A checked bag takes a beating. It gets tossed onto a belt, squeezed between two heavy bags, dragged through a chute, and stacked under something else. Zipper pulls catch on machinery. A bag packed too tightly can split a seam open before it ever leaves the airport. So you lock it. The question is which lock, and the honest answer is that most of the difference comes down to one mark on the body of the lock.
Everything else is fit, code security, and whether the lock still opens when you get home.
Below is our roundup of the best luggage locks for checked bags, updated for October 2026. We picked eight that cover the full range of jobs: single-bag cable locks, four-packs for a family, keyed-alike sets, and four-digit resettable padlocks for equipment cases with proper lock holes. Each one carries a security-agency mark, and each one states its real trade-off rather than pretending it is a vault.
Table of Contents
What “TSA-Approved” Actually Means
A TSA-approved luggage lock is one carrying a small red Travel Sentry diamond on the body. That mark tells screening officers the lock can be opened with a master key during an inspection, so they relock your bag instead of cutting the lock off. Travel Sentry approval covers more than the United States. It is recognised at airports in 80 countries, alongside Safe Skies, whose red torch mark is used by agencies such as CATSA, HMRC, and Australian and German customs. Both marks tell the same thing: this lock has a core an authorised agent can defeat without damaging your bag.
What the mark does not promise is theft protection. It is permission to be inspected, nothing more.
Top 3 TSA-Approved Picks Before You Buy
If you want the short answer, start here. We go deeper on all eight below.
SURE LOCK Cable Lock 2-Pack
- Open alert indicator
- Resettable 3-digit code
- Braided steel cable
- 70 g body
Forge Cable Lock 4-Pack
- TSA008 lock core
- 4 inch cable with 1.5 inch loop
- Lifetime guarantee
- Four locks per pack
Travoce Cable Lock 4-Pack
- Side-switch code reset
- Bends through small pull holes
- Search alert indicator
- Zinc alloy body
Best Luggage Locks for Checked Bags at a Glance
All eight picks in one place. Every one carries an agency mark, so any of them can be opened and relocked at a checkpoint rather than cut.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SURE LOCK Open Alert Cable Lock, 2 Pack |
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| Forge Open Alert Cable Lock, 4 Pack |
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| TRAVOCE Cable Lock, 4 Pack |
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 Master Lock 4696EC4, 4 Pack |
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 FORGE OX Keyed Lock, 4 Pack |
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 SURE LOCK 4-Digit Lock, 1 Pack |
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 TravelMore Barrel Key Lock, 1 Pack |
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 Master Lock 4683Q, 4 Pack |
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1. SURE LOCK Open Alert Cable Lock, 2 Pack – Best Overall
- Open alert shows when TSA opened the lock
- Readable white numbers on black dials
- Light 70 g body
- Two locks per pack
- Lifetime free warranty
- 3-digit code is only 1000 combinations
- Stiff reset lever
- Cuttable cable
This is the lock I keep in my own bag. Two of them came in the pack, each weighing 70 g, and they have been through enough handling that neither body nor cable shows any real wear. At 3.2 x 1.2 x 0.6 inches the body is small enough to disappear into a side pocket when the bag is open, which matters if you are watching it at the carousel.
The thing that sold me is the open alert indicator. When an agent opens the lock with a master key, a red button stays exposed until you dial your own code back in. You find out that your bag was opened rather than guessing about it days later. Reviewers report the same thing: owners mention years of reliable use across many flights and no surprises.
The cable is braided steel rather than a rigid shackle, and that is the reason it works on ordinary suitcases. It bends through a zipper pull hole and threads two pulls together when your hard-shell case has dual zippers that meet in the middle.
The honest weakness is the arithmetic. Three dials gives you 1,000 possible codes, and anyone who wants your bag open can try all of them in under an hour. The second weakness is mechanical: the reset lever is stiff and wants a pen or something similar to move. Neither is a dealbreaker, but you should know about both.
If you overpack, this lock earns its place in a different way. Several owners use it less to stop theft and more to stop a bursting zipper from opening during handling, which is a real and under-discussed reason to lock a checked bag at all.
What fits this lock and what does not
It suits any bag with a usable zipper pull hole, which covers most soft-sided duffels and hard-shell cases with dual pulls. It will not suit a case that has a lock hole and no zipper pulls, because a cable needs somewhere to thread and a shackle needs a hasp.
Size is worth checking before you commit. The body is 70 g, small enough not to snag on a carousel belt. Most travelers who complain about snagging are using a bulky keyed padlock instead.
When to skip it
Skip it if you want real code security. A thousand combinations is not much, and lock pickers on forums point this out often enough that pretending otherwise would be dishonest. If your bag holds documents or expensive electronics, keep those in your carry-on and treat this lock as a tamper indicator.
Skip it if you lose small tools easily, too. The reset lever is not pocket-friendly, and re-setting the code on the move is fiddly.
2. Forge Open Alert Cable Lock, 4 Pack – Best Multipack
- Highest-rated lock in the group
- Agent must re-lock the bag to take the key
- 4 inch cable with 1.5 inch internal loop
- Change the code as often as you like
- Unconditional lifetime guarantee
- 3-digit code is only 1000 combinations
- Cable can be cut with heavy cutters
Four locks, one purchase, and the highest star rating of anything in this roundup. For a family checking four bags, or a group splitting gear across three cases, this is the arithmetic that makes sense.
The lock core is the TSA008, which is a step above the basic cores used in cheaper travel locks. The body is a special alloy with a tightly braided, sheathed steel cable and hardened ends, and the pack weighs 4.8 ounces in total. That is nothing added to four bags.
The detail reviewers like most is mechanical rather than security-related. An agent cannot open the lock, inspect, and leave it hanging unlocked. They have to re-lock your bag before they can remove their key. So you come back to a bag that is shut, even if you never see who touched it.
Cable length is the spec that decides fit. You get 4 inches of cable and a 1.5 inch internal locked loop, which is enough to run both zipper pulls of a hard-shell case through one lock. Reviewers also use these on hard cases, gun cases, briefcases, gym lockers, and laptop bags.
How this lock handles a dual-zipper hard shell
Bring both zipper pulls to the middle, loop the cable through the holes at the base of each pull, and click the body closed. The 4 inch cable gives you the slack to reach, and the 1.5 inch internal loop is the part that actually holds the pulls together once it is locked.
If your pulls are short or mounted close together, test the fit with a key ring and a shoelace before you rely on it. That two-minute check has saved more ruined trips than any feature on this list.
What to know before buying
You are still looking at a 3-digit code and a cuttable cable. Neither of those changes with the pack size. The lifetime guarantee is real and worth something given how many locks get chewed up in conveyors, but a guarantee is not a shackle.
If you only have one bag to lock, one of these is enough and you are carrying three spares. That is the real argument for the multipack.
3. TRAVOCE Cable Lock, 4 Pack – Best for Small Zipper Pulls
TRAVOCE TSA Approved Luggage Locks, Combination Cable Locks, 4 Pack, Black
- Cable bends through very small pull holes
- Can secure two zipper pulls together
- Reset switch needs no extra tool
- High-contrast dials
- Zinc alloy body
- 3-digit code is only 1000 combinations
- Factory code is 000
- Cable can be cut
If you have ever bought a lock that would not go through your zipper pulls, this is the one to try. The braided steel cable here is noticeably more willing to bend into small openings than most, and owners on travel forums single that out as the reason their lock fits a bag other locks would not touch.
The reset is a side switch rather than a lever, so you do not need a pen, a paperclip, or any tool to change the code. That matters in an airport queue when you want to reset a combination before you hand the bag over.
You also get a search alert indicator. A red indicator rises after the lock has been opened with a master key, and it clears when you reopen it with your own code. You are not relying on a vague feeling about whether someone looked through your bag.
The pack includes four combination cable locks and an instruction manual, with a total weight of 7 ounces. It suits suitcases, carry-ons, backpacks, duffels, lockers, and cases.
Why the cable matters more than the code
A 3-digit code can be brute-forced in an afternoon. A cable is what actually decides whether the lock can be fitted to your bag in the first place, and if it does not fit, none of the other specs matter. Fit first, security second.
The white numbers on black dials also line up cleanly, which is a small thing until you are setting a code in dim airport light with a queue behind you.
Check the factory code before you fly
The factory combination is 000. Every reviewer mentions this, and so should we: change it before you travel, not after you land somewhere unfamiliar with no idea what the code is.
Beyond that, the limitation is the same as any cable in this group. It deters opportunistic access. A determined person with cutters is not stopped by any of these.
4. Master Lock 4696EC4, 4 Pack – Best 4-Digit Padlock for Equipment Cases
Master Lock TSA Approved Combination Luggage Lock Black 4-Pack 4696EC4
- 10000 code options instead of 1000
- Heavy duty extended-reach steel shackle
- Works on cases with integrated hasps
- Four locks per pack
- Metal body
- Needs a lock hole
- cannot thread zipper pulls
- Bulkier and heavier than cable locks
This is the pick when the bag has a lock hole rather than zipper pulls. A 1-5/16 inch wide metal body with a 1/4 inch diameter steel shackle measuring 1-7/8 inches in length reaches across the hasps on the equipment cases photographers, tradespeople, and musicians travel with.
Four digits gives you 10,000 combinations instead of 1,000, which changes the maths on guessing from trivial to tedious. It is still a combination, so it is not unpickable, but it is a genuine step up from every other pick here.
The set includes four locks, so you can put one on every case in a kit without buying twice. Owners use them beyond luggage entirely, for AV and photo cases, trade show gear, firearm cases, music gear, and medical cases.
Weight is 9.92 ounces for the pack, and the body dimensions are 0.55 x 1.56 x 4.16 inches. That is real bulk compared with a 70 g cable lock, and on a soft-sided duffel it is noticeable.
Which bags can use a rigid shackle
You need a hard lock hole, a hasp, or a D-ring large enough to pass the shackle. A standard suitcase with only zipper pulls will not work, because a rigid shackle cannot bend through a pull hole the way a cable can.
If your luggage is a mix, a cable lock for the suitcases and one of these for the hard case is a sensible two-lock setup. The cost per lock is lower in a four-pack than buying singles.
When it is the wrong choice
Do not buy this for a soft carry-on with fabric pulls. You will end up forcing the shackle and bending the zipper or the case itself.
The second reason to pass is bulk. Several reviewers note the body is noticeably chunky next to a cable lock, which matters when weight counts. At 4.5 stars it also sits just below the other picks, so if you are not using the four-digit advantage you are leaving something on the table.
5. FORGE OX Keyed Luggage Lock, 4 Pack – Best Keyed-Alike Set
FORGE OX TSA Accepted Keyed Luggage Locks, TSA Travel Lock, Black 4 Pack.
- Keyed alike
- one key opens all four
- Dimple key with hardened steel tumblers
- Solid zinc alloy body with steel shackles
- Agents must re-lock the bag
- Lifetime guarantee
- No combination
- so keys must be carried and kept safe
- No open alert indicator for TSA access
- Rigid shackle needs a proper lock hole
Keyed locks win one argument cleanly: there is no combination to forget, mistype at 5 am, or reset with the wrong tool. You put a key on your keyring and open four bags. That is genuinely easier than managing three different number combinations for a family trip.
The core here is the TSA006 dimple key with hardened steel tumblers, which is harder to manipulate than a plain TSA core. Pick-resistance is not a claim we would make in a laboratory, but a dimple keyway is meaningfully less casual to work than a flat blade.
All four locks are keyed alike, the body is solid zinc alloy with steel shackles, and the pack carries an unconditional lifetime guarantee. An agent still has to re-lock the bag before removing their key, so you do not come back to an open case.
At 1.1 x 0.75 x 1.85 inches and 6.4 ounces for four locks, they are compact enough for suitcases, briefcases, gym lockers, purses, backpacks, and laptop bags.
Combination or keyed: which suits your trip
Choose keyed if your bags stay in your possession at check-in and you are the one opening them, or if several people in a group will each need access. Choose combination if you hand your bag to someone else, lose your keys often, or want zero small objects to carry.
Keyed also suits a family who wants a single key on one parent’s ring rather than four combinations printed on a piece of paper.
The two real drawbacks
Lose the keys and the locks have to be cut off. Reviewers raise key loss more than any other issue with this type, and it is a fair criticism.
There is also no open alert indicator, so if your bag is inspected you will not get a visual cue. If knowing that matters to you, the cable locks at positions one through three handle it better.
6. SURE LOCK 4-Digit Luggage Lock – Best 4-Digit Lock for Lock Holes
- 10000 code options
- Alert resets only with your own code
- High-contrast dials for dim light
- Hardened shackle
- Single-unit pack
- Only one lock in the pack
- Rigid shackle needs a lock hole or hasp
You get a 4-digit code, which is ten times the combinations of a standard 3-digit travel lock, without moving to a heavier or bulkier design. Owners point to that combination of security and price as the reason this one keeps selling.
The red dot open alert is the feature that separates it from ordinary 4-digit locks. It shows an opened status, and critically, it returns only when the correct 4-digit code is entered. Someone who opens the lock cannot quietly clear the evidence for you.
Readability gets attention too. The white numbers on black dials are easy to line up in dim light, which is when you are actually doing this, and several reviewers mention that the high contrast helps older travellers and anyone with weaker eyesight.
The body is zinc alloy with a hardened shackle that resists cutting attempts, at 0.63 x 3 x 1.34 inches and 79 g. Seven colour options let you colour-code bags, family members, or lockers.
Where the open alert earns its keep
It matters most when a bag goes through inspection and you want to know. Without an indicator, you are guessing whether the zipper position changed in transit or someone opened it. With the red dot, you get a straight answer on the first look.
It also settles arguments with yourself. After a long travel day you will not remember whether you locked it. You will remember a red dot.
What you give up
This is a single-unit pack. For a multi-bag trip you are buying units separately, which is exactly where the four-packs at positions two, three, five, and eight make more sense.
The shackle is rigid, so it needs a lock hole or a hasp. Like position four, it will not thread through ordinary zipper pulls. Pick it for a locker, a hard case, or a bag with a proper lock hole.
7. TravelMore Barrel Key Lock – Best Low-Profile Lock
TravelMore TSA Approved Locks for Luggage with Keys, Secure Travel Locks
- Does not advertise that valuables are inside
- 49 g and narrow enough not to snag
- Detachable stem reaches small lock holes
- Keyed alike within a pack
- Two keys and instructions included
- Lost keys mean the lock has to be cut
- Ball cable end is slightly wider than the stem
- Thin cable is easily cut
- No open alert indicator
Everyone on this list looks like a padlock. This one does not. The straight barrel body is only 1.67 x 0.6 x 0.6 inches and weighs 49 g, so it reads as a small accessory rather than a badge that says please open me. If the concern about TSA locks advertising your valuables has ever stopped you locking a bag, this design answers it directly.
The detachable wire stem is the clever part. It slips through zipper pulls and small lock holes that most cable locks miss, and reviewers specifically call out fit with zipper holes other travel locks fail to reach.
Keys included are two, and locks within a pack are keyed alike. It fits zipper pulls, duffel bags, purse latches, laptop bags, backpacks, and carry-ons, and the pack carries a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
At 49 g it is the least noticeable hardware in this roundup, which also means it is least likely to catch on a carousel belt or snag during handling.
Where the low profile earns its keep
Two places. In a crowd, a lock that does not look like a lock is a lock nobody tries. In transit, a narrow profile has less surface to catch on belts, chutes, and stacking equipment. Both are practical benefits rather than security claims.
It also suits anyone who wants a key rather than a code without carrying the bulk of a traditional padlock.
What reviewers flag
The ball-shaped end of the stem is slightly wider than the cable itself, so on a very tight aperture it will not pass. Measure the tightest hole on your bag before you commit.
Some users also report the cable can eventually separate from the lock body after extended use, and key loss means a cut-off. If either would bother you, a resettable combination is the safer choice.
8. Master Lock 4683Q Brass Lock, 4 Pack – Best for Narrow Lock Holes
Master Lock TSA Luggage Lock Keyed Alike, Brass and Nickel, 4-Pack 4683Q
- Slimmest shackle among the padlocks here
- Brass and nickel body with steel shackle
- Keyed alike
- one key for all four
- Two keys included per pack
- TSA accepted
- Lowest-rated pick here at 4.4 stars
- Very thin shackle gives up cut resistance
- Keys lost means all four are unusable
- No open alert indicator
The classic answer, and the one to buy when the lock hole is small. The body is 7/8 inch wide with a 3/32 inch diameter shackle, a 7/16 inch shackle height, and a 9/16 inch shackle width. Those are the smallest measurements in this roundup, and they are the whole reason to choose it.
The construction is solid brass and nickel with a steel shackle, which is a different material feel from the zinc alloy used by most of the cable locks here. It suits backpacks, bags, briefcases, and luggage, and the pack contains four locks and two keys.
All four are keyed alike, so a single key opens the set. That is the practical advantage over buying four separate keyed locks and trying to keep track of four keys.
It is the lowest-rated pick in the group at 4.4 stars, with roughly 7 percent one-star reviews. We think that number reflects the thin shackle rather than a quality problem, but you should weigh it honestly.
When a thin shackle is the right answer
Some bags, especially older soft-sided cases and cheaper hard shells, have lock holes that a standard 3/16 inch shackle simply will not enter. This one will. That is a fit problem no feature on any other lock here can solve.
For lockers, gym bags, and gate-checked bags where the lock hole is small and the threat is casual, this does the job.
Where it falls short
A 3/32 inch shackle has noticeably less cut resistance than the 1/4 inch shackle at position four. If you are locking something genuinely valuable, buy the heavier shackle instead.
Losing the keys locks you out of all four locks at once, and there is no combination fallback and no open alert to tell you your bag was inspected.
What a Luggage Lock Actually Protects
A lock deters, it does not prevent. What it genuinely does is stop an opportunistic hand reaching into a closed bag at a hotel or an airport, stop an overpacked case from bursting its zipper during handling, and give you a visible signal that your bag was opened rather than quietly rearranged. That is a real, useful set of outcomes. It is also the entire set.
What a lock does not do is stop someone who brings tools, and it certainly does not stop someone carrying your bag out of the airport, which is the most common form of luggage theft. Cables are cut with bolt cutters. Hard-shell zippers can be forced without touching the lock at all. Forum threads on this topic repeat the same line from experienced travellers: a lock advertises that something worth taking is inside.
So keep passports, medication, electronics, keys, and anything irreplaceable in your carry-on. On a checked bag, a lock is a deterrent and a tamper indicator, nothing more.
Will TSA Cut Off Your Lock?
No, if the lock carries an agency mark. If it does not, agents have no master key for it and will cut it off, leaving a Notice of Baggage Inspection in your bag. If it is approved, they open it with a master key, inspect, re-lock it, and leave the same notice. Several pick designs, including the Forge at position two, make the agent re-lock the bag before taking the key out.
One more risk sits outside the checkpoint. TSA has documented collecting locks found under airport conveyor belts, including a month in which 244 locks were photographed. A compact lock reduces how easily it gets snagged, which is another reason to prefer the smaller bodies on this list over a bulky padlock.
Padlock vs. Cable Lock: Which One Suits Your Bag?
Pick a cable lock when your bag has zipper pulls. The cable bends into small holes and can thread two pulls together on a hard-shell case, which a rigid shackle cannot do. Pick a shackle padlock when your bag has a proper lock hole or hasp, because it resists cutting far better and gives you 10,000 combinations instead of 1,000.
Pick a keyed lock when one person needs to open several bags. Pick a resettable combination when you want nothing to carry. None of the locks on this list is a smart lock, and we left those out deliberately: a tracker you can pair with your phone is a better answer for lost bags than a Bluetooth lock, which is why we cover that separately in our guide to GPS trackers for luggage.
How to Check a Lock Fits Before You Fly
Take the pull tabs off a spare bag, or use any ring of similar diameter, and test before you travel. A cable lock should pass through both zipper pull holes and close with room to spare. If it barely fits, it will not fit on a bag swollen from overpacking.
For dual zipper pulls, bring both tabs to the middle and thread both through one lock. If your pulls are short, the cable lock at position three is the most forgiving. If your bag has no zipper pulls at all and only a small lock hole, the slim shackle at position eight is the one that fits.
Then set the combination twice and check it works. A lock that will not open on your third try at the airport is worse than no lock.
How Many Locks Do You Need?
One per bag is the answer, plus one per extra zippered compartment you care about. For a family of four checking four bags, a four-pack is the simple route and the ones at positions two, three, five, and eight all cover it. For two bags and a backpack, three locks cover you.
Keyed-alike multipacks are worth a note here. One key opens the whole set, which is convenient, and it also means one lost key disables everything. Resettable combinations avoid that single point of failure at the cost of remembering codes.
Should You Skip TSA Locks Entirely?
There is a real argument for it, and we would rather present it than pretend it does not exist. In travel forums the objection comes up constantly: a visible padlock on a checked bag tells a thief exactly where the value is. The counter-advice is to skip the lock and use a zip tie trimmed short as a tamper-evident seal instead, which records interference without announcing anything.
The evidence cuts both ways. Zip ties and buckle straps are free and quiet, and experienced travellers genuinely use them as a second layer alongside a TSA lock. Against that, zip ties tell you a bag was opened but keep it open, and they do nothing to stop an overpacked zipper splitting in transit.
Our position is that the two are not really competitors. A low-profile lock like the one at position seven, plus a trimmed zip tie on the main zipper, gives you the deterrence and the tamper evidence without a padlock the size of your fist sitting on the case.
When a Lock Will Not Open After an Inspection
Work through it in order. Try the combination slowly, one dial at a time, with the lock held in the orientation you used to set it. Dials drift after rough handling, so push each dial firmly to its stop between turns.
If the code still fails, check whether you are on a different side of the lock. Agents can re-lock a bag with the body turned, which changes how the dials line up. Turn it over and try again.
If the shackle will not retract, cold and grit are usually the cause. Warm the body in your hands and push the shackle down while turning the final dial, which loads the mechanism and often frees it.
If none of that works, the lock is cut off. That is the honest outcome, and it is the argument for carrying a spare in your personal item rather than trusting a single lock through a full itinerary.
How We Chose and Checked These Locks
We compared eight locks against the same criteria: an agency mark on the body, published dimensions and weight, a stated code or key mechanism, and enough reviews to read patterns rather than guesses. We prioritised locks with clear measurements, because fit is the failure travelers complain about most and most listings bury the spec.
Every product here carries a specification from its listing rather than a description we invented, and every tradeoff is drawn from what buyers actually report. We checked the roundup in October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you use luggage locks on checked bags?
Yes, with realistic expectations. A lock stops an opportunistic look inside, keeps an overpacked zipper shut during handling, and gives you a visible sign if the bag was opened. It does not stop a determined thief with tools, and it does not stop your bag being taken off the belt entirely. Keep passports, medication, and electronics in your carry-on regardless of what you lock.
What does TSA-approved actually mean on a luggage lock?
It means the lock carries a red Travel Sentry diamond or a Safe Skies red torch mark, showing that screening officers can open it with a master key during inspection and relock it, rather than cutting it off. Travel Sentry approval is recognised at airports in 80 countries, and Safe Skies marks are used by agencies including CATSA, HMRC, and Australian and German customs. The mark grants inspection permission, not theft protection.
Will TSA cut off a TSA-approved lock?
No. Approved locks are opened with a master key, and the bag is relocked before the key is removed. A lock with no agency mark has no key available to agents and will be cut off, leaving a Notice of Baggage Inspection in the bag. Approved locks do sometimes end up removed from bags during handling, so keep a spare in your personal item.
Which TSA-approved luggage lock is best?
For most people the SURE LOCK Open Alert Cable Lock 2 Pack at number one is the best luggage lock for checked bags, because the cable fits dual zipper pulls and the open alert shows you when the bag was opened. Families should take a four-pack such as the Forge at number two, and anyone who wants more than 1,000 code combinations should look at a 4-digit lock such as the Master Lock 4696EC4.
Do TSA locks actually stop theft?
They deter opportunistic access rather than prevent determined theft. A cable can be cut with bolt cutters, a hard-shell zipper can be forced without touching the lock, and a visible lock signals that valuables are inside. The realistic value is in deterring a quick hand through an open zipper, keeping a bursting zipper shut, and showing you that the bag was inspected.
How many luggage locks do you need?
One per checked bag, plus one for any extra zippered compartment you care about. A family checking four bags is better served by a four-pack, and keyed-alike packs mean one key opens everything. Remember that losing a key disables every lock in a keyed set, which is the main argument for resettable combinations.
What are the disadvantages of TSA locks?
Three real ones. A 3-digit combination offers only 1,000 codes, which is quick to guess. TSA-approved locks are openable by design with a master key, so approval is inspection permission rather than security. And a lock can be lost, jammed, or cut off in transit, so you should never rely on one to protect anything irreplaceable.
The Bottom Line for Checked Bags
The SURE LOCK Open Alert Cable Lock 2 Pack is our pick for the best luggage locks for checked bags, because the cable fits real zipper pulls, the body is light enough not to snag, and the open alert tells you when a bag was opened. Families and groups should move up to the Forge four-pack, and anyone who wants stronger codes or a lock hole should choose a 4-digit shackle lock instead.
Whichever you pick, keep irreplaceable items in your carry-on and treat the lock as a deterrent and a tamper indicator. For more travel gear that earns its place in a case, our dry bag guide covers protecting gear in wet conditions, and our u-lock picks cover the same questions for anyone who secures a bike rather than a bag.