Lightweight locks, cafe-stop locks, compact locks. Call them what you like, these are the locks that won’t stop a determined thief, but could prevent your bike going missing from a sportive start line or rural cake stop.
10 of the best lightweight bike locks
Safeman
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This neat little spiral lock winds up or unspools for easy carrying. Extending to 75cm the cable then loops back into the lock body and can be pulled tight.
The advantage of this is you can lash down your equipment, making it harder for thieves to gain leverage. With a tensile strength of 1,200 kg there's no chance of it being pulled apart and it’ll put up some fight against most cutters.
Weighing only 129g it’s easily pocketable, although the keys need to be stored separately, making them more prone to go wandering.
£16.75, soniccycles.co.uk
Abus Combiflex Cable
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You can’t lose your key when it's a numerical combination. Programmable to your own memorable three-digit number, this little walkie-talkie style lock is instant to fit, while its cable retracts at the push of a button.
Despite its tiny size, there’s very little chance of anyone wrenching your bike away, although even the smallest snippers will make light work of its cable.
Great for securing luggage too.
£14.99, zyrofisher.co.uk
HipLok Z Lok
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Like a reusable zip-tie, the HipLok Z Lok uses a two-pronged pin to unlock. With a steel reinforced core it’s surprisingly tough, and can instantly be pulled to the required tightness.
Able to secure an entire bike, they’re also good paired with a stronger lock to tie down wheels or accessories like helmets or bags.
Available in a range of colours to suit kit snobs, there’s even a combination lock version at double the price.
£9.99, hiplok.com
SEE RELATED:Best bike locks
HipLok FLX
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The nicest cycling specific adaptation of a mini combo lock we’ve seen. The HipLok FLX features a clip that’ll secure it to a jersey, bag, or the pocket of your trousers.
On the back it houses a flashing LED light, ideal for additional illumination, or use in an emergency. The lock itself uses a three-digit re-programmable combination mated to a lengthy one-metre cable.
£29.99, hiplok.com
Ottolock Version 2
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Like a compression/tie-down strap but with a reinforced steel and kevlar band. Reportedly impervious to bolt cutters, it certainly looks to be far tougher than similar alternatives, something reflected in the price.
Obviously, an angle grinder or even hacksaw will make light work of it, but for short-stay security, it could be a winner.
Despite this, the shorter 46cm version still weighs only 120g. Unlocked via three-digit combination, it’s flexible enough to be stowed in a jersey or saddle pack once coiled up.
£49.95, bushgear.co.uk
Tigr Mini
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Something to rival a conventional steel D-lock but weighing just 400 grams? Maybe. By using a flat titanium plate and unique barrel lock cylinder the Tigr manages to be super lightweight.
Better than a standard braided cable, but unlikely to match cheaper D-locks, any thief will need to come tooled up. Something verified by its ART 2/5 star rating.
Moderately bulky the lock comes with its own frame mounting bracket which can attach via your the bottle cage mounts. A viable option for low crime areas.
£105, tigrlock.com
SEE RELATED:Bike security: everything you need to know
Foldylock Compact Orange
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A proper lock, with a standard weight, just in a compact package. Made of articulated steel plates the Foldylock unfurls to span an 85cm circumference.
Weighing a kilogram it’s about equivalent to a smaller D-lock and also comes with a Sold Secure silver rating, which will keep most insurers happy depending on the value of your bike.
With a unique holster which can be mounted almost anywhere on the bike, its 4x6x19cm size is also easily stashable in a bag.
£69, seatylock.com
Lazer Cappuccino
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An update of the helmet-straps-clipped-around-the-front-wheel trick. If you own a Lazer brand helmet this little gizmo fits between the buckles to lock them in place.
Coming with a fixed combination it’ll stop anyone rolling away with your bike and weighs next to nothing. Obviously, it’s also good for securing the helmet itself. Comes in four colours.
£14.99, lazersport.co.uk
Ribble Café Lock R-CL10
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With a 90cm coiled cable this lock will stretch around most bikes along with a host of kit items yet weighs just 48g. Enough to stop someone dashing off with your machine its locking jaw is susceptible to being jimmied apart.
Still, if your bike is going to be left among a pile of others without any security this could be £8 well spent.
£7.99, ribblecycles.co.uk
Altor 560G
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A thing of beauty this brass and titanium lock claims to offer D-lock level security. At 560g and with a cleverly articulated design it’s certainly striking looking.
It also features a unique locking mechanism whereby you simply press a button on the barrel to secure the lock, using the keys only to release it.
Taking up little space on the frame it’d even fit in the pocket of a sturdier jersey. However, as it doesn’t yet have an independent rating we’d be wary of using it as anything other than a very boutique cafe-stop option.
£135+postage, altorlocks.com