Best Retractable Cable Lock for Travellers: Pacsafe Review

Secure your gear with the best retractable cable lock. Compact, reliable, and perfect for travellers and adventurers on the go. Some of you may be asking why are we writing a retractable cable lock review? We believe this is an essential item on every travellers packing kit! Read on to find out why…

As nomadic retirees who have been full time travellers for the past 8 years, we have tried and tested many travel products. We have very particular needs, some of which are size, weight, quality, functionality, and whether it is something we use often enough to justify lugging it around the world.

One of our most used and loved travel gear items is a retractable locking cable!

The best retractable cable lock for travel that we have found is the Pacsafe Retractasafe 250 4-Dial Retractable Cable Lock.  The Pacsafe Retractasafe features 4 dials and a retractable cable making this lock ideal for when you need added security for bags and other travel items.

Pacsafe manufactures anti-theft travel bags, backpacks and travel accessories for the safety-conscious modern traveller. These products are designed to give people peace of mind while travelling, with a range of lock and anti-theft solutions available to choose from. Pacsafe combines inspiration and technology to create cutting-edge products that protect your belongings and free you from worry and stress.

We have a variety of Pacsafe products (including the Pacsafe Portable Travel Safe which we love) which we use when travelling and they all provide peace of mind for keeping valuables safe while traveling, whether we are in a busy market, or have left our luggage and electronics in the room while we are out.

Why We Love (and Recommend) the Pacsafe Retractasafe 250 4-Dial Retractable Cable Locks

• The Pacsafe Retractasafe 250 is by far the lightest lock we found at just 80 grams / 0.18 lbs.
• It is perfect for travel with a compact size of 9.5 x 6 x 2 cm / 3.74 x 2.36 x 0.79 inches. It’s incredibly portable and ideal for travel, especially for nomads like us who need space-saving security. When you’re done, its small size makes it easy to just slide into your purse, travel pack, or even a pocket.
• The 4-dial combination lock allows you to make the code personal to you providing that added layer of security without complicating the lock. We also love the convenience of not needing to worry about losing or misplacing a key. This convenient lock offers excellent protection when securing your gear to an immovable object such as a bed frame, chair pipe, hand rail etc.
• The stainless steel cable adjusts from 24 cm to 90 cm / 9.45 inches to 35.43 inches. This added versatility lets you secure more than one item or quickly and easily attach it to various fixtures i.e. around wardrobe handles to secure your travel essentials inside.
• Constructed with durable plastic and stainless steel, this retractable lock cable is built to withstand daily use, ensuring long-lasting performance. We open and close ours regularly on a daily basis and it holds up to the wear and tear.
• To better protect the cable and make it last longer, it has a tough exterior coating. This coating serves a dual purpose: it reduces wear and tear from regular use and prevents scratching or damaging the surfaces it comes into contact with. If you wrap it around a metal railing or through suitcase handles, the soft coating keeps everything from getting scratched up.
• With its user-friendly, retractable design, locking, unlocking and storing is so easy. This retractable feature is a big selling point for avid full time travellers and occasional use alike.
• The locking and unlocking mechanism is super easy, so you don’t have to mess around with complex instructions or tiny tools.
• Despite the robust security features it offers, the only negative we have experienced is the shorter cable length does reduce its overall usability in securing larger items at times.

How We Use Our Retractable Cable Lock When Travelling

Pacsafe Retractasafe 250 4-Dial Best Retractable Cable Lock Specifications

The Pacsafe Retractasafe 4-Dial Retractable Cable Lock is a compact yet sturdy security solution designed for travellers. Below are its key specifications, highlighting its durability, cable length, and ease of use.

Model / Product Code

SKU: 10280109

Material

Plastic, High-Tensile Stainless Steel Wire

Dimensions

9.5 x 6 x 2 cm / 3.74 x 2.36 x 0.79 inches

Cable

Minimum Length: 24 cm

Maximum Length: 90cm

Weight

80g / 0.18 lbs

Colour

Smoke

Warranty

2 years

N/A

Features of the Pacsafe Retractasafe 4-Dial Retractable Cable Lock

• Lightweight but tough enough to secure bags, luggage, bikes, skis and camera
• Locks items together and / or to a secure fixture
• Slash proof retractable plastic coated steel cable
• Snatch proof 4-dial resettable combination lock
• Slash proof cable is plastic-coated so it won’t scratch or damage your gear
• Offers durable functionality for locking your essentials

Suppliers of the Pacsafe Retractasafe 4-Dial Retractable Cable Lock

• Amazon

Summary of the Pacsafe Retractasafe 4-Dial Retractable Cable Lock

As I have mentioned above, we have a number of Pacsafe items we use for travel and we swear by them.  The retractasafe cable lock is no exception. 

We always carry a couple on us and we never leave our room without securing our locked bags to a piece of furniture, or securing our bags together.  We also carry one of these to the beach with us and secure our personal belongings in a day pack to a table, chair or tree when we go to have a swim, or go out snorkelling.

Do you have any questions, or have we missed anything we should add to this post? Feel free to contact us on Facebook or via email and let us know.

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