Any advise on selecting luggage locks?

Just because a bag can be carried on your back, there's no rule that says it always must be on your back. While sitting on a train, it would be very uncomfortable to be wearing a backpack. You'll take it off, and put it at your feet or directly overhead.

Consider what the purpose would be for a luggage lock. The TSA approved locks that are used to prevent unauthorized entry into your zipped luggage compartments are of questionable utility unless your bags are checked. Even then, a pair of wire cutters or dykes can quickly open them to allow rummaging within.

I have always carried (but seldom used) a cable lock that attaches to the outside of my luggage. If I have to store my bag in a rack overhead, I have sometimes been comforted by wrapping the cable around the bars of the rack and the handle of my bag. That way, a casual thief would be deterred (albeit briefly) from grabbing my bag and running with it as the cable would impede his progress. It weighs little and is easily activated.

Casual thieves can sometimes be thwarted. Professional thieves seldom are.

You say that one of your bags is designated to hold your electronic gear. Just what gear are you thinking about taking with you and why do you need an entire bag to hold it?

I used a bicycle cable lock on one trip with a suitcase. I don't anymore. Why? What if you need to disembark and the lock fails? Oh No!
Instead, I only use a small combination luggage lock to prevent anyone from unzipping my backpack or suitcase and "pickpocketing" me. I no longer anchor/tether a bag of any kind to anything.

Locking your luggage to the train can severely annoy other passengers. If they have to get off before you, and your bag is blocking in theirs, but they can't move it aside. Or if someone gets on and can't put their bag in an empty space because yours is in the way.

If a bag is in the overhead storage on a train it is easy to keep it under observation. The luggage rack is just a shelf, no door, so you can see your bag. Some shelfs are glass bottomed, even easier to see (click here for photo).
If you are really worried, put it on the floor between your legs, then nobody can remove it without you noticing. Plenty of people put their shopping bags between their legs. No silly rules on trains, just don't put it on the seat next to you if somebody wants to sit there.

Lock failure (Lewis and Clark double cable lock) is why I don't use locks any more. I do have carabiners that I use on my checked luggage and purse. I've also just used a twist tie on checked luggage. The plastic ties work better than the paper ones. All I want on my checked bags is something to keep the zippers shut so my unders don't wind up on the baggage carousel!

By the way....I had bought 3 cable locks for myself, my brother and SIL. On a trip to Ireland, SIL's failed in the Seattle airport (she was getting something out of her carry on), brother's failed as he tried to open his bag at the hotel and mine worked to get it off but I threw it away immediately after I got it open because of the problems the others had!

The rule is never, ever put anything in checked baggage that is of any value or that is necessary! No electronics, no money, no keys, no meds.

Vumos
TSA Cable Lock for Luggage – Small 3 Dial Combination Padlock Ideal for Travel – Added Security for Suitcases and Backpacks.
I have used these. I like them. I hate locks with keys.

dg,

A few thoughts......

The TSA locks should be fine for the wheelie bags and you may be interested in having a look at THIS website.

For the backpacks, you might consider something like this - https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/luggage-cable-lock . I've been using them for years and have only had one fail. The advantage of a cable lock is that it's sometimes possible to lock more than one zipper with them on a backpack.

"One of the backpacks was designated to hold our electronic gear-iPad and cell phone, chargers, cables, Italy elec. adapters."

I would recommend splitting your chargers between two backpacks. If for some reason, one pack was to get "pinched" or whatever, you'd be without all your electronic gear. The same policy applies to credit cards. I assume you'll be using Moneybelts?

As a person that works for TSA as a baggage screener, all tsa locks are very easy to break into. Also it’s very easy to “pop a zipper “. Just be sure to carry your valuables on you. Never in check luggage. I always travel with only carry on. Go light and you will be set free. Good luck 🍀

I like the suggestion of using a TSA lock for your suitcase. That is helpful to lock $ and extra credit card in luggage in the hotel room. I am always worried that I will forget things in the hotel safe :-)

locks don't make things safe, they just discourage the casual, opportunistic thief. Pros have made their own TSA keys. A few basic tools will get past your lock, or with soft-sided luggage, a utility knife will do. Its just a low risk event, unless your staying in some shady hotels. Amy, do a Search on "money belt" or "hotel safe" on this site (gray box, top of page) and you'll find hours of entertaining discussion on the subject.

Just looking atthese locks at Amazon.
Forge TSA Approved Luggage Locks, Ultra-Secure Dimple Key Travel Locks with Zinc Alloy Body
These have dimple style keys that would seem more secure.
Thinking of using them on our 2, wheeled bags when left unattended in our Airbnb appartments.
Seems that using these locks may help keep someone honest while we are out of the room?

I use a special version of a twist tie that is designed to allow you to open without having to have scissors present. I always figure that the only person likely to be locked out by a conventional luggage lock is myself. My twist tie keeps the zippers securely closed and I can tell at a glance if someone has been in the bag.

I get them from Amazon, just search for "pick proof seals"

Didn't know about these, thanks. Do the less expensive ones sold on Amazon work as well?

And, when these are removed to open the bag, do they need to be discarded, and a new one used the next time you install one?

Haven't used luggage locks in over a decade. Not since I saw the video demonstrating how to open a zipper using a simple pen. Or, if your bags are softsided,the more obvious knife or boxcutter slash and grab. We just buy a bag of cable ties and I carry a small nail clipper in my purse. These get used on our checked bags or carry on. The suitcases get stowed above us on the train, where we can keep our eye on them. Our day bags are kept with us at all times. Carried towards the front in very crowded situations or at our feet on a train. And we never keep all our valuables in one bag, but split them between us.

On the mornings that we will be traveling between locations, i.e. on the train, we place our iPads and phone in our carryon suitcase instead of our daypack (nothing valuable in the daypack), so that pickpocket fingers are farther away from our electronics. We’ve never owned a lock for a suitcase and have never had anything stolen. If your suitcase is carryon size, you can place it above you on most trains.

If you’re really worried about your electronics, leave them in your suitcase instead of using them on the train where people can see them.

I see that you’ve posted several questions with a “valuables & security “ theme. The main thing is to wear your money belt which is good insurance to recover from any incidental issue which allows you to enjoy your trip. And, don’t bring anything that is irreplaceable.

dg,

"Forge TSA Approved Luggage Locks, Ultra-Secure Dimple Key Travel Locks with Zinc Alloy Body
These have dimple style keys that would seem more secure."

Those are not really much more secure than any other luggage lock and "Dimple Keys" are not ultra-secure as no one is going to waste time trying to pick a cheap lock. They'll simply force the lock, which probably won't be too hard as this style of lock does not have heel & toe locking. In addition to that, I'm sure the TSA keys are not hard to come by on the black market.

Knowing that all TSA locks have limitations, I'd probably look at something like this - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003P0WLXQ/ref=twister_B079FXFQ2B?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 .

A lock is only as secure as what it is locked onto. Locks securing zipper pulls are only as secure as the zipper pulls. And zipper pulls are not very strong, so an el cheapo lock is good enough.

fyi, Richard is absolutely correct that zippers can be split...... my friend and i were on the train to Naples, and a woman was trying to break into my friend's hard shell, locked suitcase...... she had split the zipper and was one the verge of going into it when we realized what she was doing and we retrieved the suitcase.

there was NOTHING in either of our suitcases of stealable value (only clothes), and her bag was locked. i have a Tarriss lock on my suitcase, but they didn't touch my bag. i use tiny carabiners to secure the zippers on my carry-on backpack, a Northface backpack.

all our valuables (money, passports, cellphones, cameras) were on us/in our handbags, which we kept securely with us. we purposely traveled light on our Italy trip (no laptops or ipads), and i'm really glad we did--i didn't want the hassle of dealing with computers. we were happy to be away from them for 2 weeks, and anything we needed to do, we could do on our cellphones.

Best luggage security tip:
Get a trashed bag.
Write on it “B P Singh Lagos” using white paint or marker pen.
Secure with rope.

No thief will even bother with that bag, they are more likely to pity the owner.

A quick follow up after traveling around Italy. We found we were very comfortable using carabiners on our carry-on wheeled luggage throughout our time in Italy. Used them in the airports, on the trains, in taxis and private transfers, and while in the overhead compartment on the plane. Easy to use, and worked.

I like my PacSafe shoulder bag. When in a crowded street or train, it is in front of me with a hand holding it against me. PacSafe and a few other brands have bags that have mesh to prevent surreptitious cutting of the bag to get access.

Mark (?) of Wolter's World (of YouTube fame) said his mother had multiple slits in her bag when she took it off - having never even noticed or felt the attempted thefts.

My dad saw two guys on a motorcycle coast past someone and slit the shoulder strap off her purse and drive off. The PacSafes have steel in their straps to prevent that.

I haven't used a lock in decades. Just "buy right" (PacSafe) and be attentive.

Instead of locks, I walk through the produce section of the supermarket and grab a handful of twist ties to hold zippers together in transit.