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Fingerprint locks

I was looking at one of those "Great Gifts for Travelers" lists the other day. One item that caught my eye was a small combination luggage lock that unlocks with a fingerprint. I like to put a lock on my suitcase when I'm out of the hotel room during the day, but over the last few years I've had an increasingly hard time seeing the little numbers on the lock's dial when I want to unlock it. Being able to just press my thumb to it would be ideal.

Has anyone used a fingerprint lock? Pros and cons?

Posted by
9018 posts

No, but my phone works with fingerprint recognition. It works fine, except that time I cut my finger, and had to use the code. Does the lock have an alternate way to open?

Posted by
28246 posts

I have a brand new $$$ phone that--in theory--unlocks via fingerprint. In practice it works maybe half the time. I'd absolutely go with a keyed lock.

Posted by
759 posts

I trust you are aware that if you have standard zippered soft sided luggage it can be easily 'opened' while "locked" and then just as easily reclosed looking as if it was never opened? The lock will give you the illusion of safety without any safety.

Posted by
1891 posts

FYI, there are small plastic magnifiers. Some are credit card sized and I have seen some that are about the size of half a business card. Super light weight and don’t take up any room. Perhaps keep one in the pocket of your suitcase or bag?

Posted by
5865 posts

Has anyone used a fingerprint lock? Pros and cons?

Does it have a back up where you can enter a passcode? I am someone who has ”bad fingerprints” (evidently age and things like swimming can make the ridges in your fingerprints less defined). It is hit or miss as to whether my fingerprints work for ID. I’d want to make sure that I had an alternate solution.

Posted by
7935 posts

ISDN: I still don't need it. Do you see an Ophthalmologist at least annually? At my age, twice a year is recommended. I've worn glasses since Second Grade.

Posted by
23642 posts

....opened' while "locked" and then just as easily reclosed looking as if it was never opened ....... That is just marginally true. BUT --that only works if the zipper slider is free to move to re-close the un-zippered area. Simply immobilize the slider and the opened area cannot be re-closed.

I would not use anything that is subject to a technology failure. It has to have some type of battery or electrical source to run the senor to read the fingerprint. Solve the problem of reading small numbers first.

Posted by
199 posts

I'm definitely not tech smart, but
how about taking a photo on your cell, then enlarging it?