This chain is made up of 8mm case-hardened steel links wrapped with tough nylon, combined with an ABS-encased 9mm-diameter padlock. Designed to be worn, the nylon outer and padlock buckle form a standard belt.
With a large expanse of Velcro, the lock should fit waist sizes from 20-46in. It's shaped to fit around your body and there are no sharp edges to dig in. At 1.83kg it isn’t too heavy to carry, and the already-minimal weight is much less noticeable when you’ve belted up.
Essentially, the Hiplok is a standard chain. It has a burly appearance and its easy-to-use padlock makes wrapping it through your bike a doddle. The tough nylon cover means you’re less likely to scratch your frame should you drop the lock on the tubes.
The Hiplok has a Sold Secure Silver rating, and the chain links will resist attacks from all but decent bolt croppers (we severed the links in less than 20 seconds with our 3ft croppers). There are better, higher security locks around for similar money, though none is as convenient to carry as this.
It comes complete with four keys and there are one million possible combinations available, so it’s unlikely that your lock could be opened by any other Hiplok owner. The large logo is made from a reflective print, adding nighttime visibility into the mix.
This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine.