Best Bike Locks Tested: 11 Options for Every Budget

Introduction

Finding a bike lock that matches your bike’s value and your riding routine matters more than simply buying the heaviest option on the shelf. A recent round of controlled testing put a dozen premium locks through the same battery of attacks, from bottle jacks and bolt croppers to crowbars and portable angle grinders.

The results split into three clear groups: value locks that perform well for under £100 or $100, portable options that balance security with convenience, and a new generation of angle-grinder-resistant locks that meet the higher Powered Cycle Diamond standard.

This guide walks through the standout locks from that test, what each one is good at, and where it makes sense to spend more.

How These Locks Were Evaluated

Each lock faced a consistent set of physical tests. A pulling rig simulated the force of a bottle jack, applying more than seven tons of simultaneous pulling power to the top and bottom of the lock. A bolt cropper test checked resistance to the classic theft tool, while a torsion attack replicated the leverage of a crowbar over a metre and a half long.

Corrosion resistance was measured by placing one of each lock in a chamber for 168 hours, simulating roughly 10 to 12 months of exposure in a salty coastal environment. Finally, an off-the-shelf 18V portable angle grinder was used on each lock, with as many batteries and steel cutting discs as needed.

Across two days of testing, the angle grinder work discharged 10 batteries, burned out two grinder motors, and consumed more than two dozen premium steel cutting discs.

Best Value Locks Under £100 or $100

These locks delivered strong performance at the lowest price points in the test. Both are rated Gold, and neither uses an armored design, so they suit riders who want dependable everyday security rather than maximum power-tool resistance.

Hiplok DXF

The Hiplok DXF is Diamond-empowered Gold rated and held up well against the physical manual tests. For riders on a tighter budget, it is one of the better-performing locks available for under £100 or $100.

Abus 420

The Abus 420 is Gold rated and matches the Hiplok DXF in offering solid performance at a low price. It is a straightforward choice for riders who want a reliable lock without paying for armored construction.

Best Portable Options

Portability matters when you carry a lock every day. This group covers folding locks, a wearable chain design, and the overall winner of the test, all chosen for how easily they travel with you.

Folding locks are convenient for short stops, while wearable chains and lighter U-locks suit riders who want security without a bulky load.

Litelok X1

The Litelok X1 is Powered Cycle Diamond rated and armored against angle grinder attacks. It resists standard tools well, proved very corrosion resistant, and is more portable than the larger anti-angle-grinder units. In testing it survived over 10 minutes of angle grinder cutting, and at £149.99 or $179.99 it costs more than £100 or $100 less than its premium rivals.

Squire Stronghold Folder

The Squire Stronghold Folder is Gold rated and built for quick stops. It is a convenient option for locking up during a short errand, though as a folding design it offers limited resistance to angle grinding.

Abus Bordo

The Abus Bordo is another Gold rated folding lock that works well for brief stops such as a supermarket trip. Like other folding locks, it prioritises convenience over power-tool resistance.

Hiplok Switch

The Hiplok Switch is a lighter Bronze rated option aimed at coffee stops and pub rides where the bike stays within sight. It is more difficult to break manually than most budget locks because of its sliding and folding design, but it has very little resistance to angle grinding and can be cut in seconds.

Squire Wearable Chain Lock 10

The Squire Wearable Chain Lock 10 is Diamond rated and stands out as the best of the portable group. It is a heavy-duty chain wrapped in a thick neoprene cover so it can be worn like a belt, making it genuinely portable, and it fits pretty much any style of bike. It is priced at £87.99 or $97.99.

Best Anti-Angle-Grinder Locks

This group meets the higher Powered Cycle Diamond standard, which sits above the Pedal Cycle Diamond rating. All are U-lock designs, and all performed well against physical manual and power-tool attacks. None of them are truly angle grinder proof, but each can resist cutting for a meaningful amount of time.

The trade-off for this level of protection is weight and price, so these locks suit riders who leave a bike in higher-risk locations.

Litelok X3

The Litelok X3 is the toughest lock in the test against an angle grinder, surviving 23 minutes and 17 seconds of cutting. Priced at £249.99 or $299.99, it sets the benchmark for power-tool resistance in this category.

Abus Granit Super Extreme

The Abus Granit Super Extreme is brilliantly made and tough, taking just under 11 minutes of angle grinder cutting. It is priced at £270 or $299.99 and represents a well-built option at the top of the range.

Squire Stronghold D16 Max

The Squire Stronghold D16 Max is very tough and notably kind to a bike’s frame. It resisted angle grinder cutting for over 13 minutes. Pricing is listed at £89.99 or $379.99.

Hiplok D1000

The Hiplok D1000 is a very user-friendly option priced at £249.99 or $299.99. It is compatible with the brand’s armored ground anchors, which makes it a flexible choice if you also want a fixed anchoring point. It does not match the toughness of the Litelok X3, Squire D16 Max, or Abus Super Extreme, but it is tough enough and arguably more portable than all of them.

Overall Winner

The Litelok X1 takes the overall win. It carries most of the anti-angle-grinder toughness of its larger X3 sibling, resists manual tool attacks well, and proved very corrosion resistant. It may not have the ultimate angle grinder resistance of the toughest locks in the test, but its cutting time of over 10 minutes offers more than ample protection, and it costs well under the premium options.

Buying Advice

If your budget is tight, the Hiplok DXF and Abus 420 both deliver very good performance for under £100 or $100, though neither is armored. For a step up, the Litelok X1 is the best sub-£150 or sub-$150 option because it adds angle grinder resistance and strong manual-tool protection while staying portable.

For maximum protection against power tools, the angle-grinder-resistant locks are the best choice, and all of them meet the higher Powered Cycle Diamond standard. The Litelok X3, Squire Stronghold D16 Max, and Abus Granit Super Extreme are the toughest of the group, while the Hiplok D1000 is the most user-friendly and portable of the four.

Whatever you choose, check that the lock is an approved model with your specific insurance provider, since requirements vary. Buying a lock that appears on your insurer’s list is the safest way to make sure you are covered.

Conclusion

The best bike lock depends on how and where you ride. Value-focused riders can get dependable security for under £100 or $100, commuters benefit from the portability of a folding or wearable design, and anyone leaving a bike in a high-risk area should look at the Powered Cycle Diamond rated, angle-grinder-resistant options. The Litelok X1 stands out as the overall winner for balancing toughness, portability, and price.