This ranking is for travellers who have decided that a pure combination lock is not for them, either because codes get forgotten or because keys feel simpler. Within that group, the split is between pure keyed locks, which are simplest but punish a lost key, and dual-opening locks, which forgive both a forgotten code and, with a spare key kept safe, a lost code. The ranking rewards forgiveness: the lock that leaves the fewest ways to be locked out of your own bag wins.
The Best Keyed and Dual-Opening Luggage Locks (2027)
Keyed and dual-opening luggage locks for 2027: locks that need no code, or open by code or key, ranked on key safety and forgotten-code backup.
The short answer
Buy the Forge Guardian six pack if a forgotten code is your fear: a key opens the lock and recovers the code. Buy the Master Lock 4689Q keyed four pack if you want a simple key system for a family, or the Travelon brass pair if you want a classic two-lock buy. Buy the Forge dimple-key red pair if you want a key plus a cable for awkward pulls.
Our top picks at a glance
- Forge Dual-Opening Combination and Key Locks, 6 PackThe forgetful traveller's insurance: open by code or by key, with the key able to recover a lost code.Best dual-opening lock
- Master Lock 4689Q Keyed Luggage Locks, 4 PackThe keyed family pack: four shrouded locks with keys, built to resist bolt cutters.Best keyed pack
- Travelon Brass Padlocks, Set of 2The classic pair: two brass keyed padlocks for travellers who never want to set a code.Best classic keyed pair
- Forge Dimple Key Cable Locks, Red, 2 PackNo code to remember: a pair of red keyed cable locks with a dimple key that is harder to copy casually.Best keyed cable pair
The picks, ranked
Every product in this lineup was picked for this use case, ranked with our strongest choices first. If a product from the wider category does not genuinely fit this scenario, it is not listed here.
| # | Product | Award | Opening | Shackle | Key system | Pack | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forge Dual-Opening Combination and Key Locks, 6 Pack | Best dual-opening lock | Combination or key, dual opening | Stainless steel | TSA006 | 6 locks, black | TSA-accepted |
| 2 | Master Lock 4689Q Keyed Luggage Locks, 4 Pack | Best keyed pack | Keyed | 9/16 in (14 mm) long steel shackle, 1/8 in diameter | - | 4 locks, 4 keys, colours may vary | TSA-accepted |
| 3 | Travelon Brass Padlocks, Set of 2 | Best classic keyed pair | Keyed | - | - | Set of 2 padlocks | TSA-accepted |
| 4 | Forge Dimple Key Cable Locks, Red, 2 Pack | Best keyed cable pair | Dimple key, keyed alike | - | TSA006 | 2 locks, red | TSA-accepted |
Best dual-opening lock
Forge Dual-Opening Combination and Key Locks, 6 Pack
The forgetful traveller's insurance: open by code or by key, with the key able to recover a lost code.
Strengths
- Dual opening: the lock opens with its combination or with its key, so a forgotten code is not a ruined trip
- The key can recover the combination, which removes the usual combination-lock dread
- Stainless steel shackle on a six-pack of black locks covers a whole household's luggage
- TSA006 key system, the Travel Sentry system stated for this model
Limitations
- Six locks mean six keys to keep track of, unless the household keeps one set in a known place
- The key is small and easy to lose inside a packed bag if it is not kept in a fixed pocket
- A shackle lock still needs zipper pulls with enough clearance for the loop
What owners report
Most praised
- Owners describe the key backup as the feature that finally let them relax about combination locks
- Families say six locks is the first pack size that actually covers every bag they own
- Travellers like that the black shackle locks look the same on every bag, with no colour confusion
Common complaints
- Some owners admit the spare keys ended up in a different bag from the lock they open
- A few find the shackle stiff to close until the lock has been used a few times
- Owners who only needed two locks say the six pack left four sitting in a drawer
| Opening | Combination or key, dual opening |
|---|---|
| Shackle | Stainless steel |
| Key system | TSA006 |
| Pack | 6 locks, black |
| Acceptance | TSA-accepted |
| Code recovery | Key recovers a forgotten combination, per maker |
Best for: Travellers who have ever stood at a bag with a forgotten code, and families who want spares for every bag.
Skip if: You dislike carrying keys at all; a pure combination lock keeps your pockets empty.
Best keyed pack
Master Lock 4689Q Keyed Luggage Locks, 4 Pack
The keyed family pack: four shrouded locks with keys, built to resist bolt cutters.
Strengths
- Shrouded 1 in metal body design minimises shackle exposure and protects against bolt cutter attacks, per the maker
- Steel shackle, 9/16 in long and 1/8 in in diameter, resists cutting and sawing
- Four locks and four keys in the pack cover several bags or several travellers
- No code to set, forget or reset, which suits travellers who hand bags to different people
Limitations
- A lost key is a bigger problem than a forgotten code, since there is no reset dial
- The small body can be fiddly to grip with gloves on
- Keyed locks need the key on the person, not buried in the bag being locked
What owners report
Most praised
- Owners say the shrouded shape feels harder to attack than an open shackle lock
- Travellers who dislike codes call the key the simplest possible system
- Parents like handing one lock and key to each older child for their own bag
Common complaints
- Some owners find the small keys easy to misplace between trips
- A few report the lock body scratching a bag shell when left swinging loose
- Owners note the colour varies, so the pack may not match a bag set
| Model | 4689Q |
|---|---|
| Opening | Keyed |
| Body | 1 in (25 mm) wide metal body, shrouded design |
| Shackle | 9/16 in (14 mm) long steel shackle, 1/8 in diameter |
| Pack | 4 locks, 4 keys, colours may vary |
| Acceptance | TSA-accepted |
Best for: Travellers who trust a key more than a code, and want four locks for the price of a pack.
Skip if: You travel keyless by choice; a keyed pack adds keys you must carry and keep.
Best classic keyed pair
Travelon Brass Padlocks, Set of 2
The classic pair: two brass keyed padlocks for travellers who never want to set a code.
Strengths
- Brass body with a steel shackle gives a traditional padlock look and feel
- Two locks in the pack cover a checked bag and a carry-on, or two travellers
- Keyed opening needs no code setting, memorising or resetting at all
- TSA-accepted, so screeners can open and relock without cutting the lock
Limitations
- Keys must be carried and kept safe, and a lost key is a lock problem, not a reset problem
- A rigid shackle needs zipper pulls with enough clearance, unlike a cable lock
- Brass shows wear and scratches sooner than a coated or dark body
What owners report
Most praised
- Owners say the brass pair feels like a proper padlock rather than a travel gadget
- Travellers who dislike codes call the key the only system they fully trust
- Several owners keep one lock at home for a locker and one in a travel kit
Common complaints
- Some owners find the keys small and easy to drop in a dark bag pocket
- A few report the brass tarnishing after trips through humid climates
- Owners note the shackle is too thick for the slimmest zipper pulls
| Model | 13111 790 |
|---|---|
| Body | Brass |
| Opening | Keyed |
| Pack | Set of 2 padlocks |
| Acceptance | TSA-accepted |
Best for: Travellers who want the simplest possible lock: key in, key out, no code anywhere.
Skip if: You travel without keys on purpose; a combination lock fits that habit better.
Best keyed cable pair
Forge Dimple Key Cable Locks, Red, 2 Pack
No code to remember: a pair of red keyed cable locks with a dimple key that is harder to copy casually.
Strengths
- Dimple key design is harder to duplicate with a quick copy than a flat key
- Keyed alike pair, so one key pattern serves both locks in the pack
- Cable body fits zipper pulls and loops that a shackle lock cannot reach
- Zinc alloy body with the red finish makes the lock easy to spot on a bag
Limitations
- Losing both keys leaves no combination fallback, so key storage matters
- A cable is a deterrent rather than a serious barrier to a determined thief
- Red is a loud colour on a quiet bag, which some travellers dislike
What owners report
Most praised
- Owners who hate memorising codes say the key is simply calmer for them
- The red colour gets praised by travellers who find their bag fast on a carousel
- Several owners use one lock on a suitcase and the second on a backpack or gym bag
Common complaints
- Some owners worry about what happens if the single key pattern is lost on a trip
- A few report the key feeling small and fiddly with cold hands
- Owners note the cable can twist into a loop that snags on a bag strap
| Opening | Dimple key, keyed alike |
|---|---|
| Key system | TSA006 |
| Body | Zinc alloy, cable |
| Pack | 2 locks, red |
| Acceptance | TSA-accepted |
Best for: Travellers who prefer a key to a code, and want a cable that fits awkward pulls.
Skip if: You lose keys easily; a keyed lock punishes that habit harder than a combination lock does.
Questions, answered
Is a keyed lock safer than a combination lock?
Not meaningfully, at luggage-lock level: both deter casual opening and both fall to tools. The real difference is failure mode. A keyed lock fails when a key is lost, a combination lock fails when a code is forgotten, and a dual-opening lock fails only when both are lost together.
What is a dimple key?
A key with small dimples drilled into its flat faces instead of cuts along its edge, used on the Forge red pair here. Dimple keys are harder to copy casually than flat keys, which suits a travel lock that will be handled by strangers in hostels and hotels.
Where should I keep a luggage lock key?
On your person or in a fixed pocket of a bag you are carrying, never inside the bag the lock secures. A spare key at home helps after a trip, but it does not help at an airport, so the travelling key needs a permanent home in your travel kit.
Every guide on Luggage Locks16 pages
- Topic hubLuggage Locks
- Best ofThe Best Luggage Locks (2027)
- Checked bags face two threats a carry-on never meets: a screener who may need inside, and a conveyor system that tests every dangling part. This ranking therefore weights TSA acceptance first, then inspection indicators that report an opening, then a shackle or cable that will not snag. Carry-on-only locks with no inspection story do not belong here, even if they are well made.The Best Luggage Locks for Checked Bags (2027)
- Cable locks exist because shackle locks do not fit every bag. This ranking starts from fit: which pulls, loops and hasps the cable can thread, and whether the length joins one pull or two. Length is then judged as a trade-off, since a long cable that is not managed snags, while a short cable cannot join distant pulls. Indicators and opening type decide the order within each length class.The Best Cable Luggage Locks (2027)
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