Best Locks to Use at the Hostel (2023)

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If you’re traveling to a hostel, you’ll want to make sure you have the best locks for your locker and luggage.

I’m going to share what I consider to be the best and most versatile locks to use at the hostel, and give you some things to consider when buying and choosing. We’ll likely go over some things that you hadn’t thought of.

How do I know? Because I didn’t think of it either before some trial and error. Let me save you the trouble of trial and error.

The Best All-Around Hostel Locks

For my money, the best all-around buy is the Sure Lock TSA Compatible Travel Luggage Locks.

These locks serve the purpose of hostel travel better than anything else I’ve tried. They’re versatile and the easiest to use.

These come in a two-pack, which is perfect. you can use one on your bag, and use one for the hostel locker.

Things to Consider When Choosing Locks for a Hostel

When deciding on the right lock, there are a few things to consider. I’ve taken all these into account for my above recommendation, but this will tell you how I got there.

• Shackle Thickness – A lot of padlocks have thick shackles (the metal bar part of the lock) that won’t be compatible with the locking mechanisms on some hostel lockers.
• Shackle Height – Some padlocks aren’t very tall, and might not fit the locking mechanism of the hostel lockers.
• Combination vs Key – There are pros and cons to both (more below).
• TSA Approval – This isn’t super important for hostel travel, especially if you don’t check a bag (like me), but if you do check a bag, it’s a bonus.

Combination Locks vs Key Locks

Some people like key locks, and some people like combo locks. I’m not here to say which one is better. I will say though, that one serves the purpose of hostel travel slightly more, in the ever so humble opinion of this travel writer.

Key Locks

Key locks can be great. If you forget to bring a lock and get stuck buying one at the hostel or a nearby store, it will likely be a key lock.

There are two noteworthy problems with key locks.

• They aren’t very versatile – The shackle height and thickness sometimes don’t fit the hostel lockers.
• The keys are easy to lose – Especially on the smaller locks, they don’t fit on some keychains, and I don’t know about you, but my keychain is buried deep in my bag when I travel.

Combination Locks

Enter, the combo lock. Now the main knock on combo locks is that combinations can be hard to remember.

Well, guys, I’ve got some great news! It’s 2022! Open up the trusty notepad app on your phone and put the combo there.

Or write it on a piece of paper. “But Andrew, what if I lose the paper? I lose everything!”

Wait though, I’m not done. Write it down, and take a picture of it with your phone. Problem solved.

As for the shackle height and thickness problems, my above recommendation solves both of those with its thin but durable cable shackles, elegant in their versatility.

TSA Approved

What does it mean when a lock is TSA approved?

It means that it has a slot for TSA to use their master lock so they can search your bag without breaking your lock (which, yes, they have been known to do).

The way their master lock works, at least with our recommended locks, the lock has to be relocked before the master key can be removed, so the TSA agent will be the only one able to get in your bag.

Now, this only applies to checked bags, since the bags on you can be opened by you if they need to check inside.

I never check a bag when I travel, but I know mileage varies on this, so I thought it was worth bringing up. Being TSA approved/compatible does add some versatility and overall safety.

That being said, whether a lock is TSA approved or not shouldn’t make or break your decision to use it.

Hostel Locks FAQs

Choosing the right lock is important. You don’t want to get to your destination and find out you got one that doesn’t fit or doesn’t work right.

What Kind of Locks Should I Use at the Hostel?

We’ve already gotten into the debate of key locks versus combination locks. I made my case for the combination lock, but there is another variable to consider.

You’ll also have to decide between cable locks and more traditional-looking shackle locks.

I’ll admit that shackle locks are more sturdy and harder to break into. Some cable locks can be clipped with wire cutters, while shackle locks would need a hefty set of bolt cutters.

But let’s be real here, people don’t travel to hostels with wire cutters. Sure, if something is laying around, someone might pick it up. They might even snoop on an open or unlocked locker or bag that’s laying around.

But I will tell you confidently that our cable locks do plenty to keep people out of your stuff. One lock on the locker, and if you feel it necessary, one lock on the bag inside.

The versatility of these cable locks is more than worth the sacrifice in breakability.

Can I Lock Up My Bags at the Hostel?

You don’t have to rely solely on the locks to keep your bags safe. Most hostels (the good ones) have lockers for each guest. Make sure you choose a hostel that offers lockers (more on hostel lockers here).

Keeping your things in your locker will keep them out of sight and out of reach from sticky fingers. Combined with our handy-dandy locks, your things will be plenty safe.

You can feel free to leave your things in the locker not just when you’re there, but also while you’re out exploring.

Do I Need to Use a Lock at Hostels?

Am I scaring you with all this talk about locking up your things, and making sure to buy the right type of lock?

I hope not. Because the truth is, your things are really quite safe at the hostel. Your roommates will likely become your friends. Everyone is staying there under the same preface, there’s a general understanding to respect each other’s things.

It’s like living with a roommate in real life. But, not everyone is a good roommate. That’s why we’re being careful.

You’ll likely see lots of people not utilizing their lockers, and leaving things laying around or strewn about (not good hostel etiquette, by the way).

If you follow my advice, utilize the locker and use these locks, along with the slightest bit of organization, your stuff will be safer than most people in your room, if not everyone in your room.

Conclusion: Hostel Locks

We covered a lot of ground here. You’re equipped now with the know-how to choose the right lock, utilize it the best way possible, and have blast traveling to hostels and not having to worry about the safety of your belongings, so you can sleep easily.

When you’re packing for your hostel, don’t forget to pack your new set of travel locks, so you can have peace of mind while you’re seeing the world that your stuff is safely secured back in your room.

Have fun out there!