |
​Warranty | ​Limited Warranty |
​Best Bluetooth Padlock
​A Bluetooth padlock can be operated by a device like a smartphone, a computer or a tablet.
​Noke Padlock – Best for Automation
​The Noke Padlock can be opened using an app on Android or iPhone. You can easily control and monitor its functionality within a Bluetooth’s range. It can also be opened using a series of taps akin to the Morse code. Nonetheless, it has a GPS feature.
​Specifications
Weight | 3.1 pounds |
Dimensions | ​3.3 by 2.5 by 1.0 Inches |
Batteries | ​Yes |
​Warranty | ​Check manufacturer’s website |
​Best Lock for Picking Practice
​They are often excellent gifts for those who want to improve their picking skills. These types of padlocks are also equally durable and challenging to open. Our top pick is:
​Kuject Practice Lock Set – Best for Kids and Enthusiasts
​The lock is transparent to aid in the training of lock picking. It comes with an instruction manual on how to get a way around its three different locks. This practice tool is durable. It has a well working condition. It can also be used repetitively.
​Specifications
Weight | ​13.6 Ounces |
Dimensions | 6.5 by 5.3 by 1.4 Inches |
​Material | ​Acrylic |
Batteries | No |
​Warranty | ​Check Manufacturers website |
If you need simpler and cost-effective multipurpose padlocks, consider the following products:
​Kwikset 50mm Padlock – Best for Low-Risk Purposes
This particular padlock can be rekeyed. It also has rubber padding for protection of the lock’s body.
Its shank is made of molybdenum for better security. The padlock can be used on lockers, fences and some tool chests.
​FJM Security SPA60-KA Security Padlock - Best for Flexibility
​The FJM has a hardened steel body make and is keyed differently. It has a key variation that prevents easy copying.
The heel and toes double locking shackle offer convenience and flexibility. It is suitable for gates, containers, storage, lockers among others.
​Oria Combination Lock – Best for Sports Lockers
The Oria Combination padlock has a beautiful design with easy to use setting.
The lock has many combinations, about 10000. It offers the best security for your locker. Also, it comes as a 2-pack made of zinc alloy.
​Which Padlocks to Avoid?
A close look at what it is you are looking for in a padlock eventually determines the security of your assets.
Always ensure that you have the best product. Some are the above-reviewed products. Don’t buy one that will disappoint you after a few uses.
Hopefully, you enjoyed the review and found what you were looking for. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts on the best padlock of your choice.
