Foldylock Compact Review: The Lightest Folding Lock!

Up until now, Abus have dominated the folding lock market. Not only did they invent this style of bike lock, they were also the only company that had their folding locks certified by Sold Secure.

And since I only recommend locks that have been tested and rated Sold Secure Silver or above, so far, I’ve only recommended Abus folding locks!

However, there is a new folding lock in town! The Foldylock Compact [Amazon] works like the Abus folding locks. But they’ve improved the user experience, so that in many ways it’s actually a better lock than the original.

How so? Well, read on and I’ll tell you!

I’ve been using the new Foldylock Compact for a couple of months now. In this review, I’ll cover how secure it is, and how easy it is to carry around and use on a daily basis. At the end I’ll also look at some of the alternatives in case it’s not quite best lock for you.

How secure is the Foldylock Compact?

The Foldylock Compact has been tested by Sold Secure and awarded a Silver rating. This makes it a good, mid-security lock, for lower risk circumstances.

It also means that it offers more or less the same level of protection as the Abus Bordo 6000 folding lock.

You get three keys with the Foldylock. Like most decent bike locks, they come with a code for ordering new keys. But unlike most other bike locks, these are internal cut keys (also known as “Sidewinder” or “Laser cut” keys).

These type of keys are difficult to replicate, and the mechanisms are difficult to pick. So this adds to the security of the Foldylock.

However, folding locks are rarely as secure as comparable u-locks. The steel bars are thinner than u-lock shackles, meaning they are more likely to succumb to bolt cutters. And the pins than join the bars together are vulnerable to attack by both bolt cutters and drills.

The bars on the Foldylock are 5 mm thick, making them the same thickness as the Abus Bordo 6000. And probably about as secure.

But Foldylock claim to have made some adjustments to the pins, so that the common mode of attack where the pins are sheared with bolt cutters is no longer possible.

This is great news! But the thinner bars on all folding locks means that the Foldylock will still be vulnerable to large bolt cutters.

Does this mean you should avoid the Foldylock in favor of more traditional u-locks? No, not at all! You just need to work out your risk levels.

A Sold Secure Silver folding lock will offer more than enough protection for many cyclists whose risk levels are not so high.

And since (as we’ll see), the Foldylock is so good in many other areas, it could still be a great choice for you.

Is the Foldylock easy to carry?

This is where folding locks really excel. And the Foldylock is no exception. In fact, it’s actually even easier to transport than the Abus folding locks!

The problem with traditional u-locks, is that they have a rigid shape. This means that when they’re attached to your bike frame, their center of gravity is away from the frame. And this makes it difficult to keep them securely in place as you ride around...

So u-locks often tend to rattle about, work loose and sometimes even fall off!

Folding locks don’t have this problem. Since they fold down into a very compact package, once they’re in the case on the bike, their center of gravity is right against the frame.

This means that not only are they much more visually discreet than u-locks, you’ll also have none of the transport problems you get with a u-lock. They won’t rattle, they won't work loose, and they should never fall off!

The Foldylock comes with a smooth, hard plastic case. The lock slides very easily into this case, which is shaped in such a way that it clicks securely into place at the bottom. This means the case doesn’t need a strap to keep the lock secure, so it’s quicker and easier to add and remove the lock.

Just like the Abus folding locks, there are two ways to attach the case to your bike. The easiest way is to screw the case into the holes which many bikes have on the seat tube or down tube (for a water bottle holder)...

If you don’t have these holes (or if you’re already using them for a water bottle holder!), then Foldylock provide two Velcro straps that allow you to fasten the case anywhere you can get them around your frame.

Using the water bottle screws is definitely the best way to attach the case to your bike. It’s a lot easier, and the case feels much more secure fastened in this way. Foldylock even supply the screws and a long hex key to make the job extra easy!

Using the Velcro straps is more of a pain. The frame of my bike is quite thin. This means that there’s a lot of spare Velcro strap once it’s tightened around the seat or top tube. There’s no way to tuck this extra strap away, so it flaps about at the side of the case.

Also, with a thin frame, less of the Velcro is actually stuck down which made me feel the case wasn’t quite as securely fastened.

I had exactly the same problem with the Velcro straps that came with the Abus Bordo folding locks. And of course this is because the manufactures need to be sure that the case will fit thick framed mountain bikes as well as skinny framed racers!

However, although that’s a bit annoying, I never had any problems with the case working loose or moving about when it was fastened with the Velcro straps.

And if it's bothering you too much, there’s nothing to stop you trimming the extra length once the case is attached!

And if you’re not keen on carrying locks around on your bike at all, then there’s a new variation on the Foldylock called the Clipster, which does away with a carry case altogether (more details below).

Weight wise, the Foldylock Compact is very light when compared to other Sold Secure Silver bike locks. At 2.2 lb (1 kg), the only Sold Secure Silver locks that are lighter than the Foldylock Compact are mini u-locks.

And of course, these mini u-locks provide considerably less internal locking space, which means you won't have as many options when you’re looking for somewhere to lock your bike.

The light weight is also noticeable when compared to other folding locks. The Foldylock Compact is 7% lighter than the 3′ Abus Bordo 6000 (the given weights are not quite accurate: I weighed both locks with their cases).

And 25% lighter than it’s big brother the Foldylock Classic (more on this lock at the bottom of the page).

Folded up, the Foldylock Compact measures 7.5″ x 2.25″ x 1.5″ (19 x 6 x 4 cm). So it's super compact when compared to u-locks and chains. But when compared to the 3′ Abus Bordo 6000, it’s about the same size.

So this lightweight construction and incredibly compact folded form means that the Foldylock is much less effort to carry around than bigger, heavier locks. This will definitely be very noticeable if you attach it to your frame, and even more so if you carry it in a bag.

Or indeed, any of the other places you can put your bike lock when you're riding around!

Compared to the 3′ Abus Bordo 6000, the Foldylock Compact is a bit easier to carry around, owing to it’s slightly lighter weight and the smoother case action (which doesn’t require a strap to keep it in place).

How easy is the Foldylock Compact to use?

For me, this is where the Foldylock is considerably better than the Abus folding locks. The lock slips out of its case just a little easier than the Abus locks. But more significantly, the Foldylock is easier to unlock, maneuver and then re-lock around your bike.

Why is this? The keys work more or less equally well. But releasing the link that’s attached to the locking mechanism is a much smoother experience with the Foldylock…

With the Abus lock, you need to unfold the middle links first and then yank the outer link downwards. The links are a little stiff and only being able to pull the outer link down vertically can be a bit cumbersome.

With the Foldylock, the outer link is attached to the side of the locking mechanism which means it can be released, and the lock can be unfolded in one motion. Once round your bike, it’s also easier to get the outer link back in the mechanism from the side.

The links move much more smoothly on the Foldylock as well, which further improves the experience!

The smoother movement of the links also makes the Foldylock a little easier to get around your bike and whatever you’re locking it to. However, in my experience, it tends to take a fair bit longer to secure your bike with a folding locks than a decent sized u-lock.

Having said that, in awkward spaces (crowded bike racks) or around awkward objects (not bike racks), the flexible shape of folding locks can be a big advantage over u-locks, allowing you to lock your bike in places that would be otherwise inaccessible!

The Foldylock Compact is 33″ (85 cm) long. In practice, this gives you about 70 cm of internal locking space. It’s important to compare this to other types of locks, because people tend to think folding locks give you loads more space.

In fact, the Foldylock gives you about the same internal space as a standard sized u-lock. The big difference is that it’s flexible space, so it’s a bit more accommodating.

And compared to the Bordo 6000, you get a little less internal space, the Abus lock giving you around 75 cm. But don’t forget, the Abus lock a little heavier too.

I had no problems at all getting the Foldylock around the bike frame, the front wheel and a bike rack…

Neither did I have any problems getting the Foldylock around the frame, the back wheel and a bike rack…

And I was especially pleased that the Foldylock would also go around objects where my standard sized u-lock just wouldn’t fit…

Like all decent locks, the lock itself and the case you carry it in are covered in plastic so they shouldn’t damage your paintwork.

Variations of the Foldylock

1. The Foldylock Classic: more locking options

The Foldylock Compact is an evolution of a previous lock called the Foldylock Classic (which is still available). The Classic looks the same as the Compact and works in exactly the same way. But it’s longer (95 cm), heavier (2.95 lb / 1.34 Kg) and significantly bulkier.

So as you’d expect, the steel inside the links of the Classic is wider (22 mm, compared to 18 mm in the Compact). However, they’re also thinner (4.5 mm, compared to 5 mm in the Compact).

In terms of security, this probably means there’s not much difference between them. And indeed, the Classic has the same Sold Secure Silver rating as the Compact.

So how do you choose between them? Well, really it comes down to whether you need that extra length. While the Compact will give you 70 cm of internal space, the Classic will give you 80 cm. This is quite a lot for a folding lock...

For example, it’s also 5 cm more than the 3′ Abus Bordo 6000 (see the picture above). It is slightly heavier than the Abus lock as well though.

For me, there’s no contest. The Compact is significantly more, well compact! It’s also much lighter.

And that makes a big difference when you’re carrying it about and even trying to get it round your bike. The 70 cm of internal space is more than enough for me in the vast majority of situations.

Plus it’s cheaper!

2. The Clipster: same lock, even easier to carry!

Although the frame mount that comes with the Foldylock is one of the most convenient and dependable transport systems that I’ve tested, some people just don’t want to carry their lock on their frame!

So for those people, the Foldylock is now available in a new variation called the Clipster. It’s exactly the same lock, but with the addition of a built-in clip that allows you to fasten the lock to your belt, pocket or bag for even easier carrying!

I’ve tested the Clipster and it works really well. As long as you’ve got something to clip it to (I just use my belt), it will reduce the time spent locking and unlocking your bike even further. For more details, check my mini review here.

3.Foldylock Compact Pride

Foldylock have also released a special pride version of the Compact to celebrate diversity in the community...

It's exactly the same functionality wise as the standard Compact, but has a full on rainbow paint job. Check it out here!

Conclusion

I’ve been using the Foldylock Compact for a couple of months now, and I’m pretty impressed with the experience. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s the right lock for you!

So as always, to help you decide, here’s 3 things I like about the Foldylock and 1 thing I’m not so keen on.

+ Very easy to carry around

It’s very light, it’s very compact, and it comes with a great case. If you’re able to mount it with your water bottle holder screws, then you’ll to struggle to find a lock that’s easier to carry around.

+ Lots of locking options

It’s not very long. But the flexible shape means you should be able to lock your bike in places that might otherwise be impossible with a rigid u-lock.

+ Super easy to use

A lot of thought has gone into the user experience with the Foldylock. The side locking mechanism and the smooth movement of the links mean that it’s much more pleasurable to use than other folding locks.

– Medium security

The Foldylock is rated Sold Secure Silver, which makes it a mid-security lock for lower risk situations. Folding locks tend to be less secure than comparable u-locks since the bars are thinner (and only need to be cut once) and the pins can be susceptible to bolt cutters.

It’s not to say that a medium security lock won’t give you enough protection! You just need to be aware that it’s not a lock for high risk circumstances. Find out how to assess your risk level here.

Wrapping up

After using it for a couple of months, I’ve become a big fan of the Foldylock Compact. It’s one of the easiest locks to carry around and use that I’ve ever owned. And it gives me loads of locking options when I’m locking for somewhere to leave my bike.

It’s not high security. It’s not a lock for a super expensive bike that you leave unattended for long periods in a major city!

But if your risk level is “lower” in my guide to finding the best bike lock, then this could well be the right lock for you.

Alternatives to the Foldylock Compact

As always there are plenty of alternatives if you think this lock isn’t the right one for you. I check out three of them below…

Looking for something more secure?

I've used this high security folder over several months, and you can read my hands on review of the Bordo 6500 here.

Looking for something cheaper?

But it offers about the same internal space as the Foldylock, and it’s really easy to use. You can read my extensive hands on review of the Kryptonite Kryptolok Standard here.

Looking for something lighter?

For sure, this is a mini U-lock, measuring just 6.0″ x 2.75″ (15.3 x 7 cm). So the internal space is much smaller and offers fewer locking options.

But it’s a great lock at a reasonable price, and if weight is a priority, you should definitely take a closer look at it.

Foldylock Compact Specs

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