Hiplok DXC Review: A wearable U-lock!

Tackling one of the biggest problems with all bike locks (how to best carry them around), Hiplok have made a name for themselves as the purveyors of bike locks that you can wear!

From chains that you fasten around your waist, to u-locks that you clip onto to your belt, most Hiploks can be attached to your person, so you don’t have to worry about how your going to attach them to your bike.

In this review I take a look at the Hiplok DXC [Amazon] which is the highest security u-lock they produce.

I’ll explain how secure it really is, just how easy it is to carry around, how practical it is to use on a day to day basis. And finally, I’ll suggest some alternatives in case it’s not the right lock for you.

How secure is the Hiplok DXC U-lock?

The Hiplok DXC features a 14 mm hardened steel shackle, which locks on both sides into a hardened steel body.

The fact that it’s double locking means that it would need to be cut twice to defeat it and also provides additional protection from leverage and twisting attacks.

It’s a pretty small lock (providing just 15 cm x 8.5 cm internal locking space), and as long as you use a locking technique that occupies most of that internal free space, this further limits leverage and twisting attacks and also makes hydraulic bottle jack attacks almost impossible.

This is a pretty standard extra with many u-locks these days. But in general, I don't like them...

These cables can be snipped through in seconds with the most basic tool which every single bike thief carries: cable cutters. So they can only ever provide psychological protection. 

And for me that’s not usually enough to warrant the hassle of unwinding them, getting them round my stuff and then winding them up again and packing them away when I’m unlocking.

The most annoying thing is: what to do with them when you're riding. Even when coiled up they take up a lot of room. And they're constantly trying to unwind themselves!

Hiplok have tried to tackle this by providing a really skinny version of the cable, that's easier to coil up and can be shoved in a reflective clip that attaches to the shackle of the u-lock when not in use.

If we compare it to similar cables from Kryptonite and OnGuard, you can see just how skinny it is:

Now you might say this makes it less secure. And you'd be right. But it still requires cable cutters to defeat it. And whether it takes 5 seconds (for the Hiplok cable) or 10 seconds (for the thicker cables), won't make any difference to a thief.

But the skinniness of the cable does make a difference to how easy it is for us to use. So I would say that in this case I didn't find the cable lasso so annoying! 

However, if you’re worried about losing your seat or your second wheel to a thief (and you should be), there are plenty of other much more effective ways to protect them with options to suit every budget.

And the good news is: the Hiplok DXC is actually available without the cable as the Hiplok DX for a slightly cheaper price.

But in conclusion: the actual u-lock of the Hiplok DXC is a very safe, high security lock. I feel comfortable using this as my primary lock in all but the very highest risk circumstances.

Is the Hiplok DXC U-lock easy to carry?

Of course there are plenty of other small, Sold Secure Gold u-locks with 14 mm, hardened steel shackles. And many of them cheaper than the Hiplok DXC. So what makes the Hiplok DXC special?

Well, it’s something very simple but also very important. The DXC (and indeed every Hiplok u-lock), features a built-in clip that allows you to easily fasten the lock to your belt or to a pocket on your bag.

Yep, it really is that simple. It’s just a clip. But as everyone who’s owned a u-lock knows, one of the biggest challenges with these locks is how you carry them around when your bike’s on the move.

Most u-locks come with a frame mount that allows you to attach the lock somewhere on the bike. The problem is that these frame mounts are usually rubbish!

It’s not entirely the manufacturers fault. The mounts have to fit a huge variety of frame sizes. And they need to hold in place a heavy, rigid piece of metal whose center of gravity is away from the frame, while the bike is moving about over all kinds or surfaces.

Most of the frame mounts are just not up to the job in the long term. The locks or the mounts work loose, they start to rattle, they move about. Sometimes they fall off altogether!

So the great thing about the Hiplok u-locks is that you can just forget about all that. The clip easily slips into your belt or the top of your trousers / skirt / whatever. Or it will slide into a pocket on your bag. And since it’s really robust and strong, you don’t have to worry about it falling off.

While there are other, more lightweight bike locks, it’s small size means the Hiplok DXC is not so heavy that it feels like a nuisance hanging from your waist.

And the internal space should enable you to easily lock your bike to a bike rack in most instances.

You’ll probably struggle if you live an area where you can’t depend on bike racks though. Lampposts and traffic lights will be too wide for the DXC. So make sure you’re aware of the locking options where you live before you commit to buying it (or any other lock!).

You get three very robust laser cut keys with the Hiplok DXC. These can be registered through the Hiplok website so that should you ever lose them, you can easily buy replacements.

They slide smoothly into the mechanism (note that they will only enter one way round though) and only need a quarter turn to lock or unlock.

There is also a rubber plug that you can insert into the key hole to protect the mechanism from the weather and any street grime.

With a nice tight fit, this seems to offer better protection than the key hole covers that come with other locks and should ensure that the mechanism keeps working smoothly.

But don't forget the best way to stop your bike lock from jamming is to clean and lubricate every 6 months or so!

A big part of how easy a lock is to use, relates to how quickly you can lock your bike up and the clip system is really helpful here too. There’s no unwieldy frame mount to wrestle with.

As easily as it slips onto your waist, it slips off and it can be round your bike in seconds. Super smooth!

Wrapping Up

At first glance there’s nothing exotic about the Hiplok DXC. It secures your bike in exactly the same way as any other high security, mini u-lock.

But the simple addition of a built in clip that allows you to easily carry it on your waist or on the outside of your bag, effectively tackles one of the biggest issues with most u-locks: how to comfortably transport them while you’re riding your bike.

And this transforms it into something special. As long as you’re able and willing to carry the DXC on your waist or on the outside of your bag, then you’ll be liberated from the unreliability and inconvenience of a regular u-lock frame mount.

Of course, not everyone will be comfortable wearing a u-lock in this way. Maybe your clothes aren’t suitable and/or you don’t have a bag that could accommodate it. In which case this lock is not for you: there are other mini u-locks that offer the same high security for a cheaper price.

But if you’ve ever cursed the frame mounts that come with every other u-lock, if you’ve ever yearned for a simpler, more elegant way to carry your bike lock around, then Hiplok u-locks are worthy of serious consideration.

And if your risk level is high, then (as the only Hiploks with 14 mm shackles and Sold Secure Gold ratings), the Hiplok DXC (with cable) or DX (without cable) are certainly the best choice.

If you're still unsure what your risk level is or which type of lock is right for your circumstances, check out my complete guide to finding the best bike lock!

Alternatives to the Hiplok DXC

And if the Hiplok DXC isn’t quite right for you, then there are, as always, plenty of other locks that might suit you better…

Looking for something cheaper?

So your limited to carrying it on your bag or fastening it through a belt loop! If this works for you then then this is a fantastically economical alternative to the Hiplok DXC, and will offer the same level of security if not the same level of convenience.

Looking for something more secure?

It has a 2/5 star security rating from ART, the other independent lock tester, and this is usually equivalent to a Sold Secure Silver award (although there are Gold locks with 2 stars from ART). So it’s not quite on the same security level as the Hiplok.

But if you’re looking for something lighter than the Hiplok that’s also very easy to carry around then the TiGr Mini is definitely worth looking at (as long as it matches your risk level). Read my hands on review of the the TiGr Mini.

Hiplok DXC Gold U-lock Specs

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