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review
Locks
Squire SS50CS Stronghold Padlock

Squire SS50CS Stronghold Padlock

9
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published May 13, 2009

3
£45.25

VERDICT:

9
10
Well designed, well built padlock for using with security chain
Weight: 
650g
Contact: 
www.torc-anchors.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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If you're investing in a big chain for your lockup to keep your bikes out of the hands of the thieves then you'll need an equally beefy lock: your security is only as strong as the weakest link. The SS50CS (catchy name) certainly isn't a weak link: it's a well-designed, heavily armoured lock that's an excellent partner to some heavy-duty chain.

At 650g the Squire certainly feels the part. It's engineered from a hardened steel billet with a 10mm shackle that's almost fully enclosed. The barrel is protected by another steel plate to protect against drilling, with the key turning just an eighth of a rotation to allow the protective sheet to cover more of the mechanism.

Mated with the 13mm Protector chain we've tested, the lock is almost impossible to attack. You can't get at the shackle or the lock mechanism to do any real damage and it resists twisting attacks on the chain too. We gave it five minutes with the standard tools but barely marked it, and short of a gas axe (there's not really any exposed shackle to angle grind) a thief is likely to be thwarted by this one.

Verdict

Really well designed and constructed padlock, a good choice for securing your bikes or your garage/shed door.

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Squire SS50CS Stronghold Padlock

Size tested: n/a

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
10/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 190cm  Weight: 100kg

I usually ride: Schwinn Moab, urbanised with 700cs  My best bike is: Trek 1.5 with upgrades

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Squire SS50CS Stronghold Padlock
Security chain
Security
Cycle security
Bike security
Bicycle security
Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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