Combination Padlock Independent Testing

Respected marine magazine Practical Boat Owner (PBO) carried out independent testing on a range of outdoor combination padlocks, published in their August 2017 edition. The aim of the test was to assess how well different combination padlocks could withstand harsh coastal conditions, where saltwater corrosion is a constant challenge. Eight padlocks were placed in a salt spray corrosion tank, which released a fine mist of warm salty water over them every hour for a full month. This level of exposure is far more extreme than most padlocks will encounter in real marine conditions, but provides a useful comparison of long-term durability.

How Performance Was Measured

After the month-long corrosion test, each padlock was examined to assess how freely the dials still moved, whether the mechanism could still be operated, and whether the padlock remained functional. Security was also tested. PBO evaluated how easily the padlocks could be attacked using tools such as bolt croppers and hacksaws, as this remains an essential factor alongside corrosion resistance.

The Shield MC40 Performs Exceptionally Well

Our own Shield MC40 Chrome Marine Combination Padlock performed extremely well in the corrosion environment. In fact, the review reported:
“The clear winner of the corrosion test was the Shield MC40 Chrome Marine Combination Padlock, which emerged after a month in our extremely corrosive tank completely unaffected.”
This makes the Shield MC40 a strong option for boat lockers, deck boxes, companionway hatches or storage areas that are frequently exposed to salt air and spray.

Other Padlocks Praised for Strength

The review also highlighted several other padlocks for higher security resistance. The Master Lock Pro Series and the ABUS 180IB Series both took significantly longer to break using 18" bolt croppers or a hacksaw. This shows the balance between corrosion resistance and security level depends on your specific needs:

• Shield MC40 for maximum corrosion protection and ease of use

• Master Lock Pro Series or ABUS 180IB for additional resistance to physical attack

Ongoing Improvements and Product Development

Since the publication of the review, we have been working with Shield to further develop a more secure version of the MC40 range. Meanwhile, ABUS have identified and addressed a material issue affecting earlier production batches of the 180IB and are implementing improvements on future models. Marine environments are demanding, so ongoing development remains essential.