Categories: Outdoor

The Best Padlocks of 2023

Published by

James marcus

8 months ago

While it might not stop a determined criminal dead in their tracks, an outdoor padlock, when used with a heavy chain to secure a bicycle or grill in your backyard or to lock down the latch on a garden shed, can be an effective, affordable way to provide additional security to your home or valuables. In some instances, the sight of a sturdy padlock can be enough to make a crook look elsewhere for easier pickings.

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After investing in a significant amount of time in research and testing 10 different padlocks for durability and ease of use on a variety of different gauges of steel chain, we’ve determined that the top outdoor padlock you can buy right now is the Abus Titalium Aluminum Alloy (available at Amazon) .

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How We Tested Padlocks

We found 9 of the most popular padlocks and pitted them against each other to determine the best of the best. For the combination padlocks, each lock was set with a combination and opened several times to determine how easy each padlock was to unlock and lock. We also tried opening the locks while they were locked by pulling on them. Next, these tests were applied to a bike lock and a chain to see how they fared in action.

Next, we had some fun with a few destructive tests. Locks were chucked from the second-floor fire escape of our building to see how easily they would break or if they would open on impact. We also checked a while later to see if they still worked. The locks were then submerged in water for 24 hours to see if weathering would damage them.

Finally, they were placed in a freezer for 24 hours and we then attempted to open each one, to simulate how they would fare in cold weather. Taking bolt cutters to them was just about the only test we didn’t put these padlocks through.

How to Choose the Right Padlock for You

Different uses call for different kinds of padlocks. Typically, keyed locks are the easiest to use and are often made with a higher level of security in mind. You’re going to want to opt for ones with more key pins, which means they’re more difficult to pick, and ones made of tougher metals. But if you’re locking up simple things at a gym or an employee locker room, or sharing a locked space, combination locks work will too—you may just struggle with a combination a few times before opening.

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 is 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 shackle makes it more difficult and, in some cases, impossible for a crook to use bolter 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!