Best lock to secure hostel lockers?

A sturdy regular-size Master padlock should work.

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/hardware/safety-and-security/padlocks/50140
A good ol' Master Lock steel combination dial lock. Secured many lockers through Jr high & high school and the times I did hostel stays.

The advice was a MasterLock? Choose one: https://youtu.be/s5jzHw3lXCQ?si=4GP98JHR3sKc-4Zv. 😆

Of course if the lock is to prevent grab and run, then it really doesn't matter what you use. If you have your Rolex in the locker, then maybe read this: https://lockjudge.com/lockpickinglawyer-best-locks/

Doesn’t matter the lock, don’t leave any valuables in the suitcase…cash, electronics, jewelry etc. Sleep with these items in your bed. Take as few expensive items as you can when traveling. That includes clothes and shoes.

Doesn’t matter the lock, don’t leave any valuables in the suitcase…cash, electronics, jewelry etc. Sleep with these items in your bed.

Interesting but probably what I would do. But I think the question was for the locker when you are out of the room and out of the bed and no longer able to sleep with them. I guess carry everything with you? Get a cross body bag, maybe a theft resistant one, and put a lock on it (but maybe not a MasterLock LOL).

Better yet this comes down to travel style. How light and cheap can you go and still do and experience what you want to experience?

A normal lock would be fine in most cases.

A number of hostels I've stayed at in recent years have had cupboards with built-in locks assigned to specific beds, or secure lockers elsewhere on site, so you may just want something to secure your bag to itself in those situations if you're concerned about the security of the lock. Probably overkill though.

I do own and occasionally carry a long thin cable lock, but it's rare that I feel the need for that level of security, though I have used it to attach my main bag to my bunk in dodgy circumstances in the past. (One or two hostels in particular were prone to people nabbing more desireable bunks if they weren't visibly occupied rather than having actual suitcase theft issues - bags just got moved. I've now gone more upmarket than that!)

I agree any lock because its just for grab and run, not really security. I forgot the combo for my carryon built-in zipper locks so havent locked the zippers in years. Then I saw a video on how to decode these things. Took less than 30 seconds. Then I tried it on a small TSA lock, less than 30 seconds I had it open .... literally with my eyes closed.

I'm not sure why this thread was revived, but since there are several new answers, I will chime in too.

After nearly 100 nights in European hostels, my input is that yes, a regular Master combo lock will work everywhere I've been. But as noted, about any lock can be picked, so my normal procedure is to leave the locker unlocked. To do otherwise seems to me to advertise that you have something worth stealing. Probably I have used my combo lock twice in all this travel. I do sleep with certain things in my bed if I'm worried about them; I wear a money belt all the time unless showering. I do travel with a tablet, although not a newer sexy one. When I'm out, I just wrap it in clothes in my luggage and no one has ever bothered it. I have only one or two inexpensive and obviously costume pairs of earrings in my luggage. I travel with only the walking shoes on my feet and one pair of slightly worn ballet flats for rare fancy evening events; I keep those 'hidden" all the time. (Granted, my small foot size helps too.) If you leave any current, craveable, expensive sneakers in the room, I would consider locking those up.

But really, even though I believe accounts of things being stolen in hostels, I haven't known of it happening in my room, so it must be relatively rare. Just don't leave the bait in the open and easy to find, and that's probably as good as the best lock you can deploy. Also consider not taking your most theft-worthy stuff with you.

Actually, the best security I've ever had in a hostel was probably sharing a dorm in Paris with a group of Japanese ladies on a shopping spree. The amount of shiny new gear strewn around, no-one was going to go near my stuff!

The miniature size locks that look like they were originally meant for suitcases might not work. Any really big lock like something that looks like it is meant for a gate outside probaly won't work. If the hostel provides a lock, the loop might be too small for your own.

Most other locks will work, like the kind they sell in hardware stores or drug stores, for example the what they gave me for the lockers in middle and high school, the Master combination lock with the big round numbered part you spin with numbers 1-40.

The purpose of the lock is to stop casual low effort theft, which probably is most theft. The lock won't stop a decated sophisticated thief who uses a lock cutter. I prefer the locks that use a key because I don't want to worry about memorizing the combination and i would rather put in a key, turn it and have the lock pop right open.

Pretty sure our poster got their lock already and went on their trip. This thread dates back to Feb.

I prefer the locks that use a key because I don't want to worry about
memorizing the combination

All mine are 0000 easy to remember

This thread dates back to Feb.

LoL, June

This thread dates back to Feb. LoL, June

They should lock threads quicker to prevent this.

"lock" threads? Get it? Oh never mind.

Happy travels.

This is General Europe. The date is Feb. to us.

6/02/25 = june second, 2025. Americans think in this order: month, day, year. Not the 6th of June, 2025. "The 4th of July" is an exception only for independence day, but the holiday is really on July 4th.

Is there really such a thing as picking your own combination? Doesn't the package of a combination lock come with the combination printed on a little piece of paper or the inside of the package and that is just what the combination will be? ... in hostels I vaguely remember putting put my wallet and passport and important stuff in lockers when available and not sleeping with it next to me. The vast majority of thieves are in a hurry and trying to not get caught and they won't try picking a lock or cutting it off.

Mike, I am American and know how the dates are written there. In Europe, they do it the other way, day, month, year. It makes it confusing. Just like the time is different here too, with a 24 hour clock.

Having a combination lock is way easier than trying to keep track of a tiny key.

Original poster here. I think there is useful information here for the group and I expect others are benefiting from this.

I ended up getting these locks.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK7VM8CF?th=1

Master Lock Black Combination Padlock, Indoor Gym Locker Lock with Customizable 3-Digit Code for Luggage, Backpacks, Cabinets, 2 pk, 647EC2

They are inexpensive and high quality, and they fit in the hostel lockers (they have the smaller shackles). HOWEVER, I would NOT recommend these to backpackers who are trying to keep their weight down. They are rather HEAVY.

If I did it over, I'd get something lighter.

"Having a combination lock is way easier than trying to keep track of a tiny key."

I have a brass Master Lock that uses a key. I bought it at a drugstore in Montreal, Canada. because I needed it for the locker in a hostel but I had forgot to take a lock with me. It has two keys. I have a low-end silver-colored metal lock that uses a key. The loop is longer and thinner than the Master Lock. It has no brand name on it. I bought it at a low-end variety store in Florence, Italy. Because I needed it for the locker at a hostel but I had forgot to bring a lock with me. It has 3 keys. Yes the keys are all about half the size of my apartment key and about 7/8 the size of my mailbox key. On long trips, I use travel pants or hiking pants that have at least one zippered pocket. I may have carried the keys in the zippered pocket. Keeping track of the keys shouldn't be harder than keeping track of the keys to my car or apartment or mailbox near home; or keeping track of the keys to a hotel, my passport, phone, wallet, earplugs, or anything else that is small and important.

I'm late getting into the discussion, but have a few comment to add. Although the OP has now bought new locks, my comments may be of benefit to others.

• It's sometimes hard to find the ideal lock for Hostel lockers as the hasps don't seem to be standardized in Hostels, so it's difficult to determine what size shackle will be appropriate for all.
• Smaller padlocks don't provide very effective security as they typically don't have heel & toe locking (ie: both sides of the shackle are secured). That means they can more easily be forced open with simple tools.
• The typical small combination padlocks aren't very secure as they usually have a more "flimsy" construction. In addition, internet videos exist which show how to manipulate them. Even the ubiquitous school combination locks are vulnerable.
• Keyed padlocks generally provide more robust security, but of course it's prudent to carry one primary key and at least one or two spare keys (I keep a spare key in my money belt). If I were shopping for a new lock, I'd probably look for something like this - https://www.masterlock.com/products/product/M115XTLF .
• Keyed Padlocks come with the slight risk that if the lock fails to operate for any reason, they will be more problematic to open.

There's no "perfect" travel lock for all situations, so I try to choose the best balance of security, size and convenience based on the intended use.

You won't stop the professional theif becasue they will come prepared to do what is necessary to cut through your lock and a big fancy lock say: I got something worth stealing....

Any lock will prevent the opportunist, so pick a small light lock that is easy to carry.