Cable locks...any good ones?
 

I'm heading to Paris in a few weeks and am considering buying some of these. I'm staying at a Hilton, so maybe I can be a little more trusting. My thought was to get a lock that I could use to secure my luggage to some big piece of furniture in teh hotel or to a rail on the train. It is possible we'll avoid trains altogether with luggage and just take taxis.

So, based on the above do you think I need a cable lock?

If so, any recommendations from Magellans or something similar?

Thanks folks.

Do you normally chain your suitcase up?

Suitcases themselves are not valuble, if the contents are then chaining it up won't do much - they can be ripped or snapped open.

As for you wardrobe - I have all of the contents of my suitcase hanging/folded in the wardrobe and drawers. The maids have never touched my clothes, any items of more obvious value (after all some of the pieces can be in the 1000s) one should place in the in room safe provided.

I feel you are being neurotic, museums with ultra high security can be broken into, why would you want to chain your case to furniture? Cables can be cut!

As for trains, people don't care about luggage, unless they intend to carry out terrorist activities. Stop being neurotic about this.

I like Magellans in general but tgo be honest if you want a decent cable lock that looks, at least, difficult to defeat I would go to the nearest hardware store or bicycle shop and get one of those flexible ones. And DON'T get one with keys (another item to lose) but rather with a re-settable combination lock.

I carry these all the time to Europe but have rarely felt the need to use them, on the many trains I've been on or otherwise, to include in hotels (the Hilton is just as subjct to theft as other places but you may be getting worried over nothing).

Be aware that if you do have one of the flexible bike lock cables and you put it in your checked luggage the appearance on an "x-ray" screen can cause concern. I was asked in Munich last year if I had anything in my luggage "with wires"??? Interestingly enough the person asking accepted my verbal explanation and din't look further. This past month I inadvertently put one in one of my carry-ons and a TSA person in Newark said I had to check it because it was a potential weapon.

Given my non-theft history in Europe I am beginning to wonder if the things are worth it. Good luck.

Hi md,

I fear that you are suffering from planning overload.

You won't need to chain up your luggage at a Hilton.

You won't need it in a taxi.

We brought one with us when we went to Italy, where luggage theft on trains is more frequent than in France. We didn't use it.

Thanks for the feedback; I think I'm going to pass on the cable locks and be neurotic about something else...

Keep in mind that using a cable make make your suitcase (and its contents) appear more valuable.

A thief may be intrigued by the valuables that require such protection.