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Padlocks Technical Advice Centre

This is our dedicated help, advice and testing results section for padlocks. Every time we get a good question from a customer, or asked to test a product, then we post the answer or results here. Use the list of Categories or the Search Box below to find the answer you're looking for. Don't worry you can get back to your basket our products by clicking our logo above.

We've also created a concise guide with the most commonly asked questions to download and print here:

What is the best high security padlock I can use by the sea?

When looking for a high-security padlock for use by the sea, then the latest addition to the Abus Granit range is definitely one to consider. The marine grade Abus 37ST/55 is constructed with a 12mm shackle and large body in stainless steel, along with inner components made from non-corrosive materials. The use of stainless steel […]

What is the best weatherproof padlock for a beach hut?

As beach huts are placed right on the coast you would need to use a fully marine grade padlock making the Abus 24IB/60 an ideal choice. This weatherproof padlock is secure but not too obvious so will help deter thieves from breaking into the beach hut. The Abus 24IB/60 Diskus padlock is ideal by the […]

What is the best combination padlock to use by the sea?

An ideal combination padlock for use by the sea is the Squire CP40S. A medium security combination padlock that has been designed especially for salty marine environments. The solid plastic body and stainless steel shackle offers great protection against the common problem of rust. It has four decent size dials so it can be easier […]

Which outdoor combination padlock is best for boat storage?

The best outdoor combination padlock for securing boat storage is the Shield MC40 or the larger MC50 which won BEST IN TEST in Practical Boat Owner Magazine when subjected to an accelerated salt spray test simulating many years in a natural coastal environment. This marine grade padlock can be used on narrowboats or sea going […]

Combination Padlock Independent Testing

The team at, respected magazine, Practical Boat Owner (PBO), have done some independent testing on combination padlocks that feature in their August 2017 edition. They put eight different combination padlocks in a salt water corrosion tank which sprays a fine mist of warm salty water over the padlocks every hour for a month. This would […]

Saltwater / weather testing of padlocks

We have been asked a few times how a manufacturer can claim that its padlocks will work after 10 years outdoors for example. Some larger brands of padlock who have had the same model in the market for over 10 years and can actually see their locks have coped or failed. However, most will use […]

What is the best padlock for a boat locker?

The best padlock for a boat locker is one that can withstand harsh marine environments. The Abus 24 series is a range of discus padlocks made in marine-grade stainless steel. They are effectively a closed shackle design which helps to prevent people from using a hack saw to quickly cut it off as they might […]

Do I need a fully weatherproof padlock?

A fully weatherproof padlock is one that uses 100% stainless and non-corrosive materials. They are also know as marine padlocks and suitable for saline and other extreme environments. This is a common question and often the answer is no. The first thing to seize up and prevent a padlock from functioning properly is the internal […]