Investing in one of the best lightweight bike locks could be a great idea to help you avoid opportunistic the🐼ft, while still not weighing you down when you're ri🍌ding.
There are plenty of excellent security options out there, but even the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best bike locks can feel too heavy and unwieldy to pop into your backpack. If you're just running errands or out on a club run, having something compact and lightweight can be a godsend. Plus the best lightweight bike locks still offer decent protection, making peace of mind portable, wherever your ride takes you. If budget is more of a concern than weight or absolute protection though, head to our list of the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best budget bike locks instead.
Choosing the best lightweight bike lock for you will depend mostly on your individual circumstances, so we've included a range of options in our round-up below after extensive testing and research, and if you need a bit of help deciding, then we've ansꦚwered some frequently asked questions at the bottom.
Once you've got your lock, the next thing to do is use it properly. Our separate guide on 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:how to lock a bike will walk you through the proper practice to prevent your bike from being stolen, and if you're really worried, other measures you can take include investing in one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best bike GPS trackers, whic🃏h can help you track down your bike once it's go꧂ne.
It would also be a good idea to take out the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best bike insurance♎ to cover the cost of replacing it, but💖 be sure to policies, as they vary greatly.
Lock offerings haven't c🐓hanged much since we first wrote our guide to the best lightweight bike locks. We💎 checked this guide in April 2024, when all the locks below were available to purchase.
Best lightweight folding bike lock
The Abus Bordo folds up into a neat package (Image credit: Guy Kesteven)
Linkage design is easy to lock in awkward situations vs a D-lock
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The slimline design folds up nice and compact
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Automatic cylinder lock
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The plastic coating is paintwork friendly
Reasons to avoid
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Joints are vulnerable to tooled-up attacks
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In losing weight, the 'Lite' gave up some security
Abus has a lot of folding lock options but this one, as the 'Lite' name suggests, us👍es six slimmer, lightweight, 5mm bars. Those bars then come together with hardened steel rivets and an automatic cylinder lock. It's half the weight of other Bordo options but the Abus Bordo Lite comes with a 7 out of 15 security level as rated by Abus.
Although this is one of the higher security options on this list, it's still easy to use. Folding locks iꦫn general do a very good job of offering small packaging with good security and going with the 85cm option adds to that. If you need to lock your bike and wheel around chunky street furniture, you'll appreciate the extra space.
The Giant Surelock is a lighter weight caꦰble lock (Image credit: Courtesy)
2. Giant Surelock Air Loop
The best for a low budget
Reasons to buy
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Very light and compact
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No keys needed
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Won't scratch the bike
Reasons to avoid
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Minimal security compared to other locks listed here
This super-li💟ghtweight lock from Giant uses a mini karabiner-style hook at one end to secure a coiled 90cm cable lock that can be pulled through the frame, wheels, helmet etc.
It weighs in at 50 grams and is small enough to pocket or leave in your saddlebag, making it a hype🐈r-convenient deterrent, just in case you need to leav༺e your bike out of reach for short stints of time.
It is locked using a three-digit combination lock mechanism, meaning there are no keys for y꧅ou to lose, but you will need to remember your code.
It’s not going to stop even a mildly determined thief with snips or a hammer, but it will stop opportunists long enough for you to intervene. Just don't leave the bike out of siꦺght.
Best pocketable lightweight bike lock
A Ziplock is a poဣpular lock for cyclists leaving bikes outside at 🌠cafes (Image credit: Benjamin Page)
3. Hiplok Z-Lok Combo
The best for grab-and-go protection
Reasons to buy
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Superlight and affordable ‘better than nothing’ security
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Easy to carry at all times
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Easy to find bright colours
Reasons to avoid
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Only good against the most casual thief
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Combination lock is easy to defeat
Hiplok’s cunning armoured zip tie won’t stand up to bolt cutters or even a decent pair of cable snips, and the small combination locking mechanism is easy to break, but that's not necessarily the point here. Whatဣ the Z-Lok covers is a super-portable wꦺay to provide security against grab-and-go opportunistic thieves. It is ideal for those who don't let their bike out of sight, but might occasionally leave it out of reach, such as at a cafe or fuel station.
The ꧂flexible steel strip under the rubber coating is tougher than simple wire combo locks, and it’s enough to stop tearing, twisting or yanking attacks long enouﷺgh for you to intervene.
At 40cm, it’s long enough to bundle bags/helmets/w♑heels together against something solid or lock bags onto bikes. It can also be used for other outdoor accessories if yo🌞u’re a multi-sporter. At 20g each, they’re certainly no trouble to take along on any ride or leave in your saddle bag just in case.
The basic version comes with a uniꦍversal two-pronged release ‘key’ but the combination lock adds a little extra security and meansꦅ there's one less thing to lose. For maximum value get the twin pack of the basic Z-Lok and share it with a friend or double your deterrent.
Best full-security lightweight bike lock
The Hiplock DX is a more heavy duty offering (Image credit: Hiplok)
The 1.1kg weight pushes the boundary of 'lightweight'
The Hiplok DX is a seriously secure U lock that’s been downsi😼zed for maximum portability. The shackle only gives a 15 x 8.5cm locking space, so you’ll need to get your bike up snug to whatever your anchor point is, and potentially use another lock to secure wheels etc.
However, anything you fit inside this shackle is protected by the 14m🀅m hardened steel construction and an anti-rotation double deadlock, meaning it benefits from a full Gold rating from independent testers Sold Secure. You get three coded keys too, which is useful if you have a habit of losing them, and it comes with a lifetime warranty for peace of mind.
The other neat piece of the design🌌 is two long ‘Clip & Ride’ belt clips built into the lock bar so you can slide it onto your pocket or onto your belt. You’ll need to keep that belt pretty tight though as it still weighs in at over a kilo.
KryptoLok Mini-7 is gold ra🔥ted and can be mounted on your frame﷽ (Image credit: Kryptonite)
5. Kryptonite KryptoLok Mini-7
The best value for money
Reasons to buy
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Gold-rated by independent testers Sold Secure
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Colours available
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Includes a frame mount
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Double locking shackle design requires two cuts
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Insurance coverage up to $1,750 / €1,500 / £1,000
Reasons to avoid
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Relatively small shackle
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The 1.1kg weight pushes the boundary of 'lightweight'
If you want the best security for a D-lock that means you want to look for a design that locks both sides of the lock. It requires not one but two cuts in order to free a bike. ▨The latest version of the Kryptonite Kryptolok Mini-👍7 adds double shackle security while keeping plenty of colours and a lightweight design.
Although both the Hiplok DX and the Kryptolok Mini-7 weigh in at a similar weight, they are very different in design. The Hiplok option uses a 14mm sha💛ckle that's heavier but they make the ꦰoverall size smaller. When it comes to mounting it's meant for wearing on your waist. The Kryptolok Mini 7 uses a narrower shape that's longer. It's easier to capture both a rear wheel and a stationary object but there's a smaller 12.7mm shackle to save weight. Instead of wearing the Kryptonite, there's an included frame mount.
Even with the smaller shackle design, Kryptonite believes in the strength of its lock. Make sure you follow the directions exactly 🌸but in the event your bike disappears, Kryptonite has insurance available.
Also tested
Low weight and price make up for the Abus Mini's small size and mid🅰-level pr෴otection (Image credit: Josh Ross)
6. Abus Mini 410
Best budget lightweight D-lock
☆☆☆☆☆
Specifications
Security Level: 8 of 16 Abus
Weight: 774g
Locking Type: Key
Lock Thickness: 12mm
Mounting Options: Frame
Reasons to buy
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Inexpensive
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Lightweight
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Double locking shackle design requires two cuts to defeat
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Silicone outer protects paint
Reasons to avoid
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Small size
Most 💃D-locks, like those above, tend to be heavy,ꦏ but the Abus Mini 410 handily manages to break the sub-kilo barrier, making it a more easily portable option.
There's a 12mm double shackle that means that a would-be thief is going to need to be armed with a long bolt cutter as a minimum, so there's more security than with a cab🍨le lock. There's a longer shackle length available too 💖if you don't mind the 1kg-ish weight.
This gets around the main drawback of the Abus Miniꩲ: its small shackle size, which means that you may only be able to lock the fra𝔍me to an anchor and might come back to a bike without wheels.
As per its name the LiteLok One Wearable can be worn around the w🐲aist (Image credit: Litelok)
7. LiteLok One Wearable
The most comfortable wearable lock
Reasons to buy
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Siver rated by Sold Secure
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Very flexible when locking to non-standard objects
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Bright and stylish look
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Wearable
Reasons to avoid
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The 1.4kg weight pushes the boundary of 'lightweight'
Rather than a traditional linked chain, LiteLok's lightweight bike locks use a strap made f♍rom a material called Boaflexicore, which is essentially a collection of high-tensile steel cables in a nylon mesh sleeve. This makes for a long flexible strap that can be fixed to a bike's frame with✤ the two included mounting straps or worn around the waist.
The cables are slightly more vulnerable to cutting/grinding t𒁏han a conventional chain or shackle, but it’s super-secure against bolt croppers and burst-breaking methods. The neat lock is impressively tough and weather/dirt-proofed too, giv🍌ing it a Sold Secure Silver rating overall.
The flexible design also makes it easy to snake through congested locking situations which makes it harder for thieves to get to. If you want a longer strap then the Wearable version comes in sma🐲ll (93cm, 1.3kg), medium (100cm, 1.4kg) and large (110cm, 1.45kg) sizes. You can daisy-chain multiple locks for even more length.
The Hiplok Lite can also be worn around the♕ waist belt style (Image credit: Benjamin Page)
8. Hiplok Lite
The most adjustable wearable lock
Reasons to buy
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Convenient belt design
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Bronze rated by Sold Secure
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Lots of colour options
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Lifetime warranty
Reasons to avoid
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Won’t delay tooled-up attackers for long
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Unlike others, it can't simply be left fitted to your bike
Hiplok is best known for its clever belt-style locks, which means you don't have to worry about mounting it to your bike or carrying a bag big enough for iꦿt to fit in. As the 'Lite' name suggests, this is the lightest in the range, a🌠lthough it still tips the scales at around a kilo.
The body of the lock is a chai▨n with 6mm hardened steel links, secured wi✨th an 8mm shackle that gives it a Bronze rating from Sold Secure. That means it won’t delay a tooled-up attack for too long, but it’s enough to fend off a casual thief.
The locking length is 75cm, however, the belt fit can be adjusted fro💯m 66cm to 110cm (26-44in) to be worn by most ridꦜers comfortably. It comes with a lifetime warranty and various colours for style, as well as a high-vis colour for safety.
If you like the look of this but want a more secure alternative, we also recommend the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Hiplok Gold.
The LiteLok Silver Flexi-U Regular is availabe in t🌸wo sizes (Image credit: Litelok)
9. LiteLok Go Flexi-U Regular
The best for versatility
Reasons to buy
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Lightweight with midweight protection
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Sold Secure Silver
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Flexible construction
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Reduced burst/crack risk
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Two sizes available
Reasons to avoid
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Not as secure for the price as the best value D-locks
The Litelok Go Flexi-U is effectively a downsized version of LiteLok’s very cl🗹ever belt style designs, using a similar strap format but in Regular (19 x 10cm) or Large (27 x 11.5cm) sizes. We'd recommend both sizes, using the large to secure the rear triangle to a Sheffield post, and the Regular to lock the front wheel to the frame.
While it comes curved like a fixed shape U-lock, the strap is fully flexible so it can bend around any manner of street furniture to secure your bike. The flex also makes it much harder to burst apart and it uses LiteLok’s proveꦉn locking mechanism. Of all the locks listed here, we'd say this one is the most versatile.
That means it gets both Sold Secure Silver level and ART2 security ratings, despite weighi𝓡ng half what a comparable solid U lock would.
The Altor Ape𓃲x Ti ca🦹me from a kickstarter funding campaign (Image credit: Altor)
10. Altor Apex Ti
The best for aesthetics
Reasons to buy
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Stylish aesthetic
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Push-button lock
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Modular design for lengthening
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Includes bike mount and 4 keys
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The non-scratch coating keeps the frame safe
Reasons to avoid
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No independent security rating
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Premium cost
Altor started its compa﷽ny on Kickstarter with the idea of creating a beautiful but still effective lock f🦩or keeping your bike safe in style. The Apex is the newest lock in the range, and the first to use titanium links in its patented, four-rod folding design.
The steel rivet caps are also hardened against power tool attacks and the lock mechanism uses a push-button disc-retainer design💙 for protectio𒈔n.
The modular design also lets you extend the 77cm length by adding extra Apex locks. You get four keys and a bike mount, and considering all the locks are handmade in Washington DC, the price i🦩s remarkably competitive.
The Hiplok FX uses a metre long cable (Image credit: Hiplok)
11. Hiplok FX
Basic pit stop combo lock
Reasons to buy
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Very lightweight and compact
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Custom combination code
Reasons to avoid
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Minimal security
The whole point of a lightweight bike lock is to make sure you've always got something at hand. Something that's small and portable so that it's so easy you never find yourself leaving it at home rat💞her than bothering to carry it along. The Hiplok FX is one of the lightest options availa🉐ble.
The retractable cable offers 100cm in length. Throw it in 𝔍your bag and whatever surprises come up you'll have something to help. It includes a reflective strip and can be clipped t𒊎o clothing too.
Like the Z-Lok and Giant Surelock above, it’s only really a defence against a non-tooled ‘walk-off’ thief rather than proper protection, but i📖t's an equally great choice for anyone wanting to leave their bike propped up at a cafe. There's 💎a nice range of colours available too.
(Image credit: Benjamin Page)
12. Ottolock Sidekick
Lightest D-lock
Reasons to buy
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Very light for a D-lock
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Soft coating avoids frame damage
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Colourful
Reasons to avoid
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Not security rated
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Small locking area
At around 750g, the Ottolock Sideki✨ck is pretty much the lightest D-lock available and its bright orange colour will attract attention and maybe ward off thieves (there are black and blue alternatives available too).
Despite its low weight, there's a 12mm hardened double shackle and anti-rotation deadbolt,🦂 although as a US brand Ottolock hasn't submitted the Sidekick for rating by UK-based Sold Secure.
On the flip side, the Sidekick has a fairly small locking area, so you may not be able to secure your frame and your rear wheel to an 𓆉anchor, so you might need to carry a separate cable or other lock or risk coming back to♎ a wheelless bike.
How to choose the best𝕴 lightwei♍ght bike lock for you
If you're new to buying bike locks, the sheer amount of variety on offer can be daunting. Generally, the most secure locks tend to be D-locks, a🐼s they're often stronger and more resilient against various attacks. However, they're usually not the lightest option, which 🦄is why there are plenty of bike lock manufacturers coming up with alternatives.
In this list, you'll find D-locks as well as wearable locks that you can clip around your waist, and sma🉐ller combination or key-operated locks that don't offer a huge amount of security, but are fine if you're just popping in and out of a shop. Ultimately when choosing the right lock for you, consider where you plan to lock your bike, and how long you'll leave it unattended.
What should I look for in a bike lock?
For our roundup, we've included several criteria that you might want to 🦋consider when making your c✤hoice: security level, weight, locking type, lock thickness, and mounting options.
Security level refers to the manufacturer's claims, but also to So🃏ld Secure rating, based on third-party testing. Some bike insurers will require you to use a 🎉lock with a minimum Sold Secure rating for your policy to be valid, so check this before you buy.
Weight is an obvious factor here since ♈we're focusing on lightweight bike locks, but thickness is also important. The thicker the lock, the longer it should take a thief to cut through it, but more thickness also results in more weight. You'll need to figure out where you draw the line to find a lock that strikes that balance.
Finally, mounting options refer to how portable a lock is. Can you easily mount it to your 🃏frame, wear it around your waist, or put it in your pocket? Everyone will have a personal preference here, so we've included a variety.
What is the most secure type of bike lock?
Lightweight doesn't need to mean 'rubbish'. The most common guide to security levels of the best lightweight bike locks is 🐎the ‘Sold Secure’ stand♏ard.
Sold Secureꦅ is an independent testing facility that has a comprehenꦫsive testing procedure. The locks undergo tests, and based on their performance, are then certified with a rating of Bronze, Silver, Gold or Diamond.
While Bronze is the lowest level of certification, it still has to pass various tests in order to meet this standard, so a good way to think of it is as Bronze = good, Silver = great, Gold = Excellent. Diamond is natur🀅ally 'exceptional' in performance, but it is a tier reserved only for specific products such as lock cylinders or ground anchors.
It’s not the be-all and end-all test, and there are locks that go far beyond their top Gold standard, but it’s a decent guide for how long a lock will slow up thieves. Note that we say ‘slow up’ rather than ‘defeat’, because a determined, tooled-up thief will get through any lock eventually. If it’s enough to make casual criminals give up, not even try, or takꦐe long enough for you to rওeturn and interrupt their progress, that’s a win.
However, the level of security you need will ultimately depend on where, when, and for how long you plan on leaving your bike. An opportunist thief who walks off with your un-locked bike can jump on and pedal away much quicker than you can start your chase, so even if you never leave it out of sight, you might still want to mitigate against the risks if your bike is out of reach at a cafe. With that said, you might not want to lug around a 1kg D-lock when a small cable will serve an adequate purpose.&nb𝓰sp;
On the other hand, if you plan on leaving your bike at a train station throughout the day, then the increased security of a heavier lock will be more than worth the extra weight. Check our guide to the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best bike locks for higher security options.
Which type of bike lock is best?
This will very much depend on you🐻r circumstances and how you want to carry it. D-Locks are typically heavier than cable or chain style locks, but they'll usually come with a fᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚrame mount, making it easy to carry.
There are various physical designs to consider too. D-locks are generally the most cost-effective protection against the wi🃏dest range of attacks. They are bulky though and often a fight to fit round tubes/poles/racks etc.
Articulated linkag🐭e locks like Abus’s Bordo are becoming more popular because they retain some of the sturdiness of a🥃 D-Lock, but still pack down easily and can be threaded into more congested/complex locking situations.
Cables or chainᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚs are the most versatile locking solution and very hard to burst or lever open. They’re also easy to store/carry but skinny cables and chains are easy to cut with croppers or even just a 🥀pair of pliers in some cases. Finally, there are smart solutions such as wearable locks from LiteLok and HipLok or the radical rod design from Altor.
How much should I spend on a lightweight bike lock?
Our collection of the best lightweight bike locks starts at the very budget end of the spectrum, but as ෴you pay more you usually get increased security features like double deadlocks, hardened steel alloys and more keys/more combination lock digits.
They’ll hopefully be better made in terms of rubberised paint protection, rattling or reliability ovᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚer time. Don’t forget that professional bike thieves are genuinely professional so they know what brands will put up a better fight. That means while Abus and Kryptonite are expensive, just the sight of them might be security enough.
What if my bike is stolen while using a lock?
Are there any guarantees or s🐠afety nets for me to fall back on?
Some brands back their locks up with potential pay-outs if you get your bike stolen while using their product. The level of proof of purchase/use/broken lock returns needed to qualify va🙈ries significantly though, so check the small print carefully and make sure you register your lock immediately if that’s one of the criteria.
How can I stop my bike from getting stolen?
However good (or bad) your lock/locks are, you can always improve security by being smart. For a start, make the l🗹ock awkward to get to with t🌺ools or hard to get to with saws/bottle jacks/freeze sprays, bolt croppers, etc.
Two different types of locks with different key styles mean a thief will have to take longer and use more tools and that’s exactly what they hate doing. While it’s tempting to hide your bike away when you lock it (and obviously a good idea at home) if the bike is hidden, so is anyone trying to steal 😼it, so par🦹king in view of CCTV is a useful deterrent.
If you’re commuting, use different locking locations on a random pattern too so thieves don't learn your habits or clock your bike and come back tooled-up the next day. If you find your lock has b🔴een attacked then definitely move location and if it’s been disabled with glue etc (so you can’t unlock it yourself) then get the lock broken yourself immediately by a locksmith, as it’s a sure sign that criminals will be back later with the right tools.
Don’t be afraid to ask if you can stick a bike somewhere protected too. A local garage or wo⛎rkshop might be glad of an extra fiver a week for biscuits for letting you lock your bike up in their otherwise unused storage room.
Finally, if you’re a Strava user, make sure you set the privacy zones t♊o stop your home and workplace from being pinpointed online and make sure your mates do the same.
The team here at Cyclingnews is a group of dedicated cyclists. We love telling you about the very best products to make your riding more fun. Making sure we are bri🙈nging you the best products means we test, a lot.
We ride when it's dark and cold, we race, and we ride all day. We do what it takes to put products to the test and we also have the adva🦩ntage of experience. We use the products both as designed, and sometimes not quite. Whatever it takes to make sure we are knowledgeable and recommend the very best.
The products on this list are all options that have been extensively researched. Everyone uses products in a slightly different way and has unique needs. We've𝓀 gone out and found what we believe ♍are the best choices for lightweight bike locks across a wide range of use cases.
Mildred joined as Reviews Writer for Cyclingnews and BikePerfect in December 2020. She loves all forms of cycling from long-distance audax to daily errand-runniꦬng by bike, and does almost everything on two wheels, including moving house, and started out her cycling career working in a bike shop. For the past five years she's volunteered at The Bristol Bike Project as a me🌟chanic and session coordinator, and now sits on its board of directors.
Since then she's gone on to write for a multitude of cycling publications, including Bikeradar, Cycling Plus, Singletrack, Red Bull, Cycling🌼 UK and Total Women's Cycling. She's dedicated to providing more coverage of women's specific cycling tech, elevating under-represented voices in the sport, and making cycl❀ing more accessible overall.
