Keeping our overpriced toys from being stolen is a daily concern for some riders, and the engineers at Ottolock aim to ease that worry. Their lightweight packable locking bands can secure the wheels and frame to nearly any stationary object, and there is no key to keep track of. Simply set a three-digit code that you can recall, zip the lock through its snake-like head, and go enjoy your beer with one less worry.
The original Ottolock Cinchlock and newly released Hexband have three and six layers of stainless steel belts inside respectively. The belts are sheathed in Kevlar and are designed to slide against one another when someone tries to saw or cut them, making it difficult to slice through the belt. All that goodness is then wrapped in an anti-scratch Santoprene layer to keep your frame’s paint looking good.
These locks are not designed to park your bike in downtown New York City overnight, and the company has a decidedly realistic outlook on the level of security the stainless steel bands provide. “The design intent of Ottolock is to provide a lightweight, compact, easy-to-carry solution to prevent opportunistic theft during quick stops like getting coffee, snacks, or restroom breaks. All bike locks can be defeated by a motivated thief with proper tools, technique, and time. Ottolock provides an appropriate quick-stop level of defense against many forms of attack – not any and all tools.”
While originally designed around bike protection, Otto also recommends their safety bands for securing luggage, ladders, tools, canoes, automotive racks, and anything else you need to leave out of sight for a bit.
Buy it: Cinch Locks retail from $50-$80 depending on length, available at evo.com
Buy it: Hexband sells for $65-$95, available at evo.com
These locks are not good. Look up “Lockpicking Lawyer ottolock” on YouTube. Dude cuts through the $60 version in seconds with tin snips.
I would recommend watching the lock guy cut the ottolock with a pair of cheap tin snips in 2 seconds. I like my ottolock but I don’t trust it anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D15QH72xfPA
Did they make a new one? These locks can be defeated with tin snips very easily. Look at the lockpicking lawyers YouTube about Otto locks. Seattle PD has said these locks are barely better than having nothing at all. DO NOT BUY THESE LOCKS
these locks are NOT secure. i bought 2, one combination spinner failed and reset the code with bike attached. it was defeated in 5 seconds with a hacksaw blade. not cutting through the material but depressing the pawl locking mechanism like a tongue depressor. do not use these, they are not secure
Ottolock has had a questionable history with their locks. It makes sense for a “running in to pee” lock in a place.
https://youtu.be/D15QH72xfPA
took him 7 seconds to cut through the new improved version, i can’t pee that fast
Definitely worth watching the video in the link provided by CycleKrieg. Brian does this change your mind on the product?
This lock is the epitome of good marketing coupled with a gullible public. Actually gullible may be waay too nice . More like willful ignorance on a galactic scale.
True, the manufacturer states that it is only to be used for a quick stop in a store and its only meant as a mild deterrent against “ opportunistic thieves”.
However considering that the “LockPicking Lawyer “ cut this lock with sheet metal snips in less than 2 seconds , i would look elsewhere for such a deterrent.
A hardened smaller sized chain would be more difficult to defeat as it would require bolt cutters or a grinder and would take maybe 15 to 30 seconds . more than enough time to run out of the shop and pummel the scum.
Agree with kangaldog. It’s hard to believe these locks still get any positive press attention at all. The following quote is disproved with a quick YouTube search as Cycle Krieg shows: “…designed to slide against one another when someone tries to saw or cut them, making it difficult to slice through the belt.”
I think most of us have seen the video of the Ottolock being defeated quickly and easily with a pair of tin snips. There’s no question, if a thief is walking around with a tool in his pocket, he’s going to be able to get your through the lock pretty easily. I don’t think anyone would recommend using this in places where thieves might be on the prowl for bikes (university campuses, big events like Sea Otter, etc.).
However… Most, if not all, bike locks are designed to be theft deterrents, rather than theft prevention devices. If you’ve ever “helmet locked” your bike you’ve put this into practice. Sure, someone could just unsnap your helmet buckle but at least they can’t grab and go; the helmet strap is going to slow them down.
They say many crimes are crimes of opportunity. For example, dude is just walking down the street, sees an unlocked bike, decides to take it for a joy ride.
Think of bike locks as existing along a spectrum of security. Actually, it’s more like a spectrum of time to defeat, which is exactly what the lockpicking lawyer dude is showing on his channel. Choose the lock that provides the level of security that you need, but understand that not everyone wants or needs the same level. Also, there isn’t a bike lock in existence that can’t be defeated, and there never will be.
Seattle PD is quoted saying that the tool to defeat these locks are found on 80% of bike thiefs they catch. It is very common for them to carry these around.
I don’t doubt it. Like I said, “I don’t think anyone would recommend using this in places where thieves might be on the prowl for bikes.” If a dedicated thief is actively looking for a bike to steal, they’ll certainly have tools with them to do so.
What a shame that these are not that good, at all.
I was looking for an good solution for when I need it however these are crazy to cut/defeat!
Especially when they cost as much as they do.
No thanks.
* crazy EASY to cut/defeat*