Updated August 22nd, 2023
There is nothing worse than coming back out of the lodge after a break and discovering your skis are gone. I have been a victim of ski theft 2 times now during my skiing life and it is no fun. There very easy ways to prevent ski theft. The best way to keep your skis or snowboard from being stolen is using a ski lock when you go inside for breaks. Ski locks are inexpensive, small, light and easily fit in your coat pocket.
See our recommendations below for best ski locks. Keep reading for our ski lock guide to help you find the best ski lock for you.
The Top 5 Best Ski Locks Available Now
1 – 
Bosvision Ultra-Secure 4-Digit Combination Lock
☆ Top Pick
- 4-Digit combination lock with 3 feet retractable cable
- Plastic body won’t scratch your skis
- 2.4 mm x 3 feet
- Great for skis and snowboards
Summary
The Bosvision Ultra-Secure 4-Digit Combination Lock is a retractable cable lock with a 4 digit combination. It has a 3 foot, 2.4mm thick cable that is vinyl coated so it won’t scratch your skies or collect dirt inside the cable. It is available in 3 different colors. The combination can be set by the user. The plastic housing has an accessory loop attachment at the bottom for hooking on key chains or anything else you might want with it.
The M-Wave, Bosvision, and Dakine cable locks are all the same lock design with slightly different outer side plastic molding. They all have the same accessory features on the bottom and the same side molding ridged shape. I would choose whichever one had the color I liked best. If the color wasn’t a concern then I would make a choice based on which one had the cheapest price at the moment.
What we liked
- 3ft cable length
- 2.4mm thick vinyl coated cable
- 3 colors to choose from
- 4 digit combination lock
- Compact and lightweight design
Lock Specifications
- Cable Length – 3ft
- Cable Thickness – 2.4mm
- Weight: 3.1oz
- Lock Mechanism – 4 digit combination
2 – Allnice Portable Mini Cable Lock
☆ Best Value
- Master Lock Design – 4-digit combination locking mechanisms, keyless convenience, freely set your favorite password number
- High Quality – High strength and high tenacity for strong cut resistance. Flexible lock cables for strong cut resistance and PVC coating help prevent scratching.
- Anti-theft – The 4-digit combinations reduce casual theft possibilities while making it easier for you to remember your password at the same time.
Summary
The Allnice Mini Portable Cable Lock is a non-retracting cable lock that has a zinc alloy metal lock body. It has a 4 digit combination lock. The cable is 47 inches long so will be easy to wrap around multiple pairs of skis and still reach the ski rack. Even without a retracing cable this lock is still very compact and will easily fit in your ski jacket pocket.
This lock is also marketed under several different brands including Burton. You may be able to shop around a bit and find one of the off brands slightly cheaper than the others.
What we liked
- 47inch length nonretracting cabled
- 2mm thick cable
- Zinc alloy lock body
- 4 digit combination lock
- Compact and lightweight design with long cable
Lock Specifications
- Cable Length – 60inches
- Cable Thickness – 2mm
- Weight: 3.5oz
- Lock Mechanism – 4 digit combination
3 – Master Lock 8417D Python Keyed 6ft Cable Lock
☆ Best Extra Long Cable
- Outdoor adjustable cable lock with key is best used as a trail camera lock, kayak locking cable, bike cable lock, ski or snowboard lock, and to secure other outdoor equipment
- Adjustable cable bike lock with key has a patented locking mechanism that holds the cable tight at any position for a perfect fit
- Cable lock is made with braided steel for strength and flexibliity, and rust-resistant lock and vinyl coated cable provided superior weather and scratch resistance
- Bike lock cable is 6 ft. (1.8 m) long and 3/16 in. (5 mm) wide in diameter
Summary
The Master Lock 8417D Python Keyed 6ft Cable Lock is a very versatile cable lock that can be locked between 6 inches and 6 feet in length. If you need to lock a whole family’s worth of gear at once this may be the ideal lock for you. It has a 5mm thick braided steel cable that is plastic coated. It uses a key locking mechanism. It is still small enough to fit in a large coat pocket without being too heavy.
What we liked
- Heavy duty 5mm thick cable
- 6 foot cable length
- Can be locked from 6inches to 6 feet
- Relatively light and compact design
Lock Specifications
- Cable Length – 6ft – Can be locked in a loop from 6inches to 6 feet
- Cable Thickness – 5mm
- Weight: 8oz
- Lock Mechanism – key lock
4 – Ski Key Lock
☆ Best Rack System Lock
- Fast, Easy, and Convenient Way To Lock Snow Sports Equipment
- Lifetime Warranty- Comes with 2 Keys per lock
- Five Colors Available – Blue-Green-Orange-Red or Yellow
- Can Not Be Cut Off Like a Cable Lock – Safer and Easier to Use
- Recommend by Ski & Snowboard Resorts Everywhere
Summary
The Ski Key lock is a ski lock designed to work with a Ski Key Rack. This is a really great lock to use if you regularly ski somewhere that has a Ski Key system ski racks. It is very small and lightweight. The ski racks are fairly common throughout the US and Canda.
For a complete list of ski resorts that use Ski Key locking system here. Ski resorts that have Ski Key racks don’t necessarily have 100% Ski Key Racks or Ski Key racks at all of their lodges and break spots.
The racks only lock one pair of skis with a lock. If your skiing with a family member or friend make sure they have their own lock. You can’t lock a couple pairs at once like you can with a cable lock.
What we liked
- Very small design
- Key lock
- No cable
- Works with Ski Key ski racks found at some ski resorts
- Available in 5 different colors
Lock Specifications
- Lock Mechanism – Key lock
5 – M-Wave Lock ‘N’ Roll D 24.9 Combination Lock
- 4 Digit resettable combination lock
- 2.4 mm x 3 feet
- Dark transparent housing to prevent scratches on your bike
- Great for bikes, skis or snowboards
Summary
The M-Wave Lock ‘N’ Roll Combination lock is a compact retractable cable type lock with a 4 digit combination. The cable is 3 feet long with a 2.4mm thick steel cable. The housing is a dark transparent plastic that won’t scratch your skis or snowboard. The combination can be easily set by the user to whatever numbers they choose. This lock easily fits a pocket in your ski jacket so it’s always ready to be used.
The M-Wave, Bosvision, and Dakine cable locks are all the same lock design with slightly different outer side plastic molding. They all have the same accessory features on the bottom and the same side molding ridged shape. I would choose whichever one had the color I liked best. If the color wasn’t a concern then I would make a choice based on which one had the cheapest price at the moment.
What we liked
- 3ft cable length
- 2.4mm thick cable
- Dark transpartent plastic finish
- 4 digit combination lock
- Lightweight and compact design
Lock Specifications
- Cable Length – 3ft
- Cable Thickness – 2.4mm
- Weight: 3.1oz
- Lock Mechanism – 4 digit combination
The Best Ski Locks – Buyers Guide
There is a variety of ski locks out there you can get to keep your ski gear safe when you go in the lodge or hit the bathroom. Skis are not cheap these days. A new pair of skis plus bindings can easily run over $1000. There are many ski locks available that can fit in your pocket and cost from $12 to $20. Do these locks really work and which one is best for you?
The Mind Of The Ski Thief
Skis seem to be one of the few items that people will drop $1000 on and then just leave laying around in a public place while they go inside for a few minutes or a few hours. It’s really easy for someone just to walk up to a ski or snowboard rack, grab a pair of skis and run off with them. There are so many unlocked pairs of skis out there, why would a thief even want to risk it on even a pair of skis that only took 30 seconds to break a lock? Literally they have hundreds of unlocked pairs to choose from.
You never know when someone is coming back. Maybe they went in for an hour lunch, maybe they went in for a pee break and they will be back in just a few minutes or less. This is clearly a case of easy opportunity. If you don’t want to lose a pair of skis to a thief then make it a little bit less easy then all the rest of the skis laying there.
As I mentioned at the beginning. I have had skis stolen before. It went like this. I set them on the rack. I went in to use the bathroom. I came back out. Bye bye skis. That was over 25 years ago. Nothing ruins a family ski trip faster than “Hey Dad, someone took my skis while I was in the bathroom”. I’ve used a simple cable lock ever since then and never lost a pair of skis again.
Are these little cable locks good enough?
They might look like they aren’t that secure. I’m sure that a hacksaw blade or bolt cutters will take cut the cable pretty quick. My best ski buddy had to cut a 8mm thick cable lock off his bike on the car hitch rack. I’m sure it took us less than 5 minutes with a hacksaw blade. At a ski resort there are tons of people around no one will notice you pick up a set of skis and walk. Someone might notice if you haul out a bolt cutter and start cutting cables to remove a ski or snowboard lock. The owner might come back also in that extra minute.
The goal of a ski lock is to make your skis less easy to take than the other hundreds of skis they are sitting with. I would not trust any of these locks to leave your skis sitting over night unattended.
If your stopping at a hotel overnight. Take your skis inside with you. Don’t leave them on a roof rack. My dad decided to do this once and we came out in the morning to find the entire family’s skis were taken off the roof racks during the night. I would not trust a cable lock as a jet ski lock, bike lock, wheel lock, watercraft lock, or anything else at night. Cable locks are for daytime use where there are lots of people around.
Will Lots Of People Around Deter A Ski Thief?
The answer to that is no. Tons of people are walking around the base of a ski area. They don’t know which skis on the rack below to which people.
At Canyons Resort a couple of winters ago, there was a huge snowstorm and wind delay which caused us to wait in a 2.5 hour long gondola ride at the base. The group just in front of us in line wasn’t carrying their skis and snowboards. They thought they would be smart and leave them on a rack right next to the gondola instead of carrying them through the line. Well, we got to the front of the line and their skis and snowboards were stolen. With a 2.5 hour long gondola line, that base area was as crowded as a base area can get.
How long of a cable do I need on a ski lock?
Most ski locks have a cable that is either 30 inches long or 36 inches (3 feet). Do not buy a ski lock with a 30 inch long cable. They are slightly smaller in your pocket. They are really difficult to wrap around your skis and a ski rack. Ski racks have different shapes and heights and a shorter lock cable makes it a lot more difficult. Stick to 36 inches or longer. The Dakine Microlock looks cute but with it’s 30inch cable it’s nearly useless to use.
Is there other ways to prevent theft other than using a ski lock?
There are many other things you can do to keep your skis from being stolen like swapping 1 ski with a friend and putting them far apart on the rack.
What do I do with my skis during an overnight stop?
When you are stopping at a hotel overnight or if your going to leave your skis on the rack for several hours do not depend on any form of cable lock. It’s best to take your skis inside your hotel with you or take them to a secure place before going in the lodge for a few hours.
Cable locks are meant to deter a quick snatch and grab thief. They aren’t going to deter a ski thief who’s got some time to kill. We had 4 pairs of skis stolen off our Thule roof rack overnight at a hotel in New York before. The locks on a ski rack are meant to stop quick snatch and grabs. They don’t stop a thief who’s got some time and a crowbar to remove your ski rack off of your roof rails.
I currently have a Cargo Box on my SUV that I use for carrying skis sometimes. I have left skis in it overnight at hotels several times now. My thought process being, no one can see if there is anything in there or not so the reward for the risk of breaking into it isn’t known.
Can I lock more than one pair of skis with a cable lock?
A 3 foot long cable can go around 2 pairs of skis and some racks. If you can’t reach it around 2 pairs of skis then it works to just pass it through the brakes on one ski from each pair. What good is only one ski from the pair to a thief? How are they going to sell that? They aren’t. If you know you’re going to be locking a whole family’s skis up regularly then you might want to buy a lock with a longer cable than 3 feet. They get bigger and bulkier in your pocket so that is the trade off.
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Doug Ryan
Co-Founder & Chief Editor
I grew up back east in Pennsylvania and learned to ski on a family trip to Killington, Vermont when I was 6. I immediately fell in love with the mountains and outdoors and have been skiing across the US and Canada ever since. I went to school for Mechanical Engineering, and have a Master’s Degree in Material Science and Reliability.
I am a total gear nerd and love learning how things work and thinking about how they could be improved. Nothing excites me more than trying out new gear. I’d rather spend 3 hours taking my bike apart and learning how to change something than go to a bike shop. These days I reside in Michigan by the Great Lakes and go skiing, biking, and boating as much as possible.
doug@adventuregearinsider.com
