The travel padlock review for the three specific lock use cases that the traveller faces: the hostel locker (the combination padlock that the traveller who cannot find the key at 3am in the dormitory needs), the luggage zipper lock (the TSA-approved lock that the US airport security can open with the master key rather than the bolt cutter), and the cable lock (the 1-metre wire cable that locks the bag to the fixed point in the café or the train compartment and that delays the opportunist theft by the 4-minute window that is statistically sufficient to prevent 90% of the casual bag theft). One correct product in each category.
Reading time: 5 minutes | Last updated: 2026
The Three Lock Types
1. The Combination Padlock — Abus 145/40
What it is: The ABUS 145/40 combination padlock (the 4-digit combination, the hardened steel shackle, the 40mm width that fits the standard hostel locker loop):
Why the combination over the key: The traveller who loses the padlock key at 3am in a Bangkok dormitory has the specific problem that the combination padlock eliminates. The 4-digit combination is the correct hostel locker format — set the combination to the last 4 digits of the accommodation phone number visible on the booking confirmation (the number accessible from the phone at any hour).
Price: £8-12.
2. The TSA-Approved Luggage Lock — Master Lock TSA007
What it is: The TSA-approved 3-digit combination lock with the TSA master key slot (the red diamond symbol indicating the TSA-openable mechanism — the US Transportation Security Administration holds the master key that allows the security screener to open the lock rather than cutting it):
The TSA approval reality: Only the USA, the Canada, and some other countries use the TSA (or equivalent) master key system. UK airports (the BAA) do not systematically use the TSA master key; EU airports rarely do. The TSA lock is the correct lock if the checked baggage travels through a US airport.
The limitation: The TSA master keys for all approved locks were photographed and published online in 2015 — the TSA lock provides the deterrence (the casual opportunist does not carry the replica master key) but not the security (anyone with the knowledge and the hardware can open the TSA lock in 30 seconds).
Price: £6-10.
3. The Cable Lock — Pacsafe Retractasafe 100
What it is: The 1-metre retractable stainless steel cable with the 3-digit combination lock — the cable that wraps around the café chair leg or the train seat rail and clips to the bag strap:
The use case: The café co-working session, the train compartment overnight, the airport departure gate wait. The cable lock does not prevent the determined theft (the bolt cutter, the cable-cutter). It prevents the opportunist grab (the bag picked up and walked away with while the owner is distracted): the 4-minute deterrence that makes the traveller an unattractive target relative to the unlocked bag adjacent.
Price: £20-30.
The Combined Security System
The correct travel security stack is all three:
- The combination padlock on the hostel locker (the contents secured while the room is shared with strangers).
- The TSA lock on the checked bag zipper (the US airport deterrence).
- The cable lock at the café, the train, and the airport gate (the opportunist deterrence).
The combined weight: 350g. The combined cost: £34-52. The specific peace of mind per £ spent: the highest ratio of any travel gear category.
