The best bike locks you can buy

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.The best bike locks are backed up with a guarantee, have thick steel shackles or cables, and they make stealing a bike a long and arduous task. The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini Bicycle U-Lock has all of these features along with anti-theft protection, easy mounting, and a double bolting system.Whether you live out in the country or in a major metropolitan area, there is no bike lock system that will stop a well-equipped thief. However, there are a number of locks that will either slow down or completely discourage a criminal.Though some thieves will try to drill the lock, the most common way bikes are stolen is when crooks cut through the lock's shackle, cable, or chain. Of these options, the shackle of a U-lock is the hardest to cut through. The thicker the steel, the longer it will take to get through. Also, if the lock has a double bolt system, then the robber will need to make two cuts to free the bicycle. If the idea of slowing down a thief or hoping to just discourage them with a bulky lock is not enough to let you rest easy, there are a few products you might consider adding to your bike protection arsenal. Though they are still relatively primitive and expensive, GPS tracking devices can help you track down the location of a stolen bike. Of course, locating your bike is half the battle. We do not recommend confronting thieves. The Scout Universal Vehicle GPS Tracker is one of the highest-rated trackers available. But, as with most GPS Trackers, you will have to pay a monthly service fee. You might also consider the Pinhead Bicycle Locking Skewer Set to thwart wheel thieves.The bike locks we are recommending were chosen based on their price, durability, manufacturer guarantee, and reported performance based on thousands of reviews and ratings from experts and novices.Here are the best bike locks you can buy:Best bike lock overall: Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini Bicycle U-LockBest heavy duty U-lock bike lock on a budget: Sigtuna Heavy Duty Bicycle U-Lock with CableBest bike lock on a budget: Titanker Bike Lock CableBest standard-size U-lock bike lock: Kryptonite New York Standard Bicycle U-LockBest U-lock/cable bike lock combo: Kryptonite Kryptolok Standard Bicycle U-Lock w/ 4-foot Flex CableUpdated on 05/10/2019 by Les Shu: Updated links, formatting, and prices. Replaced one budget option with the Titanker Bike Lock Cable.Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.