Need help choosing the best lock to keep your luggage safe while staying in a hostel? Keep reading to find out my top picks and my experiences using different locks to keep my personal belongings safe!
Through traveling the world full-time, I’ve stayed in up to 50 hostels to date. While hostels are amazing, bad things can happen, so you’ll want to make sure you have the best hostel locks to protect your luggage.
I’ve tried a handful of locks during my time staying in hostels. And to save you the trouble (and the risk of having your things stolen because of a bad lock), I’ve done the trial and error for you.
I’ll give you all the information you need to choose the right lock for your travels. Such as the required thickness and flexibility of the shackles, the combination VS key, and so much more. So you can enjoy traveling without worrying about your things!
All-Round Best Locks for Hostels
1. My Top Pick: the Search Alert TSA Approved Travel Combination Lock
Without a doubt, the best lock for staying in hostels has to be the Search Alert TSA Approved Travel Combination Lock.
Not only is this lock affordable for budget travelers at USD 18.50 for a pack of 4 and just USD 11 for a pack of two, but you have the option to purchase anywhere from just 1, to 10 in a pack at one time.
Meaning if you’re someone like me who tends to misplace things, you can always have a backup! And on top of that, you can use one for your locker and one for your suitcase or backpack for extra protection.
I used this lock while traveling around Indonesia in 2023. And guess what, two people in my dorm room had things stolen from their lockers, while mine stayed untouched!
Since then, this lock has been my go-to. Its main bonus is its flexible thin (yet still heavy-duty) cable instead of the regular metal shackle. Which means it can fit into any hostel lock or bag’s zipper.
2. The Best Double Loop Lock: The Lewis N Clark Triple Security Lock
This lock is more fancy than the others, with two loops instead of one, allowing you to easily lock your bag to other objects. While it doesn’t make much of a difference with hostel lockers, it is the best choice if your hostel doesn’t have lockers available.
While I do recommend finding a hostel with a locker, having the Lewis N Clark Triple Security Lock means that you’ll still be able to protect your luggage in case you can’t access lockers.
By attaching the first link to your zipper and handle, and the second link to your bedframe, you can prevent someone from snatching your bag.
3. The Best Key Lock: The Forge TSA-Approved Key Luggage Locks
While I don’t recommend key locks, which I’ll go into more detail about, some people do prefer them. If a key lock is your preferred method, the Forge TSA Approved Key Luggage Locks is the best key lock I’ve tested so far.
Its durable cable design means that it still has all the qualities of the lock above, the only difference being its key unlock instead of the combo.
Comparison of the Three Locks
There are pros and cons to each lock, here I’ve made it easy for you with a quick comparison!
| Name | Search Alert TSA Approved Travel Combination Lock. | Lewis N Clark Triple Security Lock | Forge TSA Approved Key Luggage Locks |
| Price | USD 38 for 2 | USD 13 for 2 | Effectiveness out of 10 |
| Ease of use out of 10 | 10/10 | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Effectivness out of 10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 7/10 |
How to Choose a Lock for Hostel Travel
When choosing a lock for your hostel, there are a few important things you want to take into account, such as flexibility, ease of use, and durability.
From my years of travel experience and hostels, the top things I look for when choosing locks are these.
A Flexible Cable
One of the most important things for locks is a metal cable. I avoid thick metal shackles (the U-shaped piece of metal that allows you to lock and unlock your padlock) like the plague.
This is because some hostel lockers have tiny holes to fit your lock through, and inflexible thick padlocks often won’t even fit through them.
To guarantee your lock will work at any hostel, I strongly recommend you use a flexible cable instead of metal shackles.
A Thicker Cable
While cables are the best for hostel lockers, I recommend you find a cable (like the one above) that is thicker and heavy-duty. Thinner flimsy cables are much easier to cut through and may not protect your luggage and valuables as well.
A Combination Lock System
Some people prefer key locks, but In my opinion, combination locks are the best for traveling and staying in hostels.
With key locks, you always run the risk of losing or misplacing your key. And unless you have it hanging around your neck at all times, you’re going to have to go searching for it every time you want to open your bag or hostel locker.
With combination locks, you can use a combination you’re familiar with. It could be your phone password, birth year, or a special sequence, and write it down in your phone to make sure you don’t forget it.
It’s much less frustrating and requires less effort to use a combination lock. It also takes a fraction of the time to enter and scramble your combination than it does to find, unlock, and relock with a key.
TSA Approval
TSA approval isn’t important if you only plan on using your lock for hostels, but if you check in a bag when you travel, I really suggest buying one that has it.
This means you can use your lock to lock your luggage and keep it safe while flying, and then use it to lock your hostel locker when you arrive at your accommodation.
What Does ‘TSA Approved’ Mean? Why is it Important?
TSA, short for Transport Security Administration, is a US government body responsible for protecting the country’s transport systems. But while the USA was the first to use this system, it now spans many countries around the world.
If a lock is TSA-approved, it means that passengers can lock their luggage, but transport security officials will still be able to inspect it without damage using a master key.
This means that while your luggage is still locked to general airport staff and other travelers, it can still be opened by transport officials under suspicion, and therefore the lock complies with travel regulations.
But before you travel, still make sure to read the official TSA checklist to learn what you can and can’t bring. This helps you avoid your bags being opened in the first place.
Having a TSA-approved lock means I can lock my checked-in baggage while I fly. Which spares me so much anxiety through the airport process!
I’ve had friends who haven’t locked their bags and had things stolen by airport staff, which could disrupt your whole trip! So, therefore, I really recommend trying to find a TSA-approved lock, as it solves two problems in one.
FAQ
Aside from what makes the perfect travel lock, there are a few questions I get asked regularly about locks and hostel travel. Here are my most frequently asked questions!
Do All Hostels Have Lockers?
While most hostels will provide lockers, some don’t. Similarly, some hostels have lockers available… but they’re really small. Check the reviews in advance to make sure the hostel you’re visiting has a good-sized locker to keep your things safe.
However, to avoid any problems, I recommend you buy a flexible cable lock. This means you can at least lock your bag zipper closed to keep your belongings safe in the event your hostel has no locker or one that’s too small.
Do You Need to Use a Lock at Hostels?
While you don’t have to use a lock at hostels (I’ve not used them before and been fine), It is really recommended. You know the common saying ‘It’s better safe than sorry’? Making sure you have a lock when you stay at hostels is pretty much for that reason.
You shouldn’t worry too much though, it’s very common to see people not using their provided lockers at all.
Hostel dorms are usually dotted with people’s items, and given that most people are in the same boat, everything usually stays put.
Is Theft Common in Hostels?
No, theft isn’t common in hostels, in fact, it’s extremely rare. But it still does happen, and a few people sadly abuse hostel dorms to steal other backpackers’ things.
You don’t want to be that unlucky person. Therefore, even if it’s rare is still really recommended to take every measure you can to keep your things safe.
Things like locking your locker whenever you aren’t using it, and hiding your valuables even if they’re in your locked away bag can make all the difference.
Do Hostels Provide Locks?
No, hostels don’t generally provide locks. Locks are easy to lose and could be stolen, so even if hostels had locks available they would always be for sale, not complimentary.
Either way, I still always recommend you carry your own lock with you. It’s always better to have the guarantee that you’ll be able to protect your things, without relying on anyone else.
Conclusion: Best Locks to Use in Hostels in 2024
With all this new knowledge, you’ll have the ability to choose your perfect lock for hostels, use it properly, and keep all of your belongings safe!
As we covered the best lock to use in hostels is by far the Search Alert TSA Approved Travel Combination Lock, but using the important tips you learned, you’ll also be able to find your own perfect travel lock.
Don’t forget to grab a few spares just in case, and enjoy your travels!
