Chain & Charge

Best Chain Locks for Bikes

A chain trades weight for reach: hardened links wrap around fat posts and racks a U-lock can't touch. These are the ones worth their heft, ranked by link thickness.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

A chain lock is what you reach for when a U-lock won’t reach. Hardened links wrap around fat posts, awkward racks and two bikes at once, and the heaviest of them rival a top U-lock for outright security — which is why a serious chain is the default for an e-bike or a valuable bike left outdoors long-term. The price is weight: a 14mm New York chain runs about ten pounds, so most riders treat a big chain as a fixed anchor at the spot they park most, rather than a daily carry.

Link diameter is the headline spec, and it climbs fast in both security and weight: 10mm is a sensible mid-weight for daily city parking, while 14–14.5mm hardened links are e-bike and overnight territory, carrying Kryptonite’s top 10/10 rating. We rank on those published link sizes, the maker’s and Sold Secureratings, and honest use — we don’t own a test lab. One warning up front: a lightweight combination chain is fine for a two-minute coffee stop, but it is not security for anything you’d hate to lose, and we say so on the pick itself.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on published specs, real security and safety standards, and buyer fit. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not tested these products — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit 1415 Chain

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit 1415 Chain

The chain to beat for an e-bike parked on the street: 14mm hardened links Kryptonite rates 10/10, in a 3.25ft length that loops through the frame and a fat rack. Maximum security if you don't mind the weight.

Best overall
$129.96 · View on Amazon

$139.997% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Kryptonite New York Legend 1515 Chain

Kryptonite New York Legend 1515 Chain

When you need length AND maximum security — a 5ft, 14.5mm chain rated 10/10 that reaches racks the shorter Fahgettaboudit can't. The trade-off is nearly 15 pounds; treat it as a fixed anchor.

Best for reach
$159.96 · View on Amazon

$169.956% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Kryptonite Evolution 1090 Chain

Kryptonite Evolution 1090 Chain

The mid-weight chain most commuters actually want: 10mm hardened links, lighter and cheaper than the 14mm New York chains, with enough deterrence for daily city parking that isn't overnight-outdoors.

Best mid-weight
$111.76 · View on Amazon

$124.9511% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Hiplok Gold Wearable Chain Lock

Hiplok Gold Wearable Chain Lock

A Sold Secure Gold chain you wear around your waist like a belt, so the weight rides on your hips instead of your bag. The clever answer for riders who hate carrying a chain but want chain-level security.

Best wearable
$126.14 · View on Amazon

$149.9916% off

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Via Velo Combination Chain Lock

Via Velo Combination Chain Lock

A keyless 5-digit combination chain for low-stakes stops — a coffee run, a quick errand, a bike shed. It's a deterrent, not a fortress, and we're clear about that: use a hardened lock for anything you'd hate to lose.

Budget / low-risk only
$14.86 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit 1415 Chain

The chain to beat for an e-bike parked on the street: 14mm hardened links Kryptonite rates 10/10, in a 3.25ft length that loops through the frame and a fat rack. Maximum security if you don't mind the weight.

Strengths

  • 14mm hardened manganese steel, rated 10/10 by Kryptonite
  • 3.25ft length reaches around thick posts and racks
  • Fabric sleeve protects your frame's finish

Trade-offs

  • Very heavy (~10 lb) — a home/work anchor lock, not a daily carry
  • Premium price
Chain14mm hardened steel links
Security ratingKryptonite 10/10
Length100 cm (3.25 ft)
Best useE-bikes, long-term outdoor

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

#2Best for reach

Kryptonite New York Legend 1515 Chain

When you need length AND maximum security — a 5ft, 14.5mm chain rated 10/10 that reaches racks the shorter Fahgettaboudit can't. The trade-off is nearly 15 pounds; treat it as a fixed anchor.

Strengths

  • 14.5mm hardened links, Kryptonite 10/10 security
  • 5ft reach handles wide posts and multiple bikes
  • Same Anti-Theft Protection backing as the top line

Trade-offs

  • ~14.7 lb — you leave this locked at one spot
  • Among the most expensive locks here
Chain14.5mm hardened steel links
Security ratingKryptonite 10/10
Length150 cm (5 ft)
Weight~14.7 lb

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

#3Best mid-weight

Kryptonite Evolution 1090 Chain

The mid-weight chain most commuters actually want: 10mm hardened links, lighter and cheaper than the 14mm New York chains, with enough deterrence for daily city parking that isn't overnight-outdoors.

Strengths

  • 10mm hardened steel — strong but far lighter than 14mm
  • 3ft reach with a protective sleeve
  • Better daily-carry weight than the top-tier chains

Trade-offs

  • 10mm is cuttable by a large enough grinder given time
  • Not the pick for an e-bike left out overnight
Chain10mm hardened steel links
Length90 cm (3 ft)
SleeveProtective fabric sleeve
Best useDaily city parking

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

#4Best wearable

Hiplok Gold Wearable Chain Lock

A Sold Secure Gold chain you wear around your waist like a belt, so the weight rides on your hips instead of your bag. The clever answer for riders who hate carrying a chain but want chain-level security.

Strengths

  • Sold Secure Gold rated — genuine security
  • Wears around the waist; weight is off your shoulders
  • 10mm hardened chain in a nylon sleeve

Trade-offs

  • Fixed length — less reach than a longer standalone chain
  • Wearing a heavy chain isn't for everyone
Chain10mm hardened steel
Security ratingSold Secure Gold
CarryWearable waist design
Best useCommuters who wear the lock

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

#5Budget / low-risk only

Via Velo Combination Chain Lock

A keyless 5-digit combination chain for low-stakes stops — a coffee run, a quick errand, a bike shed. It's a deterrent, not a fortress, and we're clear about that: use a hardened lock for anything you'd hate to lose.

Strengths

  • 5-digit resettable combination — no key to lose
  • Light and cheap enough to keep as a spare
  • Fine for low-risk, short-duration parking

Trade-offs

  • Not a hardened security chain — cuttable with hand tools
  • Never the only lock for an expensive or e-bike
TypeCombination chain lock
Length90 cm (2.95 ft)
Locking5-digit resettable code
Best useLow-risk short stops

Specs read from the product listing, on July 23, 2026. We have not physically tested this product.

How to choose a chain, and how to carry one

Start with where the bike sleeps. If it lives outside a station or on the street overnight, a 14mm hardened chain rated 10/10 is the pick — and the smart move is to leave it locked at that spot so you never carry the weight. If your parking is daily but not overnight, a 10mm mid-weight chain like the Evolution gives real deterrence at a weight you can actually sling in a bag. And if you hate carrying a chain at all, a wearable design rides the load on your hips instead of your shoulders — a clever answer for commuters who want chain-level security without the backpack.

Length is the other lever. More reach lets you lock to distant or fat racks and secure two bikes, but every extra foot adds weight, so buy the reach you need and no more. Whatever chain you choose, thread it through the frame and rear wheel and around something solid and immovable, kept up off the ground so a thief can’t use the pavement as an anvil — the technique in how to lock your bike applies to chains as much as U-locks. For a heavy, valuable bike, pair the chain with the wider plan in the best e-bike locks, and if you’re wondering whether to go all the way to a grinder-resistant lock, we weigh that in are grinder-proof locks worth it.

Frequently asked questions

Are chain locks better than U-locks?

Neither is strictly better — they trade differently. A U-lock has the best security-to-weight and resists levering, but it's rigid and short on reach. A chain wraps around fat posts, distant racks and two bikes at once, and the heaviest hardened chains match a top U-lock for security. Choose a chain when you need reach or are anchoring a bike in one spot; choose a U-lock for the lightest strong lock.

How thick should a bike chain lock be?

For daily city parking, 10mm hardened links are a sensible mid-weight. For an e-bike or a valuable bike left outdoors overnight, step up to 14–14.5mm hardened links, which carry the top security ratings. Thickness buys resistance to bolt cutters and time against a saw, at a steep cost in weight — so match it to the risk.

Are cheap combination chain locks safe?

Only for low stakes. A light combination chain is fine for a quick, low-risk stop where the bike is in view, or for securing accessories, but it isn't a hardened security chain and can be cut with hand tools. Never use one as the only lock for an expensive bike or an e-bike.

How do you carry a heavy chain lock?

Most riders don't — they leave a big chain locked at the place they park most, like work or a transit station, so it never rides along. If you do need to bring it, a wearable chain that fastens around your waist keeps the weight off your shoulders, and a mid-weight 10mm chain is far easier to bag than a 14mm one.

Sources

  • Sold Secure — Ratings explained — The Bronze / Silver / Gold / Diamond lock ratings and what each attack test involves, including the Diamond angle-grinder test (accessed July 23, 2026)

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