The Best Ski Locks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

Dakine Cool Lock

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The Dakine Cool Lock gives the longest reach in this group with a four-digit code in a pocketable body, and Dakine designs it for ski racks and roof racks. The Kryptonite R2 matches the four-digit code and nearly the same reach, so it is the pick if it is the one in stock or slightly cheaper.

A ski lock is not meant to stop a determined thief with cutters. Its job is to make your skis or board the inconvenient pair on a lodge rack while you eat lunch, so the person grabbing the wrong gear, or any gear, moves on. That means the details that matter are reach, how many combinations the dial offers, and whether it actually lives in your pocket. We compared two retractable four-digit cable locks, a steel-core security tie and a three-digit retractable from a big snowboard brand, using the specs each maker publishes.

RBE top pick

Dakine

Dakine Cool Lock

Buy it

A four-digit retractable cable lock with a 37-inch reach, built by a ski brand for resort racks and roof racks.

Best for: Skiers and riders who want one light lock that reaches around skis, poles and a rack at the lodge or on the car.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Four-digit set-your-own combination gives 10,000 possible codes rather than 1,000.
• The 37-inch (94 cm) retractable cable is the longest in this comparison, enough to loop skis and poles through a rack.
• At 0.12 kg and 9.5 x 6.5 x 2 cm, it fits in a jacket or pant pocket without weighing it down.

Know before buying

• Dakine does not publish a cable diameter, so you cannot compare cable thickness against rivals.
• A thin retractable cable is a deterrent, not cut resistant.
• The body is mostly ABS plastic (50% ABS, 40% steel by Dakine's materials list).
• No warranty term is listed on the product page.

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Kryptonite

Kryptonite R2 Retractable Lock

Buy it

A lock specialist's four-digit retractable cable with a 90 cm reach, sold for accessory lock-ups.

Best for: Buyers who want a four-digit retractable from a dedicated lock maker and do not mind a slightly heavier body.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Four-dial resettable combination (it ships set to 0-0-0-0 per Kryptonite's instructions).
• The 3-foot (90 cm) cable is close to the Dakine's reach.
• Kryptonite publishes a cable diameter of 2.6 mm, so you know what you are getting.

Know before buying

• At 0.18 kg it is the heaviest lock here, though still pocketable.
• Kryptonite pitches it for quick-release components and accessories rather than skis specifically.
• Like any thin cable, it will not stand up to cutters.
• You set the code through a reset sequence, and the manual warns not to forget it.

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Hiplok

Hiplok Z LOK COMBO

It depends

A steel-core security tie with a three-digit code that Hiplok lists as a ski lock, but with only a 45 cm loop.

Best for: Cyclists who already want a security tie and will use it to lock one pair of skis or one board to a rack rail.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Reinforced steel core inside a tie-style strap, with Hiplok's Lock and Hold design that cinches down as it locks.
• At 0.08 kg it is the lightest lock in this comparison.
• Doubles as a bike, helmet, bag and car-rack lock, so cyclists can use one lock year round.

Know before buying

• The 45 cm locking length is too short to gather two pairs of skis or a board and a rack post in one loop.
• Three-digit combination means 1,000 possible codes.
• Hiplok's own spec table lists angle grinder resistance as No and no lifetime warranty.
• At 510 mm long it is a strap to stow, not a pocket puck.

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We'd skip it

Burton

Burton Cable Lock

Skip it

A pocket steel cable lock from snowboarding's best-known brand, with a three-number code and a 30-inch cable.

Best for: Only a buyer who wants Burton branding specifically; most riders get more lock for less with the Dakine or Kryptonite.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Small enough to fit in a pocket, per Burton.
• Steel cable with a combination, so there is no key to lose on the hill.
• Burton lists a 1-year warranty.

Know before buying

• Three-number combination gives 1,000 possible codes, against 10,000 on the four-digit Dakine and Kryptonite locks.
• The 30-inch cable is the shortest of the three retractables here, which limits how much gear you can loop to a rack.
• It sits a tier above the four-digit locks on price while offering less.
• Burton publishes no cable diameter, weight or dimensions on the product page.

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How we judged the field

Five things separate a useful ski lock from a keychain toy. First, reach: the cable has to pass through both skis, ideally the poles, and around a rack upright, which takes roughly 90 cm. Second, the combination: a four-digit dial has 10,000 codes and a three-digit dial has 1,000, which changes how long a casual thief would need to fiddle in public. Third, pocketability, since a lock left in the car protects nothing. Fourth, how much the maker tells you, because a lock with no published cable diameter or weight is harder to judge. Fifth, what the maker says it is for, which tells you whether skis were part of the design brief.

The field splits into retractable cable pucks, which most ski brands sell, and strap or tie locks from bike brands. Heavy braided cables and U-locks, covered in our bike locks comparison, also work but rarely ride in a pocket, so we left them out. We picked the ski-designed Dakine and a lock specialist’s retractable as the two buys, the Hiplok tie for buyers who already ride bikes, and Burton’s popular cable lock as the one to skip.

The Dakine Cool Lock is the lock most skiers should buy. Dakine pairs a four-digit, set-your-own combination with a 37-inch (94 cm) retractable cable, the longest reach of the three retractables here, and keeps the body to 9.5 x 6.5 x 2 cm and 0.12 kg. That is small enough to forget in a jacket pocket, which is the point: you have it every time you stop. Dakine writes it up for both resort ski racks and car roof racks, so skis and poles through a rack upright are squarely in its intended use. The trade-off is information. Dakine lists the materials (50% ABS, 40% steel) but not the cable diameter or a warranty term, so you are trusting that a thin steel cable is thin. That is fine for a lunch-break deterrent and wrong for anything more. If you want a single light lock for the lodge and the car, this is the one.

The Kryptonite R2 Retractable Lock is the value pick and the closest rival to the Dakine. Kryptonite gives it a four-dial resettable combination (its instructions say it ships set to 0-0-0-0) and a 3-foot (90 cm) vinyl-coated steel cable with a published diameter of 2.6 mm, which is more detail than Dakine or Burton offer. At 0.18 kg it is the heaviest lock in this comparison, though still a pocket item. Kryptonite markets it for quick-release components and accessory lock-ups rather than skis, but the reach and four-digit code suit a ski rack just as well. Setting your own code means following a short reset sequence, and Kryptonite’s manual is blunt that you should not forget it. Pick the R2 if it is cheaper or easier to find than the Dakine, or if you like knowing exactly how thick the cable is.

The Hiplok Z LOK COMBO is a different kind of lock: a steel-core security tie, like a heavy zip tie with a three-digit resettable dial, and Hiplok lists ski lock among its uses. Its Lock and Hold design cinches the strap down as you lock it, so skis do not rattle loose, and at 0.08 kg it is the lightest thing here. The catch is the 45 cm locking length. That wraps one pair of skis or one board to a rack rail, but not two pairs plus poles plus an upright. Three digits also means only 1,000 codes, and Hiplok’s own spec table marks angle grinder resistance as No. At 510 mm long it stows as a strap rather than a pocket puck. It makes sense for a cyclist who wants one tie lock for bike stops, helmet and skis; for a skier buying a ski lock, a retractable cable reaches further.

The Burton Cable Lock is the one to skip, even though it is the name many riders reach for first. Burton describes a steel cable lock with a 30-inch cable and a three-number combination that fits in your pocket, backed by a 1-year warranty. Each of those specs trails the four-digit locks here. A three-number dial has 1,000 possible codes against 10,000 on the Dakine and Kryptonite, and the 30-inch cable is the shortest of the three retractables, which matters when you are trying to catch both skis, poles and a rack. Burton also publishes no cable diameter, weight or dimensions, so you cannot compare it on the numbers it does not show. And it sits a price tier above the locks that beat it on paper. It is not a bad deterrent for a single board, but you pay more for less lock. Buy it only if the Burton logo matters to you.

Dakine Cool Lock vs Kryptonite R2 Retractable Lock: which should you buy?

The Dakine Cool Lock and Kryptonite R2 are close: both are retractable steel cables with four-digit codes and roughly 90 cm of reach, so either one gives you 10,000 combinations and enough cable for skis, poles and a rack upright. The Dakine is a little longer (94 cm against 90 cm) and lighter (0.12 kg against 0.18 kg), and it is designed by a ski brand for ski and roof racks. The Kryptonite publishes its cable diameter (2.6 mm) and comes from a company whose whole business is locks.

Choose the Dakine if you want the lightest pocket lock with the most reach and plan to use it on your car rack too. Choose the Kryptonite if it is the cheaper of the two where you shop, or if you prefer a lock with a published cable spec. Either way, use it for short stops, scramble the dials, and keep anything valuable in a locker or ski check.

What to look for

• Four digits, not three: A four-digit dial offers 10,000 codes against 1,000, for about the same money.
• About 90 cm of cable: That reaches through both skis, the poles and a rack upright; shorter cables limit you to one item.
• Pocket size and weight: Look for a published weight around a tenth of a kilo so the lock actually comes with you.
• Published specs: Makers that list cable diameter, weight and dimensions make it easier to compare like for like.
• A resettable code: Set-your-own combinations let you pick something memorable and change it if you share it.
• Realistic security claims: Treat any small cable as a deterrent and be wary of listings that imply it is cut proof.

Our final take

For most skiers and riders, the Dakine Cool Lock is the one to carry: a four-digit code, a 94 cm cable and a 0.12 kg body that disappears into a pocket, made for ski racks and roof racks. The Kryptonite R2 is a near equal with a published 2.6 mm cable, so buy whichever is cheaper. The Hiplok Z LOK COMBO is a good tie lock for cyclists but too short to gather much ski gear. Skip the Burton Cable Lock, which asks more for three digits and a shorter cable. Whatever you buy, use it as a lunch-break deterrent and lean on lockers or ski checks for long stops.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Dakine Cool Lock vs Kryptonite R2 Retractable Lock.

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