Note from Day Undefined:
Mary was looking for a lock that would require less force to close. She found that this one met her requirements.
Where you can find it:
Amazon - Masterlock Cable Lock with Key
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Product Review by Mary: (meet our team)
I had a very conventional padlock on a basement storage unit. I can use the key and open it no problem, but I can only close and relock it by bracing it on a hard surface and pushing directly down with both hands - not very practical when it’s hanging on a door.
It was very difficult to find a lock that solved this specific issue. There were lots of options for key grips and non-keyed locks, but they all closed the same way; this model didn’t close like that but had such a small opening that it didn’t look like it would fit the latch and this one overcorrected.
We settled on this small Masterlock cable lock with a key which seemed to check all the boxes, despite having some negative reviews that the key was difficult to get in and out of the lock.
Pros:
- Extremely easy to open and close, little to no force required
- Key turns very easily
- Cable is strong but flexible and long enough to be looped around again if you wanted
- Very lightweight and compact
Cons:
- It feels almost as if the key is a little rough-cut and it doesn’t easily slide in and out every time. However, I’ve so far found this to be easily resolved by jimmying the key back and forth a little, with no extra strength required
- The key is quite small, might be difficult to grasp
- Sturdy enough for my purposes, probably not enough for outdoor use or high value items
Video Review:
Mary demonstrates using a key to unlock a small cable Masterlock. She then puts the cable back in and locks it with the key.