5 Best Lock For Storage Unit (Reviewed 2022)

When you are choosing a lock for your storage unit, you should remember that only a good lock will provide you with the security you want. If you choose a low-quality lock, you might save money, but you will have no guarantee of getting proper protection. Even when you are buying an expensive lock, you have to consider certain factors to ensure that your lock can endure break-in attempts to a certain degree without failing. Here are the qualities that you should look for in a lock before making a purchase. (1)

False Set

One of the primary concerns with key-based locks is that they can be picked. Expert lock pickers can pick a simple keyed lock in seconds. But, lock makers are aware of the tools and techniques lock pickers use. Most locks have some mechanisms that make them pick-resistant. Lock manufacturers rarely ever market their locks As being pick-resistant. So you won’t find “pick resistant” written in the product description of many locks even though they are.

The false set is a pick-resistant mechanism that makes locks quite difficult to pick, even for expert lock pickers. When someone attempts to pick a lock that has false sets, the pins on the lockset set themselves such that the lock picker thinks they’re progressing towards picking the lock but only realize after setting all the pins that some of the pins went into a false set. Pins in the false set appear to be in the right position, but they aren’t. This makes locks with false sets much harder to pick for beginners and intermediate-level lock pickers. Experts may be able to tell false sets from real sets, but false sets make it time-consuming to pick the lock even for them. Most lock pickers won’t even try after failing the first time since the time they would need in order to successfully pick the lock would greatly increase the chances of them getting caught.

Good Material

One of the things to look for in a lock is its material. Before looking for a lock, you should consider your storage space. The best option is to purchase a lock that has an all-metal body. The material should also be weather resistant so it can stand extreme weather conditions and doesn’t corrode or rust.

Shackle Size

The shackle size of your lock should depend upon the latch or the chasp of your storage unit’s door. The shackle of the lock should ideally just be thick enough to barely pass through the latch and fit there. The thicker the size of the shackle is, the harder it is for any intruder to cut it and enter your storage unit.

Multiple Pins

The locking mechanism of a lock revolves around a combination and a series of pins. The lock that you choose should have at least five pins so that it would be harder to pick. The more pins your lock has, the more time it would take an intruder to pick the lock.

General Security Measures

If you choose a keyed lock, make sure it has some pick resistance. Keyed locks are usually stronger than other types of locks. They minimize the risk of security breaches from physical attacks. (2)

Combination locks may be harder to unlock for some lock pickers since they’re less common. However, combination locks should also have anti-pick mechanisms such as false gates to be reliable.