Litelok Gold Wearable Review

Biking is a sport that's all about shedding weight: the lighter the bike frame and rider, the better. If you're a commuter, though, you're likely packing a bike lock to keep those wheels safe, and often, it's heavy. Also, it may or may not mount to your bike frame or smash your backpack contents. However, enter the Litelok Gold, a lock that doubles as a belt and offers you pretty great versatility. It flexes to stretch around your waist but is otherwise rigid, which our testers didn't find all that comfortable.

Performance Comparison

The Litelok is a wearable bike lock which makes it pretty easy to carry around. We also loved how easy it was to use.

Credit: Laura Casner

Security

This lock receives a Gold rating from Sold Secure (a third-party lock security assessment company). This contender is one of the lightest bike locks we tested with this rating for the weight.

The external cover adds another level of difficulty when cutting through this lock.

Credit: Rebecca A. Eckland

This lock easily withstood our attacks using a hammer, bolt cutters, tin snips, and wire cutters, just as we expected. It will eventually succumb to a hacksaw, but you'd have to be a pretty dedicated thief to cut through the Litelok with this tool — the task is achievable, but you're looking at a 20-minute effort. It takes one cut to defeat with an angle grinder. The addition of power tools sped the process up considerably, but it still took 20+ seconds of sparks flying and that metal-burning smell to get through the lock, which is sure to grab some attention. For comparison, heavy-duty U-locks weigh a pound or two more but take about double the amount of time to cut through with an angle grinder. Also, many high-end U-locks require two separate cuts to free your bike from a bike rack, increasing the time needed and attention to the crime. The Litelok offers above-average security, but not the most compared to others.

One cut with an angle grinder took us about 20 seconds on the Litelok.

Credit: Rebecca A. Eckland

Ease of Transport

In general, we appreciate wearable locks. Wearing a bike lock like a belt is a pretty cool idea, and we liked that we didn't have to give up one (or both) of our bottle holders to install a mount for the Litelok Gold. Once the actions are familiar, most testers found that wearable models decrease the time spent messing with the lock when locking up and getting back on the bike. This model also has a reflective cover around its hardened steel core, allowing you to be seen when underway on the road. It's impressive that Litelok can produce such a lightweight lock with high security. The low weight feels better around the waist, but its rigidity didn't feel as comfortable as other flexible wearable locks we have tested.

We also love that you don't need a key to lock it around your body, which is advantageous. To secure this contender without locking it, move the plastic buffer to cover the locking mechanism, which prevents it from fully locking and requiring a key. The lock snaps into place, and there's an additional elastic strap to keep the Litelok in place. It's very convenient to snap together and pull back apart, all without removing the key out of our pocket.

The plastic buffer that prevents the locking mechanism from fully locking, allowing you to snap the lock together and pull apart without a key for transportation purposes.

Credit: Ross Robinson

Our only problem is that the theory is better than the reality. In practice, our testers discovered that the lock tended to come "halfway undone" while riding (see images), which felt like it was hanging on by a hair. This issue is nerve-wracking, to say the least, because it requires both hands to secure the lock again around the waist. Based on our experience, we feel that this could be a potentially dangerous design flaw, especially if your commute involves rough roads. We are glad to report that the lock didn't ever fall off our bodies during a ride, but we see the potential for this to happen, and it distracted us multiple times from focusing on the road and traffic. Also, one of the toggles on the elastic band broke, which might not seem like a big deal, but if you're spending a considerable amount of money on a bike lock, nothing should break after three weeks of use, as it did for us. We were bummed that what makes this lock so attractive didn't work out for us in the real world. Improvements here would skyrocket this lock to one of our favorites ever.

The plastic toggle meant to help keep this lock around our waist during transport broke within a few weeks of use.

Credit: Ross Robinson

If you're not into including a bike lock into your ensemble as a fashion accessory, the bike lock certainly becomes more awkward. It's pretty rigid and doesn't pack down into a smaller shape, so trying to fit this in a bag can become an Olympic sport. The lock includes a simple, no-frills pack for transporting the lock on your back, but we never used it as it is unattractive and felt cheap. We wish Litelok didn't include this little extra and instead routed the savings onto the consumer to help reduce the high price of this lock. It also comes with two straps to attach the lock to your frame or to strap it to a rack. According to our testers, the two straps that came with the lock didn't do the job sufficiently.

If you don't plan on wearing the Litelok Gold, it comes with straps that can allow you to mount it on your frame or rack. We didn't find this method of transport all that great.

Credit: Rebecca A. Eckland

Ease of Use

If there's one word to describe the Litelok Gold, it would be "convenient." The ability to secure the Litelok to your body without using the key makes putting it on and taking it off quick and easy. It also locks without a key. You only need the key to unlock this model. Our testers especially appreciated this on days when they were running late. We are fans of any lock that speeds up the process of using it. The locking mechanism is smooth, and we didn't experience any jams over weeks of daily use. It comes with three keys, making us less anxious about losing one.

The Litelok comes in three sizes (small, medium and large), so make sure you get one that fits. It will not fit all bodies.

Credit: Laura Casner

Our only quip here is that the Litelok's rigidity made it difficult to use in some situations. Unlike other locks that can flex on multiple planes, this one only bends one way. Additionally, the lock has a determined tendency to straighten itself out, which was annoying when our testers tried to lock up their bikes. If we lost our grip, it would spring out of our hands and sometimes smack against our bike.

Versatility

The Litelok follows the basic idea that the larger the space is, the more stuff you can cram into it. Unlike U-locks that offer a limited area (typically 11" x 5"), the Litelok offers a considerably larger diameter in which you can fit the front and bike tires along with your bike frame, which is the optimal configuration for security. This means you aren't necessarily limited to only locking your wheels to bike racks; the larger size of the Litelok opens other possibilities.

The size Medium we tested has plenty of room for two wheels, a bike frame, and most bike stands.

Credit: Ross Robinson

One caveat to consider before purchasing this lock is the available sizes it comes in. As a wearable lock, you have to consider if the lock will accommodate your bike and if it will accommodate your waist. Smaller riders who order a smaller size will likely find this contender less versatile for this reason. Be sure to check the size charts to ensure the lock matches your waist, or resort to carrying this lock in an alternative manner.

Should You Buy the Litelok Gold Wearable?

The Litelok Gold Wearable impressed us with its security and portability. We like how convenient this contender is to lock and unlock if you're constantly on the go. However, a few flaws keep us from wholeheartedly recommending it. With a few upgrades and revisions, we think the Litelok has the potential to be a top contender in our bike lock review. Mostly, we wish they'd fix the latch so that it doesn't come loose from your midsection when you're pedaling. Of course, a lower price would also increase this lock's value. But, if the manufacturer could implement improvements, even the high price could be worth it to many commuters.

The bright green nylon adds a nice dash of visibility for commuters riding in low-light situations. There's a lot to like about this lock, but a few issues as well. We look forward to design improvements, as we see a lot of potential with this lock.

Credit: Laura Casner

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