Hiplok DX Review – Real Protection For Everyday Rides
As someone who commutes daily through a city with a not-so-great reputation for bike theft, finding a lock that strikes the right balance between security, portability, and convenience felt like chasing a unicorn. Enter the Hiplok DX—a compact, Diamond-rated D-lock that genuinely lives up to its hype.
First Impressions: Built Like a Tank (That You Can Wear) Out of the box, the Hiplok DX feels reassuringly solid. The 14mm hardened steel shackle is no joke—it exudes confidence without the “might need a gym membership” weight penalty. At just over 1kg, it’s surprisingly wearable thanks to the CLIP + RIDE system, which lets you fasten it to a belt or backpack strap without needing a holster or extra bracket. No rattles. No fuss. Just smart design.
Day-to-Day Use: City-Proof Locking up outside a busy café or urban rack, the lock’s internal dimensions (15cm x 8.5cm) offer enough clearance for my frame and one wheel—ideal for quick stops or even longer parking with smart positioning. The double deadlock mechanism and anti-rotation tabs are the real muscle here: no leverage, no twist, no chance.
What I Loved
- Peace of mind in a compact form. It’s Sold Secure Diamond-rated for a reason.
- Portability. I never thought I’d “wear” a bike lock without dreading it.
- Smooth locking mechanism. The key and barrel are buttery—none of that gritty, dry-feeling twist.
- Minimal branding. Clean, stealthy look that doesn’t scream “expensive bike here!”
A Few Quirks
- If you want to secure both wheels and the frame without a rack nearby, you’ll need either a cable extension or a second lock.
- The Clip + Ride is fab for flat commutes, but if you’re hammering gravel trails or bunny-hopping curbs… you might prefer their DXF frame-mount version.
Verdict The Hiplok DX is everything I wanted in an urban lock: rock-solid, wearable, and thoughtfully engineered. For the price, it’s not the cheapest—but if you’ve put real money into your ride (or just really love it), this is the kind of protection that’s worth every penny.
