Written by the Travel Gear Team — Australian travel security specialists who have personally tested 50+ travel lock models across 15 years of retail. We stock and sell every type of lock covered in this guide and stand behind these recommendations from firsthand experience. Last reviewed June 2026.
• Flying to or through the USA? → TSA-approved combination lock for your checked bag.
• Staying in hostels? → Standard combination padlock (8mm shackle or smaller).
• Want to lock a backpack or daypack? → Combination cable lock through all zippers.
• Maximum security for valuables? → Disc (shrouded) padlock or an anti-theft bag with built-in locking.
A travel lock is the cheapest security upgrade you can make to your travel kit. It weighs under 100 grams, costs $10–30, and provides a genuine deterrent against the most common form of travel theft: opportunistic, low-risk bag access. After 15 years of selling travel security gear and hearing hundreds of customer stories — both the good and the unfortunately bad — we know which locks work, which are theatre, and which mistakes travellers make most often.
This guide covers every type of travel lock available in Australia in 2026, exactly when to use each type, what TSA-approved actually means and which countries enforce it, and how to build a layered security system that addresses real-world theft scenarios.
Why Travel Locks Work (And Their Limitations)
Let's be honest upfront: no travel lock stops a determined, skilled thief with the right tools and enough time. A bolt cutter defeats most padlocks. A zip pick bypasses many luggage zippers. A razor blade cuts through a soft-shell suitcase panel regardless of whether it's locked.
What a travel lock does — and does very effectively — is eliminate opportunistic theft. Opportunistic thieves require three things: opportunity, speed, and low risk of detection. A visible lock on your bag raises the risk and slows the access. In most cases, the opportunistic thief moves to the next easier target. This is the vast majority of travel theft.
Our experience: of every customer who has reported a theft or near-theft to us over 15 years, almost none involved a determined attacker who defeated security. The overwhelming majority were unlocked bags left briefly unattended, unzipped pockets on busy trains, or bags left in hostel dorms without a locker. A lock solves all of these scenarios.
TSA-Approved Locks: Everything You Need to Know
TSA — the US Transportation Security Administration — is the government agency that screens all checked luggage on flights to, from, and through the United States. By US law, they are authorised to open and inspect any checked bag.
If your checked bag is locked with a non-TSA lock, security agents will cut it off — without warning, without compensation, and without replacement. The Australian Government's Smart Traveller website explicitly recommends TSA-approved locks for US-routed travel for this reason.
A TSA-approved lock (marked with a red diamond or the Travel Sentry® logo) contains a secondary keyhole that TSA master keys can open, inspect the bag, and relock — without you or your lock knowing it happened. You keep your combination; your bag stays intact.
Which flights need a TSA lock? Any checked bag on a flight to, from, or transiting through any US airport — including one-stop connections. A Sydney–Los Angeles–New York itinerary requires a TSA lock even though you're transiting LA.
What about other countries? Outside the US, foreign security agencies don't have TSA master keys. If they need to inspect a locked bag, they may cut any lock. Most countries rarely open individual bags. The UK, EU, and Australia do not generally require access to locked checked bags, but retain the right to open them.
Browse our full range of TSA-approved travel locks, available in combination and keyed formats with shackle sizes to fit all major suitcase zipper types.
Every Type of Travel Lock Explained
1. Combination Padlocks
The most versatile travel lock for most situations. Set your own 3 or 4-digit code — no key to carry or lose. Available in standard and TSA-approved versions. The shackle (the curved steel bar) threads through luggage zipper pulls or locker hasps. Choose a shackle diameter of 6–8mm for most travel use — slim enough to fit most hostel locker hasps while still offering meaningful cut resistance.
Best for: Checked luggage (TSA version), hostel lockers, day bag security. Browse our full travel locks range for combination options at every price point.
2. Keyed Padlocks
More secure than combination locks against guessing, but require carrying a physical key. If you lose the key, you're cutting the lock. The key also needs to be accessible while travelling — which usually means it's on a keyring that could itself be lost or stolen. Most experienced travellers prefer combination locks for the convenience. Keyed locks work well in situations where you need to share access with a travel companion — both hold a copy of the key.
3. Combination Cable Locks
A flexible, braided steel cable with a combination mechanism at one end. Unlike a rigid shackle padlock, a cable lock threads through multiple zipper pulls simultaneously, allowing you to lock every compartment of a bag with a single device. It also loops around fixed objects — a seat rail, a table leg, a hostel bed frame — to anchor a bag against snatching.
Cable locks are the most versatile travel security device we sell. In our experience, they're the most useful for backpackers and adventure travellers. A 1.8m cable lock can secure a backpack to the luggage rack on a train, lock a daypack to a beach chair, or anchor a bag to a hostel bed frame while you shower.
Limitation: Cable steel is thinner than padlock shackle steel and can be defeated by bolt cutters more easily. For very high-value contents, layer a cable lock with a padlock for added resistance.
4. Disc (Shrouded) Padlocks
A padlock design where the shackle is almost entirely enclosed by a circular casing, leaving only a small gap for the hasp. This design defeats bolt cutters by removing the access angle needed to cut the shackle. The best choice when maximum security is required — storage lockers with significant valuables, motorbike helmets, boat compartments. Overkill for most travel situations, but the right tool when you genuinely need it.
5. Luggage Strap Locks
A combination-locked strap that wraps around the entire suitcase and clips through the zipper pulls. Prevents unzipping even if the zipper itself is picked, and keeps the case closed if a zipper fails in transit — a more common event than most travellers realise. Works as a complement to a padlock on checked luggage, adding a visible deterrent and structural protection. Browse our luggage strap range for options.
6. Built-In Anti-Theft Bag Locking Systems
Our Pacsafe bag range uses a proprietary locking system called the Roobar® — a sliding steel bar that locks all zipper pulls to the bag in a single motion. No separate lock to carry, no key to lose. The Roobar is combined with eXomesh® slash-resistant panels and Carrysafe® slash-resistant straps in an integrated anti-theft system. This is the solution we recommend to travellers who visit high-theft destinations regularly or who want the most seamless security experience.
Locking Different Types of Bags: Practical Guide
Checked suitcases
Thread a padlock through both zipper pulls so neither can slide without the combination. For US travel, use a TSA-approved combination lock. Add a luggage strap around the exterior for additional protection and easy identification on the carousel.
Carry-on bags and backpacks
Thread a cable lock through every zipper pull on every compartment. Loop the excess cable through a fixed point (overhead locker handle, seat frame) on overnight trains. For laptop travel bags, lock the laptop compartment separately with a cable lock while the bag is in use in public spaces like airport lounges and cafes.
Hostel lockers
A combination padlock with a 6–8mm shackle fits most hostel locker hasps. Check the hasp gap size — older buildings sometimes have narrow hasps that only accept a 4–6mm shackle. Bring two locks if travelling with a partner who needs separate locker access.
Day bags and daypacks
A small cable lock through the zipper pulls of a daypack provides a meaningful deterrent in markets, crowded tourist sites, and public transport. For high-theft areas (Barcelona, Rome, Bali), consider upgrading to a Pacsafe anti-theft daypack with integrated locking as your primary daypack.
Building a Layered Travel Security System
A travel lock is your first layer. The complete system adds depth that addresses multiple threat types:
- Layer 1 — Bag security: TSA lock on checked luggage + cable lock on daypack zippers
- Layer 2 — Valuables security: Money belt under clothing for passport, emergency cash, backup card
- Layer 3 — Card security: RFID-blocking travel wallet for daily-use cards and cash
- Layer 4 — Bag integrity: Anti-theft bag with slash-resistant panels for urban environments
This four-layer system covers opportunistic theft, bag snatching, card skimming, and luggage inspection — the four most common security incidents experienced by travellers. Explore our complete travel security range to build yours, or read our guide to backpacking Southeast Asia security for destination-specific advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Locks
Do I need a TSA lock if I'm flying Business or First Class?
Yes — TSA applies to all checked luggage regardless of cabin class on US-routed flights. Business and First Class bags go through the same checked luggage screening system. TSA lock required for all checked bags.
Which countries inspect checked luggage and cut non-TSA locks?
Only the USA has a formal TSA master key system for checked luggage. Other countries including the UK, Australia, and EU member states retain the right to open bags but rarely cut locks in practice for domestic or transiting passengers. Middle Eastern hub airports (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi) occasionally open bags on routes with specific security requirements. The US is the only country where cutting non-TSA locks is routine and guaranteed for flagged bags.
Can airport security X-ray through a padlock?
Yes. Checked baggage goes through CTX (computed tomography X-ray) machines that image the entire bag contents without opening it. The lock is visible to security, but doesn't prevent X-ray imaging. Security only opens the bag if the X-ray identifies something requiring physical inspection.
What is the best travel lock for a hostel?
A combination padlock with a 6–8mm shackle in a compact size. No key to lose, easy to use, fits most hostel locker hasps. TSA-approved isn't necessary for hostel lockers — save the TSA lock for your checked luggage. Browse our travel locks range for options under $20 that are perfectly suited to hostel use.
How do I remember my travel lock combination?
Don't use birthdays, 1234, or 0000. Choose a 4-digit number with meaning only to you that you can recall under stress. Save it in your phone's password manager with a vague label, or write it on a small paper stored separately from the lock. Reset to a new combination after any trip where you suspect the combination may have been observed.
Travel Gear is an authorised Australian stockist of Pacsafe, Korjo, and leading travel security brands. We have personally tested every lock type covered in this guide across 15+ years of retail operation. For personalised security advice based on your destination, contact our team or explore our full travel security range.