It’s a sad but true fact—whether you live in the city, suburbs, or country, thieves will come looking for your garden and power tools. A solid storage unit with a strong padlock is usually all you need to deter them.
Let’s go through our top picks, followed by some basic criteria to look at when deciding which is the best padlock for you.
Our Top Picks
ABUS Diskus Keyed Padlock
Estimated Price: $40
The ABUS Extreme High Security Stainless Steel Keyed Padlock offers great protection against malicious manipulation and attacks, because both sides of the shackle are secured, so access is restricted.
The cylinder is shielded against drilling and leverage, so any kind of cylinder violation is very difficult to manage. Imported from Germany, this padlock is made from hardened stainless steel, to provide the most secure protection against any kind of tampering.
Master Lock 1561DAST Combination Dial Padlock, With Aluminum Cover
Estimated Price: $10
The shackle on the Master Lock 1561DAST Combination Dial Padlock is made of hardened steel to prevent tampering and resistance to cutting.
Its wide, durable body has an aluminum cover, and since it comes in a variety of colors, it is ideal for use in school lockers, cabinets, and employee locker areas.
Combination numbers on the face are easily identifiable, as they are colored for better readability. For a combination padlock that comes at a minimal cost, you can’t go wrong with this option.
Master Lock 653D Padlock
Estimated Price: $10
The Master Lock 653D Set-Your-Own-Combination 2-inch Padlock is an ideal padlock for use in employee areas, locker rooms, or in school hallways, because its durable wide body withstands the abuse that might be expected from such settings.
The combination numbers are easy to read in the Quick Read side-viewing window, and the 4 chrome-plated dials make unlocking very easy, as well as setting new combinations.
Brinks 161-42001 Solid Brass Padlock with 2.5-Inch Shackle
Estimated Price: $6
The lock body on the Brinks Solid Brass Padlock is made of solid brass, and the shackle is constructed of hardened steel, so this is a very sold and durable padlock.
It is equipped with a brass pin tumbler cylinder and a locking mechanism that has dual lever action, and these are two of the reasons that this long-lasting padlock can be offered with a lifetime warranty.
Master Lock 187XD Titanium Padlock
Estimated Price: $15
This high-quality Master Lock 187XD Titanium Padlock has extreme strength and is easy to use.
The hardened steel shackle offers maximum cut resistance, and the patented sliding keyway cover provides protection for the lock itself against dirt and grime, so it won’t become jammed.
The tough titanium surface is scratch proof and visually appealing.
What To Look For
Ensure The Lock Is Tamper-Proof
The most important quality a padlock has is to be more or less tamper-proof. Any lock which can easily be drilled, cut, or manipulated, can be bypassed, and all those things which were supposed to be kept safe become fair game for removal.
Hardened Steel Is Durable And Tough To Cut
Superior construction is very important in padlocks, especially if materials are made of hardened steel, which is very difficult to cut and penetrate. If the shackle is hardened steel, this eliminates one whole approach to violating the padlock access.
What Method Of Unlocking Works Best For You?
It’s important to know how a padlock is normally opened by its owner, for example via dialing a pre-set combination of numbers, or by keyed entry.
If a padlock has keyed entry, it’s important to keep the keyhole clear, and if entry is via combination numbers, setting and re-setting become important.
