Posts Tagged lock
Grab Guard Anti-Theft Device for Purses, Luggage, Backpacks & More
I love when I receive a product in the mail to review, and my two children — ages 9 and 11 — open the box and proclaim, “Cooooool!” (In my aging state, they have become my arbiters of hip.) That was their response when we got a look at Grab Guard samples — in classy Italian Marble and funky Blue Marble patterns — a few weeks ago. Grab Guards are circular locks (2.5 inches in diameter) that have a retractable wire cable “lock line.” You run the thin cable through the handle of a purse, rollerboard, backpack or even a baby stroller and around a secure item like a chair, picnic bench or shopping cart, which prevents thieves from snatching your valuables.
I’m proclaiming this product pretty “cool,” too.
Now, the Grab Guard isn’t going to thwart thieves who walk around with wire cutters at the ready. As I mentioned, the wire cable is thin — though it can withstand nearly 50 pounds of pull before breaking, according to the folks at Grab Guard. Still, I wouldn’t totally abandon a bag with a Grab Guard attached to a chair in, say, an urban public library, and leave the premises for a half an hour to grab lunch. No way.
The Grab Guard is good for those times when you’re in a busy restaurant and you have your bag slung across the back of your chair that you’re sitting in. Or, you’ve been known to temporarily leave a shopping cart with your purse in it a couple aisles over. Or you’re working intently on the laptop at a busy Starbucks, and you’re not paying much attention to your briefcase at your feet.
If you have your Grab Guard protecting your valuables, and someone tries to make off with your bag, he won’t get too far with it attached to a chair, bench armrest or table leg.
The Grab Guard remains locked via a two-digit combination, but you can change those numbers if you like. Sometimes the 20-inch cable gets caught in the Grab Guard, but it is generally easy to extract, and you can fasten your bag as tightly or loosely to the solid item as you want. The Grab Guard is lightweight, as it’s made from plastic (except for the cable wire and metal release buttons); it small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
The Grab Guard comes in seven different colors and patterns; for the business person, the black one is most appropriate — however a white “G” symbol on the front does make the Grab Guard more obvious when attached to a black briefcase. That said, it wouldn’t be horrible for a potential thief to notice the lock and not even attempt to swipe your stuff.
Again, the Grab Guard may not work in all instances; I’d use something offering much more protection if I were leaving a backpack worth of treasures in a hostel, for instance. But for travelers heading to an urban locale, or anyone who might want some basic protection of small bags in their everyday lives, I’d get the Grab Guard.
Purchase this item for $19.99 on the Grab Guard website.
Posted by Kara in General Gear on April 19th, 2011
Word-Lock Luggage Lock
I can’t think of one instance when I’ve used a combination lock to secure my checked luggage. Maybe when I was 20 and backpacking through Europe; I vaguely recall using a big ol’ school-locker lock to keep safe my backpack in various hostels. But, frankly, I figure that if someone really wants the stuff out of my suitcase, they’re going to get it whether the zippers are locked shut or not.
That said, you do hear some crazy tales about items being stolen out of checked baggage. So if you do feel like you’re checked valuables would be more secure with a lock, you might consider the easy-to-set combination lock from WordLock.
I like the idea behind this lock since four-letter words are so much easier to remember than four-number combinations. The instructions to set the combination are easy to follow. In fact, my 7-year-old (with the help of his 9-year-old sister) figured out how to change the combo I set (R-O-C-K) to D-O-R-K.
In case you can’t come up with your own clever four-letter combination, a list of different options comes with the lock instructions. Each dial has 10 different letters on it; not all 26 are available, so you are somewhat limited. (Even so, there are 10,000 possibilities.)
The lock is recognized by the TSA, and inspectors can use a universal key to open it if they need to inspect your luggage by hand — no bolt cutters necessary. (Note, however, that sometimes it’s the TSA inspectors doing the stealing.)
My advice: If an item is really valuable, put it in your carry-on luggage.
WordLocks are available at many big-box retailers; plug in your zip code here to find one near you. Or purchase online at Amazon.com for under $10. The lock makes a nice travel gift or stocking stuffer.
Posted by Kara in General Gear on December 18th, 2009
