Epic Cable Lock failure

I had the exact same thing happen. I also had to cut it off with scissors at the Istanbul airport. These locks are poorly designed.

My solution: Sew a luggage security ring to the bag near the end of the zipper. Then use a regular TSA lock to lock the zippers to the ring.

Google luggage security ring to see how.

But there are other combo cable on the market that work just fine. I have used one that doubles as a bike lock when not traveling for over ten years with no problems. I think it is the MasterLock brand. Go to a good bike shop, they will know which cable locks work well.

Cindy, I will google that up.

Frank, that is good to know. I didn't really want anything that would add much weight so will have to check them out at the local bike shop.

For a zipper lock, I used a small samsonite combo. lock and it worked well. I bought a cable lock in bike section of Walmart. Kryptonite brand. It's light and you can adjust the cable length. You can even pick the combo.

Good info. I used to use locks but don't anymore. I now use the disposable flight locks (RS and others sell them.) They keep the bag shut and let me know if anyone has been in it. I use them when my bag is being transported on something public like a plane, bus etc., whether it is with me or not. They are not "protection" just letting someone know you will know if the bag was opened. So far the only problem has been that when TSA gets into the bag they reseal it with a plastic tie that takes scissors to cut off.

Unless we are not talking about the same thing. Cable locks are not used - or it would be more than overkill - to secure a suitcase contents. Cable locks are used to secure the suitcase itself to something more solid or to other suitcases to prevent a grab and run from the luggage storage area. For securing the suitcase contents I use the plastic cable ties for flights and little comb lock for the suitcase when in the hotel room or during routine travel.

The locks in question have 2 short pieces of cable that attach to a central combination lock. The longer side is maybe 6 inches long at most.

We are not talking about the same thing. I have not seen what you have described. The cable locks I use are three to four feet long with a combo locking on one end (you can get them with keys.) One just coils up like a piece of rope or cord. The other is actually sold as a ski lock but is a retractable cable about four feet lock that retracts into a plastic box about size of a deck of cards. Has a built in combo dial lock. A heavy pair of wire cutters probably could cut the cable but who carries heavy wire cutters? Primarily use the cable lock on trains in the storage bin when we secure our luggage to a pole or to each other so that someone cannot easily snatch it and run. For content security we use little combo locks or plastic wire tie depending on the situation.

When you mentioned a bike shop, I realized you meant something sturdier than this lock, Frank.

http://tinyurl.com/ota9ack

What happened is that the padlock part would not release the end of the cable. Fortunately it was not as thick as your cable and it could be worried apart by scissors altho it took a while.