Cable Locks for Travel Securing Luggage - Needed Asap

SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 02:20

All, I have a decent hard case shell suitcase with number locks and built in locks, but have read it's suitable to have a good cable lock to secure your baggage to furniture when departing your accomodation during the day? Can anyone advise a brand or one i can pick up for a reasonably affordable/cheap price within the next week? Online retailers fine if they can get it to me by end of next week(i depart around the 16th , so i could push it to the monday 14th but would prefer not to leave it too late)?

Any suggestions? I thought that way I could leave some spare cash and cards in my luggage (where no hotel safes) and explore japan. Of course these bags woudl be all locked and I doubt the Japanese would be as dodgy as other countries, but figured locking the bag to furniture would be an extra precaution as any housecleaner woudl be less likely to dismantle furniture?

Travel

Comments

  • RockyRaccoon on 07/03/2016 - 04:48

    What is your issue

    If its to stop the housekeeper taking your bag or to stop them rifling thru?

    If its the latter then the cable lock isnt going to work. (It only stops them from taking the case from the room)

    This assumes they are clever enough to defeat the locks on the suitcase. Which you imply otherwise the caselock would be enough protection

    Its Japan if you are concerned take the cash and cards with you I dropped a 100Yen note and got a tap on the shoulder from the person who picked it up for me.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/03/2016 - 05:02
      +3

      dropped a 100Yen note

      cool story bro, no such thing as a 100 yen note

      if you're going to Japan OP there is NOTHING to worry about, anywhere in the entire country. No one is going to steal anything from you. You can leave your wallet at any major train station and someone will pick it up and place it near where it was lost on a ledge or even take it to the nearest koban

      • RockyRaccoon on 07/03/2016 - 07:34

        Ah almost as good a pickup as in Japan…. thanks

        Correction, it was a 10000 yen note.

        Getting mixed up with that being worth about $A100 when I travelled there

      • CheapskateQueen on 07/03/2016 - 09:16

        Yup my friend left her phone on the train.several hours later got back to the original station and it was there waiting for her.

        I left my phone on the floor when taking my shoes off at a tourist hot spot with thousands of ppl. Someone handed it in too.

        Locking your bag is fine. Chaining it to the furniture is crazy and I've never heard of that before in all my years of traveling. Maybe it's smart in third world countries but definitely not in most,and definitely not required in Japan

    • SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 16:16

      Well the case lock and secondary lock will lock the bag up that an average person would need tools to rip open the bag. Of course possible, but assumign the everyday housekeeper/opportunistic person wouldn't bother.

      THe luggage lock was more for tying bag down as an extra precaution. Bag can' tbe opened or moved out… it isn't 'impossible' or fulproof but just adds more complication. I agree with responders - highly unlikely for a country like Japan but I figured one needs a cable lock for backpacking and shared dorm situations in other countries so might as well grab one and employ it in this trip as I'll be travelling by myself, so if anything is lost or stolen i'm high and dry (as opposed to relying on another party in the travel group).

      My brother also left his camera or something on the train once and it was there for pickup the next day - so am aware they are very friendly and good natured. Hopefully you don't have another foreigner or immigrant who has less ethics find your goods!

      I guess it's a sad implication on the rest of our society where none of us would have that faith in a western country, europe , or other asian countries…

  • bengal tiger on 07/03/2016 - 05:23
    +2

    I agree, Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world so you shouldn't have any problems over there. That said, I know that many travellers are in earnest really looking for peace of mind when on holiday overseas and knowing that your luggage is secure is one way to achieve that.

    In response to your question, I'm not sure what you consider to be affordable or cheap but this served me well during my backpacking days - http://www.kathmandu.com.au/accessories/safe-and-secure/comb…

    It's $35.98 for the lock and cable without Kathmandu's in-house Summit Club membership. If you first sign up for their Summit Club before buying the lock you'll get a discount and only pay $31.59 ($10 membership fee + $21.59 reduced lock price). It's lifetime membership in case you ever return to their stores.

    Kathmandu have plenty of locations in all major cities, delivery will cost an extra $10 if your purchase is under $100.

    • SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 16:13

      I think I'm a member? I don't remmeber paying the $10 but i signed up with them to get discount on a sale item so I should be able to lookup my details on the system right? If so then it would be $21.59 for the reduce lock price?

      Are the extra premium prices paid for kathmandu make for better quality or superior products though, or are you just paying for brand - in which case I don't really care for.

      • bengal tiger on 08/03/2016 - 02:02

        You're probably referring to the old Summit Club which I also signed up for years ago, it was free membership with a purchase but expired after a year. If you still have the card you can try to transfer it over but if not it's worth ask them in store to look you up on their database to see if you can move over to new membership program for free.

        To be honest I don't have any other cable locks to compare against - I never purchased another one as the Kathmandu lock served me so well and I still have it to this day. The cable is light weight and quite flexible so it's easy to pack away yet. The lock itself is little longer than a standard TSA 3-digit combo lock and it is definitely better quality than the cheaper ones you get from $2 stores (I've gone through plenty of them and they start to show their build after a few months of locking/unlocking several times a day). In short, the cable lock is meant to last and unless it gets cut or you lose it you won't need to ever buy a replacement so I'd say the premium was worth it for me.

        For a cheaper solution you can find your own lock and pair it with a cable like this one - http://www.anacondastores.com/cycling/bike-accessories/bike-…. I've never used this cable but I found it from a quick search, it's double the length of the Kathmandu and looks to be a bit bulkier so it may not be as flexible or easy to pack away. There is a sale going on at their website so I'm not sure if the price includes their discount.

        The best way for you to really decide is to have a look in-person at the $2 shop option and compare it to the Kathmandu one. If you don't have the luxury of time to go in-store and see it yourself then I guess your budget will likely choose the best solution for you. Whichever way you decide to go, good luck and hope it serves you well on your trip.

        edit: the Kathmandu lock discount price went down over the last 24 hours, it's now $17.99 for Summit Club members

        • SaberX on 08/03/2016 - 16:04

          Actually I'm pretty sure I signed up in January? it was definitely in the last few months. I think they put through my membership on the system but never added the $10 to my bill? I'll try heading to Kathmandu at lunch shortly to see if they can find me on the membership system and see if i can steal away a cable lock for a decent price.

          One other reason I figured I should get one is my hotels into Tokyo for example are booked on a loose 'yeah it's available' due to Japanese communication barriers (it's a family run place so not a big hotel - and all the booking.com rooms were gone, but i got one direct from the hotel). SO if i arrive with no accomodation a luggage cable helps if I have to tough it out at a last minute (literally) dormitory in some hostel or cheap place. As there certainly won't be any hotels just ready to walk into (without paying hundreds of dollars a night) at this eim of year.

          Thanks for your updates on the cable lock at Kathmandu. $17.99 I don't mind paying that, at least the quality is ok and you're not paying "as much" for the name. It amazes me however that non summit club members pay like $250 for an item that summit club members pay just over $100 for. It's like an invitation to say that non-club members basically can't buy anything that wouldn't be too overpriced.

          P.S. did you have a link for the specific $17.99 cable lock you're referring to from Kathmandu?

        • bengal tiger on 08/03/2016 - 16:10

          same link as my original post but here it is again - http://www.kathmandu.com.au/accessories/safe-and-secure/comb…

          yeah their pricing is strange, non-club prices are probably RRP and only people walking in off the street for a one-off purchase would pay that.

        • SaberX on 10/03/2016 - 01:47

          @bengal tiger:

          THanks. I picked up the cable lock yesterday for 17.99. It went down becuase yesterday the 50% off travel accessories began. I managed to pickup therefore the cable lock, ear plugs, and even the xtra large quick dry microfibre towels.

          Good luck I guess for once! Still tossing up if those fold up travel hair dryers are worth it for $20 haha… (after 50% off). Not becuase i have long hair being a guy haha… figured it would work well drying wet clothes i.e. where going on snow trips or for mishaps , or even hotel bathroom 'diy laundry' and drying haha.

  • Marcsie on 07/03/2016 - 06:16

    You can get it from $2 shops, Kathmandu ? No thanks, never buy anything from them unless it's 90% off sales :)

    • SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 16:12

      Would the likes of red dot or reject shop have them? I thought perhaps Kathmandu would be better integrity/strength locks perhaps? At least from a quality pov, you'd hope so given you're paying so much more?

    • bengal tiger on 08/03/2016 - 02:18

      So you'd still turn away from an 80% off liquidation sale? Well I'll have to tip my hat to you Sir/Madam as you're a more hardcore bargain hunter than I'll ever hope to be.

      I'm closely watching Dick Smith and doubt they'd ever go 90% off but let's wait and see.

      • SaberX on 08/03/2016 - 16:00

        I've been watching dick smith for gopro accessories - hadn't had much luck, most are 30% and won't move to 40% . I think you'll nee dto wait till a few weeks or a month or so the guys there reckon before they get desperate.

        They mentioned many items were on sale at those prices before so it's interesting as people here 'liquidation' sales and start buying things that are 30-40% off but have always been at that price at previous sales (so they're not getting some super bargain).

        That said I've never seen luggage locks there let alone luggage cable locks - and the hardest part is most branded, decent stuff is sold out already. I'll check it out anyway incase i can be corrected :)

  • MondaySleeper on 07/03/2016 - 08:02

    Head to Aldi. There is security cable on sale this week. You need to buy separate lock-key for this. That also is on sale. They are pretty good.

    • SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 16:11

      I'm on the West coast unfortunately - no Aldi here yet :( That's an odd combination though - they sell you the lock but not the key? well in one package that is?

  • djones145 on 07/03/2016 - 08:12

    leave it unlocked and nothing will get stolen,
    leave it lock and its "challenge accepted"! must steal!

    • supnigs super skids on 07/03/2016 - 08:49

      Yes, tbis is how it works. If you plan on storing cash, hide in separate places. I hide in pockets of freshly washed pants when laundry is done. However I dont go too crazy woth locks. Makes it more obvious.

      • SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 16:11

        I guess locking your suitcase is more preventing opportunistic theft from housekeeping? Most probably wouldn't spend long trying to crack your bag or carting your luggage bag out of the room into the hallway (not to mention if there were security cameras they might pick them up as a culrprit). If you triple/quadruple lock something down then I guess that's a basic giveaway, but I think most people lock their suitcase with basic inbuilt locks and their second loose lock these days I would have thought?

  • Foxtail on 07/03/2016 - 10:10

    I hide in suitcase my money in my undies as no one in their right mind would go there.

    • SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 16:10

      undies are so small though that wouldn't it be pretty much obvious once they open the pocket and move something around that notes were stuck in there??

  • windale on 07/03/2016 - 12:08

    I wouldn't bother

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JvmAktLvFg

    • SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 16:08

      I've got the lojel lucid hard cases - the zips are meant to be designed to be full proof against this form of tampering.

      Not to mention if you lock the zips to the inbuilt locks they can't rezip and hide their work… at least makes it a bit more of a discouragement… they could open and leave it open but that would be more obvious if it got to the other end all open i assume?

  • pantsparty on 07/03/2016 - 12:24

    I have been to Japan multiple times. This is very overkill. If it was me, I wouldn't take much cash or many cards with me. Certainly not enough that I needed to leave some in my suitcase whilst I was out and about to lighten my wallet load.

    • SaberX on 07/03/2016 - 16:09

      i know Japan is one of the safest countries, but there's always the very slim possibility of losing something or getting something stolen wherever you are in the world. It's more a precaution if stolen or i lose it accidentally that I have spare cash or a set of less desireable credit cards back in my baggage. Hence why I thought it'd be a good idea to put them in my luggage, lock that and have it locked to the furniture…

      I wouldn't say i have so much cash that i had to lighten my wallet though… haha (i wish!)

  • Peck on 08/03/2016 - 19:32

    Are you sure that you need it? Although they must exist, I have never been to a hotel that doesn't have at least a safe/safety deposit at reception.

    • SaberX on 10/03/2016 - 01:49

      Generally, hopefully not/no. But for a small price it's probably an easy thing to add into the suitcase of 'bring alongs' i thought?

  • phocus on 09/03/2016 - 11:00

    If i saw a case chained up to a bed/furniture i would think there is something worth while to steal.

    • SaberX on 10/03/2016 - 01:49

      Yeah, it's a double edged sword I guess. still I thought a guide to hostels was chaining your baggage to your bed. It would help if you were asleep at night where things have gone missing while people snoozed. locking your luggage and to your bed would be a surefire way of waking up ok. I agree if you're not even in the room it does draw attention to it.

      I also thought it might be a good way of securing say my dslr bag (as a second dual purpose) onto my backpack strap when i am not lugging it around i.e. sitting down at a restaurant, going to toilet etc. Heck maybe you can chain your bags while your in the toilet too - not the smartest thing leaving any bag unattended, but hey if you need to blow up the toilet bowl, you can't exactly wheel any luggage into a toilet normally, let alone a japanese sized toilet :S

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